Prosthetics is a key component of modern dentistry, enabling patients to restore lost teeth both functionally and aesthetically. We strictly use metal-free materials in both fixed and removable prosthetics, bioceramic materials, and advanced technological processes to ensure the natural appearance and durability of your dental restorations. This forms a digital workflow that is considerably more comfortable, significantly faster, and notably more precise. With the support of our in-house dental laboratory, we are fully equipped to meet your individual needs.
Dental prosthetics include fixed, removable, or combined restorations to replace missing, worn, or damaged teeth. The goal is clear—to restore your function, smile, confidence, and comfort in daily activities. It's important to note that purely aesthetic dentistry is a chapter of its own and always represents a "premium" level of care, where the dental laboratory plays an even more critical role.
A comprehensive digital workflow incorporates advanced technology in all phases of rehabilitation from diagnosis to the final prosthetic restoration. The same applies whether it is a single tooth or complex rehabilitation of damaged tooth crowns, replacement of missing teeth and raising of the bite. This modern and integrative approach increases accuracy, efficiency and satisfaction. Here is an overview of the main stages in a complete digital dental workflow:
1. Digital Diagnostics and Imaging
- Intraoral Scanning: Digital scanning captures the crowns and soft tissues in the mouth, replacing traditional impressions. Scanning systems such as 3Shape or iTero create highly precise 3D models of teeth and gums within minutes.
- Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT): For detailed 3D imaging, CBCT machines provide high-resolution imaging of both hard and soft structures, which is especially crucial for detecting inflammation and planning implants.
- Facial and Oral Photography: Advanced tools and specialized photography techniques assist in treatment planning, particularly in aesthetic dentistry, ensuring that the final restoration complements your facial structure with a harmonious smile.
2. CAD (Computer-Aided Design)
- After diagnostics, the acquired digital files are transferred to the CAD software Exocad. This program allows the dental team, including the dentist and dental technician, to precisely design restorations such as crowns, bridges, veneers, bioceramic restorations, implant-supported restorations, and more.
- Smile Design Software: Tools like SmileCreator are used in comprehensive rehabilitations or aesthetic cases. The goal is to ensure that your smile makeover is both functionally accurate and aesthetically pleasing. A photo of your smile from your younger years is always helpful.
3. CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing)
- Once the design is complete, the CAM process produces the restoration using advanced milling machines or 3D printers. Depending on the situation, materials like bioceramics, porcelain, or PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) may be used.
- Milling Machines: High-precision machines, such as the PrograMill PM7, mill restorations from blocks of material, ensuring an exceptionally accurate fit.
3D Printing: 3D printers are used to create models, surgical guides, or temporary restorations.
Precision:
Digital tools enable a level of accuracy that is unattainable with traditional methods. This ensures better fit, functionality, and aesthetics.
Efficiency:
Faster processing in both diagnostics and treatment. The in-house manufacturing technology adds the final touch.
Comfort:
Non-invasive digital scanning replaces uncomfortable traditional impressions and several subsequent laboratory stages. This significantly reduces the potential for errors, a benefit consistently confirmed in practice.
Predictability:
The digital workflow allows for virtual treatment planning and simulations, which significantly enhance the longevity of such rehabilitations. Experience shows that restorations created this way can even be lifelong.
BRIDGES AND SINGLE CROWNS
made from bioceramic zirconium oxide ceramics are extremely popular due to their aesthetic and functional properties.
Research shows that bioceramic bridges and veneers are successful long-term solutions with a high survival rate and low risk of complications. It is important to add that long-term sustainability is related to the digital technologies described above. The latter enable a precise fit and thereby increase the biological value.
Zirconium oxide ceramic (ZrO2) has high strength, fracture resistance and excellent biocompatibility, which makes it a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. The aesthetic value of this material is important, as zirconium enables the natural appearance of the tooth.
Ceramic inlay and onlay or bioceramic restoration
as we call it here, it is often compared to composite fillings due to a similar function, but there are important differences that affect the choice of material.
Classic white or composite fillings can be made in one visit, but the fact is that they are less resistant to wear and have a much shorter lifespan compared to bioceramics. Although they are aesthetically acceptable, they do not achieve the same natural appearance and durability as bioceramic restorations. In addition, composite fillings are more prone to discoloration and secondary caries.
Bioceramic materials, such as zirconium oxide ceramics, are extremely strong and wear-resistant. These properties give them a great advantage over other materials, and believe me, it pays off in the long run. Change the white filling every 5 to 10 years or have a bioceramic restoration for 20 to 30? That’s the real question.
Dental scales
Dental veneers are thin bioceramic restorations that are glued to the front surface of teeth to improve their shape, color or size.
Veneers are the ideal solution for aesthetic problems such as chipped, worn, unevenly colored teeth, gaps between teeth or irregularities in the shape of teeth.
According to the research of Pascal Magné and Urs Belsér and modern data from the literature, porcelain veneers are one of the most effective aesthetic solutions used to improve the appearance of teeth. The scales enable a high degree of aesthetic precision and minimal invasiveness. With porcelain veneers, we can correct aesthetic defects, such as imperfections in the shape, size, color and position of the teeth.
Shells made of lithium disilicate ceramic are particularly popular due to their strength and durability. They are 3 times more resistant to breakage compared to traditional porcelain veneers, making them suitable for patients with greater aesthetic and functional needs. Lithium disilicate is ideal for veneers that require a thin structure while maintaining the natural appearance of the teeth. This is key in minimally invasive aesthetic solutions, as it allows greater transparency and a better match with the natural tooth enamel.
Magné and Belser emphasized the importance of a biomimetic approach, where minimally invasive tooth preparation preserves as much natural enamel as possible. Numerous clinical studies have shown that with proper adhesive cementation, lay bonding, and planning, porcelain veneers can last 10 to 20 years, with survival rates between 75% and 100%, depending on tooth condition and preparation technique.
CAD/CAM technology in the production of milled provisionals enables high precision and predictability in aesthetic and functional results.
Digitization enables the production of high-precision milled provisionals in the SAME day. It doesn’t matter whether it’s to fix function, aesthetics or perhaps remove teeth, in all situations this approach allows you to chew without interruption and esthetics during rehabilitation. Research also confirms this.
CAD/CAM materials such as PMMA and other polymer materials used for temporary restorations are mechanically stable. One of the studies confirmed that CAD/CAM provisionals achieve high fracture strength, which increases their reliability in clinical use. You can wear them for a whole year, and during this time the muscular system can adapt to the new situation, if you have had problems with joint and muscle pain. Maybe even migraine headaches. If you only changed the aesthetics, the process to the final bioceramic is usually faster than in the case of functional disorders. If it was necessary to remove the teeth, same-day provisionals are essential for several reasons. Certainly, function and aesthetics are key considerations, but there are quite a few other biological reasons that are very important.
In addition, the use of Modjaw technology enables the tracking of dynamic movements of the jaws, which improves the planning and production of dental provisionals and reduces the need for corrections in the long term. This significantly shortens the number of your visits and increases the success of the final bioceramic aesthetic and functional solutions.
Combined fixed and removable prosthetics, supported on teeth or implants, is a modern solution for patients who need a stable and functional prosthetic solution, as well as the possibility of easy removal for easier cleaning and maintenance.
The high-performance metal-free material BioHPP is used to make the framework of this type of prosthetics. Produced by Bredent, this material is based on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and is ideal for dental prosthetic applications due to its biocompatibility, lightness and wear resistance.
BioHPP offers excellent mechanical properties and natural elasticity that mimics the properties of bone, allowing for a better distribution of forces during chewing. This is especially important in implant-supported prostheses, as it reduces the load on the implants and ensures long-term stability. In addition, BioHPP does not contain metals, which means that it is aesthetically more discreet and more pleasant for the patient, as it does not cause allergies and performs perfectly in the oral environment.
The combination of fixed and removable elements gives you high functionality and comfort, while the BioHPP material contributes to the long life of the prosthetic solution. We have been using it since the very beginning of our existence and have only good long-term experience with it.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Prosthetics represent an important part of dental care. The most important thing is that body-friendly materials are used, and nowadays metal-free dental prosthetics, both fixed and combined, are completely possible and proven. Digital dentistry means a complete revolution, and all of a sudden, the comfort during treatments and the accuracy of the works have greatly increased. Many procedures in dental laboratories, where mistakes were made, were eliminated and the lifetimes of rehabilitations were greatly extended. Today, it is realistic that with comprehensive planning, the situation can be solved for life and only “regular service” is performed.
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