What You Need to Know About Lava Crowns

By Arthur Kezian

Here are some facts about Lava crowns.

·         Lava crowns are excellent solutions to restoring chipped, damaged, stained or cracked teeth. It is also referred to dental laminates and dental veneers

·         Patients who have unwanted gaps especially in the upper middle teeth that easily is noticeable whenever they smile can be easily corrected with porcelain veneers. No need to wear braces which usually is a long treatment and some patients may not want that.

·         Porcelain veneers are like fake nails and wafer thin like which are custom designed and glued or bonded on front surfaces of your natural teeth. A .5 mm reduction is done on the surface of your teeth and do try to remember this is not a reversible process.

·         Porcelain veneers are translucent which exactly the same with the enamel layer of our natural teeth. Both are translucent where light passes unto the tooth enamel and is reflected on the opaque area which is the dentin. Porcelain veneers emits the same characteristics with that of the enamel of the tooth giving you a complete natural look.

·         Having cosmetic dentistry done such as porcelain veneers resists staining. This is one advantage of type of cosmetic material; there is no need to avoid having discolorations one gets from drinking and eating colored food and beverages such as tea, red wine, soda and coffee. Stain from tobacco and cigarettes also does not affect with the color of your veneers in fact, Lava crowns are the solution to cover such damages from these materials.

·         Tooth preparation and laboratory fabrication usually doesn't take that long. Usually it only takes a week’s time for it to be installed. You will be wearing temporaries in between visits.

·       Lava crowns are made of strong material and can resist most of the forces placed unto the teeth with normal diet. But remember that porcelain veneers have strong crushing strength but low in tensile strength, so try to avoid any twisting motion of your tooth when you bite with your crown (i.e. opening a bag of chips, biting onto a bone, opening pistachio nuts, or even biting into apples). Listen to your dentist’s advice regarding this matter.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.

Porcelain Crowns for your Cosmetic and Functional Needs

 By Arthur Kezian

Always remember that your dentist wants what’s best for you. There are different types of crowns which are suggested whenever your dentist sees that it needs restoration. The need for dental crowns varies case to case.

A dental crown strengthens and protects the remaining tooth structure and often times improve the appearance of one’s smile. A crown or sometimes referred to as “caps” is a type of dental restoration or covering that fit over a tooth. It is fabricated in a dental laboratory or in some cases can be made out of pure porcelain and other type of ceramics. Thanks to advanced technology it can now be made inside your dental office. Crowns are made with natural looking porcelain.

During your dental visit, in some cases your dentist will suggest having your teeth restored with a porcelain crown. Probably the reason why you are given this option is because your tooth has the following indications:

1. It has a previous filling which is big and the tooth structure tends to become weak thus no longer can support the filling.
2. Extensively damaged by secondary decay
3. Fracture or broken filling
4. Previously had it treated for root canal making the tooth brittle and prone to fracture thus a porcelain crown is suggested to have the remaining tooth structure protected.
5. To hold a bridge in place where the adjacent teeth requires a crown as replacement.
In today’s modern dentistry, there are wide varieties of materials where crown are made from. Some are made from gold, metal alloys where it is fused to porcelain on the outer portion or shell. All porcelain or ceramic crowns are now considered to be the best choice for porcelain crowns because of its natural looking appearance.

Here are the types of  porcelain crowns available:

• Metal Crown – made of gold or other metal alloys such as palladium or base metal alloys such as nickel and chromium. In preparation for a metal crown, one advantage is that there is less tooth structure needed to be removed and tooth wear is kept into a minimum level. Metal crowns relatively break or chip off, but one disadvantage is the aesthetic look because of its metallic color
• Porcelain fused to metal crown – This is a much better option when it comes to aesthetic quality. The color of the tooth will be based with the adjacent or existing natural teeth giving you a much more natural appearance. Depending on the chosen metal alloy or base, sometimes the metal underneath tends to darken on the gum line portion, especially when the gums recede over time.

 All Porcelain Crowns

– These types of crowns are made of different biocompatible materials. They resemble lifelike crowns and bridges of teeth and are crafted to resemble real teeth. Porcelain crowns are recommended for patients with allergies to metal. However, they are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to metal crowns.
Fitting a porcelain crown requires at least two dental appointments. For any questions regarding your treatment and instructions after your treatment please call 323 467 -2777. Dr. Arthur Kezian will gladly give you his recommendation because he is a your dentist. You can trust and understands your needs when it comes to quality dentistry.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777

-N.S.