Replacing teeth

Dental crown

A crown protects, strengthens and improves a damaged tooth – or replaces a missing one on an implant.

We place crowns when a filling is no longer sufficient after decay, after a root canal treatment, or on teeth that are severely worn, for example by grinding. An intact tooth root and healthy gums are a prerequisite; if the root is damaged, an implant can replace it.

Treatment usually requires two to three appointments about a week apart. We recommend ceramic crowns as the first choice: they are almost indistinguishable from real enamel, abrasion-resistant, do not discolour and are biocompatible. With good care, a crown can last up to 40 years and more.

• Consultation with examination and panoramic X-ray
• Preparation of the tooth under local anaesthesia, with a temporary crown
• Precise impression and choice of shade
• Fitting and permanent placement, with a functional analysis of the fit
• Check-up after placement

Dental bridge

A fixed bridge closes gaps, restores chewing function and prevents neighbouring teeth from drifting.

A dental bridge is anchored with at least two crowns on the neighbouring teeth, the abutment teeth. It prevents teeth from drifting or tilting and protects the jawbone. Normally, a bridge replaces a maximum of four teeth. The neighbouring teeth have to be prepared for it; with an implant, they remain untouched.

As an aesthetically oriented practice, we choose all-ceramic, especially zirconium oxide: well tolerated, more fracture-resistant than other ceramics and hardly distinguishable from natural teeth. Treatment usually takes two to four appointments. A bridge lasts about 10–20 years, depending on oral hygiene and the strain from chewing and grinding.

Implant-supported dentures

Implants take over the function of the tooth root and carry single teeth, bridges or the restoration of a whole jaw.

If one or more teeth are missing, we place an implant in the jawbone that takes over the function of the tooth root. In principle, any restoration that is attached to natural teeth can also be attached to implants – from a single tooth and larger gaps to an edentulous upper or lower jaw.

Fixed dentures are possible even when all teeth are missing, provided enough implants are placed in the right positions. They are firmly anchored in the jawbone and, unlike a conventional denture, do not cover the palate.

All-on-6 implant concept

Fixed dentures in the lower jaw on 6 implants – stable, aesthetic and preventive against bone loss.

Long-term untreated tooth loss and poorly fitting dentures lead to a gradual loss of bone in the lower jaw. The jaw visibly recedes, the facial features fall in, and dentures find almost no hold.

With the All-on-6 concept, you receive fixed dentures in the lower jaw on 6 implants. The restoration provides stability and functional aesthetics and counteracts bone loss. If bone loss is already advanced, targeted bone augmentation can prepare the jaw for implantation.

All-on-8 implant concept

Permanently fixed dentures in the upper jaw on 8 implants, for more stability and quality of life.

Full dentures in the upper jaw usually adhere better than in the lower jaw, but they cover the entire palate. This makes them less comfortable and impairs the sense of taste. The bone in the upper jaw also recedes over time, because the stimulus of the tooth roots is missing.

With the All-on-8 concept, you receive permanently fixed dentures on 8 implants in the upper jaw. Functional stability and security bring a better quality of life.