Dental Crowns Are Often Necessary Over Dental Fillings

Dental crowns are a very commonly used restoration process by dentists to fix a number of problems with your teeth. The science and technology behind dental crowns have been used for a number of years though the methods and materials that we use have changed and improved significantly. Most people are aware of what crowns do, how they can be effective, and that they are one of the best ways to correct dental issues like a chipped or broken tooth. By the same token, many people are wary of getting a procedure done if they perceive it to be unnecessary or too expensive. With crowns, insurance typically pays for a portion of it while the patient has to pay the rest. Given this, we work with you to fully understand what the health issue is and how we can best address it. If we recommend dental crowns, you can be sure that is the most efficient way for us to maintain your oral health.

Restoration tools, like dental crowns, are custom made in a laboratory using the measurements and imprints that we take of your teeth. This ensures that they are an excellent fit when they cap your teeth. Dental crowns are also commonly known as dental caps because once they are installed they cover the entire tooth they form a cap over the top of it. Once in place, an implant provides stability, strength, and the ability for the tooth to heal, when necessary, at a normal pace. Two vital functions are performed by the crowns.

•    First the dental crowns provide strength and support for the tooth. A tooth that has been damaged will often cause the mouth to compensate. This can affect the way you chew and can even lead to the teeth being misaligned. When the crown is placed, it helps the tooth to remain healthy and functional which does away with the need for the surrounding teeth to compensate.

•    Second the dental crowns work to reduce any chance of an infection or of the bacteria from a decayed tooth spreading to other areas of the mouth. Often a crown is used on a tooth that has been so badly decayed that it is spreading that bacteria throughout the mouth, potentially starting other infections. The crown, which is installed, after all, the decayed portion is removed, mitigates this.

When considering the pros and cons of having a dental crown installed, it is important to understand that there are certain conditions that cannot be resolved using fillings, for example. There are a few cases where we will almost certainly recommend that you have a dental crown placed.  For example, a badly chipped, cracked, or damaged tooth requires attention immediately. Cracks can spread, chips can get infected, and if the tooth is so damaged that it requires attention chances are that we will need to put on a crown to limit and correct the damage. Also, if a previous filling, of fillings, is so big that it is no longer effective, we can place a crown around it.

Cosmetic Dentistry  >  Dental Veneers

Why Men Shouldn’t Skip Visiting the Dentist

If you are a guy that hasn't seen a dentist in a few years, you're not alone.  The Academy of General Dentistry found that men tend to visit a dental office less frequently than women and that 45 percent of men didn't go because they simply didn't see the need for it, with another 30 percent skipping visits due to dental anxiety.  While some form of anxiety is natural, this is perhaps the easiest to address.  Modern dental care is both convenient and comfortable.  Using sedation dentistry techniques, we can ensure that our patients feel great during their dental treatments so that there is nothing to be concerned about.

If, however, you are a guy that hasn't felt the need to come in – it is time to learn the facts about oral health care.  While your teeth are small, they are also incredibly important to your oral health and your health overall. In fact, gum disease has been linked to heart disease so not taking care of your teeth and gums may increase your risk of heart disease.  Research is still ongoing but what we do know is that seventy percent of those treated for a heart condition, also have gum disease.  We also know that the same plaque in your arteries is found on your teeth, leading us to conclude that by allowing plaque deposits to build up on your teeth, you could be swallowing them and disbursing them throughout your body.  Science will eventually find all of the connections but in the meantime it is best to avoid plaque buildup by having your teeth cleaned on a regular basis.

It is also important to visit the dentist if you have a busy schedule.  We understand that life can be demanding and with work, family and social obligations there can be little time for unscheduled inconveniences.  With that in mind, the best way to prevent a dental emergency is to schedule regular teeth cleanings.  We can remove the plaque and bacteria that can lead to problems and treat minor ones as they arise.  This simple step will allow us to treat cavities when they are small and eliminate infections before they have the chance to spread.  For those that are too busy to visit our office, taking the time is even more important.

Men that want to improve their social interactions and even job performance may find that visiting the dentist can help as well.  Match.com conducted a survey of 5,000 men and women, that found a beautiful smile is the most attractive quality that anyone can have.  Improving yours, can influence other areas of life.  Simultaneously, something like infected teeth and bad breath can negatively impact social interactions and job performance.  Many guys don't realize that an infection can be the culprit behind dragon breath and that a simple teeth cleaning can solve this problem far more than chewing gum or using mouthwash.

For these reasons and more, take the time to visit our dentist office and ensure that your teeth and gums stay in excellent health.

General Dentist  >  Family Dentistry