Dental Crowns and Fillings
With the amount of work our teeth do for us every day, it’s no surprise that they sometimes become diseased or damaged. While dental diseases, such as decay, are preventable with the proper care and hygiene, few of us will escape the need for at least a filling during our lifetimes. When you have a cavity, a broken tooth, or suffer from tooth loss, the team at Dr. Katie To, Center for Integrative Wellness and Cosmetic Dentistry is here to help find the solution.
Why We Choose Tooth-Colored Fillings
Dr. Katie believes that even the most common dental procedures can be a work of art, which is part of the reason she chooses to use natural-looking white fillings over silver amalgam ones. Composite, or white, fillings also offer a more conservative solution to cavities because they require us to remove less tooth structure. Because composite chemically bonds to the tooth, we only need to remove the decay and prepare the surface of the tooth for bonding to the filling.
With amalgam fillings, creating an “anchor” with the filling was necessary to keep it in place. Many people would also like to avoid the mercury used in amalgam fillings.
In many cases, when we detect decay early, treatment requires only a small filling where anesthetic may not even be necessary.
What if I Keep Getting Cavities?
Sometimes patients come to us with strong brushing and flossing habits and a healthy diet, yet they still have frequent instances of tooth decay. Dr. Katie uses DNA testing to determine if you are genetically prone to tooth decay. This knowledge helps us create a preventive dentistry routine and help you make lifestyle changes that can support a cavity-free smile.
Dental Crowns to Repair and Rebuild Teeth
Habits such as teeth grinding and chewing ice can take a toll on your healthy teeth, causing small fractures or large cracks in the teeth over time. Other diseases like dental decay or an infected root can also lead to the need for a protective cover over your tooth. Called crowns, or caps, dental crowns cover the entire tooth structure to reinforce it. Rather than a cracked tooth absorbing the force of chewing, the dental crown takes on much of the work, protecting the tooth and nerve beneath it.
Dr. Katie will also use dental crowns to rebuild a worn-down smile for improved comfort and function. Crowns come in a variety of materials including porcelain, porcelain and metal blends, and full gold crowns. Many people prefer the look of all-porcelain crowns, especially for cosmetic dentistry cases.
Are You Ready to Improve Your Smile?
Contact our Katy, TX dental office to book a dental appointment with one of our experienced dentists and see the difference Dr. Katie To, Center for Integrative Wellness and Cosmetic Dentistry offers when it comes to personalized patient care and treatment.
