April 2016 - The Dental Place

April 18, 2016

Teeth are anatomically unique when compared to other hard and soft tissues in the body because they cannot self-heal. This means that a permanently damaged tooth cannot regenerate new tissue to heal like a ligament or bone can. For this reason, a restoration applied by a dentist is necessary to prevent the deepening of a cavity and to protect the tooth from further damage. When decay is severe, a restoration called a dental crown may be recommended. A dental crown is a custom restoration that allows a patient to keep a badly damaged tooth while ensuring optimal oral function in the future.

Following is some important information regarding damaged teeth and dental crowns.

What is a dental crown exactly?

A dental crown is a restoration that covers the entire tooth. Essentially, a crown is a cap that is tooth shaped. It is permanently bonded over biological tooth structure. Once placed, a dental crown will restore a tooth to its rightful shape and size so that oral function is increased and the tooth itself is protected from future damage.

What materials are used to make a crown?

An array of materials is used to make a crown. From standards like gold and silver to more natural looking options like porcelain or a combination of porcelain and metal, patients have many options from which they can choose.

Why is a crown custom made?

A crown is custom made because it must fit over a patient’s specific tooth. Everyone’s mouth and teeth are different sizes. This is why a dental crown is not a one size fits all type of restoration. After taking impressions of a patient’s mouth, our team will develop the precise specifications for this custom restoration, which will be made in a dental laboratory by skilled technicians. When a person’s crown is ready, it will be bonded over the tooth. Once the restoration process is complete, oral function and appearance are restored.

To learn more about our restorative services, call our office at The Dental Place to reserve a check up with our team.

April 4, 2016

Do you have recurring headaches? Perhaps you suffer with facial pain. These are common symptoms associated with wisdom tooth retention – especially impacted wisdom teeth. Keeping your wisdom teeth can have profound effects on your quality of life and be incredibly damaging to your oral health. Since wisdom teeth are often detrimental to a person’s oral health, your dentist will likely recommend their removal. Following is some helpful information about wisdom teeth extraction and why it is necessary.

The Problem with Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth become an oral health issue when they erupt because they emerge many years after the rest of adult teeth come in. While adult teeth come in during adolescence, wisdom teeth – also known as third molars – erupt during adulthood, normally between the ages of 17 and 25.

This late eruption of third molars can threaten the positioning and placement of existing teeth because the mouth does not have adequate room for wisdom teeth to come through upright. Instead, wisdom teeth become stuck in the gums and their emergence can cause other teeth to crowd or overlap. Because third molars affect tooth placement, orthodontic treatment may be necessary to correct tooth alignment after wisdom teeth have been extracted.

When teeth are stuck in the gums (impacted), they are at great risk for becoming decayed and may subsequently become abscessed. The gingival tissue surrounding an abscessed tooth is also at risk for becoming infection. In fact, patients who keep their wisdom teeth are more likely to develop dental caries and periodontal disease.

Another common issue associated with the retention of wisdom teeth is an overall reduction in quality of life. Patients who keep these teeth frequently suffer with jaw tenderness and frequent headaches. For some, eating food can be uncomfortable—especially if third molars and the surrounding tissue are infected.

Extracting Wisdom Teeth

The surgical removal of a wisdom tooth is recommended to prevent the myriad of problems associated with their arrival. When extracting teeth, our dentist takes great care to ensure patient comfort during his or her procedure along with a speedy recovery.

To schedule a checkup or consultation, call our friendly staff today.