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Ceramic veneers are thin shells made in a dental laboratory and bonded to the visible surface of the tooth. Pressed ceramic (lithium disilicate, for example) is produced by injection under pressure, while feldspathic ceramic is layered by hand by the technician. Both keep their colour better than composite applied directly to the tooth, and they wear more slowly. Composite is done in a single appointment and can be repaired easily, but over time it stains and loses its gloss. Veneers change the shape, colour and proportions of the teeth and can mask mild crowding, but they do not move the teeth from their position. Tooth position is corrected with orthodontic treatment, and sometimes it is better to have the teeth straightened first and only then to discuss veneers. The right option depends on the condition of the enamel and on what exactly you would like to change. We decide on it together at the consultation, before any tooth preparation.

Usually 0.3-0.7 mm of enamel is removed from the visible surface, but the amount is decided for each tooth individually. In selected cases, when the enamel is intact and there is enough space, it is possible to work with minimal preparation or none at all. If the tooth already has large fillings or is worn, the reduction is greater. It is important to know that preparation is irreversible, and a prepared tooth will need a restoration in the future as well. That is why I determine the exact amount on the basis of the 3D scan and the digital treatment plan. We go through the plan together, and we do not move on to any irreversible step until you agree to it.

There is no fixed number. What matters is how many teeth show when you smile, usually between 6 and 12 front teeth. I work symmetrically, so if I restore one central incisor, I often include the one on the opposite side as well, because otherwise the difference in shape or shade may become visible. This is decided case by case. Sometimes two teeth are enough, while at other times it is more balanced to treat the whole visible area. We agree on the number together at the clinical assessment, before any decision is made.

Ceramic veneers are designed to last a long time, but their actual lifespan depends on hygiene, on your bite and on your habits, so I cannot promise it for any particular case. You care for them as you would for natural teeth, with gentle brushing and a non-abrasive toothpaste, daily cleaning between the teeth, including along the edge of the veneer next to the gum, and regular check-ups. Avoid horizontal forces, such as biting your nails, opening packaging with your teeth or biting on hard objects. Untreated bruxism is one of the common causes of cracking or debonding, so if you grind your teeth, we will discuss a night guard. Ceramic does not change shade with whitening. If you would like lighter teeth, the whitening is done before we choose the shade of the veneers.

It depends on the material, on hygiene, on your bite and on the condition of the tooth underneath. All-ceramic crowns (zirconia, lithium disilicate) and metal-ceramic crowns are designed to function for many years. They last much longer in some patients and less in others, so I cannot promise you a specific lifespan. With metal-ceramic crowns, the metal margin may become visible if the gum recedes. Most often, a crown is lost not because the material fails, but because of decay at its margin or a fracture of the tooth it is fixed to. That is precisely why hygiene where the crown meets the gum and regular check-ups matter at least as much as the material chosen.

The difference lies in how much of the tooth each one covers. An inlay rebuilds only the cavity inside the tooth, an onlay also covers one or more cusps (the raised points of the chewing surface), and a crown covers the whole tooth. The choice depends on how much healthy tissue remains and on the risk of fracture. Inlays and onlays preserve more of your own tooth, but they need walls thick enough to hold up. When the tooth has been root-treated or is heavily undermined, a crown protects it better against fracture. We make the decision after the clinical and radiographic examination, sometimes only after I have removed the old filling and it becomes clear how much sound tooth is actually left.

No, it does not usually hurt. Neither involves any painful steps, although both can feel unpleasant. A conventional impression, taken with silicone or alginate, can trigger the gag reflex in sensitive patients, especially on the upper arch. Intraoral scanning uses no impression material at all. A small scanner moves along the arch and builds the virtual model in a few minutes, with breaks whenever you need them. If you know that you have a strong gag reflex, tell me beforehand, so that I can choose the method and the position that are more comfortable for you.

Almost anything, with a few precautions. Avoid very hard foods (bones, fruit stones, nuts in their shells, hard sweets, ice), and cut hard foods such as carrots or apples into pieces instead of biting into them with your front teeth. Very sticky foods can dislodge temporary restorations. Veneers and thin ceramic edges are more sensitive to impact than a crown that covers the whole tooth. If, after cementation, the restoration feels “too high” when you bite, come back and I will adjust it, because an unbalanced bite is one of the common causes of cracks in the ceramic.

I can only answer that after a clinical examination and, as a rule, a CBCT scan. In principle, you need enough bone in height and width at the site, healthy gums, good oral hygiene and no uncontrolled general health conditions. Uncontrolled diabetes, antiresorptive treatment (bisphosphonates, denosumab), especially when given intravenously, radiotherapy to the head and neck and untreated periodontitis all call for particular caution. Periodontitis must be stabilised first, otherwise the risk of peri-implantitis increases. Smoking does not rule out an implant, but it is associated with poorer healing and with a higher risk of complications and failure. I place implants after bone growth is complete, as a rule after the age of 18.

During the procedure, local anaesthesia controls the pain, although you can still feel pressure and vibration. If you do feel pain, tell me straight away, because the anaesthetic can be topped up. Once the anaesthesia wears off, discomfort appears in the form of swelling, sometimes bruising, and moderate pain for a few days, usually controlled with the recommended medication. Like any procedure, it also carries risks. Bleeding, infection or delayed healing can occur and, depending on the area, changes in sensation, usually temporary and rarely lasting. We discuss them specifically for your case before you sign the consent form. If you are afraid, tell me. I can work more slowly, with breaks, and in certain situations conscious sedation is an option, carried out together with an anaesthetist. In the first few days, cold compresses applied externally, soft and cold food, rest and giving up smoking all help. On the first day, do not rinse your mouth vigorously, so as not to disturb the blood clot, and resume brushing gently, avoiding the implant area, following the instructions I give you. Call me if the pain or swelling increases after the third day, or if you develop a fever or a persistent unpleasant taste. Call 112 straight away if there is swelling that spreads quickly, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high fever or bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure from a compress.

Usually between four and nine months. First, I place the implant. Then comes the osseointegration period, in which the implant anchors itself in the bone. This period lasts, as a rule, between three and six months, less in the lower jaw and more in the upper jaw or after bone augmentation. After that, I fit the abutment and take an impression or a scan, and finally the crown is made, which is screwed or cemented in place. In selected cases with good primary stability, I can fit a temporary restoration earlier, but this does not shorten bone healing. If you need bone grafting or a sinus lift, which are procedures carried out by collaborating surgeons, the overall duration increases. I will give you a plan for your own situation, with the stages and the estimated timeframes.

An implant is intended as a long-term solution, but there is no lifespan I can promise you. The outcome depends on daily hygiene, on regular professional cleaning appointments, on smoking, on untreated bruxism and on general health conditions. The main cause of late implant loss is peri-implantitis, an inflammation that destroys the bone around the implant and rarely hurts at first. That is why I monitor for it at check-ups, by probing and, when they are indicated, with X-rays. The crown on top has its own lifespan and can be remade without replacing the implant.

For an adult with good oral health, a check-up every 6 months, together with a professional cleaning, is a reasonable benchmark. However, the interval is adjusted to your level of risk. If you have gingivitis or periodontitis, frequent decay or a dry mouth, if you smoke, or if you have implants or extensive prosthetic restorations, check-ups are more frequent, sometimes every 3-4 months. When the risk is low, the interval can be longer. At a check-up I look for more than decay. I also check your gums, the restorations you already have and the soft tissues of your mouth. I set the interval that suits you and review it over time.

Scaling means removing tartar, that is, mineralised bacterial plaque that brushing can no longer clean away. Tartar keeps the gum inflamed and promotes periodontitis, the disease in which the bone that supports the tooth is lost. I carry out scaling with ultrasonic and hand instruments. Done correctly, it does not remove enamel, but it can leave a temporary sensitivity to cold, especially if the gum had already receded. After scaling, the teeth may look “longer” or the gaps between them larger. This is not an effect of the procedure. It is the inflamed gum recovering. In patients with periodontitis, scaling above the gum is not enough. Treatment below the gum and regular maintenance appointments are also needed.

Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste, covering every surface. The modified Bass technique is the one commonly recommended. Place a soft-bristled brush at 45° to the gum line and make short, vibrating movements on the spot, followed by a sweeping movement from the gum towards the edge of the tooth. The pressure should be light. Pressing hard and using hard-bristled brushes wear down the enamel and encourage the gum to recede. Electric toothbrushes, whether oscillating or sonic, generally remove plaque better, and many have a pressure sensor. Brushing alone does not reach between the teeth, where decay and gum inflammation often appear. That is why you should add daily flossing or interdental brushes in a size that fits the spaces between your teeth, and I can tell you which size that is. In the evening, after brushing, it is better to spit without rinsing with water, so that the fluoride stays on the teeth.

No, healthy gums do not bleed when you brush. Bleeding is a sign of inflammation, most often gingivitis caused by bacterial plaque. At this stage, gingivitis is reversible with correct brushing, cleaning between the teeth and scaling. If the bleeding continues after 2-3 weeks of proper hygiene, you need a check-up, because it may be periodontitis, the disease in which the supporting bone is lost. Periodontitis cannot be cured, in the sense that the tissues do not return to their previous state. With treatment and with maintenance appointments repeated over the long term, its progression can be halted and the disease kept under control. However, the bone and attachment already lost do not grow back on their own, and without maintenance the disease can flare up again. That is why early detection matters. Bleeding can also be linked to certain medicines (anticoagulants), to pregnancy or to general health conditions, which is one more reason not to ignore it.

You can call me at the telephone number published on the website. It helps me if you tell me the reason for your visit (a first consultation, pain, a routine check-up, continuing a treatment), the times when you are able to come and, if you have them, any relevant previous investigations or treatments. I will get back to you to confirm the day and time. If you are in pain or have swelling, please tell me from the start, because I try to see you as soon as possible.

Please bring your ID, any recent X-rays or dental records you have, and a list of the medicines you take. I also need information about any known general health conditions (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, clotting disorders, treatment for osteoporosis) and about allergies, especially to anaesthetics, antibiotics or latex. I do not ask for these details as a formality. They make a real difference to how anaesthesia, an extraction or a procedure is planned.

I cannot arrange the method of payment through the website. It depends on the treatment proposed and on each patient's situation, so we clarify it at the consultation. Before we begin treatment, you receive the plan in writing, with the stages and their costs, so that you know what to expect and can decide without being rushed. Complex treatments, such as prosthetic or implant rehabilitation, take place in stages anyway, and we discuss each stage before we begin it. If you have any questions about payment, you can ask me at the consultation or, if you would like to clear them up beforehand, you can call me.

Call me at the telephone number published on the website. If I cannot answer you in time, contact an emergency dental service. Call 112 straight away if there is swelling that spreads quickly, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high fever or bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure from a compress. These situations cannot wait. If a permanent tooth has been knocked out completely by a blow, time matters a great deal. Hold it only by the crown, not by the root. Do not rub or brush it, and do not remove the tissue left on the root. If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds with saline or with milk (if you have neither, for no more than 10 seconds under cold running water). Then, if you can, put it back into its socket straight away, in its natural position, and bite gently on a clean handkerchief to hold it in place. Putting it back immediately increases its chances of survival. If you cannot manage this, do not let it dry out. Keep it in milk or in saline, never in plain water, and get to a dentist as quickly as possible, ideally within the first hour. A knocked-out baby tooth is not put back, but the child still needs to be seen by a dentist. Until you reach the dentist, if you need a painkiller, ask a doctor or a pharmacist for advice. Do not put aspirin on the gum, because it causes burns to the mucosa, the lining of the mouth.