Restorative Dentistry is a specialized field of dentistry that involves correcting and restoring structural deformities of teeth due to developmental or acquired diseases. Its main objectives are to restore function and aesthetics to teeth, as well as to promote and disseminate the principles of preventive dentistry.

Composite (White) Fillings

Composite fillings are restoration materials used to treat dental caries with the aim of achieving aesthetic results. After removing the decayed tooth structure, layers of material are placed into prepared cavities and hardened with a special light. Once hardened, the fillings are shaped and polished to mimic the natural anatomical features of the tooth. Their main advantages include their ability to match tooth color and structure, allowing for both restoration and cosmetic improvement. However, they can be susceptible to slight color changes due to dietary habits and may cause temporary sensitivity post-treatment. Advances in adhesive systems have improved their bonding to teeth, reducing the risk of leakage and secondary decay.

 Porcelain Fillings

Porcelain fillings are used when there is significant loss of tooth structure to preserve the remaining healthy tooth tissue. They are prepared using advanced technology and are among the most biocompatible materials for intraoral restorations. Porcelain fillings require minimal tooth preparation compared to crowns, provide excellent aesthetics, and minimize the risk of margin leakage.

Fiber-Reinforced Restorations

Fiber-reinforced composite restorations are a contemporary treatment option in dentistry. These materials, widely used in various industries, offer aesthetics, high mechanical properties, fatigue resistance, and biocompatibility. They are particularly useful for stabilizing mobile teeth due to gum and periodontal tissue damage. Additionally, they can enhance the mechanical properties of restorations, reducing the risk of tooth fracture.

Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)

The color of teeth, like many genetic traits (such as hair, eye, and skin color), is unique to each individual. The tissues that make up the teeth and their content ratios determine the color of teeth.

There are two types of discoloration that can occur in teeth:

Internal discoloration: Stains that have penetrated into the tooth and cannot be removed by brushing. Structural abnormalities that occur during tooth development (due to medications or excessive fluoride intake, etc.) fall into this category. Bleaching procedures are highly successful in treating many cases of this type of discoloration.

External discoloration: Stains on the tooth surface caused by pigmented foods like cigarettes, tea, coffee, and cola. Often, these stains can be removed through dental cleaning.

Different types of discoloration may require different treatments. Therefore, it's best for your dentist to determine the appropriate treatment.

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic solution for addressing natural or acquired discoloration using whitening gels. The whitening process involves applying a specially prepared gel to the teeth, which chemically reacts to accelerate with a light source or laser.

Teeth whitening can be performed in two ways: at-home or in-office.

Restorative Dentistry Department Clinics use a whitening method in their treatments. The professional knowledge and skills of the treating dentist are essential for this procedure. In this method, a specialist places a whitening agent on the tooth surface and applies a special light source to the teeth being whitened. The whitening process typically takes at least 2 sessions and lasts between 15-45 minutes. In addition to in-clinic whitening, at-home whitening (Home Bleaching) can be performed using custom-made trays containing whitening gels prepared based on measurements taken from the patient. The treatment continues daily for 4 - 8 hours, typically over 1 - 4 weeks. Within a few days following the whitening procedures, the teeth achieve their final color.

During whitening, areas where the whitening gel should not reach are isolated and covered by the dentist. Therefore, whitening should be performed under dental supervision, and over-the-counter products should not be used without consulting a dentist. The effectiveness of whitening generally lasts between 6 months to 2 years, depending on individual factors. To enhance the effectiveness of whitening, re-application should be done at 6-month or 1-year intervals, or supported with at-home whitening every 3 - 6 months. Paying attention to general oral hygiene and avoiding dominant-colored foods in the week following whitening will enhance the effectiveness and longevity of whitening.

Smile Design

The purpose of a revision made for aesthetic smile design is to develop a harmonious and stable chewing system that encompasses the teeth, gums, lips, muscles, skeletal structure, and joints. In summary, smile design aims to achieve the ideal smile by combining dentistry and art. Treatments such as whitening, laminate veneers, and orthodontic therapy are among the procedures that can be performed within smile design.

A smile design is planned by combining an individual's personal aesthetic expectations with health and naturalness. The relationship between the teeth, the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, and the patient's facial characteristics create a dynamic and three-dimensional tableau. Depending on the shapes, sizes, and arrangements that harmonize with the individual's facial features, the dentist and technician can create a natural and entirely pleasant appearance through artistic work.

The goal of smile design is to achieve aesthetics in dental structures with minimal preparation, as conservatively as possible compared to the past. This smile we create should not only be aesthetically appealing but also functionally ideal. As dentists, our duty is to provide our patients with the best aesthetics through careful diagnosis, analysis, and treatment.

Composite-Porcelain Laminate Veneer Restorations

Laminate veneer restorations are a treatment method applied to correct minor shape irregularities in teeth without causing damage or with minimal abrasion to the teeth.

Who Receives Laminate Veneers? 

Stained Teeth: Teeth that have become discolored due to a past illness, excessive consumption of tea, coffee, or cigarettes, or naturally dark teeth where desired results cannot be achieved through whitening methods can be treated with laminate veneers.

Damaged Teeth: Teeth that have been worn down due to misuse, scratched or broken during an accident can benefit from laminate veneer treatment. Even if only one of your teeth is damaged, it can be treated to blend naturally with the color of your other teeth.

Gapped Teeth: Gaps between your teeth (diastemas) can easily be closed using laminate veneers to achieve aesthetic smile design.

Crooked Teeth: Orthodontic treatment is primarily recommended for treating crooked teeth. However, since orthodontics is a long-term treatment method, laminate veneers are used to treat teeth that are not severely crooked. By bonding laminate veneers to the front surfaces of teeth, aesthetic and perfect smiles can be achieved.

What is the Treatment Duration for Laminate Veneers?

In cases where laminate veneers are made with composite fillings, the treatment can be completed within a day. However, for laminate veneers made from porcelain that involve laboratory processes, the treatment completion can vary between 4-7 days.

Composite Laminate Veneer Restorations

The use of composite filling material, selected to match the patient's tooth color tone, involves adding the material to the teeth to achieve an aesthetic and healthy appearance using adhesive (bonding) materials. The "layering" technique involves restoring different areas of the tooth with different shades using a wide range of composite materials, creating a natural appearance for the tooth. Anesthesia is often not needed during the creation of composite laminates. They are easily repairable and can be polished well. They can be applied comfortably in all age groups and can be redone over time. Since no additional laboratory procedures are required, the treatment can be completed in a single session in the dentist's chair (depending on the number of teeth to be treated).

Porcelain Laminate Veneer Restorations

Porcelain laminates are thin porcelain sheets, about the thickness of a fingernail, bonded to the front surfaces of teeth, prepared in the desired shape, form, and color, typically 0.3 - 0.7 mm thick. In cases where root canal treatment and gum surgery are not required in a healthy mouth, treatment can be completed in a short period, such as a week. They can mimic natural teeth with properties similar to tooth enamel in terms of light transmission, shape, form, and color. Unlike porcelain crowns, where a significant amount of enamel is removed, porcelain laminate applications involve removing only a very thin layer of enamel. Nowadays, porcelain laminates are used in clinics to redesign the smiles of patients who are not satisfied with the shape, color, and form of their teeth. They are ideal for correcting anterior tooth restorations that have lost color and form due to inherited structure and color abnormalities, or cases where whitening is ineffective, such as antibiotic or fluorosis staining. They provide the desired aesthetic results. The risk of breakage is very low as long as parafunctional habits (nail-biting, pen-chewing, teeth grinding, etc.) are avoided. Due to their advanced surface properties, they do not change color significantly unless there is excessive consumption of colorant agents (tea, coffee, tobacco products, etc.). According to clinical research, porcelain laminates are a treatment option with satisfactory clinical performance lasting 10-20 years when used under suitable indications, applied correctly, and supported by good oral hygiene.

Dental Erosion (Tooth Wear)

Dental erosion refers to substance loss in dental hard tissues without decay. It is defined as a rapid and irreversible process. In advanced stages, it can cause significant sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli. Body-derived and external acids are the leading causes of dental erosion. Body-derived acids include those resulting from gastric acid reflux into the oral cavity, pregnancy, reflux, neurological vomiting, and psychosomatic factors such as anorexia nervosa. Underlying psychosomatic and pathological causes of body-derived acids should be addressed with consultation from medical specialists in different fields. External acids include acids from acidic foods and beverages consumed by patients, environmental acids related to work environments, and medications. Due to changing lifestyles, the consumption of acidic foods and beverages has increased. High-calorie, sugary foods, and beverages with high acid content increase the risk of erosion. Clinical appearance is crucial for early diagnosis of dental erosion. Early diagnosis and elimination of risk factors form the initial step in erosion treatment. Research has shown a positive correlation between socioeconomic status, oral hygiene habits, and dental erosion. In the second step of erosion treatment, patients' oral hygiene habits and brushing techniques should be examined. After all risk factors are eliminated, restorative treatment options should be determined. High-fluoride gel applications available in dental clinics minimize the risk of decay in eroded and damaged tooth hard tissues. For teeth with advanced substance loss, treatment options such as aesthetic white fillings and porcelain restorations are chosen. Patients' salivary characteristics are assessed, and supportive products are recommended based on the findings.

Halitosis (Bad Breath)

Describing halitosis as a disease is incorrect, but it can be an indicator of many diseases. Halitosis should be classified under two categories: Physiological and Pathological. Physiological halitosis results from the presence of an unpleasant odor in the mouth due to consumed foods or gases accumulated in the digestive tract. Pathological halitosis is classified based on patient behaviors into three main types: Type I, where the patient is aware of and accepts their bad breath; Type II, where the patient's bad breath is detected by their close contacts; and Type III, where the patient intermittently suspects bad breath. In all three types, the presence of halitosis can indicate gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory system disorders, chronic conditions (diabetes, renal failure, liver failure), or metabolic disorders. However, research indicates that approximately 85% of halitosis cases originate from the oral cavity. To treat oral cavity-related bad breath, regular visits to the dentist are necessary. Swelling, bleeding in periodontal tissues, dental plaque, and calculus presence; bacteria accumulated on the tongue and between teeth and cheeks are the main causes of oral malodor. Additionally, interdental caries and contact surfaces of old restorations should be thoroughly examined and radiographically evaluated. Old restorations should be replaced to eliminate plaque accumulation due to deteriorated surfaces.