Uses, Process, and Types of Crowns

What is a dental crown, or simply “crown”? It is basically a “cap” that your dentist places over your natural tooth that can still be saved. It encases the entire visible tooth, at and above the gumline. It looks like a tooth, of the same shade, shape and size as the tooth being replaced. The former tooth may be damaged, decayed, broken, or discolored, and the crown aims to restore its appearance and function.

What situations may need crowns? Crowns are needed in the following situations: to restore a broken or cracked tooth, or a severely worn down enamel, to protect a weakened tooth from further decay, to replace a tooth that has little structure left because of a large, removed filling, to cover a badly discolored tooth, to cover a dental implant, and to hold a dental bridge in position.

This is how crowns are made and attached. Your dentist first reshapes the crown of your tooth by filing, especially along the chewing areas to make room for the artificial cap (local anesthesia may be required). Then a paste or putty will make an accurate impression of the trimmed tooth (or a digital scanner if available) to include neighboring teeth so that the bite is not affected by the new crown.

This will be sent to a dental lab where the crown will be manufactured, allowing a week or so for its return. In the meantime, a temporary crown will be fitted. On your second visit, the temporary crown is removed and if the shade and fit of the new crown are acceptable, your dentist will permanently cement it in place. Local anesthetic applies as well.

There are different makes of permanent crowns depending on its purpose. There is the stainless steel crown, a prefabricated crown usually used as a temporary measure. Pediatric patients are ideal targets because it can fit over a primary tooth as protection until it falls off as the permanent tooth erupts.

Metal crowns have alloys with a high content of gold or platinum, or base-metal alloys like cobalt- chromium and nickel-chromium. They are very strong and durable. Its metallic color is a drawback, hence, they are more suitable for molars.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are a better color-match. Porcelain looks like normal teeth, but are prone to chipping or breaking, and the metal part may show through as a dark line sometimes. However, they are good for front or back teeth; also do well as long bridges because they provide strength. All-porcelain crowns, on the other hand, are more natural-looking and ideal for patients with metal allergies. All-resin crowns are less expensive than other crowns though not as durable against fractures.

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Learning More About Dental Crowns in Bellevue

If there is a need for you to replace a tooth or two because of decay, discoloration, or breakage, come see your Bellevue dentist here at Overlake and let’s talk about crowns.

Cautious Use of Antibiotics in Dentistry

When you are suffering from a toothache or tooth pain, you would probably go see your dentist and ask for an antibiotic prescription. Your dentist may or may not agree because it depends upon the cause, and avoided as much as possible unless absolutely necessary. Let’s understand antibiotics first to confidently communicate with your dentist.

First of all, your dentist would give you an oral examination and ask about your symptoms. For example, you complain that your tooth hurts when you take hot or cold foods, or sometimes it hurts for no apparent reason. The dentist may give you a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen; or the same after you’ve had a tooth extraction or two. You might have a localized infection, confined to the pulp of a tooth. Even this does not require antibiotics. However, if the infection has spread and manifests as fever, then antibiotics may be required.

What are the guidelines of the American Dental Association (ADA) on antibiotic prescription? Here is the 2019 Antibiotics for Dental Pain and Swelling Guideline: “The guideline recommends against using antibiotics for most pulpal and periapical conditions and instead recommends only the use of dental treatment and, if needed, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.”

“Instead of prescribing antibiotics, dentists should prioritize dental treatments such as pulpotomy, pulpectomy, nonsurgical root canal treatment, or incision and drainage for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, symptomatic apical periodontitis, and localized acute apical abscess in adult patients who are not severely immunocompromised.”

“If a patient’s condition progresses to systemic involvement, showing signs of fever or malaise, then dentists should prescribe antibiotics.”

Antibiotics do not have the same effect for everyone. While they are meant to treat painful infections, they can produce unwanted side effects in others. Most of the time yeast infections, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are some side effects associated with antibiotics. Allergic reactions may also happen. Antibiotic overuse is harder to manage. It may lead to growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria among individuals.

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Looking After Antibiotic Safety in Bellevue

Our experienced and reliable staff at Overlake Dental is aware of the cautious use of antibiotics in dental practice. Rest assured we provide excellent oral care for a wide variety of issues that may or may not require antibiotics.

Treatment And Prevention

When you already have tooth enamel erosion, its treatment will depend on the cause. When you consult your dental professional about it, you will be given some options to treat the problem. There are also many easy tips to consider to avoid subjecting your teeth to this condition. Read on and know.

Treatment of tooth enamel loss depends on the problem. There are restorative procedures to consider. The most common one is to use fillings. These may be sufficient to cover small areas of erosion. Sometimes tooth bonding is used to protect the tooth or multiple teeth and improve aesthetics.

If the enamel loss is extensive and fillings are insufficient, the dentist may recommend covering the tooth with a crown. Crowns may protect the tooth from further decay. For multiple teeth veneers are permanent solutions. In very severe cases, tooth extraction may be recommended, or even a root canal.

1. To help protect and restore your enamel consider some tips to help you reduce your risk for tooth enamel erosion.
2. Maintain regular and proper oral hygiene. Use fluoridated toothpaste when brushing twice daily. Also floss at least once daily. Fluoride can neutralize plaque bacteria and prevent gingivitis while repairing weakened enamel. Remember to always brush gently.
3. Minimize or avoid food and drinks high in acidic content, sugar and starches, whether they be meals or in the form of snacks.
4. If you must, use a straw when consuming acidic drinks. This will lessen the contact of these liquids with the teeth surfaces.
5. After an acidic meal, be sure to gargle and rinse your mouth with water. Do not brush immediately but wait for an hour, for you will only spread acid over the teeth surfaces with brushing.
6. Hydrate by drinking water throughout the day, especially if you suffer from dry mouth.
7. Encourage more saliva flow by chewing on sugarless gum. Other types of sugary gum will only be more harmful than good as sugar attracts bacteria and promotes more acid.
8. Seek medical attention if you suffer from conditions like reflux disease, heartburn, and bulimia.
9. See your dental professional if you suffer from teeth grinding or bruxism. Your dentist may prescribe you a night guard or mouth guard to protect your teeth.
10. Have dental visits every six months for professional cleanings and checkups.

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Offering Recommendations For Tooth Erosion in Bellevue

Know more about our options when you are experiencing tooth erosion. We have several services to address enamel loss, as well as more tips and recommendations that are easy to follow.

Watching Out for the Causes and Symptoms

What is the purpose of tooth enamel?

The enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth, which acts as the protective covering of your teeth. Though translucent and thin, it is the hardest tissue in the entire body. It provides protection from daily chewing, biting, and grinding; it insulates the teeth from temperature extremes and onslaught of chemicals. Be that as it may, the enamel can still chip, break, or crack from certain forces. It can erode via a gradual wearing away that can expose the inner layer.

Teeth erosion happens in excessive or repeated exposure of the teeth to acid. For example, frequent consumption of pure fruit juices and carbonated drinks increases the risk for tooth erosion. Another lifestyle habit, such as binge drinking, can also cause the same. This is even though your saliva, which naturally contains calcium, can help neutralize the acid in sparse or moderate consumption of these intakes. A diet high in sugar and starches, such as sour foods, cakes and candies, can also erode the enamel gradually.

There are also other causes of tooth erosion apart from diet choice. Acid reflux disease, where stomach content goes up the esophagus, bulimia, where vomiting is frequent, or dry mouth syndrome, where saliva production is low or insufficient, are conditions that make teeth prone to enamel erosion. Teeth grinding or bruxism that causes tooth-to-tooth friction, as well as hard brushing and biting on hard objects, like ice, fruit, nails, among others, are other culprits.

What are the symptoms of tooth erosion?

Pain is common as the teeth become overly sensitive to hot or cold food or drink or other stimuli. Another is discoloration where teeth become increasingly yellow, exposing the dentin underneath the enamel. Teeth may appear transparent, smooth or shiny around the edges indicative of enamel loss. When erosion sets in, your teeth may have cracks and dents in those areas that involve chewing food.

When enamel erodes, the tooth is more susceptible to cavities or tooth decay. The outer layer is weakened and can become brittle. If left unattended, the whole tooth may be compromised.

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Looking Out For Tooth Erosion in Bellevue

If you are experiencing the symptoms just described above, you may be experiencing tooth erosion. Come see us for a consultation here at Overlake Dental, your friendly Bellevue dentists.

Fluoride in Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Water

You’ve heard about fluoride in your toothpaste, in your mouthwash, and even in your tap water. These are the different fluoride sources highly recommended by the dental community and governing bodies, and widely accepted as a tooth decay prevention program. Learn more about the benefits of this mineral on the overall oral health of users, from the youngest to the oldest.

Fluoride is a mineral found in teeth and bones, and is a naturally-occuring element in the environment, like soil, plants and water. It has many applications, but is more commonly used in improving dental health. Fluoride remineralizes the enamel of teeth, strengthening it against the attack of acid and bacteria, and slowing the breakdown of enamel crystals due to continuous use. Hence, though teeth are porous, they remain hard and more resistant to decay with regular fluoride use.

Acids from plaque formation can penetrate the enamel and weaken its structure, a process referred to as demineralization. It can lead to brittle areas on the surface, which may end up as cavities. So it is important to have fluoride defense in your day-to-day routine.

Fluoride in Toothpaste

Majority of toothpaste brands incorporate fluoride as a means of preventing cavities and tooth decay from children to adults. With regular use, brushing with fluoride strengthens weakened spots on teeth and may even reverse the process of cavity formation. It promotes mineralization of the enamel and makes it more resistant to plaque formation and acid attacks.

Fluoride in Mouthwash

Using mouthwashes or rinses does not substitute with regular tooth brushing and flossing. Not all mouthwashes contain fluoride. However, some freshen breath, others provide an anti-cavity benefit, while others contain germicidal components to help prevent plaque buildup. A fluoride mouthwash doesn’t remove plaque, but rather protects the teeth from acids produced by the bacterial plaque.

Fluoridated Water

In many communities, the water system contains safe fluoride levels, again for the benefit of oral health, protecting children and adults. Tap water contains regulated amounts that are safe to drink. Bottled water may not contain fluoride, though. In such cases when fluoride is insufficient, your dentist may recommend other means to obtain the beneficial element, such as fluoride tablets or fluoride drops.

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Learning More About Fluoride at Bellevue Overlake Dental

See how fluoride plays an essential role in the oral health of children and adults? It’s about time you include it in your regular dental care routine. Come see your Bellevue dentist for more information.