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The Artistry Of Tooth Bonding and Dental Crowns

Throughout history, dentists have tried to recreate the function and beauty of natural teeth when tooth structure has been lost. Restoring function used to be the main goal of a dentist because prior to the 1970's, dentistry lacked the proper technology to achieve fine esthetics as well as function. Dentists could only predictably offer patients a restoration that would simply "fill" the empty space. Today, dentistry has more advanced dental materials and newly developed techniques that allow dentists to offer artistically-recreated, natural-looking crowns and modern tooth bonding that would fool even the most critical eye.

Before you can understand how crowns and tooth bonding can mimic teeth you must understand why natural teeth appear as they do.

What Color Are Your Teeth?

It is a common mistake for patients to think that their teeth are all one color. Your teeth are never just one color. They are a series of superimposed translucent layers of varying shades. Teeth also have different surface textures that reflect light in ways that affect the color of your teeth.

Your teeth are made up of three layers: pulp, dentin, and enamel. Each layer has a specific thickness, composition and structure. Additionally, the way light reflects off of or transluces through the layers gives you the color of your teeth. Using knowledge about the three layers of teeth allow dentists and dental technicians to recreate natural-looking dental crowns and tooth bonding.

Who Makes the Crowns?

Dental crown technicians are the true artisans in dentistry. Dentists begin the crown-making process by reducing the size of the tooth, making an impression of the reduced tooth, and selecting the proper shades of the tooth. This information is then transferred to the dental technician so a crown can be made.

Dental technicians blend science with artistic knowledge to recreate natural-looking teeth. Artistically, they use frame and reference, proportion and idealism, perspective and illusion as well as symmetry to mimic nature. Understanding the language of colors and using new dental materials and techniques has allowed the dentist to not only "fill" missing spaces but create cosmetic dentistry artwork from crowns and tooth bonding as well.

By Benjamin O. Watkins, III, DDS

+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.

Cosmetic Tooth Bonding Fixes Damaged Teeth

Cosmetic dentistry is everywhere these days.

With new materials, especially dental "superglues," we're reshaping teeth, filling gaps between teeth, restoring broken teeth, replacing missing teeth, placing lighter braces. The technique is called dental bonding, and the aesthetic result is wonderful.

But it's not forever.

The American Dental Association puts the life of tooth bonding materials at about five years. This may be a conservative estimate, but there will come a time when a bond needs attention.

In general, if you treat a bonded tooth like your other teeth, you'll keep your dental restoration intact longer. Lax home care habits or the wrong foods can hasten wear and tear.

So go easy. If your tooth restoration is brand new, or years old and still flawless, keep smiling. With care, we've seen dental bonding last a long, long time.

Here are some reminders to help lengthen the life of your dental restoration.

• Expect to come in more often just after your tooth restoration is placed. The edges of bonded restorations need a once-over after a few months to verify a smooth fit. And we'll check to make sure there is no gum irritation, too.
• Certain unforgiving foods can threaten any dental restoration. Watch nuts, hard candies, some fresh fruits - a bond could crack. We don't see it often, but with heavy-handed treatment, veneers can pop right off - not a real confidence-builder in a crowd.
• Nail-biting and ice-chewing are out.
• Use a non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft brush.
• Coffee, tea, colas, and cigarettes, of course, are not your restoration's best friends. They stain, among other unsavory things.

+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.