Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.
There are many reasons why someone may choose to pursue cosmetic dentistry, but it can be challenging to
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When a permanent adult tooth needs reinforcement that can only be provided by a dental crown, the look of the crown is very important. It needs to look natural, and indeed totally indistinguishable from the tooth it's going to cover. Ceramic is the best choice for this, since it has the necessary strength to perform well under the compressive bite forces the tooth will undergo. Additionally, the surface of a ceramic crown does an excellent impersonation of the translucence of tooth enamel. But are these visual concerns so important when a child needs a dental crown?
Natural Structure
First and foremost, a family dental clinic will try to preserve the natural structure of your child's tooth. Adding a comprehensive dental restoration is a last resort, but may be the only way to save the tooth if a significant amount of its structure has been weakened, whether it's due to decay or an accident. Without the crown, the tooth may be prematurely lost, and this is an uncomfortable process—not to mention one that's bad news for your child's dental health.
Adult Replacement
The baby tooth will ultimately be lost as its adult replacement grows beneath it, eventually erupting upwards and pushing the baby tooth out of position. Although critical for daily life, as well as your child's dental health, the temporary nature of a baby tooth is taken into consideration when adding a dental restoration like a crown. A baby tooth crown won't be realistic dental ceramic, because it doesn't need to be. The type of preparation an adult tooth needs for a permanent crown can be unworkable with a younger patient too.
Stainless Steel for the Rear
Bearing the temporary nature of a baby tooth in mind, pediatric dentistry has two main options for a baby tooth crown. When the tooth is at the rear of the mouth (a molar, which handles the heavy-duty chewing), a prefabricated stainless steel crown is favored. It's easy to fit to the molar and can withstand the significant bite force that's required of a molar. It won't look natural, but its relatively hidden position means that it will be inconspicuous.
Resin for the Front
Your family dentist wouldn't fit an obvious-looking metal crown to a front tooth, visible when your child speaks or smiles. These teeth are treated with resin crowns, which are a type of tooth-colored acrylic material. They're not ideal for long-term use, since they'll eventually become stained. But when the restoration only needs to last as long as the baby tooth beneath it, resin is a perfectly functional choice of material.
A temporary tooth only needs a temporary crown, and your family dentist can easily fit one when a young tooth needs that extra protection.
For more info about family dental care, contact a local company.
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