If a dental crown has been recommended as a part of your treatment plan, it’s likely that you have a tooth that has been severely decayed. Dental crowns are used for replacing the entire top part of your tooth – what’s visible above the gum line – to stop the spread of decay, and help you regain a strong bite. But crowns can be used for a variety of reasons, or can be substituted for other dental restorations in some circumstances.
Crowns Used in Cosmetic Restorations
Dental crowns can be used for more cosmetic purposes as well. Crowns are traditionally made with a metal base coated in a porcelain, tooth-colored finish, but can also be made of pure porcelain or ceramic to more closely mimic the appearance of a natural tooth. If you have teeth that are too-small, or if your natural teeth are gapped and crowded, a cosmetic dentist can place a crown on a tooth to alter its shape and alignment. This method requires buffing-down existing dental enamel, so it’s typically only indicated for a tooth that needs restoration in the event of extensive cosmetic damage, like a large chip or crack.
Alternatives to Dental Crowns
The process for getting a dental crown does involve some preparation. In order to correct instances of decay and damage, the affected tooth is buffed and polished to accept the restoration. When dental enamel is healthy enough, however, more conservative restorations are used to preserve natural tooth structure.
Onlays and inlays can treat moderate decay by filling-in only the damaged parts of teeth, as opposed to the entire top part of a tooth. Onlays and inlays offer enhanced cosmetic benefit as well, if they are created from tooth-colored materials like porcelain.
In the event that a flaw on one of your teeth is small (like a very fine crack or a minor chip), composite dental bonding can sometimes be a viable alternative to a dental crown. Composite resin is built-up directly on teeth to hide any damage or replace broken enamel.
Do I Need a Crown? An Onlay? Or Dental Bonding?
Only your dentist will be able to tell you which restorative treatment will provide the best results for your long-term oral health and wellness. At Hughes Dental Group, we’re proud to offer cosmetic restorations that include porcelain crowns, bonding, and onlays and inlays. Contact our office for more information or if you need help deciding if a dental crown is right for you.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Gum Disease: How does it start and who’s at-risk?
Gum disease is an infection of the soft tissue surrounding and supporting your teeth. As it worsens, it can cause inflammation and attack bone, resulting in bleeding gums, bad breath, tooth decay and even tooth loss.
How Does Gum Disease Form?
Throughout the day, a build-up of bacteria and other materials can take up residence on and between our teeth, which forms a sticky shell of plaque over time. If untreated, plaque can harden to become tartar, which cannot be removed by brushing and instead, must be removed by a dentist.
A build-up of plaque and tartar allows small colonies of bacteria to form in pockets along the base of our teeth, and under the gum. The bacteria erode healthy tissue, and eats away at its surroundings. Gum disease can progress from a manageable condition, to more aggressive infection which can require surgical treatment.
You might be particularly susceptible to gum disease if you fall into one of the following categories:
• Smokers: Smoking is known to irritate the gum tissue, creating the perfect conditions for bacteria to breed and infect gums.
• Hormonal changes: Women going through hormonal changes, including pregnancy, will find their gum tissue softens, which also makes it easier for bacteria to attack.
• Compromised immune system and disease: People who are diagnosed with diabetes, AIDS, cancer and other conditions, do not have the same ability to fight off bacterial infections as healthy people. Also, certain medications for these conditions can reduce the amount of saliva present in the mouth, allowing bacteria to sit longer, if not removed on a regular basis.
While gum disease is common, it can also be effectively treated, or avoided altogether. If you are concerned about the health of your gums, or would like to learn more about how our Campbell, CA dental office treats gum disease, contact our office for your next dental appointment.
How Does Gum Disease Form?
Throughout the day, a build-up of bacteria and other materials can take up residence on and between our teeth, which forms a sticky shell of plaque over time. If untreated, plaque can harden to become tartar, which cannot be removed by brushing and instead, must be removed by a dentist.
A build-up of plaque and tartar allows small colonies of bacteria to form in pockets along the base of our teeth, and under the gum. The bacteria erode healthy tissue, and eats away at its surroundings. Gum disease can progress from a manageable condition, to more aggressive infection which can require surgical treatment.
You might be particularly susceptible to gum disease if you fall into one of the following categories:
• Smokers: Smoking is known to irritate the gum tissue, creating the perfect conditions for bacteria to breed and infect gums.
• Hormonal changes: Women going through hormonal changes, including pregnancy, will find their gum tissue softens, which also makes it easier for bacteria to attack.
• Compromised immune system and disease: People who are diagnosed with diabetes, AIDS, cancer and other conditions, do not have the same ability to fight off bacterial infections as healthy people. Also, certain medications for these conditions can reduce the amount of saliva present in the mouth, allowing bacteria to sit longer, if not removed on a regular basis.
While gum disease is common, it can also be effectively treated, or avoided altogether. If you are concerned about the health of your gums, or would like to learn more about how our Campbell, CA dental office treats gum disease, contact our office for your next dental appointment.
Monday, August 10, 2015
What to Expect with Zoom! Teeth Whitening
Getting your smile to look whiter and healthier can be easily achieved with an in-office whitening treatment from Zoom! Unlike hit-and-miss drugstore whitening products, professional whitening from our dental office provides patients with the dramatically brighter results they’re hoping for. If you’re interested in same-day teeth whitening, but aren’t sure what to expect from treatment, consider the following:
During your Teeth Whitening Appointment
To brighten your teeth, our dentists will apply a layer of whitening agent to teeth and then activate the gel with a special light for around 15 minutes. You’ll be provided with eyewear during this phase of treatment. We’ll also use a protective barrier so that the whitening gel does not irritate soft tissue, such as gums or the inside of checks. This application and activation process will be repeated a few times to ensure that your teeth are whitened to the desired shade.
Minimizing any Post Treatment Discomfort
It’s possible for all whitening treatments, even drugstore whitening products, to cause some post-treatment sensitivity. Any discomfort you encounter is temporary and can be alleviated with over-the-counter medication. Patients with especially sensitive teeth may want to consider our at-home whitening with Opalesence, which contains ingredients that help limit sensitivity during and after teeth bleaching.
After Your Same-Day Whitening Treatment
To keep your smile looking fresh, and to avoid staining your teeth immediately after treatment, it’s important to avoid eating and drinking certain things for 48 hours after your teeth have been bleached. Be careful not consume highly pigmented foods and drinks like red wine, tomato sauce, coffee, and dark soft drinks. A good rule of thumb to consider is: if it would stain a white tablecloth, it could stain your teeth as well.
If you have questions about same-day teeth whitening with Zoom! or how you can achieve a brighter smile with any our of whitening therapies, contact Hughes Dental Group for more information.
During your Teeth Whitening Appointment
To brighten your teeth, our dentists will apply a layer of whitening agent to teeth and then activate the gel with a special light for around 15 minutes. You’ll be provided with eyewear during this phase of treatment. We’ll also use a protective barrier so that the whitening gel does not irritate soft tissue, such as gums or the inside of checks. This application and activation process will be repeated a few times to ensure that your teeth are whitened to the desired shade.
Minimizing any Post Treatment Discomfort
It’s possible for all whitening treatments, even drugstore whitening products, to cause some post-treatment sensitivity. Any discomfort you encounter is temporary and can be alleviated with over-the-counter medication. Patients with especially sensitive teeth may want to consider our at-home whitening with Opalesence, which contains ingredients that help limit sensitivity during and after teeth bleaching.
After Your Same-Day Whitening Treatment
To keep your smile looking fresh, and to avoid staining your teeth immediately after treatment, it’s important to avoid eating and drinking certain things for 48 hours after your teeth have been bleached. Be careful not consume highly pigmented foods and drinks like red wine, tomato sauce, coffee, and dark soft drinks. A good rule of thumb to consider is: if it would stain a white tablecloth, it could stain your teeth as well.
If you have questions about same-day teeth whitening with Zoom! or how you can achieve a brighter smile with any our of whitening therapies, contact Hughes Dental Group for more information.
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