Examples of indirect ceramic restorations: (from left to right)
inlay, veneer, crown, bridge

INLAYS, ONLAYS, VENEERS, CROWNS AND BRIDGES

Broadly speaking, dental restorations may be classified into two main categories: direct and indirect. The difference between the two is that while direct restorations are inserted into or applied to the tooth in a soft state, directly in the patient's oral cavity at the one visit, indirect restorations are fabricated on a model of the teeth outside of the patient's mouth and usually involve two separate visits.

The trend in recent years has been towards indirect restorations, even for relatively smaller restorations. This is due to the fact that directly placed tooth coloured restorations, especially if they are fairly large, can be technique sensitive, with regards to moisture control within the oral cavity, as well as with regard to shaping of the restoration to re-establish the original anatomical contacts between the teeth. With indirect restorations there is ample time to reproduce perfect anatomy in an ideal situation, on a model of the teeth outside the mouth. Indirect restorations also tend to be a lot stronger as they may be subjected to intense heat and pressure to create an extremely hard ceramic material, in some cases many times stronger than the tooth itself. As a result, such restorations may be used to strengthen remaining natural tooth structure by surrounding it in the form of a crown (or a cap as a crown is sometimes referred to).

‘Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.’ (Jonathan Swift)

For the ultimate in aesthetics and durability, Contemporary Smiles use variety of the finest indirect tooth coloured ceramics sourced from around the world.

Teeth with amalgam fillings and after restoration with Inlay

Traditional unaesthetic porcelain fused to metal crowns
and after restoration with crowns

Teeth with traditional porcelain fused to metal crowns
and gold crown and after restoration with bridge

Discoloured teeth with spacings and after restoration with veneers

Before and after veneers

Rampant tooth decay and after restoration with
Empress Aesthetic Crowns

Peg shaped lateral incisors before and after restoration with
Empress Aesthetic Crowns

Amalgam fillings with marginal leakage and secondary caries
and after restoration with Procera crowns

If you are seeking to enhance your smile or mask a stained dentition, with superlative veneers Contemporary Smiles can make your dreams become a reality.

Aesthetics and durability are important considerations for all ceramics. The IPS Empress pressed ceramic system from Lichtenstein has proven itself for more than 15 years as regards to both criteria, satisfying discerning users and patients all over the world. Twenty-five million placed restorations are testimony to the durable true-to-nature effect, long-lasting success and the high quality standard of IPS Empress. IPS Empress Aesthetic is the latest refinement of technology in the existing product line, providing unsurpassed aesthetics and strength for the restoration of anterior teeth. Contact the team at Contemporary Smiles today for your next IPS Empress Aesthetic anterior crown or bridge. You will be amazed by the results!

With Procera from Nobel Biocare of Sweden, the market leader in dental implants, strength and beauty are combined in a trusted product. More than 100,000 patients have been treated with Procera worldwide. Over the last few years new technology has given dental porcelain better properties. Procera® AllCeram is a coping (core) made of extremely densely-sintered aluminum oxide. The coping is produced in an industrial process known as the Procera® method, which ensures optimal fit, great strength, non-porosity and has the ability to transmit light without being transparent. Due to the strength in the core material, Procera® AllCeram can be recommended for prosthetic reconstructions anywhere in the mouth. The translucent coping offers remarkable aesthetic characteristics. When combined with Procera® AllCeram Porcelain these characteristics are put to their very best advantage. Because the porcelain is specially adapted to the coping's translucence and fluorescence, Procera® AllCeram Porcelain opens an entirely new era in history using porcelain in dentistry. Let Contemporary Smiles create your next Procera crown or bridge.

‘I am not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money.’
(John Emerich Edward Dalberg)