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Today's Restorative Dentistry

There's a bright new trend in cosmetic dental offices these days: more people are scheduling appointments because they want to, not because they have to.

Restorative dentistry just isn't the same anymore.

In the past 15 years we've seen the development of materials and procedures we could only dream about before. And if you know someone who hasn't been to the dentist in a while, tell them they'll be pleasantly surprised by what they find.

Pain control

Dental medicine has come a long way from the days when whiskey was the anesthetic of choice. Today's dentistry is virtually painless. Technology, stress control techniques, and some very sophisticated approaches to anesthesia have all contributed to painless treatment - from cleaning to cavity preparation to root canal treatment.

Cosmetic dentistry

A new discipline has grown up around restorative dentistry procedures. But, does it show in a smile?

• Tooth whitening is a simple, inexpensive way to lighten stains and discolorations on teeth without altering the natural structure.
• Dental bonding has come of age with the refinement of bonding resins. There's no limit to the cosmetic "magic' we can work on a smile - close gaps, reshape teeth, lengthen here, brighten there.
• Tooth-colored filling materials are getting prettier - and stronger - every day
• Dental Implants - Though people are keeping their teeth longer and longer, part of the older population still has to deal with missing teeth. For those denture wearers who've always hoped for something better, dental implants can be a kind of dental rebirth.

The future of dentistry looms exciting, too. Cosmetic laser dentistry, fiber optics, computer-aided design - all are finding applications in dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry - it's a whole new ball game.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

How Long Can I Expect My Dental Crown To Last?

People often assume that once they have a crown placed on a tooth, it will last the rest of their lives. Although dental crowns may last for a very long time, it is not correct to say that they will last forever.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

This is one of the most difficult questions asked of a dentist because, in essence, no one can be sure. However, there are a few resources available that can give us an idea of how long your dental crowns may last.

One resource is insurance companies. Even though the dental insurance company should not dictate the type of treatment that should be done, they give some insight into the matter. Insurance companies will pay for a new crown on the same tooth after five years. So, in essence, they believe that dental crowns will last at least five years. Another resource available is the dental literature. The dental research has some extreme variability in this area. It provides information that ranges from a 20% failure rate in 3 years all the way to a 3% failure rate in 23 years. So, which is correct? The answer actually has to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. To do this, we need to look at why dental crowns have to be replaced.

Why Do Dental Crowns Need to Be Redone?

There are many reasons why dental crowns need to be redone. Fracture is one example. The fracture incidence of dental crowns can be related to either the type of restoration (gold, metal ceramic, all-ceramic) or where the tooth restoration is placed in the mouth (anterior vs. posterior). Another risk factor is if a person has a grinding habit at night. A crown will have a higher risk of fracture in a mouth that applies more forces to the teeth by grinding than in one that does not have any incidence of grinding.

Decay can be another reason why dental crowns need to be replaced. Just because a tooth receives a crown does not mean it is less prone to decay. In fact, because it has more areas that may trap plaque, it needs to be cleaned as well, if not more meticulously, during home care.

Esthetics can be another reason why dental crowns are replaced. Esthetics is one of the main reasons people choose to have a new crown made in the anterior part of the mouth. This occurs because as we get older, our teeth will change color and progressively get darker while the tooth with the crown will stay the same color as the day it was placed. A discrepancy between the color of the teeth will become more evident over time. In addition to color, esthetic changes in the position of the gum tissue over time can also affect the look of the crown.

Which one of these areas may be a factor in a patient's mouth is uncertain. An idea can be obtained by evaluating the reason a crown was needed in the first place (such as a fractured tooth, decay, etc.). In conclusion, it is unclear how long dental crowns will last. Their life span may be anywhere from a few years all the way to 20 years and beyond. A lot of it will depend on the need for the crown in the first place and how well the mouth is taken care of after the crown is placed.

By Greggory Kinzer, DDS, MSD

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.