Dr. Allen Ali Nasseh is a dentist, and has answered some common questions tht Bizymoms visitors have about Dental Crowns and Tooth Bridges.
Q. What are dental crowns and tooth bridges?
A. These prosthetics are used to cover teeth that are weakened due to missing tooth structure due to deay/large filling (as is the case with crowns,) or replace missing teeth (in case of bridges).
Q. Is Root Treatment needed before a Crown-Bridge?
A. Root Canal treatment is not always needed prior to a crown or bridge. However, a percentage of these teeth end up needing root canal therapy during, or after prosthetic restoration with a crown or bridge. The restorative dentist will usually assess the risk of need for root canal therapy prior to a crown/bridge procedure and will recommend to have this procedure before restorative treatment. We also specialize in diagnosing and recommending such treatment based on the restorative factors in any given patient.
Q. How are crowns and bridges made?
A. Generally, a mould is made of the tooth/teeth and a cast is made from this mould by a laboratory, who will then proceed to fabricate a custom made crown to fit that tooth through an elaborate procedure of casting noble metals and packing porcelain on top of it. The resulting crown is shipped back to the dentist who will then proceed to cement the crown on top of the tooth.
Q. How long do crowns and bridges last?
A. Several factors play a role here, the most important of which is home care (brushing and flossing,) and the patient’s diet. The accuracy of fit of these devices over their base teeth is also a significant factor. In general, however, a well made single crown can last ten years or more.
Q. Is the procedure painful?
A. Root canal procedures should never be painful. The area should be completely anesthetized with local anesthetic and the patient should be completely comfortable during the procedure. If the tooth is severely infected, however, higher volume of anesthetic is needed to obtain full anesthesia. This is a good reason not to postpone treatment during early phases of toothache as longer wait periods will usually result in more inflamation in the pulp.
Q. How do I take care of my dental crowns and bridges?
A. The most important thing you can do is to have regular oral hygiene home care with a minimum requirement of nightly brushing and flossing. Brushing after meals during the day will also help reduce the incidence of decay. Regular professional cleanings and early interception of any problem will also help prolong overall oral health and prolongs lifespan of dental appliances including crowns and bridges.
Q. Are the non-metal crowns as strong as metal crowns?
A. Some newer models show impressive compressive strengths. Others are not as strong as metal crowns. It’s important to discuss the specific type used by your restorative dentist to understand if the material being used is strong enough or not.
Q. How can we contact Dr. Nasseh if we have further questions?
A. I can be reached at my office, MicroSurgical Endodontics at 607 Boylston Street 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02116 at (617) 236-7818 or via email: endoman@MSEndo.com. Further information is also available at www.MSEndo.com
