Seeing the Family Dentist: Advantages for Your Family

Visiting the family dentist comes with many inherent advantages. There is no doubt, not even in our minds, that visiting the family dentist, or any dentist for that matter, is not something people look forward to doing. That being said, we have found that among families willing to visit the dentist on a regular basis, the visits are often quick and easy. This is because a family who comes in for regular maintenance often finds that they require little or no serious work on their teeth. The more often we can examine and clean your teeth, the less likely you are to have a serious plaque buildup or have another problem become severe before we catch it. These are just a few benefits to having a family dentist. It is interesting to note that families who come in to see the same family dentist often tend to keep each other more accountable when it comes to oral hygiene, which again contributes to better teeth.

On the dentist side of the equation, we find that being a family dentist provides us with one of the key tools we need in the event that additional work is needed: trust. Family doctors have been using this advantage for years. With a relationship built over time, and often with many generations of the family, a family service provider has the ability to be more of a confidant, someone the family trusts when they need a treatment. Think about it from the perspective of a visit for a procedure. Should you be one of those people who does not have a family dentist to get oral care, you will be in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by people you do not know, and then facing the prospect of the dentist chair and equipment. This is literally the perfect way to build up anxiety. On the other hand, when you have a family dentist, you are familiar with the dentist and the office, you have come in by yourself or with other family members, and since you are a regular at getting your teeth examined or cleaned, it is no big deal to have a procedure done.

Families need two distinct things, which a family dentist is able to provide. First, families need the advantage of scheduling together. No family wants to be running all over the countryside with a variety of needs to a variety of providers. Unfortunately, when it comes to families, there are often different needs, and so we have gone ahead and brought most family dentist services in-house. Now, whether you need an extraction, a cleaning, x-rays, a braces consultation, refitting of dentures, or any other general dentist procedure, we can do it all in our own clinic. This saves you time and effort. Speaking of time, we wanted to ensure that when families come in, we serve as many of the family members as possible, to save the family from repeated visits for the same issues to the family dentist. Working with our streamlined scheduling allows your family to have appointments that work together to maximize each visit.

Teeth Whitening  >  Periodontics

The Types of Dental Crowns Available When You Need a Restoration

What Are Dental Crowns and Why Do I Need Them?

A dental crown is commonly described as a tooth-shaped cap permanently placed over a tooth, usually for one or two reasons: either to protect and reinforce a tooth that is structurally compromised, or to improve its appearance by changing its shape, color, or size.

After being cemented into place, the crown will totally encase the visible portion of the tooth above the gum line, thus becoming the new outer surface of the tooth. Made of resin, ceramic, gold, or an alloy of different metals, dental crowns can restore a broken tooth or one that has been severely worn down. They can also effectively protect one that is weak, decayed, or cracked. They may also be used to hold a bridge in place or to improve the appearance of severely discolored teeth. Different types of dental crowns may be used on damaged or decaying baby teeth to save them.

Different Types of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are either temporary or permanent. Permanent crowns are made from several different materials, such as stainless steel, gold or another alloy, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin, or ceramic.

Whereas permanent crowns are made in a dental laboratory, temporary crowns, usually made of acrylic or stainless steel, can be made in a dentist's office. These crowns are used as transitory restoration until a permanent crown is constructed.

•     Metal Crowns: Because metal withstands wear and tear better than most other materials used to make crowns, they rarely chip or break and can last longer. The different types of metals used in crowns include gold alloy, palladium, nickel, and chromium. Additionally, since the metal is thin, less tooth structure is required to be removed. However, because of the metallic shine, many, if not most, people opt for metal crowns only for their molars that are out of sight.
•     Stainless steel: Stainless steel crowns are prefabricated and usually used as a temporary measure. In other words, a stainless steel crown protects the tooth for a short time while a permanent crown is being made. Stainless steel crowns are often fitted over a baby tooth to protect it from further decay for several reasons. They don't require multiple dental visits to place and are more cost-effective than custom-made crowns. Also, when primary teeth come out to make room for permanent ones, stainless steel crowns come out naturally with them.
•     Porcelain & Metal: Porcelain, fused to metal, can be color-matched to your adjacent teeth. Next to ceramic, porcelain crowns look most like natural teeth. In some cases, especially if gums recede, the metal on the underside of the porcelain dental crown can show through at the gum line. Another drawback of this type of crown is that the porcelain portion can chip or break, making these dental crowns a good choice for back teeth.
•     Resin: Resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they slowly wear down over time and are more prone to chips and cracks than the porcelain and metal combination crowns.
•     Ceramic & Porcelain: Ceramic and porcelain dental crowns are not as strong as porcelain and metal crown combinations and can wear down opposing teeth more than all-metal or resin crowns. On the other hand, they have a more natural appearance, and the color can be closely matched to adjacent teeth, making them a good choice for front teeth. Porcelain and ceramic crowns are obviously more suitable for people with metal allergies.

To discuss these options in further detail, call to schedule an appointment.

Dental Bonding  >  Dental Veneers