Category: Restorative Dentistry

Maintaining a healthy smile is not always easy. Oral problems such as dental decay, tooth injury, or loss of teeth can occur even with regular dental care. When dental issues like these go beyond the utility of a simple filling, dental crowns come to the rescue. These hollow, artificial teeth are designed to fit over a decayed, damaged, or cracked tooth, or a dental implant to improve its strength, size, shape, or appearance.

Reasons for Dental Crown Placement

The reasons behind choosing dental crowns are manifold, and they extend far beyond simply cosmetic desires. They are used extensively in preventive and restorative dentistry for the following key reasons:

• Tooth Decay: When a tooth is heavily decayed and a regular dental filling isn’t sufficient, a crown may be necessary.
• Root Canal: After a root canal treatment, a crown is typically placed over the tooth to strengthen it.
• Cracked Teeth: Crowns are used to hold together sections of a cracked tooth, preventing further damage.
• Dental Implants: Dental crowns are placed on top of dental implants to function and look like regular teeth.
• Cosmetic Enhancement: In some cases, dental crowns are used to cover discolored or badly shaped teeth, enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the smile.

Types of Dental Crown Materials

When it comes to choosing the material for your crown, it’s crucial to take into account durability, aesthetics, cost, and personal preference. Here are some of the most commonly used materials:

• Porcelain/Ceramic: Ceramic crowns provide the best natural color match to your own teeth and are generally used for front teeth.
• Porcelain Fused to Metal: These crowns offer a stronger bond than regular porcelain because they are connected to a metal structure. They are both attractive and reliable.
• Base Metal Alloys: These are extremely resistant to wear and tear, requiring the least amount of healthy tooth removal prior to placement.
• Gold Alloys: Consisting of gold, copper, and other metals, these crowns are highly resistant to chipping and severe wear.

These materials each have their strengths and weaknesses, so consulting with your dentist to select the material most appropriate for your individual needs is essential.

Dental Crown Placement Procedure

The procedure for having a dental crown placed usually involves a few steps and typically necessitates at least two dental visits. Here’s an overview:

First Visit – Examination and Preparation: The dentist will examine the tooth to ensure that it can support a crown, then begin filing it down to prepare for the crown. If the tooth is significantly damaged or broken, the dentist may need to fill it to make it large enough to receive the crown. An impression of the tooth is then made and sent to the dental lab where the crown will be manufactured.

Temporary Crown: To protect the prepared tooth, a temporary crown is often placed until the permanent crown is ready.

Second Visit – Placement of the Permanent Crown: When the crown is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit and color of the permanent one before cementing it in place.

Follow Up: There may be a period of adjustment as your mouth gets used to the feel of the new crown. Regular check-ups and proper dental hygiene are essential to maintaining the dental crown.

In Conclusion

Dental crowns are a versatile solution to many dental problems, rendering your teeth both strong and beautiful. Choosing the right material can ensure that your dental crown serves its purpose, contributing to your oral health in the most beneficial way possible. Understanding the procedural expectations can help you feel confident and secure throughout the process. It’s important to communicate with your dentist and make the best choices for your dental health – after all, your smile is worth it.

Dentistry has made a wide variety of advancements in the past few decades, bringing a vast level of comfort and safety to what used to be a quite daunting prospect. One such advancement is the development and improvement of dental fillings. These are vital to treating cavities and preserving the overall health of both the teeth and gums.

Treating Cavities

Cavities, which are tiny holes in the teeth, result from tooth decay and are one of the most common dental problems worldwide. When oral hygiene falls by the wayside, it fuels the growth of bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria generates acid which, combined with food debris and saliva, forms plaque that sticks to the teeth. Regular brushing and flossing can remove this plaque. However, when neglect persists, the plaque can eat away at the enamel surface of the tooth, thus forming a cavity.

Without treatment, these cavities can enlarge over time and affect deeper layers of the teeth, potentially leading to severe toothache, infection, and even tooth loss. This is where dental fillings come into play. They fill these holes, prohibit bacteria from entering, and prevent further decay. They serve as the first line of defense in the preservation of oral health.

Types of Filling Materials

Dental fillings are composed of a myriad of materials, each with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. The most common types are amalgam, composite resin, ceramic, and gold fillings.

• Amalgam Fillings – This is one of the most regularly used types of dental fillings due to its durability and affordability. They are composed of a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. However, their silvery appearance can be a cosmetic disadvantage, making them more visible in the mouth.
• Composite Resin Fillings – Made from a blend of plastic and fine glass particles, these fillings can be matched to the same color as your teeth, providing a more natural appearance. While they may not be as durable as amalgam fillings, they are perfect for minor to moderate areas of decay.
• Ceramic Fillings – Usually made of porcelain, these fillings are both durable and aesthetically pleasing. They match the tooth color and are resistant to staining and abrasion in comparison to composite resin.
• Gold Fillings – Made to order in a lab, these fillings are cemented into place and can last more than 20 years due to their robust nature. They are also highly biocompatible with gum tissues. However, they can be expensive and require more visits to the dentist than other types of fillings.

Dental Fillings The Procedure

The dental filling process begins with numbing the area around the tooth to alleviate discomfort. Your dentist will then remove the decayed part of the tooth using a drill and cleanse the affected area to eliminate bacteria. After the removal of the decay, the dentist will then shape the space to prepare it for the filling.

The procedure varies slightly depending on the type of filling. For direct fillings, like composite resin, the material is placed directly into the cavity, where it hardens. For indirect fillings, like gold, impressions of the tooth are made to create a custom filling in the lab. This filling is then cemented into the prepared cavity during a subsequent visit.

After the placement, your dentist will finish and polish the tooth. A follow-up visit may be scheduled to check the health of the tooth tissue and ensure that you are not experiencing any discomfort or sensitivity.

Conclusion

Dental fillings, despite the initial discomfort and anxiety around the process, are a vital and effective measure for treating cavities and safeguarding oral health. With good care and regular dental check-ups, these fillings can serve a crucial role in preserving not only the health of your teeth and gums but also your radiant smile. It thus becomes essential for everyone to realize the importance of dental fillings and opt for them when required.