DENTAL CROWNS Vs. PORCELAIN VENEERS

DENTAL CROWNS Vs. PORCELAIN VENEERS

One of the more significant disadvantages associated with porcelain veneers (porcelain laminates) is the fact that they do have the potential to break or come off, and of course this will occur at a most inopportune moment. If a porcelain veneer has broken there is no way for your dentist to repair it, their only option will be to make you a new one. This means that you will have to endure the cost of having the new veneer made, as well as endure the time it takes for the new veneer to be fabricated and ultimately bonded into place. If a porcelain veneer has simply come off, there is a chance that your dentist will be able to bond it back in place.

A fundamental difference between porcelain veneers and dental crowns is the amount of a tooth's surface each respective type of dental restoration covers over. Dental crowns typically encase an entire tooth whereas porcelain veneers only cover over the front side of a tooth (the side that shows when the person smiles).

Porcelain veneers cannot be placed on teeth that have decay or are involved with periodontal disease (gum disease). Your dentist must treat these conditions before a porcelain veneer can be successfully placed.
If a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost because of decay or fracture, or else has already been replaced by a dental filling, the tooth may not be a good candidate for a porcelain veneer.

Porcelain veneers will not strengthen the teeth on which they are placed. Teeth that have histories where a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost are usually better served by placing a dental crown on them, not a porcelain veneer.
People who clench and grind their teeth can make poor candidates for porcelain veneers. The forces created by these activities, termed bruxism by dentists, can easily chip or break.

Dental crowns are restorations that protect damaged, cracked, or broken down teeth. A crown strengthens your existing damaged tooth to preserve its functionality. Dental crowns are also commonly known as caps because a crown sits over your existing tooth covering the entire outer surface.

By Dr. Ana Oviedo

COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN MEXICO

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

While traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing, diagnosing and treating oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a person's teeth, mouth and smile. In other words restorative, general and/or family dental practices address dental problems that require necessary treatment, whereas cosmetic dentistry provides elective — or desired — treatments or services.

Cosmetic dentistry may also provide restorative benefits. For example, dental fillings are a common procedure used to treat decayed teeth. Previously, most dental fillings were composed primarily of gold, amalgam and other materials that left visible dark spots on the teeth. Today, dental fillings may fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry, because you can select fillings made of porcelain or composite materials that closely match the color of your teeth, thus maintaining the natural appearance of your teeth and smile. Many people may choose to have their older fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored fillings to enhance their oral appearance.

Cosmetic Dentistry Trends
Technological advancements in natural-looking, tooth-colored dental materials make today’s cosmetic dental treatments more durable and predictable than in years past. Additionally, dentists are now using more conservative cosmetic dentistry techniques to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible, depending upon your specific clinical situation.
Cosmetic dentists may also use such technologies as lasers in order to perform some procedures necessary for cosmetic treatments in their own offices — without the need for referrals to specialists. This makes cosmetic dental procedures such as smile makeovers more comfortable and convenient for patients, as well as helps to reduce recovery time.

By Dr. Ana Oviedo