Crescent Dental Blog

Category Archives: Dental Health

Crowns, Dental Health

Dental Crown Procedure

What is a Dental Crown Restoration?

The terms ‘crown’ or ‘cap’ are used to define a dental restoration or tooth restoration that covers the entire tooth surface. At Crescent Dental the placement of dental crowns is a common and routine dental procedure.

When are Dental Crowns Used?

Here are a few reasons your dentist may diagnosis a crown as a necessary restoration:

1) A tooth has previously had, or is in need of, a root canal or endodontic procedure. After a tooth has had a root canal it is crucial that the remaining tooth structure is supported with a crown. Additionally, the crown will seal bacteria away from the root canal filling inside the tooth.

2) Broken tooth – A tooth may have a crack or fracture that leads to symptoms. A cracked or fractured tooth is not always initially symptomatic or painful but allowed to propagate it will eventually become so. Alternatively the tooth may have a broken element missing, swallowed or otherwise. However, more often than not, broken teeth are related to some type of trauma and/or teeth that have had large fillings previously placed.

3) Crowning a tooth not only helps ensure the longevity of the tooth, but with today’s porcelain crown technology can also revitalize and improve the appearance of teeth.

 What’s the purpose and function of a Crown?

When we have fractures in our bones we place a cast on the limb that is broken. In doing so, the immobilization allows for the bones to form a callus and mend. However such healing capabilities as we find in our bones are not found in certain other tissues in the body – in particular nuerological, optical, and tooth tissue all have very limited healing capabilities. So the enamel that covers the outer surface of our teeth does not have regenerative capabilities and once fractured it will not heal. Therefore to prevent the fracture from propagating deeper into the tooth and damaging the nerve or causing the loss of the tooth, we often choose to cast the tooth with a crown. Like the cast on a broken arm, the crown restoration immobilises the fracture, preventing it from getting deeper as the tooth is continuously used for chewing and cycled between cold foods and hot foods. However, since the enamel will not heal, the cast needs to be a left on the tooth forever.

How is a crown or cap placed on a tooth?

Crowning a tooth is usually a simple and straight-forward process that our dentists perform routinely. After a thorough examination and consultation with your dentist, preliminary molds will be taken of your existing teeth. This gives your dentist information to help decide on the placement and fit of the crown. Next, the material that the crown is to be made from will be chosen. This decision will be based on several factors:

  • What are your desires and expectations as a patient?
  • Where is the tooth that needs the crown located in the mouth?
  • Have you had other crowns placed and what type of crowns are they?
  • Do you clench or grind your teeth?
  • What is the pathology that the placement of the crown is addressing?
  • Do you have any metal allergies?
  • What is the existing health of the surrounding teeth and gum tissues?
  • What is your budget?

At Crescent Dental we offer a number of different types of crowns, including:

1) Porcelain Fused to Metal
2) Porcelain Fused to White Gold
3) Full Porcelain (Procera / Lava)

Treatment Procedure

Prior to beginning the preparation of the tooth, your dentist will administer local anesthetic to ensure comfort during the tooth shaping. Your medical history, past experiences with local anesthetics, and anxiety levels will help your dentist choose the best anesthetic to use. Dental Sedation can be offered to patients who are very anxious about undergoing treatment. Once your comfort is assured, the tooth will be shaped to very exact specifications. This process is done under controlled conditions to protect your tooth and gum tissue from injury. Once the tooth is shaped, another mold is made of the tooth and a colour is chosen to match your other teeth. On occasion, the dentist will consult with our laboratory technician to match a difficult tooth color – this is called a custom shade. The mold will then be delivered to the laboratory for fabrication of the appropriate type of crown. As for your prepared tooth, a custom temporary crown will be placed.

The temporary crown will serve several important functions.

1. Protect the tooth during chewing
2. Stabilize the tooth to keep it from shifting
3. Maintain the appearance of your dentition

The temporary crown will be glued in place with temporary cement. It will remain in place until the second appointment, approximately 1-2 weeks following the first visit. During the second appointment, the dentist will gently remove the temporary crown, thoroughly clean the tooth, adjust and cement the new permanent crown with very strong luting cement. In most cases there is no requirement for anaesthetic during this last step.

Call Crescent Dental on 061 484 844 to schedule your appointment. You may be eligible for a free check-up; see www.crescentdental.ie

Dental Health, Fillings

Amalgam Fillings Explained

What’s all the fuss about amalgam fillings? 

The Irish Dental Association (IDA) policy remains, on the basis of the research available, that the use of dental amalgam produces no harmful effects.

There has been much publicity regarding the safety of dental amalgam. The World Health Organisation and the International Dental Federation have released a joint statement confirming the safety of dental amalgam as a filling material.

The IDA believes there is no positive gain in having dental amalgam fillings replaced with other materials, other than for aesthetic reasons. You can read the Irish Dental Association’s “Patient Information on Dental Amalgam” by clicking here.

If amalgam is so great, why does my dentist use white or ‘tooth-coloured’ fillings?

White fillings have been used in front teeth for decades. In recent times, scientists have also developed stronger white filling materials suitable for back teeth which can be successfully used as an alternative to the dark colour of amalgam. These materials have grown in popularity due to an understandable public demand for tooth-coloured fillings in visible areas of the mouth. ‘White’ filling materials have not been in use for enough time to produce definitive evidence of their long-term comparison with amalgam, but while they are unlikely to achieve quite the same durability as dental amalgam,  results are certainly encouraging.

What makes up an amalgam filling?

Dental amalgam is an alloy of silver, tin, copper and mercury.

Is it true that amalgam is dangerous for my baby?

If you already have amalgam fillings, there is no evidence to suggest you or your baby will be harmed because of them. However, general principles of public health during pregnancy suggest that it is prudent to avoid any dental treatment that can be deferred. This includes the removal or placement of amalgam fillings during the pregnancy and during the subsequent period of breastfeeding. For more information about pregnancy and your teeth click here.

Should I have my amalgam fillings replaced?

Dentists replace amalgam fillings for a variety of reasons including recurring decay, fracture, endodontic treatment and appearance. If you seek replacement of quite satisfactory amalgam fillings for other reasons, such as a concern about the effects of mercury, you may create problems that otherwise would not have occurred, such as possible damage to or weakening of teeth. &/or sensitivity or pain after the filling.

Call Crescent Dental on 061 484 844 to schedule your appointment. You may be eligible for a free check-up; see www.crescentdental.ie

Crowns, Dental Health, Fillings, Teeth Whitening, Veneers

What is Cosmetic Dentistry

Your smile is a strong reflector of your personality and self-confidence. If you are conscious of tooth discolouration, chipping, gaps, crooked or missing teeth, you may be reluctant to smile naturally. At Crescent Dental we offer a range of cosmetic dentistry that can help to deal with all these common problems, making a significant improvement to your appearance and smile.

Cosmetic dentistry has soared in popularity in recent years due to a combination of new technology, advanced materials, improved procedures, and increased awareness among people of the dramatic impact it can have on your appearance and well being. A perfect smile has never been easier to obtain.

The benefits of cosmetic dentistry may be primarily based on improving your appearance, however there can be additional benefits that are both emotional and physical. In addition to a boost in self-image and self-esteem, people are more likely to look after their oral health when they are happy with their teeth.

Common cosmetic dental procedures

There are a wide range of techniques used in cosmetic dentistry. Following is a brief overview of the most common procedures.

Crowns – Crowns are tooth-coloured caps that permanently bond to your tooth, becoming the new outer surface. They fully cover a tooth above the gum line to strengthen teeth, rebuild broken or decayed teeth and improve their appearance.

Veneers – Veneers are an ultra-thin, custom-made porcelain cover that is glued directly on to the front of your tooth. They are used to correct chipped teeth, narrow gaps between teeth, or in some cases to cover discoloured teeth that have not respond well to whitening procedures. Veneers are resistant to staining, will not decay, and may be a simpler alternative to crowns in some cases.

Home Teeth Whitening – The most common cosmetic dental procedure involves the use of specially formulated bleach to whiten stained, discoloured or dull teeth. Significant results can be achieved within two weeks, although bleaching may not be appropriate in people who have oral symptoms of some diseases.

In-Surgery Whitening – Zoom! is an advanced whitening treatment that can deliver results in just 60 minutes from a single visit. The process is proven to be safe, and with care lasts between 2 to 3 years. Find our more here.

Bonding – Bonding is a treatment for chipped, cracked, gapped, discoloured or oddly shaped teeth. A hard resin that matches your tooth colour is applied, and is then sculpted, hardened and polished.

Composite resin (White Fillings) – If you have the old silver amalgam fillings that require replacement, they can be replaced with composite resin. Your old unsightly fillings are removed, and replaced with the tooth coloured resin, making your fillings virtually invisible.

Is there a cosmetic dental procedure for you?

People who seek out cosmetic dentistry vary widely, from children to elderly people. If you would like to improve the appearance of your teeth, and your smile, there are a wide variety of treatment options available to you. Be aware that some problems, such as overlapping, missing or severely gapped teeth, may require additional orthodontic treatment. Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that can be used to compliment cosmetic dentistry, and includes corrective techniques such as braces, plates and bridges to correct problems of the teeth and jaw.

Call Crescent Dental on 061 484 844 to find out more. You may be eligible for a free check-up; see www.crescentdental.ie