A crown (cap) is a restoration that is placed on
teeth that have lost a lot of their structure.
There are many different types of
crowns, full porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, full metal crowns... Your
dentist will explain the advantage and disadvantage of each kind for you.
The process
of making a crown includes many steps
that
start in our office with
preparing the teeth and taking
impressions from the tooth/teeth
involved. Then a temporary crown or
bridge is placed on your teeth.
The impressions are sent to the lab. In
the lab a mold of the teeth is poured
and the work begins.
There are multiple steps and different
technicians work on the mold to
fabricate a crown or bridge. The
completed work is sent back to the
office and after necessary checks and
adjustments it is cemented onto your
teeth.
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Teeth stain during our lifetime due to
consumption of a variety of foods and drinks (Coke, spicy food,
coffee...) New
technology of teeth whitening has enabled dentists to whiten teeth without any
change or damage to the tooth structure.
Almost all the whitening methods are
similar in concept but some are much
more effective because of the way the
whitening material is delivered to the
teeth. The other factor in effectiveness
of
the method is the concentration of
material, which is the reason why over
the counter whitening systems usually
don
t give patients the result they are
hoping for.
The two main methods of professional
whitening are tray whitening and in
office whitening. Tray whitening is when
a custom tray is made for the patient
after an impression is taken, then a
supply of whitening gel is given to the
patient and he/she will wear the tray
for a few hours a day (techniques
differ) for a period of time until an
acceptable result is achieved.
Sensitivity of the teeth
is a normal
complication of this method of whitening
and is
almost always transitional.
In office whitening on the other hand is
the most effective method of whitening.
There are a few different ways that are
available for example, Britesmile, Zoom,
Laser whitening....But in all these
methods the process is similar and you
can have your teeth whitened in one
session with great results. Your dentist
can give you more detailed information
and tell you which method is more
suitable in your case and which one is
indicated for your teeth.
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Every tooth consists of three different
layers. From the outside, first there is Enamel (the outer layer of the
teeth which is the hardest part of the body).
The second layer is Dentin
(the inside hard layer) and then we have the Pulp (which is an empty space
where the live tissue and nerve of each tooth is located)
If for any reason the pulp space is
exposed to the outside, the tissue
becomes contaminated and eventually
infected. The
exposure of pulp happens in many
circumstances for example when you have
a large cavity, or a fractured tooth.
Your dentist can explain the exact
reason for damage to this tissue.
Regardless of the reason for this
contamination or damage to pulp tissue,
the treatment is usually Root canal
treatment.
Root canal treatment is the process of
going inside the pulp space and removing
the infected and dead tissue. Then the
space is disinfected and sealed with
special materials.
Now-a-days, root canal treatments are
performed with advanced techniques and
material and are more comfortable and
faster. After root canal treatment is
done your restorative dentist will
usually place a
crown
on you tooth to protect it against
fracture.
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When a root canal treatment fails, the
first course of action that is usually taken is trying to re-do the root
canal treatment. It is usually done by an Endodontist (root canal
specialist) or an experienced general dentist
The process is very similar to
Root canal
Treatment,
the difference is that besides taking
any remaining infected tissue out, the
doctor has to take old filling material,
any posts and crowns or any other
obstacle in the pulp space out to be
able to successfully disinfect and seal
the area of the root canal.
After the root canal treatment is done
your restorative dentist will place a
crown to protect the tooth against
fractures.
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TMJ is
the joint that connects the lower and
upper jaw (skull). The terms TMJ stands
for Temporo-Mandibular Joint. This is
one the most complicated joints of the
whole body. One that allows forward and
backward moves as well as rotations and
side to side movements.
TMJ
is the joint that connects the lower and
upper jaw (skull). The terms TMJ stands
for Temporo-Mandibular Joint. This is
one the most complicated joints of the
whole body. One that allows forward and
backward moves as well as rotations and
side to side movements.
TMJ
is often referred to as the
complications and problems with this
joint. Some of the most common symptoms
of TMJ problems are:
Some
causes of the disease are genetics,
hormones, low-level infections,
auto-immune diseases, trauma, and
clenching or grinding of the teeth.
Diagnosis of such conditions and
evaluation of causes are done by
dentists experienced in TMJ problems and
treatments. Some common treatments are
Night Guards, Bite Guards and Bite
Adjustments. Your dentist will be able
to guide you toward the best treatment
for you.
If you
experience any TMJ problem or symptoms
please let us know. The doctor will be
happy to evaluate your situation and
offer the best treatment possible.
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Sealants are thin layers of resin that
are placed on the pits and fissures and grooves of (usually) molars to
prevent decay on these surfaces
Majority of decays on back teeth starts
on grooves and pits of chewing surfaces,
especially
during the first few years after their
eruption. Sealing these surfaces with
composite resins prevents these kinds of
decay.
Sealants are one of the most effective
methods of preventing decays on the
surfaces where they are places. Although
it is still a possibility that decay may
happen on surfaces in between the teeth,
sealants significantly reduce the
overall chance of having cavities.
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