Dental defects and tooth loss are among the common oral diseases. Their causes are varied, including congenital absence, dental caries, trauma, periodontal disease, etc., severely impacting both dental health and aesthetics. Dental restoration is a crucial discipline within oral medicine. With technological advancements, dental restoration techniques are continuously evolving and improving, leading to the development of increasingly diverse restorative materials and methods, offering patients more choices.

Methods of Dental Restoration

Patients with dental defects or loss need to choose restoration techniques based on the specific situation, generally categorized into two main types: tooth defect restoration and restoration for partial or complete edentulism. Tooth defect restoration typically refers to abnormalities in the tooth's morphology and structure, affecting aesthetics and occlusion, common restoration methods include fillings, inlays, and veneers. Restoration for partial or complete edentulism generally refers to the loss of a large number or all teeth in the maxilla or mandible, severely impacting aesthetics, mastication, speech, and other functions.

Dentures, commonly known as "false teeth," are used to replace missing teeth. They can be made from different materials such as plastic, porcelain, or metal. Dentures can be broadly categorized into two types: removable dentures and fixed dentures. Denture restoration technology is one of the common dental restoration techniques, primarily divided into removable denture restoration, fixed denture restoration, and implant restoration.

Fixed Denture Restoration: If a tooth is defective but not yet missing, a fixed restoration like a crown (commonly known as a "porcelain crown") can be placed on the tooth surface. If the tooth is already missing, fixed dentures (bridges) can be installed for restoration.

Removable Denture Restoration: The restoration (removable denture) can be freely inserted and removed by the patient. This is generally chosen by patients with few remaining teeth or significant tooth loss to ensure basic chewing function and aesthetics.

Implant Restoration: Dental implants primarily consist of two major components: the implant and the prosthesis (crown/bridge). The implant, also called an artificial tooth root, replaces the natural tooth root and is surgically placed into the jawbone. Implants are made from titanium alloy or other biocompatible materials, possessing excellent biocompatibility and osseointegration capability. Implants offer high retention, can withstand significant chewing forces, and can simulate the biomechanical properties of natural tooth roots, helping to maintain alveolar bone health. However, implant surgery costs are relatively high, imposing certain financial requirements on the patient. If a patient's tooth crown and root are completely missing, an implant can be placed into the edentulous ridge, and a crown is then fabricated and attached to the implant for restoration.

So, how can Atometrics's high-precision measurement technology contribute to the development of dental restoration techniques?

Atometrics White Light Interferometer AM-7000 series has been successfully installed and put into use in a dental school of a university ranked among the top 50 in the QS World University Rankings. The school mainly uses it to measure the 3D contour of implants and the surface roughness of dentures. The advanced interferometric surface profiler provides strong technical support in the field of dental restoration. The next article will take you into White Light Interferometer AM Series’s high-precision measurement technology.

If you are facing measurement challenges and are interested in the above applications, please visit the Atometrics official website for more details. Atometrics provides dedicated engineers to connect with you, offering free sample machine demonstrations and testing services nationwide!