Crowns

Teeth are often restored using plastic (composite) or porcelain (ceramic) materials. However, when too much of a tooth’s structure has been worn away (by decay, a fracture, an injury, or large filling), a crown or “cap” may be needed. A crown may be needed to

• Restore a tooth when it is unable to support any type of filling
• Support other dental work
• Protect a weak tooth from fracturing or to restore a fractured tooth
• Cover badly-shaped or discolored teeth
• Replace missing teeth with the help of dental implants

A crown essentially covers 360 degrees of a tooth to restore it to its original natural shape and size. This permanent restoration fits over your original tooth to strengthen or improve the appearance of the tooth. The crown procedure can generally take two visits, however it really depends on a case-by-case basis.

To determine if your tooth needs a crown please visit our holistic dental office.

Composites Versus Amalgam/Mercury Fillings

Composites VS Amalgam/Mercury Fillings

Here at The Center For Natural Dentistry we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of dental care possible for our patients.  This includes filling cavities with white composite material only (as opposed to mercury containing amalgam fillings).

The average amalgam is 50% mercury bonded to 30% silver and a bit of copper, tin, and zinc.

We, at The Center For Natural Dentistry, do not use amalgams for the following reasons:

1.    A tooth colored filling is stronger because it actually bonds to your tooth.  The composite bonds all the remaining walls of the tooth together.  Because amalgams do not bond to tooth structure, there is a gap between the filling and the tooth, which significantly decreases the strength of the tooth.  This gap provides a pathway for bacteria and acids to get into and cause further decay.

2.    Amalgam fillings expand and contract so much, they create a wedge in the tooth leading to a weakened tooth structure.  The tooth, over time will eventually break apart and the only thing remaining in your mouth will be the filling.

3.    Silver fillings are ugly.  We like to give people beautiful teeth.

Currently insurance companies cover 80% of amalgam fillings but do not cover 80% of composite fillings.  Although we realize there is an increased cost to our patient, we feel that the quality of dental care associated with composite fillings greatly outweighs the added cost incurred.

The Center For Natural Dentistry will always offer our patients leading edge technology with a caring and professional attitude.  We will only recommend to you what is best for your dental health and what we provide for our families and ourselves.

Cosmetic Bonding

Bonding

Bonding is an excellent way to repair or change the shape or color of teeth, particularly front teeth. Bonding is usually a one-appointment procedure that starts with a careful matching of the color of the bonding materials to your tooth color.

Next, your teeth are lightly roughened and a gel is applied to ensure that the bonding materials will adhere. Then the bonding material is applied, sculpted and hardened with a high-intensity light. The final step is a careful polishing of your new teeth.

Affordable, Quick, and Painless

If you have teeth that have stains that cannot be removed by bleaching, and veneers or crowns are not necessary, then cosmetic bonding might be a good option for you. Cosmetic bonding is an affordable, quick and painless way to repair many cosmetic flaws or injuries, including:

• Gaps in teeth
• Spots or stains
• Chipped teeth

Dental bonding sculpts individual teeth without requiring removal of any tooth structure. This technique bonds a composite material that looks, acts and feels like the real thing, to an existing tooth. This procedure usually doesn’t require the use of an anesthetic; is relatively quick to apply; gives an immediate result and is less expensive than veneers.

Though bonding is quick, ultimate long-lasting esthetics requires the use of porcelain, not plastic.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Keeping it Natural

Until recently, dentists used a silver and mercury amalgam to fill and seal cavities. Because a larger amount of the original tooth must be removed, these types of fillings often weaken teeth, not to mention the toxicity. Recent innovations now allow us to replace old silver fillings with composite (plastic) or porcelain fillings that are stronger, safer and more natural looking. Say goodbye to “metal mouth” and hello to a beautiful new smile.