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Sports Dentistry is a vital element of player safety and health. The Houston Medical Center Dental Group works in Partnership with Rice University to meet the dental needs of all the players on the Rice Football Team. We provide the full range of sports dental services to ensure the maximum possible safety of each player, thereby improving team spirit and furthering the pursuit of excellence and accomplishment.
These same services are available to other universities, colleges, and school districts interested in protecting the safety and maximizing the performance of their football team.
A recent case study from Rice illustrates how our combination of advanced sports dentistry and our knowledge of cosmetic dentistry solutions was able to help a wide receiver overcome constant pain and get back in the game.
Who was the patient?
He was a wide receiver for the Rice Football Team.
What brought the patient to the office?
Concussions and pain are what started the process. The knowledgeable trainers at Rice referred him to our office.
What were the specific problems that the player was facing?
The first problem he had was several concussions he had received over the years. Players, trainers, and coaches on the Rice Football Team were concerned that this could cause him additional problems if it wasn’t addressed.
The other problem that plagued him was temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) problems. These problems had surfaced over the years of playing football and they caused him to suffer a lot of pain. In particular, he had severe pain in his right TMJ.
What tests did you perform on the player?
We did a series of tests on his head to see the extent of previous concussions. We also did an analysis on his neck and a full set of X-rays.
What was the first thing you did for him?
The first thing we did for him was make him a custom mouthguard. We also performed splint therapy in order to help him with his discomfort and headaches. Thanks to the custom mouthguard, the player, to our knowledge, suffered no additional issues with concussions after that.
He will have to continue with splint therapy in order to control the condition of his right TMJ.
How did the procedure or device you issued the player improve player safety and performance?
The Rice Football Team trainers thought that the custom football guard helped prevent further concussions and the TMJ splint allowed him to have a pain free life.
In fact, the mouthguard worked so well that the Rice Football trainer asked us to make mouthguards for the entire team. We do this every August before the season starts. Labels: custom mouthguards, football mouthguards, rice university football team, sports dentistry
Dental Insurance Question
I need both upper and lower arches replaced. I also need extractions. I have MetLife dental insurance & phcs health thru my husband’s work.
I am 59 years old.
Would I qualify for any discount on the total cost of the procedure?
-Mary
Thanks for the note, Mary –
We will have to see you, take x-rays, take photos, etc. in order to answer your questions fairly. The cost will depend on how many teeth need to be taken out (we will look to see if in fact they all need to be taken out and give you options), and also the difficulty of the dentures. If you would like to have IV sedation, that is a separate cost that you can consider.
If indeed you need these teeth extracted, we will probably be making immediate dentures (made ahead of time and placed at the same time the teeth are taken out). We can also teach you about the possibility of dental implants if you are interested in those also.
Please call our office and make a denture consult appointment. You can speak with Mary, Debbie, or Maria. If you will give me your phone now, I can have one of those ladies call you and answer any further questions you might have. They can give you information related to your insurance and likely coverage.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale J. Brant, DDSLabels: dental insuran benefits, dental insurance
Is it easy to find a good oral surgeon?
It is not as easy as finding a general dentist. Oral surgeons are specialists that undergo advanced training and have to complete special residency and licensing requirements to perform the most complex of dental procedures and be qualified to use the most advanced of dental technology.
You must not only find a good oral surgeon, but you must research his or her credentials and references thoroughly.
What is the best way to find a good oral surgeon and to research his or her qualifications?
Begin by talking to your family doctor. Your doctor may be able to recommend a dentist who specializes in surgical work that is beyond the scope of general dentistry.
If not, then talk to people you know such as family, friends, coworkers, and a local area pharmacist. If any of them have gone to an oral surgeon, ask for candid feedback on the experience they had and the results of their treatment.
One excellent source may also be your insurance company. Most insurance companies have a list of dentists in your area.
Use the Internet as well. Some websites you find, though, may not have as much detailed content as ours and may only offer general information and standard contact information. Feel free to contact anyone who peaks your curiosity and ask questions directly.
However, we encourage you to check for references, both on ourselves, and on other dentists you may encounter in your search. If you want references on our professionals, ask and we will provide you with them.
What should make me feel good about an oral surgeon?
You want someone with a combination of advanced medical skill and expertise who is also compassionate and gentle with his patients. Avoid going to someone brand new at this business. Also, avoid anyone that makes you feel diminished or insults your intelligence or has a harsh personality.
We are not saying this to point fingers at any individuals here in our community, but to simply point out that there are such things as inexperienced oral surgeons and oral surgeons who are simply not nice people.
You have to draw your own conclusions about both at the end of the day.
Will a good oral surgeon be bothered by me asking for all this reassurance of reputation and experience?
No. People with integrity, experience, and healthy self-esteem do not hide things or engage in defensive posturing when patient’s whose lives they will be affecting ask realistic questions pertaining to their health and general welfare.
Good oral surgeons understand the importance of calming down anxiety that so many people have toward dental services and will not hesitate to answer your questions to do so.
That is why we have this blog called ASK THE DENTIST. We want you to ask us whatever is on your mind.Labels: good oral surgeons, houston oral surgeons, how to find a good oral surgeon
What is an Oral Surgeon?
Oral surgeons are dental specialists that must be certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He or she must have attended an accredited dental school and be licensed in the state he or she practices Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition to this, the oral surgeon must have also trained for four years or more in an accredited maxillofacial surgery residency at a hospital.
Why would I need to worry about an oral surgeon if all I need is cosmetic dental work?
Many cosmetic dental services depend heavily the structural integrity of bones and teeth. If these things have been damaged by trauma or disease, they must be repaired first before cosmetic tooth restorations can be effectively applied.
What types of procedures are performed by oral surgeons?
They remove wisdom teeth, treat TMJ, remove tumors and cysts, and replace missing teeth with dental implants. They can also do full mouth reconstruction where severe mouth trauma has resulted from an accident or blow to the head. Oral surgeons diagnose injuries and diseases of the mouth, jaw, neck, gums, and teeth.
I am afraid of oral surgery. What do I do?
Ask us about sedation dentistry. We have both oral and intravenous sedation programs that will make even the scariest procedures comfortable and painless.
Are oral surgeons trained in anesthesia?
Yes. However, we bring in an anesthesiologist for any type of anesthesia that is delivered intravenously. We prefer to have an his expertise focused exclusively on effectively monitoring the patient’s appropriate state while we focus our expertise on whatever general or cosmetic dentistry services we are performing.
What are several things to consider when selecting an oral surgeon?
You need to think about both training and clinical experience. How much coursework did your dentist receive in the particular procedures that he or she is recommending? Also, for how many years has he or she actually performed those procedures? Your dentist should be willing to provide you with as much information regarding this as possible.
It is also a good idea to know what professional dental societies your oral surgeon belongs to. Find out where he or she has received his or her credentials, and find out what awards or honors he or she has received.
Finally, continuing education should be the priority of every serious medical professional. None of us should ever stop learning. The American Dental Association, in fact, requires that oral surgeons regularly update their training with ongoing coursework on the latest technology and procedures in our field.
What else should I talk to my oral surgeon about?
Since most cosmetic dental procedures vary widely in cost due to differences in individuals and the severity of each individual case, you need to talk to you dentist about insurance and out of pocket costs for the procedures he or she recommends. You also need to talk to your insurance company and find out what is covered and what is not covered. If something we offer you is not covered by your plan, we have financing programs you can apply for.
Be sure to get a clear picture too on how to handle dental emergencies. Labels: oral surgeon, oral surgury
What is tooth whitening?
Tooth whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural whiteness of stained teeth. Teeth whitening is safe and will produce results that can last anywhere from six months to over a year, depending on how willing you are to make appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes.
How Are Teeth Whitened?
The outer layer of your teeth is called the enamel. It is actually semi-translucent, or clear. Beneath the enamel is the dentin layer, which is most commonly yellow, although sometimes it can be gray, brown, or black.
When the dentin darkens, it shows through the enamel as discoloration. We have to use a peroxide solution that will penetrate the pores of the enamel down to the dentin. This will lighten the dentin and create whiter looking teeth.
How long does the entire procedure take?
The way we do cosmetic teeth whitening, it takes two appointments spaced between three and four weeks. During your first visit, we clean your teeth and apply the initial application of tooth bleaching gel. We harden this with a special high intensity light and take impressions of your teeth. Using these impressions, we make teeth whitening trays that you can take home with you.
For the next two weeks to one month, for 30 minutes or so each night, you will apply a special take-home version of our teeth whitening gel (made with a different kind of peroxide) and apply it for 30 minutes to 1 hour at a time.
When you return, we apply a final coating of gel and seal it with the high intensity light.
How much does tooth whitening cost?
This depends on the condition of your teeth. Some cosmetic dentists in Houston are more expensive than we are because they do tooth bleaching in a single office visit using a laser. We do not use the laser because it creates hypersensitivity in the teeth, and because the high intensity light achieves the same results as does the laser.
How long will my teeth stay whitened?
If you take really good care of them, they can stay white for as long as three years. On the average, however, we are looking at a little over a year with a person who eats a normal diet and does not drink a lot of coffee.
However, if you drink a lot of coffee and smoke cigarettes, you are re-staining your teeth and will need this treatment again in 4 to 6 months. It is therefore all up to you how you want this to work and how long you want this to last.
Are there occasions when tooth whitening might not work?
If you have porcelain onlays or cosmetic dental veneers, cosmetic tooth bleaching will not work on them because it is effective only on natural teeth. The same goes for dentures and crowns.
What is the most important consideration when it comes to whitening teeth?
You need to maintain a sense of realism. If your teeth are very badly stained, it may take several treatments to achieve a whiter smile. Also, remember that anything you eat, drink, or smoke after the treatment will have some kind of effect on the results. Dental hygiene is a must if you are going to retain a healthy, attractive smile. Labels: cosmetic teeth whitening
Ask the Dentist: Cost of Getting Dentures
I am looking to get dentures and I would like to know what it will cost. I am pretty sure all my other teeth will have to be pulled out. I want to know what the cost is without insurance.Sheila
Thanks for the note, Sheila –
We will have to see you, take x-rays, take photos, etc. in order to answer your questions fairly. The cost will depend on how many teeth need to be taken out (we will look to see if in fact they all need to be taken out and give you options), and also the difficulty of the dentures. If you would like to have IV sedation, that is a separate cost that you can consider.
If indeed you need these teeth extracted, we will probably be making immediate dentures (made ahead of time and placed at the same time the teeth are taken out). We can also teach you about the possibility of dental implants if you are interested in those also.
Please call our office and make a denture consult appointment. You can speak with Mary, Debbie, or Maria. If you will give me your phone now, I can have one of those ladies call you and answer any further questions you might have.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale J. Brant, DDSLabels: cosmetic dentures, dental insurance, denture costs
What is tooth bleaching?
It is a chemical process that dentists use to whiten teeth. It can be performed entirely in one visit, or it can be performed in two visits. The procedure may vary based upon the condition of the teeth. Your dentist may first perform a tooth cleaning before bleaching them. A special whitening gel is used for this process and is activated by a special light when the process is complete.
Why do teeth stain in the first place?
Anything including prescription medication, coffee, tea, and cigarettes can stain your teeth. You may also have a genetic predisposition to staining, or it can simply be the results of aging.
How is it done?
Tooth bleaching can be done with over the counter products. We do not recommend these products as a general rule. Their quality of their contents can vary. The gel may be of a low viscosity that allows the gel to leak onto the gums and cause irritation. If the tray fits poorly, you may also swallow some of the whitening gel. Without a dentist to supervise the process, you may traumatize your gums if the trays do not fit properly.
It is much better to have cosmetic tooth bleaching performed by a licensed cosmetic dentist. Your dentist will make molds of your teeth that precisely match your bite and use a gel that is much more suitable to whitening your teeth. You will wear these molds every night as prescribed by your dentist, then return to our office for the final application of tooth bleaching product and hardening of it with a laser light.
Are there side effects to cosmetic tooth bleaching?
Like we mentioned, the use of over-the-counter products can damage your gums if the trays to not fit you well. You really need to protect your gums during this process because damaging them can lead to other complications like gum recession or gum disease.
In a professional setting, tooth bleaching should only cause some temporary sensitivity in the teeth themselves. You may feel sensitivity to temperature, pressure, and touch. It is nothing to be alarmed about.
Is the tooth bleach that is used by cosmetic dentists different than the bleach used in home whitening kits?
Yes. The bleach we use of in-office whitening has a much higher hydrogen peroxide concentration than that which is found in over-the-counter kits. This concentration may range as low as 9 percent to as high as 40 percent depending on how badly your teeth are stained.
The tooth bleaching material used in at-home tooth whitening is a carbamide peroxide that becomes hydrogen peroxide after it breaks down.
How long do the results of tooth bleaching last?
The new white color of your teeth should last for about six months to a year. Sometimes it lasts longer. Of course, if you do not change your dietary, coffee drinking and smoking habits the results will probably not last more than six months at best.
Change is required to get the best results. Repeat therapy is needed if no significant lifestyle change is made on your part. The choice is yours.Labels: cosmetic tooth whitening, faq tooth bleach, tooth bleaching faq
Should a dental crown ever be used as a means to improve the appearance of a tooth?
We do not recommend using a dental crown simply to restore the appearance of a tooth. While it is true that a crown does look like a natural tooth, an alternative to a dental crown should be used if only cosmetic improvements to the tooth are called for.
The reason for this is due to the fact that dentists have to reshape a tooth before crowning it. This involves grinding a portion of the tooth away. Many times, a significant amount of tooth mass must be removed in order to make the tooth suitable for crowning. This defeats the purpose of tooth repair in a way, because it is actually taking away a portion of the tooth only to make it look better.
If you simply want to improve the appearance of your teeth, there are alternatives to dental crowns that can be just as effective in upgrading their cosmetic appearance. Some examples of these alternatives to crowns include porcelain veneer, dental bonding, or professional teeth whitening services.
Could you describe briefly what each of these cosmetic dental restorations do? Yes.
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic sheets that we bond to your front teeth. They do an excellent job of covering pits and discoloration in the tooth enamel.
Dental bonding can be used to treat teeth that have suffered minor decay or have been damaged by small cracks.
Professional tooth whitening is used to restore the color of stained teeth. This procedure is excellent for those who have smoked or drank a lot of coffee over the years and watched their teeth grow yellow.
Is a dental filling a good alternative to placing a dental crown?
We do not recommend using the traditional silver-mercury amalgam fillings. They are not biofriendly per se, and they will fall out after several years.
Small cavities can be filled with dental bonding. The determining factor here is the remaining amount of original tooth mass that exists after decay is removed. The tooth must be able to withstand normal chewing and biting.
Should I have the tooth extracted?
No. Removing a tooth will cause problems for surrounding teeth, which need it for support. Dental implants are the ideal cosmetic and functional solution for teeth that have been lost or that are too far gone to save, but they are not recommended options for those who simply want to improve the appearance of one or two teeth in the front of their mouth.
So when do I need a dental crown?
If the tooth is actually damaged and can no longer function as an implement of biting and chewing, or if decay threatens the root and a root canal has to be performed, that is when we crown the tooth to both seal it against future infection and improve its cosmetic virtue.Labels: alternatives to dental crowns, benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, crowns
When a tooth loses a large filling, the best way of restoring a large filling is to place a permanent crown over the tooth. Because the large cavity has already destroyed so much of the tooth, a filling alone will not be enough, generally, to give the tooth protection and strength.
Why is a filling not enough?
We are not saying it is not enough. Because we use cosmetic dental bonding resin, much can be done to fill in the cavity with a biofriendly material that is much better than silver mercury amalgam. However, there is a need to reshape the tooth and remove any decay that formed around the old cavity, and this is where we run into problems.
So much tooth matter gets lost in the cleaning and reshaping process that restoring a large cavity with even the best dental bonding resin may still not be enough. You see, the tooth must be able to handle normal biting and chewing pressure, and if only a thin shell of its outer surface has survived the decay and loss of a filling, there is no way we can provide this type of strength with a new filling alone.
The best course of action is to crown the tooth with a cosmetic tooth restoration of some kind. Normally, this is a porcelain crown.
What does the crown do for the tooth, then?
The crown first and foremost covers the tooth so that food debris cannot attach to its surface. This denies bacteria the opportunity to grow and form plaque. A crown’s hard surface can chew food like a normal tooth, and you can brush and floss it just like you can any other tooth.
The one thing you do have to be mindful of is the space between the edge of the ground and the gum. This is a very tiny space, but it is also a very dangerous space to ignore. It has to be brushed and flossed with extra care in order to keep bacteria from getting underneath the crown and attacking the tooth again.
How do you determine if a crown is the best way of restoring a large cavity?
We simply look at how big the cavity is and how much of your tooth is still standing. If it is clear to us that the tooth is not going to survive on its own, then it needs to be crowned.
We don’t just use guesswork or visual examination alone to determine this. We have all sorts of sophisticated equipment here at our office that can tell us the precise condition of your tooth and what it needs to be restored.Labels: all porcelain crowns, dental tooth restoration, restoring a large cavity
Is a permanent crown the best way to repair a tooth?Short of a full dental implant, in most cases it is. You need to take care of it, however.Will I see or feel a difference with the permanent crown?
Yes. The most noticeable thing will be that your permanent crown appears to be as natural as the surrounding teeth you have always had. It will also feel comfortable as well.
When should I call you office if necessary?
· Your bite feels uneven
· Your tooth with the permanent crown feels tight
· You have difficulty flossing around your crowned tooth
· You feel constant pain
Should a period of adjustment be expected?
After you receive a permanent crown, you will more than likely need a few days to adjust. It may feel a bit different when you bite down. Your mouth is simply getting used to things.
Is it normal for the crowned tooth to feel sensitive?
Yes. Temperature sensitivity is perfectly normal after getting a personal crown. During the healing process you may notice this from time to time, but it is nothing to be alarmed about.
What should I be especially mindful of in the homecare of my permanent crown?
If we have used an anesthetic, wait until the numbness wears off before chewing. Do not chew ice, hard candy, or chew on foreign objects like pencils or pens.
Do I brush my teeth as always?
Yes. In fact, home care for a permanent crown begins with proper brushing and flossing. You need to focus on keeping the edge of the crown along the gumline clean. This is because the tooth underneath the crown is still vulnerable to decay. You also need to watch your intake of sugar-containing foods.
What about medication?
If you were given any medication, take it as prescribed. If you want to take over the counter pain medication, please discuss it with us first. Normally there is no problem with over the counter pain medication, but we do need to consider personal, medical history.
If I can’t take, or do not want to take, pain medication, what else will stop discomfort?
It will help you reduce swelling in your mouth if you rinse out your mouth with warm salt water. You only need about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. It is normal for your gums to be sore for several days, so if you rinse three times a day, this should reduce swelling and discomfort.
What if I follow all the home care steps for a permanent crown and none of them work?
If your pain continues, or if your bite feels uneven, call our office and share your concerns. We will either guide you over the phone or bring you in for a priority appointment.Labels: permanent crown
Does Bone Grow Back After LANAP
I am interested in LANAP. Will the bone grow back after this procedure.
-Deborah McCown
Thanks for your enquiry. LANAP procedure creates an environment for your body to re-grow bone in areas that you have lost it. There are several things that are necessary for this to happen. First of all, a strict protocol has to be followed by the dentist when they are treating you and by the patient (home care and post operative care). Also, a sufficient amount of tissue volume needs to be present in order for the bone to regenerate. If you have had gingival recession and bone loss bone will not grow back in these areas. The most important thing that you have to understand is that the LNAP procedure gets rid of the periodontal disease and this is the most important thing. Yes, bone can and will sometimes grow in areas that you have lost it, but the disease has been eliminated.
Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDSLabels: LANAP
Many times, when we encounter a filling fails, we recommend restoring that failed filling with a dental crown. This is the often best way to protect a tooth. A filling is not going to protect and strengthen a tooth as much as a crown will.
Can you replace a filling with something else?
We can replace a filling with another filling. However, the constant refilling of teeth can weaken them. This is because more tooth structure must be removed each time a tooth is filled. The larger the filling is; the weaker your tooth becomes, and the more vulnerable it will be to cracking or breaking off.
Can’t you use composite dental resin?
Yes, but keep in mind that a very large hole in your tooth may need more than cosmetic dental resin can fix.
How do you know when replacing a failed filling can only be done with a crown?
If there is sufficient tooth mass to support normal biting and chewing, and if we do not have to remove a great deal of this to refill the tooth, we will use cosmetic dental resin. However, like we have already said, the danger here is no matter how good the resin does the trick, there will be insufficient tooth mass remaining to support normal biting and chewing.
In order to determine if we need to replace the filling with resin, or replace the filling with a crown, we have to thoroughly examine the tooth and make and accurate assessment of its current viability. A tooth that is clearly not going to make it with a new filling alone is going to need to be crowned.
This is not to say that cosmetic resin may not be used for a procedure such as a core buildup, but the exterior or the tooth will still be crowned to protect what is left of its enamel and dentin.
What other benefits does replacing a failed filling with a dental crown offer?
It seals the tooth. It keeps out plaque and bacteria. It also enhances cosmetic appeal by restoring the shape and the strength of the tooth.
What types of crowns do you use?
There are gold crowns still in use that many people like because they are very easy on opposing teeth (due to the softness of gold itself). There are also porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns which are very strong, but which are beginning to be phased out for newer forms of all porcelain crowns that look nearly identical to tooth enamel and are so hard they can handle all the normal pressures of daily chewing and biting without breaking or cracking.
How long does it take to replace a filling?
Normally, it takes two appointments to restore your tooth with a crown. During the first appointment, we have to remove what is left of the old filling and any decay that may have ensued since its failure. We also have to take impressions of your teeth to send to the dental lab that will make your new dental crown.
When the crown is ready, we will call you back to our office and fit your tooth with the crown. Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental fillings
Why causes cracked tooth syndrome?
Teeth can crack for many reasons. They take a lot of pressure from biting and chewing each and every day. As they age, they lose much of their original strength. They can also be weakened by clenching and grinding.
Your teeth can also become weaker when they lose structure. This can happen with large fillings or from root canals. If you chew on ice, candy, popcorn kernels, or foreign objects, you can crack your teeth.
If you are in an accident or suffer an injury, this can crack your teeth too.
Does this occur in one place more than another?
Cracked tooth syndrome is more common in molars, usually lower molars, which take the brunt of chewing pressure. Are some of us more prone to this condition than others?
Yes. If you have Bruxism, you are much more susceptible to cracked tooth syndrome. Also, if you have one cracked tooth, you probably have more than one. If you have been in an accident involving a blow to the mouth, you are vulnerable to your teeth cracking in the future.
Will I know right away if I crack a tooth?
No. You may have cracked tooth syndrome for several months and not have consistent symptoms.
What are the symptoms of cracked tooth syndrome?
One side of your mouth becomes uncomfortable to chew on.
Your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold.
You feel a sharp pain when you bite down.
Your pain is intermittent.
This intermittent pain is caused when the tooth flexes and microscopically stimulates the nerve in the tooth. Hairline cracks open and close. This is enough to put pressure on the tubules that run down the nerve. This, in turn, causes fluid to push and pull on the tooth’s nerve and cause pain. The nerve also becomes exposed to bacteria that are toxic, and this can make it inflamed enough to become very sensitive and for infection to spread to the nerve and bone tissue beneath the root.
If this happens, you are looking at a possible abscess. Part of the tooth can break off at this point, and a root canal will be needed to save it, or extraction will be the only other option.
How do you diagnose cracked tooth syndrome?
We run a series of tests on your mouth and teeth. Because many of these fractures are invisible to the naked eye, our examination will often include x-rays. Sometimes, though, even x-rays do not reveal a crack. We also have to analyze your bite to find small fractures.
After a thorough examination, and after we have located the fractures in your teeth, we then discuss treatment options with you. Treatment will depend on the location and direction of the crack. It also depends on how badly it has damaged your tooth.
If we find that the crack only affects your tooth enamel, we may just remove the affected portion and restore the tooth with a cosmetic dental onlay to stabilize it. Or, we may crown the tooth to protect it against future possible damage.
If we find, however, that the crack affects the underlying dentin or pulp layers of your tooth, we perform a root canal before placing a crown over the tooth. Labels: cracked teeth, cracked tooth syndrom, craze lines
How does root canal therapy affect a tooth?
A root canal will leave a tooth brittle and weak. We recommend a root canal crown that will strengthen, cover, and protect the tooth.
This is needed because the inner pulp layer of the tooth is where all the nerves and blood vessels are located. Much of the tooth’s blood supply is lost when we have to remove the infected tooth pulp during the root canal. There is also less support for the tooth because the center has been removed, and only the sides remain.
Your tooth is more likely to break when you bite down on food. Even when you are eating a normal diet, the pressure of biting and chewing place a tremendous amount of force on teeth. Already in weakened, state, brittle teeth are more likely to crack and break if they are not protected by a root canal crown.
What types of root canal crowns do you use?
We can make crowns out of gold, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and all porcelain. All porcelain crowns are the most popular because they look nearly identical to natural teeth.
Which teeth should receive a crown when root canal therapy is done?
Most root canal crowns are placed on back teeth. Some front teeth can be treated by a filling. This are general principles, however, not hard-fast guidelines.
Can a root canal and a crown placed on top be done during the same visit?
No. It can take a minimum of three visits to our office to finish a root canal and then later crown the tooth. There are normally many steps to this process, listed below, which illustrate why this process takes some time.
1. We first go through the crown of the tooth to access the infected pulp chamber.
2. We removed the tooth pulp.
3. We then clean, enlarge, and shape the root canals so they will accept the filling material.
4. If harmful bacteria are present, we will treat the root canal with medication.
5. Many times we place a temporary filling in the tooth we wait for the infection to clear up.
6. When you return to our office, we remove the temporary filling and the root canals are filled with permanent filling.
7. We take impression of your teeth, and we have a dental lab custom make a crown for your tooth.
8. When your crown is ready, we then shape and polish it.
How long do crowns last?
Crowns can last a very long time, depending on how well their owners treat them. Remember that a crown Closeup of crown covers a living tooth. This means that the tooth is still susceptible to decay. Plaque can form at the bottom of the crown and decay can work its way under the crown. Gum disease can just worsen this problem. The way to keep your crown as long as possible is to brush and floss the crown's base carefully. Getting periodic checkups helps make sure the crown, tooth and gum tissue around it stay in good shape, too.
Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental crowns, root canals
What is the history of CAD/CAM usage in Dentistry?
CAD/CAM was invented in the mid 1980s, but it was very cumbersome, and something of a luxury that took exorbitant expenses and time to produce results. It could only be used in select dental laboratories. Over time, the advances in computer technology and software made chair side CAD/CAM restorations possible. This new procedure lets dentists create dental prosthetic restorations in a matter of hours.
Many dentists feel it benefits the patient to have everything done in one dental visit. It does away with the need to fit the patient with a temporary crown and have to return for a second visit where the permanent crown is placed.
However, this can make a dental visit very expensive as well. If we were to have a CAD/CAM machine in our office, we would have to charge you more to cover the cost of maintaining it. We prefer to save you some money by doing what we can to lower your dental bills somewhat. We therefore outsource the actual CAD/CAM machining of your cosmetic dental restorations to a partner dental lab. True, you do have to come back for a second visit, but you get the superior results at a more affordable rate than you would if we did everything in-house.
What factors determine the cost?
The cost of CAD/CAM restoration depends on several factors:
· The type of restoration we are creating
· The material we use to create the restoration
· The cosmetic expectations of the dentist
· What your dental insurance is willing to cover and not cover
What type of cosmetic dental work can you do with CAD/CAM technology?
We can build cosmetic dental crowns, dental bridges, and dental implants. CAD/CAM is very useful in doing full mouth restorations that combine advanced dental bridgework with selective use of dental implants as anchor points for bridges.
Will the finished product be strong and cosmetic?
Yes. CAD/CAM restorations are normally all porcelain. They look like natural teeth, and they can withstand normal biting forces just like real teeth do. All-porcelain crowns do not have the metal core of previous generations of crowns, which makes them look practically identical to tooth enamel.
It is also healthier for your gums, because the crown sits just above the gum line with no metal to irritate the tissue.
How does the CAD/CAM restoration process done at the Houston Medical Center Dental Group?
We start by making you feel comfortable. Our standard procedure is to numb the area around your tooth so you will not feel any pain while we work on it. We also place a shield called a rubber dam across the back of your mouth that protects your esophagus and trachea from any dental debris that may fall into your throat during the removal of decay can the reshaping of your tooth surface.
Next, we remove decay and shape the tooth with a dental handpiece. We apply a reflective powder to the tooth and take a digital image of it. These images are then sent to the lab, where the CAD/CAM computer can see the most subtle of tooth surface contours and determine the dimensions of an exact replica of the tooth.
The lab feeds all this data into a milling machine that creates a custom-fitted restoration. When this is sent back to our office, we call you in and make sure you CAD/CAM restoration fits. We color it appropriately to match its appearance to surrounding teeth. We check your bite and make all necessary final adjustments, and then we bond your restoration permanently in place.Labels: CAD/CAM Milling Machine, cad/cam restorations, CAD/CAM System
What is margin decay?
It is tooth decay that begins where the tooth meets the crown. This is one of the hardest places for you to keep free of bacteria and plaque.
Why does it happen?
This can happen for many reasons. A crown does not completely cover the tooth. Bacteria can still affect the small margin of uncovered root surface at the bottom. This usually results from inadequate oral hygiene. Gum inflammation is common when this occurs.
Decay can also occur under the crown itself. Bacteria can enter under the margin and spread over the remainder of the tooth. The key to stopping this is to floss between teeth so all plaque is removed. Using a toothpick gently is a good way to get pieces of food out of crown margins as well.
There are times that decay starts because the cement bond deteriorates and saliva leaks in. This can carry bacteria under the surface of the crown and cause plaque to form on the tooth. This is a challenging situation, because even dental x-rays cannot always see the decay.
Does it need to be treated immediately?
Yes. This is not something you ever want to put off. If you do, the decay will grow under the crown. First, the decay will penetrate the outer layer of the tooth enamel and eat away at the tooth dentin. Bacteria will infect the dentin, which is much softer and more sensitive than tooth enamel. Once the decay completely moves through the dentin into the pulp chamber, the decay will attack the tooth’s root.
At this point you will need a root canal to save the tooth, or the tooth itself will be completely lost. Do not let this happen.
If margin decay occurs at the base of the crown or under the crown, how will I ever know if I have it?
If you feel tooth sensitivity, or if your crown feels lose, call us immediately for an appointment. If nothing appears out of the ordinary, you need to schedule periodic checkups and appointments for dental cleaning with us. Anyone with bridges or crowns needs to have professional checkups performed regularly because some things, like margin decay, can only be detected with a professional examination.
If margin decay is found, how do you treat it?
If the crown is located on the facial or lingual surface and is not extensive, we may can treat the tooth without removing the crown. A simple filling may be all that is necessary.
However, it is only the rare occasion where we are able to do this.
In most cases, we have to remove the crown and work on your tooth. Seldom can we preserve the crown for reuse. We have to have a new one made for you to make sure that any margin for future decay has been completely minimized. Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, dental crowns, margin decay, tooth decay
What should I do if the temporary crown becomes loose?
Try to put it back on your tooth, but do not force it. You don’t want to damage the tooth or the crown. Some dentists recommend putting a drop of Vaseline™ in the temporary crown to help hold it in place. It’s essential that you this in order to keep your tooth as protected as possible.
Why is it so important to replace the temporary crown immediately?
The temporarily crown was put on your tooth after decay was removed and/or the tooth was prepared for a permanent crowning. The impressions that were taken of your teeth and sent to the dental lab were based on the shape of the tooth after treatment. Any alteration in the condition of your tooth will most likely result in us having to start all over again.
Should I be fearful of cleaning my teeth until my next visit?
No. You want to keep your teeth clean in order to prevent decay from setting in. Even a mild coating of plaque can lead to cavity formation if allowed to form unchecked. It is wise to keep both the teeth clean and the area around the gums clean.
What homecare tips do you recommend for temporary crowns?
1. If we used any anesthetic on your mouth while you were in our office, do not chew anything until the numbness goes away.
2. If there was no anesthetic, you still need to wait at least one-half hour to give dental cement an opportunity to harden and set.
3. You should brush and floss your teeth as you always do, but do not be rough on yourself. Be careful and remove floss from the side to keep from accidentally removing your temporary crown.
4. If there is sensitivity to hot or cold, use desensitizing toothpaste. If this doesn’t help, call our office if the problem persists for more than a day or two.
5. If you have been prescribed antibiotics, take them exactly as directed.
6. If you have not been prescribed antibiotics, but want something for the pain, it is normally ok to take over the counter pain medication so long as your dentist agrees per your medical history.
7. It is also a good idea for you to rinse out your mouth three times each day with warm salt water. You need to use about one teaspoon of salt for every glass of water.
8. It is normal for your gums to be sore for a few days after placement of a temporary crown. However, if the soreness persists, feel free to contact us with any concerns about the condition of your mouth or the success of your homecare for your temporary crown.
9. Avoid chewing grainy rolls and tough steak that can leave fibers between your teeth.
10. Ask your dentist about an alcohol free antibacterial mouth rinse if you have experienced frequent gum infections in the past.
11. Do not eat curry because it will stain the temporary crown.
12. If you smoke, as hard as it seems, try not to, or at least seriously cut down.
Labels: home care for temporary crowns
Unfortunately, I was not informed about the overdentures. Three years ago, I was advised to have all my teeth removed because of bone loss. I now have full dentures, and won't even smile at my friends or family. I am ashamed and look 10 years older than 55. The dentures don't even resemble my natural teeth and are basically the look of old fashioned "false teeth". Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance and the continued loss of bone?
Rita J. Carnes
Thanks for the enquiry. Yes, we can help you out with your appearance and we can help slow down or eliminate your bone loss. In many patients such as yourself we have been able to take them from removable dentures to implant retained dentures that look natural or to fixed porcelain bridgework that is supported by dental implants. The first thing that needs to be done is a comprehensive dental exam and a review of your medical history. In order to surgically place dental implants we have to make sure that you have no health issues that might impact the success of the dental implants. Once we have determined that you are a “good candidate” we then determine if you have enough bone for implants and the number of implants. A lot of our patients that we have successfully treated in the past have had an option of having implant retained dentures or fixed porcelain bridgework supported by dental implants. If you are a candidate for both types of restorations, then you will be able to choose the option that best suits your needs.
We would be more than happy to help you out. What is your phone number and we will have our patient coordinator call you to set up an appointment?
Thanks,
Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDS
713.795.5905
888.790.0309Labels: Houston Cosmetic Dentists, houston dental implants, overdentures
What is a cracked tooth?
It is a fracture that involves the entire tooth, from the chewing surface all the way down to the nerve. Such a fracture may or may not result in the tooth actually splitting. It does not matter in one sense, because a cracked tooth genuinely HURTS when you have one.
The most important thing to realize is that you have to do something. Teeth do not heal themselves the way bones do.
Crowning a cracked tooth or filling it with dental composite resin are the only two ways to really deal with the problem. In most cases, crowning a cracked tooth is the better option because this prevents the crack from spreading and worsening. It also prevents the tooth from splitting in two and keeps out bacteria that can cause infection.
Why do teeth crack?
You can get a cracked tooth from many different things. The pressure of daily biting and chewing is one of these. Another is the aging process. Chewing on something like ice or hard candy can also crack a tooth.
If you have had a root canal on a tooth, or if you have had a cavity in a tooth, your tooth may have lost sufficient mass to resist normal daily pressures and crack as a result. You can also suffer a fracture in your tooth enamel as the result of an accident.
Crowning a cracked tooth is generally the only option in the latter three examples because there is insufficient tooth mass for a filling alone to restore.
How do I know if I have a cracked tooth?
You will feel a sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. Sometimes you may also feel a sensitivity to sweet or sour foods. You may also feel a sharp pain when you chew. An almost sure sign of a crack in your tooth is pain that comes and goes.
How can I be sure this has happened?
Come to our office and get a full dental examination. It is important that you seek professional help early on before the situation worsens. If the crack reaches the nerve and infects it, you are looking at a certain root canal and possibly even losing the tooth to extraction.
We will take x-rays and analyze your bite, so that we can conclusively diagnose the presence of a fracture and let us know if crowning your cracked tooth or simply repairing it with composite resin is the best way to go.
If we do recommend crowning a cracked tooth to a patient, there are three types of dental crowns we can use. There are gold crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, and porcelain crowns.
It's important to evaluate and treat cracks as soon as possible because they can grow quickly. If a crack reaches the tooth's nerve, bacteria can infect the tooth, and root canal therapy may be required to save it. If the crack extends to the root, the tooth may need to be extracted.
Is crowning a cracked tooth necessary in every instance?
If it is only a hairline cracked, called a “craze line,” and if the dentist diagnoses it as harmless, no. You need a checkup, however, to determine this.Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, cracked teeth
When one of your teeth is badly decayed or damaged, it may simply not have enough area left to hold a cosmetic dental restoration in place. You may begin to think that pulling the tooth is you only option. It doesn’t have to be.
A core build up can save your tooth and restore your missing tooth mass and surface area. This procedure is highly effective. It can be done prior to placing gold, porcelain-fused to metal crown, or cosmetic dental porcelain crown.
Most Houston dentists prefer to use cosmetic dental boding resin for core buildups. Many other materials were successfully used in the past, but bonding resin has the unique ability to match the color of teeth. Plus, it is biofriendly and can be shaped to recreate the missing portion of the teeth like concrete can fill a hole in pavement.
This procedure involves a process of several steps. The first step is to put you at ease and to eliminate discomfort. We numb the area around your tooth to make sure that you don’t’ feel any pain when we work on the tooth itself.
We also protect your breathing passageways and throat by placing this device called a rubber dam at the back of your mouth. The rubber dam is a device that blocks dental debris.
Once the protective measures have been taken, we start examining your tooth for signs of decay. We use a dental handpiece to probe its surface. We remove any decay that we find. Then, we reshape the remaining surface of the tooth.
To better prepare the surface of the tooth for the core buildup, we apply a mild etching solution that causes tiny lines to form in the tooth enamel. These lines give the cosmetic dental bonding resin something to latch on to and permanently bond to the tooth surface.
Once we finish this etching process, we apply the resin. Some kinds of resin harden almost immediately. More complex compounds require a special light to harden. No matter. Once the job is finished, the core buildup settles in and the tooth is basically rebuilt.
At this point we finish shaping the surface of the tooth and take impressions of all of your teeth. These impressions form a model of your mouth. We send this model to a lab, which manufactures a dental crown for your tooth out of gold, porcelain, or porcelain-fused-to-metal. Because this can take a couple of weeks, we protect your core buildup in the meantime by fitting your tooth with a temporary crown.
When your crown is ready, we call you back to your appointment and bond your permanent crown in place. All of this is made possible by a very simple, yet powerfully effective, core buildup which literally rebuilds your tooth when all appears to be lost. Labels: core buildup, dental crowns
If you need a tooth restored, you might consider a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.
Several benefits can result from a PFM crown.
· It will cover and protect the tooth.
· It is a durable and attractive cosmetic tooth enhancement
· The inner metal core buffers the crown against heavy biting pressures
· The outer porcelain layer looks virtually identical to the color of natural tooth enamel
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown are made out of a metal core surrounded by a layer of baked porcelain that is fused to the metal.
There are many reasons why your Houston dentist may recommend a porcelain-fused-to-meal crown.
You might need to repair a tooth that has lost its original dental filling. A PFM crown is an great way to save such a tooth by protecting it against future decay and restoring its full functionality.
You may have initially damaged your tooth because of Bruxism without even knowing it. Restoring it with a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown can repair damaged surface and protect it against future wear and tear.
A tooth could have also been badly cracked or fractured. Sometimes these breaks are so bad that many dentists would write off the tooth as unsalvageable and recommend pulling it. We prefer to save teeth instead. In our office, a PFM crown can be placed over even a terribly broken tooth and cause it to work as if it were new and natural.
You will need to plan on making at least two trips to the dentist because making a PFM crown involves a number of preliminary, preparatory steps and the coordinated partnership of a special dental laboratory. This laboratory is where your porcelain crown is actually made.
In order for the lab to know what size and shape to make the crown, they will need full impressions of your teeth. Your first visit involves making these impressions. It also involves cleaning and reshaping the tooth so the PFM crown will properly fit it. This is a simple enough process.
Your dentist will first numb the area around your tooth and place a rubber dam in the back of your mouth to keep dental debris from falling into your throat. Next, the dentist shapes your tooth by removing any decay from it, and by resurfacing it with the dental handpiece so it will function as a secure and sure foundation for the crown.
After the tooth has been taken care of, the dentist then takes full impressions of your teeth and uses this to build a model of your mouth. The dentist will then fit your tooth with a temporary crown so that decay and plaque will not harm it. The dentist then sends you home and sends the impressions of your mouth to the lab.
After the lab receives the model, it uses the replicas of your teeth to make a porcelain-fused to-metal crown that is precision-suited to match your tooth. When the restoration is ready, it is sent back to your dentist to be fitted to your tooth during your second appointment.Labels: PFM crowns, porcelain crowns, porcelain fused to metal crowns
When you have severe damage to a tooth, drastic tooth restoration will be required to save that tooth. One option for treatment is the placement of a gold crown. A gold crown is precision-crafted in a dental laboratory, and the patient will need to make two or more trips to a Houston Cosmetic Dentist to first make a mold that the lab can use to make a crown, and second to mount the gold crown when it is ready.
Gold has always been highly sought after because it its beauty and unique scientific uses. for both its beauty and its unique practical uses. It offers remarkable advantages in dentistry.
Like all crowns, gold protects teeth by covering it. However, it also contributes other unique benefits:
· It wears very little on your opposing teeth.
· Gold is very strong can handle bite pressure.
· Gold is enduring.
Careful steps have to be taken in order to successfully coordinate action with the lab and give you a successful outcome. We have to evaluate the tooth itself. We have to find out if the tooth has been damaged by decay or accidents.
Your tooth has to be reshaped either way. We have to remove decay, and if there has been a fracture the tooth has to have its remaining surface remolded to hold a gold crown. The dentist has to numb your mouth and place a rubber dam at the back of the mouth in order to protect your esophagus and throat from dental debris.
The dentist will then take impressions of your teeth that the lab can use to build a replica of the patient’s mouth. This replica goes to a lab, where technicians will use it as a template, of sorts, to make a gold-crown that custom-fits the mouth and the tooth being restored.
This can take up to two weeks. In the meantime, the dentist will place a temporary crown on the tooth at the end of the first visit. The temporary will protect the work the dentist has done and prevent debris or decay from affecting it.
Once the dental lab sends back your gold crown, you come back for the fitting. Your crown must go over the tooth to make so it lines up evenly with the tops of other teeth. We must make sure that it is even with your bite, so that when you bite down while chewing it does cut into your cheek or lips.
Once everything checks out, the gold crown can now be mounted permanently in place. Dental cement may be used for this, but dental bonding resin is becoming a more preferred substance in today’s world of cosmetic dentistry. Labels: gold crowns
Ask the Dentist: Dental Veneers
I would like information on Invisalign, and I am also looking for a dentist.Thanks you for your enquiry. We would be more than happy to have you as a patient. Invisalign is one of several orthodontic options that we offer at our office. If you could provide us with your phone number I will have one of our patient coordinators give you a call to set up an appointment.
Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDS
713.795.5905
888.790.0309
Thanks for your enquiry. Once we determine if you are a good candidate for home bleaching you will have several different home bleaching options available to you. Fees can range from $200 to $1100 and this is all dependent upon what treatment option that you would choose. The first thing that we would have to do is a comprehensive exam; once this is completed we will then be able to bleach your teeth.
Thanks,
Dale J. Brant, DDS
888.790.0309
713.795.5905Labels: cosmetic dental veneers
Dental Veneers
My daughter has just had bonded veneers to six teeth, and she was not shown how the finished product would look. She is now is very unhappy with the result. Can it be removed?Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your enquiry. When we bond on porcelain veneers it is done to last a long time. You also need to keep in mind that bonded porcelain veneers can be removed. We remove old porcelain veneers by trimming them off. The answer to your question is “yes” they can be removed, but in most cases something needs to be done to replace them, unless they were no-prep veneers. I hope this helps you out.
It would be in your daughter’s best interest to contact her dentist and discuss her concerns with them. In a lot of instances, small adjustments can be made to the veneers to change their appearance.
Thanks,
Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDSLabels: cosmetic dental veneers
When a tooth has been damaged and needs repair, or when you simply want a tooth to look better, you will need some kind of cosmetic tooth restoration work done. One option you might want to consider is to have a resin crown place by one of our cosmetic dentists here at the Houston Medical Center Dental Group.
Resin crowns offer the following key benefits.
· They are made of a material that expands and contracts like natural tooth structures.
· They are easy on opposing teeth when you chew.
· They look natural, and they imitate the color of your natural teeth.
A resin crown is made to closely match your tooth. It is composed of tiny microscopic particles that look like little pieces of glass. It is mixed with a resin compound and molded over a model of your tooth. Then, it is hardened with a curing light.
This is not done in the office. It is done in a dental lab. We make the model of the tooth in our office during your first appointment. Comfort is our first priority when you first sit down in the dental chair. The gum tissue beneath your tooth is numbed so you will feel no pain or discomfort.
We then place a rubber dam in the back of your mouth. This is a device that keeps dental debris from falling into your throat. It protects your airway and esophagus.
A systematic examination of your tooth begins. We check it for decay and see just how much damage has been done to it. We remove the decay with a dental handpiece and reshape its surface.
In order to give the dental lab something to go on, we take impressions of your teeth and use these impressions to build a model of your mouth. This model is then sent to the lab, where technicians there use it to build a crown for the damaged tooth.
In the meantime, while you wait for the lab to finish, we place a temporary crown over your tooth. It may take a week or two for the lab to make your permanent crown. When it arrives in our office, we call you back for your second appointment.
When it arrives, we call you back to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center of Houston for your second dental visit. We remove your temporary crown at this time, and we trial fit the resin crown to your tooth without cementing it permanently in place.
We have to make sure it was properly manufactured and that it lines up evenly with other teeth when you smile and bite down. Once we determine this, we bond it in place. Labels: resin crowns
Dental Implant Inquiry
I am 35 years old and I have very few teeth left most are broken or just decayed and rotten . I am interested in dental implants.Thanks for your enquiry. We would be more than happy to help you with your dental needs. We have helped many patients in the past with your problem(s). The first thing that we need to do is to schedule you for a complete exam. At this appointment we will gather all of the information that is needed to come up with a solution(s) to your dental needs. All we need to do is to schedule an appointment for you. What is your phone number and we will have our patient coordinator call you to set up an appointment?
Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDS
I would like more information on the laser used to correct pockets around the teeth. I may need to use this in the near future. Thank you, Richard SinclairRichard,
The procedure that we use to treat pockets around teeth (periodontal disease) is LANAP. You can find information in our website http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/lanap-t-48.html. LANAP effectively treats periodontal disease and the treatment is easy on the patient and there is very little post operative discomfort. If you currently have pockets around your teeth then it would be in your best interest to get treatment sooner than later. Periodontal disease is a silent disease and when you have an infection or pain that is related to it, and then this will mean that now you have a severe form of it.
Thanks,
Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDSLabels: LANAP, laser assisted new attachment procedure, laser periodontal therapy
May I Send You My Information Before Setting an Appointment?
I would like to mail a letter to the Center and somewhat describe my situation prior to setting an appointment. My situation is too long to describe in an e-mail. Is there someone in particular that I should address the letter to their attention? I have already spent much time and money on cosmetic dentistry and have nothing to show for it. Thanks - Leonard
Hi, Leonard.
You can send this information to our office, ATTN: Debbie or Maria --- they will coordinate getting you an appointment time either with Dr. Brant or Dr. Campbell for evaluation and discussion with you. If you can bring whatever documentation you have with you we can give you more complete information and teach you recommended options.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
Medical Center Dental Group
6560 Fannin, #1424
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 795-5905
Labels: ask the dentist, inquiry with dentist
Tooth damage can result from an accident or from runaway tooth decay. If neglected, this can cause subsequent tooth loss and create social awkwardness with a diminished smile.
Houston cosmetic dentists at the Medical Center Dental Group can resolve both of these issues at once by placing a porcelain crown on the tooth. This restores your ability to chew with that tooth, and it makes the tooth appear identical to natural surrounding teeth.
This is due largely to the nature of porcelain crowns themselves. Fired porcelain is one of the hardest substances used in cosmetic dentistry. It provides an excellent chewing surface for anyone with damaged teeth who longs to eat a normal diet again. Another great benefit that porcelain crowns offer is their translucent appearance which is almost indistinguishable from that of natural tooth enamel.
Due to their sophistication, porcelain crowns cannot simply be mass produced. They must be custom-made to fit a specific tooth in an individual patient’s mouth. If you are a candidate for a porcelain crown, you will need to schedule two appointments with the Medical Center Dental Group.
During your first appointment, your Houston Cosmetic Dentist will carefully surmise the degree of damage that has been done to your tooth. He or she will make the process as comfortable as humanly possible for you by numbing the area around your tooth so that you will not feel any pain during the procedure.
Your dentist will also protect your throat by putting a rubber dam in the back of your mouth. This will keep your air passageways open and your esophagus clear from any dental debris that might be produced while he or she uses a dental handpiece to remove any decayed matter found on your tooth.
While cleaning your teeth, your Houston dentist will also shape the tooth so it will better accommodate a crown fitting. Finally, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and sends it off to the lab. When this model arrives at the lab, the technicians treat it like an exact replica of your mouth and use it to make a dental crown that precisely fits your tooth.
It may take up to two weeks to get your permanent porcelain crown back from the lab. To protect your tooth in the meantime, we will cover it with a temporary crown. When the porcelain crown comes back from the lab, you will be called in for your second appointment. Your dentist will remove the temporary trial fit you with your new permanent dental crown and to test your bite. If everything checks out, your dental crown is then bonded or cemented to your tooth.
A porcelain dental crown will give you many years of strength, durability, and an ideal match to the appearance of your natural teeth. Its cosmetic value carries with it an added health benefit as well. Because it looks so real, porcelain does not have to be embedded beneath the gumline like some other cosmetic tooth enhancements.Labels: benefits of cosmetic porcelain dental crowns, what porcelain crowns can do for you, why you should get a porcelain crowns
A tooth can break either because of a severe fracture or a severe case of tooth decay. Many times when this happens, too much of the tooth’s mass is lost and the tooth cannot support a dental crown. In the pasts, dentists would extract such a tooth, but this no longer has to be the only option. Today, placing a post and core can save a tooth and allow it to support a cosmetic dental crown.
A post and core uses a metal post and cosmetic dental filling material to replace missing tooth mass.
A dental post can only be placed in a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment. The cosmetic dental material, known as the core, then flows around the post and hardens to create new surface area that can support a crown.
Houston cosmetic dentists place post and cores only when more than 50 percent of the original crown has been lost. The majority of these dental posts are made of biofriendly, stainless steel titanium. Some, however, are made from metal free carbon fiber posts.
To place a post and core, your cosmetic dentist will first perform a root canal on your tooth. This removes all infection from beneath the gum line and extracts the dead roots as well. Your dentists will use a special hand tool called a dental file to shape the tooth interior. The dental post is then custom-made to fit then center of this hollowed-out space, then positioned and cemented in place.
After the placement of the dental post, your cosmetic dentist then applies the core material made from cosmetic dental bonding material. When the material is applied, it is semi-liquid in nature and quickly adapts to the contours of your tooth interior.
When the core hardens, your dentist shapes it so it can support a dental crown, and he or she takes impressions of all of your teeth. These impressions are sent to a lab, which uses them to custom-fit a crown for that particular tooth. When the material hardens, the dentist then shapes it so it can be fitted with a dental crown. He or she also takes impressions of the teeth. These impressions are sent to a lab, which uses them to custom-fit a crown to that particular tooth.
A temporary crown will be placed on your tooth in the meantime to protect your dental post and core. When the permanent crown is ready, you will return to our office for a second appointment and be fitted with your permanent crown.
The benefit to this procedure is it allows you to save a tooth that otherwise would be lost. Other benefits include providing added support to overall tooth structure, a much better anchor for supporting a dental crown, and better retention of the dental crown itself after it has been placed.Labels: dental post and core, dental tooth restoration, tooth repair
How Much is a Dental Implant Per Tooth?
I have very bad teeth and I was wandering the cost of the dental implants per tooth? My dental insurance only covers $1500 per year and I know it's going to cost more than that.Thank You!--PatrickHi, Patrick… thanks for the inquiry. The cost of a dental implant is usually about $1800. When we work with implants, however, we don’t figure one implant for each missing tooth, if that is what you are thinking. We have to make a decision as to how strong the existing natural teeth are and how many implants fit in any given situation. For instance, if you are missing all of your teeth, we don’t multiply by 32 to replace every single tooth with an implant – not necessary or practical.
The only way I can really teach you is for you to come in for a consult appointment. We will take photos and complete x-rays and possibly even study models to understand your need and your options. There is always more than one choice of what to do. Diagnosis from afar is not recommended.
In general, dental insurance is reluctant to cover dental implants. Some policies will cover, and these are getting more common now that the use of dental implants is becoming more routine. It will all depend on your need, but there are usually enough other things being done that you can get most of your insurance benefit, or we can sometimes stretch treatment over the end of a year to get you two annual benefit amounts. We can help you to understand what your policy will cover.
Give us a call when you are ready. It is an interesting process, and a formal consult is the only way you can really understand your options.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905Labels: cosmetic dental implants, cost of dental implants
How Much is a Dental Implant Per Tooth?
I have very bad teeth and I was wandering the cost of the dental implants per tooth? My dental insurance only covers $1500 per year and I know it's going to cost more than that.Thank You!--PatrickHi, Patrick… thanks for the inquiry. The cost of a dental implant is usually about $1800. When we work with implants, however, we don’t figure one implant for each missing tooth, if that is what you are thinking. We have to make a decision as to how strong the existing natural teeth are and how many implants fit in any given situation. For instance, if you are missing all of your teeth, we don’t multiply by 32 to replace every single tooth with an implant – not necessary or practical.
The only way I can really teach you is for you to come in for a consult appointment. We will take photos and complete x-rays and possibly even study models to understand your need and your options. There is always more than one choice of what to do. Diagnosis from afar is not recommended.
In general, dental insurance is reluctant to cover dental implants. Some policies will cover, and these are getting more common now that the use of dental implants is becoming more routine. It will all depend on your need, but there are usually enough other things being done that you can get most of your insurance benefit, or we can sometimes stretch treatment over the end of a year to get you two annual benefit amounts. We can help you to understand what your policy will cover.
Give us a call when you are ready. It is an interesting process, and a formal consult is the only way you can really understand your options.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905Labels: cosmetic dental implants
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