subject: Crowns And Bridges- Metal-free 21st Century Ceramics For Improved Appearances [print this page] Whether you have a broken or decayed tooth, or are missing teeth, there is a restorative solution for you. Say goodbye to silver fillings that contain mercury and metal crowns and bridges! With the current advancements in dental materials, there is no longer any reason to use unattractive metals to repair your smile. When teeth are heavily decayed they become too weak to survive the daily chewing and grinding with just a "filling" restoration. By placing a crown, your tooth can be given a second chance at life. Even when teeth are lost, a denture is often not required as dental bridge-work can be used to span the gap with a false tooth/teeth attached to the two adjoining teeth.
Damaged Tooth? Crowns can help
When a tooth is fractured, has a large existing filling, or is severely damaged by decay, your dentist may recommend the placement of a crown. Also referred to as "caps," dental crowns are used to strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure. Crowns can also be used to improve the appearance of your smile. There are multiple types of crowns to choose from, but your dentist in Houston utilizes metal-free 21st century ceramic crowns that are now as strong, or stronger, than the traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal crown or the all-metal crown.
Fitting for your crown typically requires two visits to your dentist in Houston. At your initial visit, your dentist will remove decay and then build up the tooth with restorative materials that allow the dentist to reshape the tooth completely. Next, an impression will be made of the tooth, which will be used to create a new ceramic crown to cover the tooth. Lastly, a temporary crown is made and fitted to protect the tooth temporarily until the permanent crown can be placed.
At the next visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown. He will then fit and adjust the final crown, permanently cementing it into place. The crown's color will be matched to the color of your natural teeth, changing the once damaged tooth into an aesthetically pleasing part of your beautiful smile! If you are considering whitening your teeth, you will want to talk to your dentist about tooth whitening options prior to making the crown/crowns. Since bleaching products do not affect the color of a crown, it is important that your natural teeth are whitened first so that your dentist can match the crown color to your newly whitened teeth.
Missing Teeth? Dental Bridges Fill in the Gaps
There are few incidents that have a greater impact on your dental health and personal appearance than tooth loss. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can drift out of position, which can then lead to a change in your bite, the loss of additional teeth, increased decay, and even gum disease. So, if you are missing a tooth, or multiple teeth, your dentist will often recommend their replacement with a dental bridge.
When a bridge is placed the teeth on both sides of the gap are covered with crowns and an artificial tooth is attached to those two (or, in some cases, more than two) crowns. Initially, your dentist in Houston will prepare the abutment teeth on either side of the space to receive crowns and then will take an impression of the teeth involved. As the bridge is not placed immediately, your dentist will fit a temporary or transitional bridge made out of acrylic for between visits. At the second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary bridge an then place, adjust, and permanently cement the fixed bridge. To keep your mouth healthy and to increase the life of your new bridgework, be sure to follow your dentist's special home care instructions and don't forget your regular three to six month check-ups!
The Latest Technology for Crowns
In the last five to ten years, a new technique for creating ceramic crowns has been introduced. This latest technology actually gives the dentist the option of "milling" the ceramic crown in his office while you wait! As this new technique has evolved, the previous method of taking crown and bridge impressions with putty-like material has been replaced with a completely "digital" impression.
This digital imprint of your teeth then enables your Houston dentist to create the design of your tooth using a computer program. The computer then sends the information to a "milling" machine that you can actually observe as it creates your crown! This technique takes a little more time in the office for your initial appointment, but actually eliminates the need for a temporary crown and a second appointment completely. There are new developments in this technology every year - making tooth replacement and repair easier and more efficient than ever.
Talk to your Houston dentist today for more information on how crowns or bridges can restore the natural beauty of your smile!
