What is a crown, and why do I need one?

A crown can restore the look and function of your tooth while allowing you to keep your natural, underlying tooth structure. Most crowns are precision-milled porcelain and are individually customised for each application in each patient, providing a natural, long-lasting smile. The crown is positioned over the damaged tooth, and it looks and feels completely natural. Most importantly, crowns restore function to the affected area. Crowns are typically used to correct a broken tooth or to repair a tooth that has deteriorated due to decay. The decay eats away healthy tooth structure and can deteriorate the tooth to the point where extraction is the only viable treatment option. Sometimes, decay can be removed and leave healthy tooth structure, but not much of it.

What are some of the most common orthodontic problems and their appropriate treatment?

We typically see a lot of crowding of the teeth in children who come to see us. They may have overlapping teeth, teeth erupting out of place due to lack of space caused by a relatively small jaw, or large teeth. For the teeth to be aligned ideally, we use braces and sometimes expanders on children, while for adults and older teens, we may opt for Invisalign as a form of treatment. This may take anywhere from a year to two years to complete, depending on the age of the patient and severity of the crowding. Besides crowding, we see other problems, such as protruding teeth or overbites, underbites, open bites, cross-bites, excessive spacing, missing teeth, impacted or late eruption of permanent teeth, and other jaw discrepancies. Most of these issues are treated with braces and the use of appliances, including expanders, headgear, or other more complex devices. Some complex cases may even require jaw surgery from an oral surgeon.

What are some cosmetic dentistry treatment options that can improve the appearance of my smile?

You may be interested in a few minor adjustments, or you may have concerns that need more attention. Some smiles can be enhanced with simple whitening or bonding treatments. Other smiles require porcelain veneers, crowns or bridges, gum contouring, periodontal therapy, or a combination of all these techniques. After a thorough evaluation of your smile and dental health, your dentist will suggest a treatment plan for you based on your goals, areas of concern, and overall condition of your oral health.