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Ceramic inlay
This is a treatment method in which ceramic is filled in after the eroded area caused by tooth decay has been removed.
Unlike metal, it has a beautiful and natural finish that is indistinguishable from the real tooth.
Aesthetic Dentistry
If I'm going to undergo treatment,
I want to have white, beautiful teeth.
If I'm going to undergo treatment, I want to have white, beautiful teeth.
Teeth treated with ceramics look the same as natural teeth, and even we dentists can mistake them for natural teeth. The characteristics of "ceramics" are that they are not only beautiful but also long-lasting, as they do not easily discolor over the years and are highly durable.
Ceramic treatment is superior in terms of health and aesthetics
"Ceramic treatment" involves using ceramics, a white dental material that is highly biocompatible and durable, to fill, cap, or attachs to the surface of teeth areas that have been removed due to cavities in order to adjust the alignment, color, and shape of the teeth.
Fillings or caps made with materials covered by insurance may look unsightly, cause discoloration of the gums, or trigger metal allergies.
We recommend ceramic treatment to those who wish to use a white material when treating cavities
or those who wish to replace previously treated areas with a white material, as well as those who are allergic to metal.
Types of ceramic treatment
Ceramic Crown
This method involves placing a ceramic crown on teeth that only have the root remaining, teeth that have lost a large amount of tooth space due to decay, or teeth that are irregular in size, to improve the appearance of the color, shape, and alignment of the teeth.
You can also achieve naturally white teeth by replacing discoloration caused by tetracycline (antibiotics), which is difficult to improve with whitening, or by replacing noticeable metal caps with ceramic ones.
Laminate Veneer
This method involves slightly scraping the surface of the front teeth and attaching a thin ceramic chip made using special technology to the area.
It is attached with a special adhesive, so there is no need to worry about it coming off.
Only a small part of the enamel surface is removed, so there is almost no damage to the teeth.
It is recommended for teeth discolored by tetracycline (antibiotics), which cannot be whitened by whitening, as well as teeth with uneven surfaces and missing parts. Also
, if you only need to correct a small amount of tooth alignment, you can get the desired alignment and white teeth in a shorter period of time than with orthodontic treatment.
Types of ceramics
Our clinic recommends metal-free treatment, and we use ceramics and zirconia for private treatment.
Zirconia is a type of ceramic known as artificial diamond, and has higher strength than metal. It
is also used as a medical material for artificial joints, and is a material that easily adapts to the body.
Ceramics and zirconia are improving year by year, and their color and strength have evolved significantly in recent years. For patients who wish to undergo ceramic treatment, a dedicated counselor will ask about their requests, and when preparing the teeth, the doctor in charge and the technician will work together to provide careful treatment tailored to the mouth of each patient.
All-ceramic
This is a crown made entirely of ceramic.
It can be made to a color close to that of natural teeth and will not discolor.
Because it does not absorb saliva, it is less likely to discolor even after years of use and is aesthetically excellent.
| Strong Points | ・Very good appearance and semi-permanent color retention ・Stain (plaque) resistant ・No metal is used, so there is no need to worry about discoloration of teeth and gums due to metal dissolution or metal allergies ・Uses highly biocompatible materials |
|---|---|
| Cons | -They are harder than natural teeth, so they can damage opposing teeth. -They can crack if extremely strong force is applied. |
Single color zirconia
This crown is made entirely of zirconia from inside to outside.
It is extremely strong and almost never chips or wears down, making it suitable for treating back teeth that require strong chewing force.
| Strong Points | ・Since no metal is used, there is no need to worry about discoloration of teeth or gums due to metal dissolution, or metal allergies. ・Stains (plaque) are less likely to adhere. |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・The color tone cannot be specified and the finish is pure white, so the color tone will not match the surrounding teeth. ・There is a possibility that it will crack if extremely strong force is applied. ・It is harder than teeth, so there is a possibility that the teeth in the bite may chip or crack. ・There is a possibility that it will crack if extremely strong force is applied. |
Ceramic inlay
This is a filling (inlay) made entirely of ceramic.
Since it does not contain any metal, it can produce a color closest to that of natural teeth. In addition, since it does not absorb saliva, it is less likely to discolor even after years of use and has excellent aesthetics.
| Strong Points | ・Very good appearance and semi-permanent color retention ・Stain (plaque) is difficult to adhere・Since no metal is used, there is a low possibility of discoloration of teeth and gums due to metal dissolution, metal allergies, etc. |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・It is less strong than zirconia. ・It is harder than natural teeth, so it may damage the teeth it comes into contact with. |
Hybrid Ceramic Inlay
This is an inlay (filling) made of a mixture of resin (plastic) and ceramic. It has just the right amount of tenacity, making it ideal for filling the back teeth of people who chew strongly, grind their teeth, or clench their teeth hard. The finished result is better than insurance-covered resin, but it is less transparent and
less beautiful than ceramic inlays that do not contain resin.
| Strong Points | ・It is neither too hard nor too soft, and has good tenacity, making it suitable for inlays (fillings). ・It is softer than all-ceramics, so it is less likely to damage the surrounding teeth.・Since it does not use metal, there is a low possibility of discoloration of teeth and gums due to metal dissolution, or metal allergies. |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・Because the material contains resin (plastic), it will absorb moisture and discolor over time. ・It is more susceptible to scratches than all-ceramics, so dirt (plaque) is more likely to adhere to the surface. ・It is softer than all-ceramics and wears down more easily. |
Laminate Veneer
The surface of the tooth is slightly scraped and ceramic is attached to the surface of the tooth like a nail. The advantage is that the color and shape can be changed with almost no scraping of the tooth.
| Strong Points | ・Not only color but also shape (gaps in teeth, etc.) can be corrected in a short period of time. ・It can be whiter than the "white" achieved with whitening. ・Even teeth that are naturally dark can be whitened in a short period of time. ・There is no pain because only a small amount of grinding is required, and anesthesia is generally not required. |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・You have to grind down your own teeth. ・It is more expensive than whitening. ・The area where it is attached may crack over time. |
Comparison of ceramics
※You can scroll horizontally.
| Appearance |
discoloration |
wear |
Harmony with the body | |
| All-ceramic | ◎ | ◎ | ○ | ◎ |
| Monochromatic zirconia crown | △ | ◎ | ◎ | ○ |
| Ceramic inlay | ○ | ◎ | ◎ | ○ |
| Hybrid Ceramic Inlay | ○ | △ | △ | △ |
| Laminate Veneer | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
Warranty for ceramic treatment
If damage, loss, or malfunction occurs during normal use during the warranty period, we will repair, reattach, or remake the product within the period listed below if you bring the warranty card issued by our clinic.
Warranty cards will not be reissued, so please keep them in a safe place during the warranty period.
| Monochromatic zirconia crown | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Ceramic inlays, hybrid ceramic inlays |
|
| All-ceramic | 10 years (*2) |
| Laminate veneer (※1) |
*1 If the laminate veneer falls off or becomes damaged, we recommend changing it to a ceramic crown.
*2 The 10-year warranty requires patients to pay the following costs.
| Within 5 years | Full guarantee |
|---|---|
| Less than 5-6 years | 50% patient burden |
| Less than 6 to 7 years | 60% patient burden |
| Less than 7-8 years | 70% patient burden |
| Less than 8 to 9 years | 80% patient burden |
| Less than 9 to 10 years | 90% patient burden |
| over 10 years | 100% patient burden |
When the warranty does not apply
*If any of the following conditions apply, a charge will be incurred even during the warranty period.
- When the cause is clearly not the fault of the hospital, such as carelessness on the part of the patient, accident, or injury
- Use in an unreasonable manner or without following the instructions of our hospital
- If any unexpected changes occur in the oral cavity after treatment
- When the implant falls off or the superstructure (cap) is damaged due to carelessness or intentional act on the part of the patient.
- If you are unable to receive regular checkups at our clinic (regular checkups are required at least once every six months)