Dental Crown Archives - Allyson K Hurley, DDS

March 28, 2017 by

I went through a lot of trouble to find a top dentist for a smile makeover. So how in the world she ended up chipping one of my teeth I will never know. I had 3 old, old crowns that needed to be replaced and for some reason the dentist was having trouble getting one of the crowns off. The first 2 came off without a hitch. After 20 minutes of trying to get the other one off I felt a big yank and felt a metal tool hit one of my left incisors. The dentist said, “Uh oh.” Uh oh? I asked her what happened and she told me that one my teeth was a little chipped. She let me look at it in a mirror and she said she would touch it up right away with dental bonding. She did a decent job but I can see where she did the touch-up. I now have temporary crowns on the 3 teeth I went there for and I am afraid to see what the new ones will look like if she couldn’t get the bonding right. With the work already in progress, how can I switch dentists in the middle of treatment? What can I do about a top dentist who doesn’t seem to know what she is doing? Tad

Tad – Although any dentist can claim to be a top dentist, it doesn’t mean that he or she has the skill, training, and experience needed to give you a smile that looks great. It is also possible for any dentist to make a mistake.

A mistake doesn’t necessarily mean that your dentist doesn’t know what she is doing. But if you can look at your tooth in a mirror and see where the bonding meets your tooth, your dentist might not be experienced or talented in every aspect of cosmetic dentistry. It takes skill to manipulate dental bonding to match the color and translucence of your natural teeth.

As a suggestion, you can receive a second opinion from a skilled cosmetic dentist. He or she can examine the bonding on your chipped tooth and improve or replace it.

It sounds as if your dental crowns have been ordered already, so you might want to give your dentist a chance to complete the work. Otherwise, it might take some time and negotiation, along with additional expense to cancel the placement of crowns that have already been ordered from the lab. If the dental crown work is faulty, your new dentist might be able to help you negotiate a reasonable solution.

This post is sponsored by Chatham, NJ accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

April 2, 2016 by

My teeth are a mess and they are way beyond just whitening them to make them look better. No 2 teeth are the same shape. They look like they all came from a different mouth LOL. I really need help. I don’t know which way to go – with veneers or crowns. I don’t want a dentist telling me I need crowns when I need veneers, but also I don’t want the reverse. I am not sure who to trust and since I am making such a large investment on my smile it better look good. So what kind of things do I need to know to find the best dentist to tell me if I need crows or veneers? Thanks Ismaila

Ismaila – If you want to find the best dentist in your area, you may be able ask friends, family members, or co-workers for recommendations for a cosmetic dentist who does beautiful work.

Don’t just take their word for it, though, do a little homework first. Check out each dentist’s website, review his or her credentials, and look for a smile gallery on the site so you can see before-and-after pictures of the dentist’s work. After you’ve narrowed your selection to two or three cosmetic dentists, schedule a consultation with each of them. The consultation will give you time to meet the dentist, ask questions, and decide if he or she is the right provider for your case.

In addition to any personal references you get, mynewsmile.com is a great resource to find some of the best cosmetic dentists in the country. The site is sponsored by a retired cosmetic dentist who carefully screens dentists for their training and credentials before they are listed on mynewsmile.com

If you can, be willing to travel a little to find a cosmetic dentist who can give you a beautiful smile.

This post is sponsored by NJ award-winning and accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

January 17, 2016 by

I got a crown on a bottom left molar in April 2015, so soon it will be a year since I’ve had it. I didn’t have any problems with it for the first 2 months but after that it started feeling sensitive. Any time I eat or drink something hot or cold I get a tingling sensation in my mouth. If something is really cold it actually hurts. Also I have started to notice that if I have to chew something that puts a lot of pressure on it, it hurts. I have mentioned this to my dentist a couple of times and he did x-rays at first. He has adjusted it both times. It is still tingly, but it doesn’t seem that my dentist is really trying to figure out what is going on. Does anything I’ve described give clues about what might be happening with my teeth? Scott

Scott – At times, when a crown is first placed, the tooth nerve is irritated and can be sensitive for a few weeks. Longer periods of sensitivity indicate that there is another issue causing irritation. There are several possibilities.

A Sensitive Dental Crown – Possible Causes

One possibility is that you are grinding your teeth while you sleep. Your dentist can examine your teeth and look for signs of wear. A customized night guard can be made for you to wear at night. The night guard will cushion the effects of teeth grinding.

It is possible that there is a problem with your natural tooth beneath the crown. The crown can be removed to check the condition of the tooth. A root canal treatment may be needed.

Another less common factor is that some of the cement from the bonding material was left around the crown. It can cause inflammation, irritation, and sensitivity.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist for a thorough examination of your crown and tooth. If he or she is not able to find the cause of the sensitivity, consider getting a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist. Properly trained cosmetic dentists are skilled in the placement of dental crowns. He or she will work to resolve the issue with the sensitivity in your crown.

This post is sponsored by a NJ Monthly Magazine Top Dentist—Dr. Allyson Hurley. She is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

December 28, 2015 by

How long have porcelain crowns been around? I need crowns on both front center teeth and I have been to 3 different dentists and none of them can get the crowns right. The crowns are too big, too white, too thick, or too wide, or there is some other problem with them. It started with my dentist who just sounded like the whole thing would be a breeze. He has done crowns on front teeth before, although I don’t know how they looked on the patient. We went through several mock-ups and temps, but he just couldn’t get it right. So after I kept complaining, he referred me to a colleague who is a “cosmetic dentist” and she only slightly did a better job. So I went round and round with her and still got pasty white buck teeth crowns which I refused to let her cement on. After that I decided to find a dentist on my own and asked for recommendations from people in the office where I work. I got several recommendations and picked a dentist. We are in the mockup phase and the teeth look bad—again. So I’m done. But I can’t really be done can I, because I still need new crowns?! Is it nearly impossible to get crowns on front teeth that look good? I am totally frustrated. Any suggestions you have or a recommendation of a dentist would be great. Thanks. Tensie

Tensie – We understand your frustration and concern. When you smile, your front teeth are what others’ eyes focus on first. They need to look natural.

Placing beautiful, natural-looking crowns on front teeth is a challenge. It requires the skill of an artistic cosmetic dentist. The artistic dentist’s concerns are quality, looks, symmetry, and harmony. This means that the dental crowns you receive will match the characteristics of your surrounding teeth, fit well, look great, and look like they are your natural teeth. Only an artist can accomplish all of that.

It’s a good idea to ask for recommendations of a cosmetic dentist from friends and family members, but you also have to do a little homework. Is the dentist accredited? If not, has he or she received any recognition or awards for cosmetic dentistry? Does the dentist continue to participate in ongoing training? Does the dentist have a physical catalog or online gallery of before-and-after pictures for you to review?

Have consultations with two or three cosmetic dentists before you choose your next provider. Take the time to ask questions—and ask to see photos—before you make a final decision. With a little more time and careful research, you will find a dentist to give you beautiful crowns on your front teeth.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

May 29, 2013 by

i was bulimic and my teeth are terrible. i need to know my options for getting my teeth fixed, if they can be fixed. – O.

O. – Although the vomiting with bulimia can cause teeth to wear or chip, they can be beautifully restored. But it takes a skilled and experienced dentist to restore them properly.

Depending on the state of your teeth, a skilled cosmetic dentist will use porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, or a combination of both to give you a beautiful new smile. Your smile will be completely natural looking.

Find a dentist with extensive experience who is also accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. An accredited cosmetic dentist has completed continuing education classes, demanding clinical testing process, an oral test, and submitted documentation of his or her patient cases. You will be thrilled with your new smile. You will be able to find an accredited dentist with whom you can make financial arrangements, if needed, to restore your smile.

This post is sponsored by New Jersey accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

April 23, 2011 by

Hi. I’ve got a tooth that is badly decayed. How do you know when to remove it and get an implant, or just do a root canal and a crown. My dentist wants to do an implant, but I would rather keep my tooth.

Thanks, John

John,

I’m sorry about your tooth. My feeling is it would depend on how decayed the tooth is. If the tooth can be saved, that is almost always the best option, and yes, you could do a root canal/crown. If, however, it is very badly decayed, then saving it isn’t an option, and an implant or a dental bridge would be good options. For that to be the case the decay would have to go all the way through the tooth to the underside. Other than that, I think your tooth could be saved. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get a second opinion.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Allyson Hurley.