Treatments

Veneers, Inlays, Onlays & Overlays

To strengthen compromised tooth structure which will improve the longevity of your tooth.

Is this the right treatment for you?

A more conservative option than crowns, to rebuild badly damaged or weakened teeth. A custom-made solution which covers the fragile part of the tooth and gives you confidence to bite on the tooth. Our staff will put your mind at ease and rest assured you're in great hands. We can fit your inlays, onlays, overlays and dental veneers in Edinburgh. We can also provide payment solutions to help you spread your veneers cost.

Good to know

Dental solutions have a finite life. The more conservative the approach, the longer you will retain your own teeth.

dentist and nurse operating on a patient giving them teeth veneers edinburgh
YOUR TEAM
You're in good hands

Using high magnification, the latest drill technology, 3D scanning and the latest techniques, our team will prepare your tooth carefully and conservatively so that it can be covered by a custom-made prosthesis, which is built to last.

Aneta Sobota

Dental Nurse

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Allan Matthews

General Dentist with Special Interest in Teeth Straightening

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Patricia Farrell

Senior Nurse

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The procedure
  1. Anaesthetic to ensure that you are comfortable during the procedure.
  2. A small mould of your tooth/ teeth to allow the fabrication of a temporary prosthesis which will protect your tooth whilst the long term prosthesis is custom made.
  3. Careful and conservative preparation of the tooth / teeth to ensure that the most minimal tooth is removed to create space for the new prosthesis.
  4. Each surface of the tooth is carefully measured to ensure that it is the optimal thickness to be able to withstand normal loads. If it is toot thin, it is protected by covering it.
  5. Whilst following a conservative approach , it is important to prepare the tooth properly . This allows the prosthesis to be strong and make sufficient space for a skilled ceramic technician to create a tooth which actually looks like a tooth.
  6. 3D high definition digital scan is taken of the prepared tooth/teeth.This eliminates the need for messy moulds.
  7. With a detailed design map, discussing the colour gradients and result that we are aiming to create, our dentist will brief the master ceramist on the desired outcome.
  8. Following the custom fabrication of your prosthesis the master ceramist will deliver the completed restoration within 2-3 weeks.
  9. The prosthesis is checked on the 3D printed model by our dentist to ensure that it has been made to the specification requested.
  10. At your fitting appointment, the prosthesis is tried in to ensure a passive fit as well as accurate colour and design by your dentist.
  11. It is then fitted using special resins which connect you tooth to the prosthesis.
  12. The bite is checked to ensure that all the teeth meet as planned and intended.

Before and after

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What our clients say

I came across Dr Allan Matthews when searching online for an Edinburgh dentist who could deal with a difficult bite. I had a broken wisdom tooth, and a tooth with a missing filling that had fallen out twice in two weeks so I had decided to find a new dentist. Dr Matthews suggested a programme of treatment to repair the two teeth and to strengthen and protect several other cracked molars. After several visits, I am now the proud owner of several superb new onlays.

I cannot thank him enough for salvaging my broken wisdom tooth that he at first thought might have to be extracted. It now looks and feels just like a real tooth. The new onlays I got in Edinburgh look and feel amazing and were immediately comfortable. I can now eat things that I had been avoiding before as my teeth didn’t feel very strong.

Visiting the dentist is rarely something to look forward to, but Allan and his team look after you really well and work hard to make the experience as good as it possibly can be. They are kind, friendly and enthusiastic about their work and their commitment to give patients the best possible treatment is plain to see. I have no hesitation in recommending Allan and his team. Their veneers costs in Edinburgh are competitively priced, offering exceptional quality of treatment and care without being excessively expensive. All of the practice staff are warm, welcoming and professional. The treatment rooms are spotless and very well equipped. This is a lovely innovative practice that is a pleasure to attend.

Janice B

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Your questions answered

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What is the difference between inlays, onlays, overlays and veneers ?

A veneer is a custom lab-made restoration used to cover the face of front tooth to change the shape of tooth to a more pleasing design or protect the tooth as it is heavily filled but it does not enough to merit a crown. An inlay is a custom lab-made restoration used to "fill" a large cavity in a back tooth. It is a stronger and stiffer material which can withstand the large crushing forces generated by back teeth unlike a large composite filling. An onlay is custom lab-made restoration used to "fill" a large cavity when one or cusp( pointed peak of a back tooth is missing or weak in a back tooth. A cusp is a high stress point of a tooth. If it is inappropriately restored with a filling material this can result in overloading of the remaining tooth; a change in the bite by allowing the opposing tooth to wear away the filling and moving into the resultant gap. The end result may well be catastrophic fracture of the tooth. An overlay is custom lab-made restoration used to "fill" a large cavity when all the cusps are compromised/weak but there is sufficient tooth structure such that using a crown would be very destructive.

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Are inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers a good solution for discoloured teeth?

There can be a number of reasons for discoloured/stained teeth. It is essential that the reason for this be determined so that the most conservative solution to address this be undertaken. If the staining is superficial this can be addressed by GBT therapy. If this discolouration is actually through the structure of the tooth then this can be addressed by the appropriate whitening therapy solution. However, if the tooth is stained and heavily restored and there is an increased risk of tooth fracture the an inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers would be a great solution to address these issues. If the teeth are very heavily stained this needs to be addressed by tooth whitening* otherwise this will need to be masked by using opaque ceramic resulting in a less "alive" outcome to the custom made restoration.

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Can teeth still rot under inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers?

Provided that the inlay/onlay/overlay/veneer has been accurately made and fitted then it there is less likelihood for the tooth underneath rotting away. This is assuming that the joint between the inlay/onlay/overlay/veneer and the tooth is being actively cleaned with a tooth brush and floss.

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What material choices are available for inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers?

Dental inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers can be be custom made with a number of different materials. Gold - this is still an excellent choice for back teeth as it can be thin and very conservative. However it is not very aesthetic. Pressed ceramic - this is now the first choice for high aesthetics, whether front or back teeth. The advent of 3D scanning technology* has really allowed this to push boundaries. A prepped tooth can be 3D scanned and the data sent to a Digital lab where a new tooth can be designed using CADCAM technology. The tooth inlay/onlay/overlay/veneer can then be milled before arriving at the master ceramist who will then use tint artistry to recreate the colours of your natural surrounding teeth from the photographs sent with the work. Using clever polishing techniques the ceramist can also copy how light reflects of your natural teeth. Done well it is very difficult to distinguish the inlay/onlay/overlay/veneer from the natural teeth. These inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers are technique sensitive to fit as they need to be bonded to the underlying tooth without moisture contamination. Monolithic Zirconia - milled industrial diamond which can be very thin and stronger than metal. Ideal for back teeth but as colour technology and techniques continue to develop an excellent choice for close to the front of the mouth. These are less techniques sensitive to fit so less complications. Cerec inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers - scan a tooth and mill the inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers within an hour. A great technology with the benefit that you don't need to wait 2 weeks for the lab to make the inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers. However, still no where near as good as that made by a skilled, experienced ceramist.

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Why do fees for inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers vary for different clinics?

Whilst it may seem that the same crowns are being offered for different fees at different clinics, this is not always the case. To create a perfect inlay/onlay/overlay/veneer is much more than the material. It is based on the skill of the dentist to carefully and conservatively prepare the tooth and then accurately capture the prep data for the lab; clear instructions to the lab which discuss colour gradients (teeth have a number of colours), the appropriate material for that particular client in terms of their bite and their expectations, a skilled experienced master ceramist who devotes sufficient time to recreate a inlay/onlay/overlay is as slender as a natural tooth and looks alive. The ceramist has to ensure that not only does the crown look like a tooth but it fits accurately to minimise ledges for bacteria; hygienic to allow cleaning; good contact points with adjacent teeth to ensure that food/debris and bacteria do not end up rotting the gum and eventually the jawbone. This requires time, experience and skill from both the dentist and the ceramist to achieve consistent out standing results. This is reflected in the fees.

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Are inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers permanent?

Nothing in dentistry is permanent. How long it lasts depends on how well the tooth has been prepped and the inlay/onlay/overlay made and fitted. Just as important is how well you consistently clean around the tooth/- inlay/onlay/overlay/veneer joint to minimise bacteria stagnating around this important interface.

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Do all teeth protected by inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers need root canal treatment?

Whilst not all teeth protected by inlays/onlays/overlays/veneers need to be root treated, teeth that are usually covered in this way are heavily compromised and have a higher risk of dying. The dental literature quotes an increased risk of 18% of tooth dying following being covered by these lab made restorations. However, leaving the tooth unprotected without these restorations may risk a catastrophic fracture which may result in tooth loss.

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Why do teeth need inlays, onlays, overlays, veneers ?

A tooth is at it's strongest when it is whole. When teeth rot or are repaired/restored with filling materials these teeth are still required to withstand the same heavy loads but with less surface area. This increases the risk of the tooth fracturing especially with heavily filled teeth. One of the ways to protect the tooth is to remove a outer layer of the tooth and filling and have a lab custom make a skin which covers the remaining tooth and fits like a glove.

Question not answered here?

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0131 225 9093

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info@integrateddentalcare.co.uk

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Teeth Veneers Edinburgh

Ready for a new type of dental care?

Ready for a new type of dental care?

Book Your Appointment
0131 225 9093
reception@integrateddentalcare.com

1 Manor Place Edinburgh EH3 7DH