HeraDent Dental Clinic

Patients’ aesthetic needs are not the same. Therefore, the specific procedures required as part of a smile design are determined after an initial examination. When planning a smile design, the patient’s facial features, gender, age, and expectations are taken into account. This ensures that the treatment is carried out as effectively and safely as possible.

To improve the health of teeth and gums, treatment of cavities and gum diseases is performed first. Then, depending on the patient’s individual needs, procedures such as gingivectomy (gum contouring), teeth whitening, implant placement, porcelain and laminated veneers, zirconia crowns, and orthodontic treatment may be applied.

Thanks to careful planning and a professional approach, smile design allows patients to achieve aesthetically beautiful and healthy results.

This is a method in which teeth do not need to be fully shaved—only the front surface is slightly reduced by 0.3–0.7 mm, preserving the maximum amount of healthy tooth tissue. Porcelain veneers (laminates) are then bonded to the prepared surface.

Porcelain laminates are also known as veneers, porcelain overlays, or thin porcelain shells. Their fabrication requires high precision, specialized laboratory equipment, and skilled craftsmanship.

When are veneers used?

• When teeth have shortened or enamel has worn down—veneers help restore the shape and length of the teeth.

• For cracks and chips in the enamel—veneers cover the damage and provide a natural tooth appearance due to their high translucency.

• After teeth whitening, when teeth gradually darken again due to tea, coffee, or smoking—veneers provide long-lasting whiteness without repeated whitening procedures.

• When teeth are misaligned, but the patient does not want braces or does not have time for orthodontic treatment.

• To close gaps between teeth—veneers are often used to treat diastema.

Additionally, this method is especially suitable for patients who want a beautiful, natural-looking smile without significantly reducing their tooth structure.

When is dental implant treatment recommended?

Teeth that are meant to last a lifetime can be lost due to poor oral care, cavities, or gum diseases, which may also be influenced by genetic factors. Tooth loss creates gaps in the mouth, leading to impaired chewing function.

Removable dentures can partially address this issue, but they often cause discomfort and aesthetic concerns. Bridge prostheses require shaving down adjacent healthy teeth, which can lead to some damage.

For these reasons, dental implants have become an ideal solution for replacing missing teeth. Implants allow restoration of a single missing tooth without affecting neighboring teeth, as well as replacement of multiple teeth with fixed prostheses instead of removable dentures.

How is the dental implant procedure performed?

The surgery is performed under local anesthesia (similar to cavity treatment or tooth extraction), making the procedure completely painless.

The number of implants depends on the clinical situation:

• For full edentulism, usually 6–8 implants in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower jaw are placed.

• For a single missing tooth, one implant is placed in the gap.

Before the procedure, the patient takes medications prescribed by the doctor. After the surgery, antiseptic mouth rinsesand good oral hygiene are necessary for proper healing.

Patients taking blood thinners or other specific medications must inform their doctor before the procedure.

After surgery, mild swelling of the cheek or slight skin discoloration may occur, but the swelling usually subsides quickly with cold compresses applied during the first 24 hours.

Severe pain is generally not expected, and the pain can be easily managed with doctor-recommended analgesics on the first day.

When the size of the teeth does not match the size of the jaw, teeth may be misaligned, either too crowded or with gaps. In such cases, orthodontic treatment is applied to restore the proper alignment of the teeth.

This treatment helps correct issues such as malocclusion, crowding, gaps between teeth, and overlapping teeth.

Modern orthodontics offers several treatment methods:

• Metal braces – the classic and effective option;

• Aesthetic (clear) braces – less noticeable, with the same therapeutic effect;

• Clear aligners (Invisalign) – removable transparent trays that allow teeth alignment without braces and with maximum comfort.

Orthodontic treatment not only creates a beautiful smile but also improves chewing function, speech, and overall dental and gum health.

Periodontology (Treatment of Gum Diseases)

Periodontology is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the treatment of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth (gums) as well as the underlying hard tissues, including the bone structure. These conditions are known as gum diseases or periodontal diseases.

Periodontal diseases are inflammatory processes that affect not only the gums but also the bone tissue supporting the teeth. When detected early, these diseases respond well to treatment and have a high success rate.

Main symptoms of gum diseases:

• Bleeding gums during brushing or even spontaneously

• Dark red, swollen, and painful gums

• Itching sensation in the gums

• Sometimes, pus discharge between the gums and teeth

• Gradual loosening of the teeth

• Gum recession (lowering of the gum line)

• Bad breath and unpleasant taste

It is important to visit a periodontist as soon as these symptoms appear to prevent tissue damage and maintain the health of your teeth.

Root Canal Treatment (Endodontic Therapy)

Inside the root of a tooth is a bundle of blood vessels and nerves, commonly referred to as the “tooth nerve,” which nourishes the tooth. If this bundle becomes damaged or inflamed due to untreated cavities, root canal treatment is performed. This procedure includes:

• Removal of the affected tissue (nerve and blood vessels),

• Shaping and cleaning the root canal,

• Filling the canal with specialized dental materials.

Reasons for root canal treatment:

• Cracks and chips in the tooth,

• Cavities (caries),

• Errors in previous treatments or restorations,

• Death of the nerves and blood vessels, leading to infection in the root canals.

Symptoms indicating the need for root canal treatment:

• Increased sensitivity to hot and cold,

• Pain, especially at night, that may wake the patient,

• Pain while eating,

• Tooth discoloration due to nerve death,

• Swelling of the face due to an abscess,

• In some cases, no visible symptoms occur, and the need for treatment is only detected via X-ray examination.

Root canal treatment helps save the tooth and prevent extraction by eliminating inflammation and infection inside the root.