Tag: porcelain crowns

Bulimia and teeth

Bulimia wreaks havoc on a patient’s teeth. The stomach acid eats away at the enamel, and if these purge events are happening frequently, the enamel can be entirely dissolved away.

There is an excellent page that explains the dental and emotional complications of bulimia by a colleague of Dr. Hurley’s. Here is the link: http://www.chaldentistry.com/bulimia-and-teeth.html. Notice the photographs that show the enamel entirely gone from the insides of the upper front teeth. This is typical of the damage we see. But this also affects the appearance of the teeth from the front. Becoming thinner makes them more translucent and they begin to chip away and become shorter.

For people with eating disorders, seeing an accredited cosmetic dentist like Dr. Chal or Dr. Hurley is an excellent choice. Click here to read more about bulimia and teeth on this blog. A beautiful new smile can do wonders for helping rebuild the self-esteem of a recovered bulimic patient.

This blog is sponsored by top NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Two dark teeth

I’m hoping you can help me. I have two teeth darker than my other teeth. One has bonding on it and the other one a dental crown. How can I get them whiter?

Sarah D. - Idaho Falls

Sarah,

There are two very important things to know about tooth whitening: First, it whitens evenly. That means if your teeth were uneven in color before you whitened them, they will be equally and more noticeably uneven afterward. Secondly, no dental materials, such as crowns, veneers, or bonding can be whitened. What color they are when they are placed is the color they will remain.

You do have options though. If it is only those two teeth you are worried about, and are otherwise satisfied with the color of your teeth, you could just have your dental bonding and your crown re-done. I recommend getting an all porcelain crown. They’ll be much more aesthetically pleasing.

If, however, you’d like all your teeth whitened, I would do the teeth whitening on all your teeth first, then get the new bonding and crown done to match the whiter color.

Good luck to you!

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

 

Why do I need a temporary crown?

I’m getting a new crown. My dentist said it won’t be ready for a little bit so I’ll need a temporary crown. I don’t want to pay for two of them. What is the purpose of the temporary one?

Jay J. - Fordyce, AR

There are several reasons why your dentist wants you to wear a temporary crown. Be assured it will not cost the equivalent of your permanent crown, so you are not paying for two. It is made of a less durable material and is less esthetic than an artistically shaped porcelain crown, which cuts down on the costs.

First, it will need to cover your tooth to prevent sensitivity. Once your dentin is exposed it can be quite painful. Sweets can be painful, but also cold, and even air. Covering the live dentin protects you from that painful sensitivity. Secondly, it is important the temporary crown both touches the teeth on either side of the crown and occludes with its opposing tooth. The reason for this is that without that contact the teeth will move between appointments and your crown won’t fit once you return.

I hope this helps you understand your dentist is trying to protect your mouth and investment, and isn’t just racking up unnecessary expenses.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Hurley.

Why does my dentist want to use a metal crown instead of a porcelain crown?

Hello Dr. Hurley,

My dentist is placing a crown on my right rear molar. I asked him if he could use porcelain, and he told me that the crown have to be metal or gold, because there isn’t enough space between my teeth. I thought I read somewhere that metal takes up more space than porcelain. I prefer to have a porcelain crown instead of a metal one.

Thank you,
- Cynthia from Nebraska

Dear Cynthia,

If there is limited space in your mouth, then your dentist should use a metal crown. Porcelain crowns are in fact thicker than metal crowns, because they need to be strong enough to endure chewing.

Various options for metal are gold alloy or other alloys. The most common metal used is gold since it is corrosion-resistant, and it will fit better than any other type of metal crown. Metal crowns also last longer, because they are more durable. The only drawback is their metallic color. But since this is for a back molar, you should be fine. My recommendation is to choose a gold metal crown. It may cost more, but it will last much longer than any other metal.

See examples of crowns in my Smile Gallery, or read more about this procedure here.

How easy is it to detect a cracked tooth when reading an x-ray?

How easy is it to see a cracked tooth from an x-ray? After having two full mouth x-rays from two different dental offices within a month apart, neither set of x-rays detected my cracked tooth. Then I went to another dental office for a third opinion, and that dentist referred me to an Endodontist. After the Endo took x-rays, he told me that my tooth was cracked, and that I needed a root canal immediately. How did the other two dental offices miss seeing the cracked tooth in the x-rays? Is it normal for x-rays and/or dentist to miss identifying cracks in teeth?

Peter from Roswell, NM

Peter,

To answer your questions, it is extremely difficult to distinguish a cracked tooth on an x-ray. If the x-ray is not taken at the precise angle of the crack in the tooth, it will not show up. My belief is that the endodontist didn’t see the crack either. He probably saw evidence that suggested the crack in your tooth.

This has happened to me personally. I had two molars that needed root canal treatments due to cracks developing in them. These cracks did not show up in my x-rays either.

Read more about fractured or cracked teeth are repaired here on my website.