Pros and Cons of Dental Crowns

When the crown procedure is completed, the patient?s teeth become stronger and more attractive because crowns are created and designed to look natural and to improve the tooth?s appearance. Crowns are intended to last for up to 8 years and it can even last for a much longer period of time when the patient observes good oral hygiene and avoid damaging habits like teeth grinding, ice chewing and fingernail biting.

When the crowned tooth has a retained nerve in it, patient may experience some hot and cold sensitivity especially between the edge of the crown and the gum line. To minimize this tendency, dentist usually recommends brushing with toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth. Pain that occurs during biting sometime result from crown that is set too high on the tooth. If this is the case, call the dentist so that he can easily fix this problem.

Aside from the sensitivity issues, there are also some slight drawbacks on having teeth crowns when the cement washes out from under the crown. When this happen, the crown become loose and it can allow bacteria to leak in and cause decay to the tooth that remains.

Sometimes crowns may also fall off. This may happen because of improper fit or lack of cement surrounding the crown. If this happens, clean the crown or replace the crown temporarily by using dental adhesive or temporary tooth cement and immediately contact the dentist as soon as possible.

But all of these can be prevented if the patient will refrain from chewing hard food or biting ice or other hard objects. Teeth grinding must be also avoided. Besides regular visits to the dentist and brushing twice daily, cleaning between teeth is vital with crowns. Floss or interdental cleaners are important tools to remove plaque from the crown area where the gum meets the tooth. Plaque in that area can cause dental decay and gum disease.

There are also some advantages and disadvantages that are specific to each type crowns. Tooth crown made from gold is the simplest and least complicated type of crown because the removal of tooth structure is very minimal leaving healthier tooth structure to remain. Fitting gold crowns to the area where the tooth and crown meet are also much easier. Gold crown is not hard and does not cause any wearing on opposing teeth even after several years. The only disadvantage of gold crown is that it does not look appealing or attractive when placed in front mouth.

Tooth crowns prepared and made from porcelain or new reinforced resin are said to be the most aesthetically satisfying because this material comes with different shades that can easily matched to the color of the surrounding teeth. However, porcelain crowns require the dentist to remove more tooth structure regardless whether the structure is healthy or not because porcelain needs a specific thickness to appear attractive. Porcelain crowns are more difficult to fit in between gums and the crown itself requiring higher level of dexterity from the dentist and crown fabricator. Gingival inflammation is the common drawback in porcelain crowns. Crowns made of all-porcelain can sometimes chip. If the chip is small, a composite resin can be used to repair the chip with the crown remaining in the patient?s mouth. If the chipping is extensive, the crown may need to be replaced.

To minimize the disadvantages of using all Porcelain crowns, an alternative porcelain fused-to-metal crowns can be fabricated. This porcelain fused to metal crown has a very natural teeth facade but since it has a metal base, a darker line will be noticeable at the edge of the crown near the gum when the crown recedes as time goes by.

Read more about dental crowns and dental caps .

How Focal Infection Theory Disbelievers Brought on the Blunder This Research was Covered and Buried

Suppression of the Dr. Weston Price accomplishments was unfortunate for the development of medicine and detrimental to the health of our people.

Mainly responsible was a dispute which took place among health professionals as to the validity of the focal infection theory.

Simply stated, the focal infection theory takes position that infected teeth, tonsils, tonsil tags, sinuses and such areas of infection contain bacteria which can travel to another gland, organ or tissue and set up a new infection site.

Dr. Weston Price was not the only doctor carrying out research on this subject.

Among the 60 members of the American Dental Association's Research Institute governing body were such famous doctors as Charles Mayo, organizer of the Mayo Clinic; Milton Rosenau, professor of preventive medicine at Johns Hopkins; William Welch, professor of pathology;Frank Billings who gave focal infection its name; Truman Brophy; Frank Billings who gave focal infection its name;Truman Brophy,dental school dean; Frank Lillie, professor of zoology and embryology; and Victor Vaughan, medical department dean and American Medical Association president.

As in so many disputes about medical discoveries, even though the majority of leading doctors believed in the focal infection theory, these leading scientists were overidden and silenced.

The fight against the focal infection theory was mainly carried out by doctors Percy Howe and John Buckley.

Howe based his opposition on a study he conducted injecting rabbits with the normal placid streptococcus bacteria secured from the mouth,not bacteria from an infection site or a root filled tooth.

In his investigation, none of the animals became sick or died. Bluckley was unable to see how infected teeth which showed excellent evidence of bone repair after root canal therapy could possibly still be infected.

Then too, because some who had root filled teeth removed did not recover, he questoned the validity of the conclusion that a percentage of patients did get well due to the removal of a tooth or teeth.

About author: Dr. George Meinig,D.D.S.,F.A.C.D. is a Founder of the Association of Root Canal Specialists Discovers Evidence That Root Canals Damage Your Health Learn What to Do. Learn how Dr. George Meinig discovered that a meticulous 25 year research program, conducted by Weston A. Price, DDS, under the auspices of the American Dental Association's Research Institute, was buried by disbelievers of the focal infection theory. Along the way, Dr. Meinig has received many recognition citatons and awards, both Nationally and internationally. For further information: Visit:http://www.1stultimategumsolution.com Edited and prepared by Sung Lee, alternate author

This article can be reprinted freely online as long as the entire article with resource box are included.

Home Remedies For Toothache

Just about the only thing that is worse than having a toothache is having to go to the dentist so that he can fix it! While you might try to ignore a toothache and hope it goes away you really need to have it checked out as most toothaches are due to tooth or jaw problems like dental cavity, cracked tooth, exposed tooth root, gum disease, jaw point diseases or spasm of the muscles used for chewing.

The severity of a toothache can range from chronic, mild to sharp, and excruciating. The pain may worsen or get aggravated by eating and drinking hot and cold foods and beverage. The weather can also worsen the situation.

Dental cavity is the most common cause of toothache. Dental cavities are holes in the two outer layers of the tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath the enamel. Certain bacteria in the mouth that convert simple sugars to acid causing dental cavities. This acid softens and dissolves the enamel and dentin creating cavities.

While you really do need to get to the root of the problem with your dentist, here?s some home remedies that you can use until you can get an appointment:

When toothache occurs, avoid hot, cold or sweet drinks for this will help prevent pain from pulpitis.

Chewing cloves or rubbing clove oil on the tooth is good for toothache.

Mixture of crushed clove and peanut butter will provide relief. Apply this to the aching tooth and keep it in there for some time.

Make a solution of salt and water and gargle.

Turmeric sticks are good for toothache. Burn some turmeric sticks, make a fine powder, and use it as toothpowder.

Chew a clove slowly in the aching tooth to release the juice and leave it there for about half an hour. Do this three to four times.

Ginger is also good. Try to do the same procedure as the cloves and it gives same relief.

Drink juice of star fruit twice a day to get relief from the tooth pain.

Drops of vanilla extract on the affected tooth are an effective remedy.

Oil of oregano on the paining tooth is also effective.

You may also use Listerine antiseptic by gargling it.

Ice is a traditional relief for toothache. Chew a piece of ice on the aching side of the mouth, although in the case of cavity this may make it hurt more!

If the pain is prolonged and severe, painkillers may provide some relief.

You may be able to avoid the pain of toothache all together by keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy. Try to avoid cavities by reducing the intake of sugary foods and drinks. Make them as an occasional treat and at meal times only. Brush your teeth and floss regularly.

Visiting the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning will help to ensure healthy teeth and gums. This way, you can avoid most toothache by catching any problems in their early stages where the treatment will be less severe.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.herbs-home-remedies.com where you can find out more about natural treatments and home remedies.