Ask the Dentist

What innovations are currently available instead of “crowning or capping” teeth?

Technology in dentistry, much like in every other aspect of our lives, changes rapidly.  Today’s technology allows dentists to educate you…the consumer… to such a degree that you will thoroughly understand the dentistry you are being provided.  Caesy education system is one of the best tools used today to educate the consumer about damage that can occur to teeth from various things like grinding, decay, and cracked tooth syndrome, just to name a few.  Consumers today also have the opportunity to visualize via a camera exactly what the dentist is talking about when he/she says “due to cracked tooth syndrome, we will have to proceed with an inlay/onlay/crown to restore the tooth and you may need a root canal due to the proximity of the fracture to the nerve”.  In addition, it is important to understand what it is you are buying. 

A crown is a full coverage restoration that covers the tooth.  It involves grinding of good tooth structure, may involve sensitivity after it is placed and may even require a root canal if the discomfort is great after it is placed.  Today’s technology allows fabrication of all porcelain restorations that are conservative, esthetic, and healthier for the gums and teeth than traditional crowns.

Introducing Cerec technology that is now used as a standard for restorations in dental schools such as my favorite…University of Tennessee! Crowns used to be the answer to broken teeth.  Today’s technology allows dentists to fabricate all porcelain restorations that conservatively and predictably allow teeth to be restored with minimal drilling and typically no sensitivity and postoperative discomfort.

Guess what….  One Visit, No Temporaries, All Porcelain restorations with No Pain, No dark lines at the gumline and Minimal Drilling!  Now that’s something to smile about!