Don’t hide your smile – flaunt it with crowns, implants, and other restorations that look like the “real deal”
9 out of every 10 cavities can be found in the back teeth, those grooved and hard-to-reach molars and premolars. It makes sense; in addition to their locations at the back of the mouth presenting potential challenges to brushing and flossing, the uneven surfaces of these teeth tend to trap food particles and harmful bacteria. This process gives rise to the formation of destructive decay-causing plaque.
But, Bingham-Lester Dentistry emphasizes to our patients in the Crofton, Maryland area that the incisors or front teeth are not indestructible. Depending on the damage, they may need to be restored with a dental crown or implant.
Special considerations for the front teeth
These teeth, too, may have risk factors for certain types of damage. They may be particularly vulnerable to trauma, such as fractures, from injuries to the face during sports or falls. Of course, the effects of tooth decay and gum disease are not limited to the back teeth. They may be eroded due to these progressive diseases. When the eroded areas, holes, or cavities are too large for a filling, Dr. Vickii R. Bingham-Lester may recommend either a dental inlay, onlay (partial crown), or a full crown.
The full crown fits on top of the remaining healthy tooth structure. Inlays and onlays involve precisely building up the eroded areas of the tooth. Dr. Bingham-Lester practices conservative dentistry. So, she always recommends restorations that adequately resolve the underlying problem while preserving the utmost natural tissue. For teeth that cannot be preserved with crowns and other interventions, such as root canal therapy, we can discuss options to replace the failing tooth with implants.
Our office has all the expertise and technologies to place the implant in-house. Implants are generally considered to set the standard for tooth replacement because they function as roots. Once connected to the tooth’s visible part (the crown), the implant stabilizes it – just like a natural tooth root! No other form of tooth replacement today replaces both the roots and the overlying teeth.
The unique capabilities do not stop here; Dr. Bingham-Lester can also produce crowns and other restorations on-site. She does not have to work with an outside lab. She does it all here, from planning and designing the new tooth structure to fabricating and placing it. These restorations are milled from a high-quality block of dental ceramic. This material is ideal for front teeth due in no small part to its aesthetic value. Ceramics like porcelain feature many properties similar to natural tooth enamel, including translucence and reflectivity.
Preserving or rebuilding a broken, decayed, or damaged tooth has never been easier. Call 410-885-6522 to speak with our Crofton, MD, area team at Bingham-Lester Dentistry.
