Dental Lab Services
Much in the same way a medical doctor uses a lab to process bloodwork and tissue samples as part of making diagnoses, dentists utilize dental lab services to help create and otherwise support their patients' treatment plans. At Sikora Family Dentistry, we use dental labs to make the most of key procedures and craft custom devices, all part of our commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for our incredible clients.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are veritable powerhouses. They can be used to protect broken or cracked teeth, strengthen weak teeth, and restore the shape, size, and durability of teeth that have been compromised through disease, injury, or discoloration. Dental technicians can make porcelain and ceramic crowns to match your existing teeth or you may get a crown made of stainless steel, acrylic, or even gold. Many crowns contain a combination of materials, such as porcelain layered over a metal alloy.
Crafting Bridges
When a patient loses one or several teeth that sit side by side, they may need a dental bridge to help fill that gap. Bridges must be custom-fit; too much space and the pre-existing natural teeth will move, leading to discomfort and a misaligned bite. Too little space and there's a risk of overcrowding. Dental labs have the ability to craft several types of dental bridges that are held in place by dental crowns permanently attached to the teeth on either side of the gap. In addition to working meticulously from a mold of your teeth taken by Dr. Sikora, the lab will also match the bridge to the color of your natural teeth for a beautifully seamless result.
Making Dentures
When a patient is missing more than a few teeth or can't support a dental bridge for other reasons, the next step is a partial or full set of dentures. Just as the name suggests, partial dentures are smaller devices made to fill in the gap made by several missing teeth. Unlike dental bridges, these prosthetics are removable. Full dentures are a total replacement for situations in which the patient has lost all their natural teeth. These comprehensive sets can be removable or permanently attached using dental implants.
Both partial and full dentures are made by dental lab technicians using molds based on meticulous dental impressions that perfectly record your mouth's unique shape and structure. Thanks to exacting measurements, technicians can produce remarkable prosthetics that look natural and fit wonderfully, especially after they're adjusted by our dentists.
The People Behind Our Dental Lab Services
We only use the very best staff to take care of our patients. Dental lab technicians are required to have at least a high school diploma or GED and undergo extensive training before they're allowed to work on their own and in direct contact with patient samples. Much of that training occurs while on the job as aspiring technicians learn the ins and outs of making dental prostheses by hand, though some colleges and universities do offer advanced education in more formal settings as part of dedicated dental technician programs. Some technicians decide to pursue a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as dental technology.
Certification is a crucial component in the technician training and qualification process. The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NADL) is one such program. Participants must pass three exams in four years and demonstrate both written and practical proficiency and declare a specialty in anywhere from one to five concentrations.
In addition to knowledge of basic dentistry practices, dental lab technicians must have an eye for aesthetics so they can match color, fine-tune the shape of prosthetics, and identify and repair any potential structural issues promptly. All this information is vital, as dental work is often only as good as the devices and prosthetics created by dental techs. Sikora Family Dentistry works with highly qualified, talented techs who are every bit as dedicated to patient success as we are.
Restore Your Smile At Sikora Family Dentistry
If you're looking for a way to reclaim your smile and bolster your dental health, our Husband/wife team of doctors here can help. We'll talk about your teeth, conduct a thorough exam, and let you know what we recommend in terms of procedures and prosthetics. For information, call our office at 440-779-8730 or schedule an appointment online.