Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Tooth Bonding

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about tooth bonding.


The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Melinda Marino DDS 
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 
9910 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite D
San Diego, CA 92131 
(858) 578-0800 
MelindaMarinoDDS.com

Monday, 10 October 2016

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Crowns

A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. Many people call it a cap.
Crowns may be placed for several reasons. Usually the tooth has been broken or severely damaged by decay. As a result, a filling can't replace enough of the tooth or make the tooth strong enough. A crown may hold together parts of a cracked tooth. It also can be used to hold a bridge in place. Crowns can be used to improve appearance as well. They may be placed to cover misshapen or badly discolored teeth.

Crowns can be made ahead of time (prefabricated) or made to order in a laboratory. Prefabricated crowns are made of plastic or stainless steel. They can be used on a temporary basis until a permanent crown is made.

Crowns can be made of:

  • All metal
  • Zirconia
  • Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
  • Porcelain fused to zirconia
  • All ceramic

Metals include gold alloy, other alloys (palladium) or a base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium). The all-metal or PFM crowns are stronger and are better choices for back teeth than ceramic crowns. PFM and all-ceramic crowns are the same color as your natural teeth. They look just like normal teeth.

To read the entire article , please visit Colgate.com

Melinda Marino DDS 
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 
9910 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite D
San Diego, CA 92131 
(858) 578-0800 
MelindaMarinoDDS.com

Thursday, 30 June 2016

White Dental Fillings

Natural-Looking Fillings

The standard filling material for a number of years has been the silver-mercury amalgam. Although some practices still use this material, we do not. They have not been aesthetically pleasing, nor do they bond as tightly to a tooth as is ideal. The chance of decay eventually setting in is high. 

Our filling materials are composite resin and bond very tightly to a tooth, and even add strength to the tooth structure, while reducing the chances of decay developing around the restoration. They are made to match the shade of the tooth and make for a pleasing smile.


Melinda Marino DDS 
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 
9910 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite D
San Diego, CA 92131 
(858) 578-0800 
MelindaMarinoDDS.com

Thursday, 16 June 2016

Do I Need a Root Canal?

If you have been experiencing problems with a tooth, you may wonder, "Do I need a root canal?" Root canals, also known as endodontic therapy, are performed when the nerve or pulp of the tooth becomes infected and inflammed due to dental decay, a cracked or broken tooth or an injury to the tooth, according to the American Dental Association. During the procedure, a dentist uses a drill to remove both the nerve and pulp and seals up the tooth to protect against further damage. Only your dentist or a dental specialist called an endodontist, can determine whether a root canal will adequately treat your problem. Here are a few possible symptoms of the need for a root canal and some steps for dealing with them.

General Possible Symptoms
The most common symptom that may indicate the need for a root canal is tooth pain, according to the American Association of Endodontists. The intensity of the pain can range from mild to severe; it may lessen or intensify throughout the day, or it may get worse only when you bite down on the tooth. Some patients experience prolonged sensitivity to hot food or liquids. Your gums may also feel tender and swollen near the problem area.

First Steps
If you notice any of the above symptoms, contact your dentist right away. Explain your symptoms by phone to a staff member, who may arrange for you to come in right away or may recommend emergency care depending on the severity of your symptoms. To soothe the pain and alleviate swelling, apply an ice pack to the outside of your jaw. 

To read the entire article written by Rebecca Desfosse, please visit Colgate.com

Melinda Marino DDS 
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 
9910 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite D
San Diego, CA 92131 
(858) 578-0800 
MelindaMarinoDDS.com

Thursday, 7 January 2016

Bioactive Glass Leads to Longer-Lasting Fillings

Dentists complete 122 million composite tooth restorations in the United States each year, according to Oregon State University (OSU). But the average lifetime of posterior dental composites is only 6 years. Bioactive glass may improve their durability and provide some of the minerals that have been lost to tooth decay.

“Bioactive glass, which is a type of crushed glass that is able to interact with the body, has been used in some types of bone healing for decades,” said Jamie Kruzic, a professor at the OSU college of engineering. The hard and stiff material can replace the inert glass fillers now mixed with polymers to make modern composite tooth fillings.

“This type of glass is only beginning to see use in dentistry, and our research shows it may be very promising for tooth fillings,” he said. “The bacteria in the mouth that help cause cavities don’t seem to like this type of glass and are less likely to colonize on fillings that incorporate it. This could have a significant impact on the future of dentistry.”

Bioactive glass is made with compounds such as silicon oxide, calcium oxide, and phosphorous oxide, and it looks like powdered glass. Its antimicrobial effect is attributed, in part, to the release of ions such as those from calcium and phosphate that have a toxic effect on oral bacteria and tend to neutralize the local acidic environment.

“Almost all fillings will eventually fail,” Kruzic said. “New tooth decay often begins at the interface of a filling and the tooth and is called secondary tooth decay. The tooth is literally being eroded and demineralized at that surface.” 

To read the entire article, please visit DentistryToday.com

Melinda Marino DDS 
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 
9910 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite D
San Diego, CA 92131 
(858) 578-0800 
MelindaMarinoDDS.com