June 2010 Your Smile, Inspired By Nature

In my practice, I see many patients who have "old" dentistry. What I mean by that is metal dentistry: amalgam fillings, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and so on. Back in the day, dentists used metal in restorations for two reasons:

1. Metal and amalgam materials were all that we had
2. We didn't know any better

Fortunately, times and dentistry have changed.

Today we know that metal is detrimental to your teeth. Because metal reacts to changes in temperature, metal amalgam fillings move in your teeth. They expand when exposed to heat (think coffee, tea) and contract when exposed to cold (think ice cream!). This constant fluctuation inside the walls of your tooth can cause it to fracture or break.

Additionally, as the filling expands and contracts, it creates a space between itself and the wall of your tooth, allowing dangerous bacteria to enter and get underneath, causing additional, and undetectable, decay.

Besides health issues, metal is downright unattractive in your smile. Crowns made of metal leave an unsightly gray line around your tooth, creating a smile that looks anything but healthy or natural. (Crowns are used when a tooth has had large fillings, extensive cavities or damage, or is too weak.)

Who wants to smile and reveal a mouth full of metal?

To avoid all these problems and create a smile that is healthy, strong and natural in appearance, I use Empress Crowns.

Empress Crowns can be placed on your front or back teeth and, because they are metal-free, you won't see a black or other tell-tale dark line around your gumline. They are entirely made of porcelain, and are translucent, absorbing light and creating a completely natural appearance.

These crowns are literally "inspired by nature," and are made to look like your natural tooth. In fact, they are hand-crafted to perfectly complement your smile, looking like the healthy teeth that Mother Nature intended. No one will know they're crowns.

If you've got metal restorations and are worried about the risks to your teeth and your health, or if you just don't like flashing all that gray when you smile, call my office today.

We can safely and gently replace your metal restorations with Empress Porcelain Crowns, giving you a smile inspired by nature.