Seattle Tacoma Cosmetic Implant Dentist Blog » Dental Crowns

Remake of Dental Crown

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:04:55 +0000

Dr Timmerman was asked, “If a new crown is not right and the dentist doesn’t have the impressions, what is done?”

If the crown is already permanently placed, it must be cut off and remade. Even if the impression was in the dentist’s hand, it would be useless, as the removal of the crown would alter the shape of the tooth. If the crown was at the try in stage it simply could be sent back for alteration, unless the problem was model. In both cases, a new impression would be needed.

If the crown was not cemented in place and the impression was digital, as in the case of iTero digital impressions by Cadent, then the data is still stored and can be redone.

The real question is, “Why is the crown ‘not right’?”

iTero Digital Dental Impressions Superior to Other Methods

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:42:18 +0000

Dr Timmerman doesn’t make bold statements often, so when he does, there is a reason.

There are two factors to consider:

Quality of final restoration
Convenience for the patient

The messy goop for impressions is never perfect. Moisture from the mouth affects the setting of the goop, the goop runs down your throat making you gag and perhaps remove the material too soon, the material distorts (and the list goes on). With this distorted impression, plaster is poured inside to make a replica of the teeth. The plaster expands or shrinks during the setting, hopefully in the opposite direction of the messy goop (goop expanded? lets hope the plaster shrinks, but not TOO much…). With this, the lab technician creates the restoration.

iTero by Cadent eliminates these issues. “No goop” means “no gag”. Moisture is not an issue with a picture. The image resolution is accurate to an error of 10 microns. That’s MICRONS. Now when the lab technician creates their artwork, things just plain FIT.

Convenience? The information is sent electronically to the lab while the patient is still IN THE CHAIR. Normally after the patient has their temporary crown created, they are dismissed and the impressions are disinfected and shipped to the lab. This is done by a courier to a local lab or delivery service (UPS or FedEx, etc) to an out of state lab (or China. You should ask where…). This takes time.

iTero restorations theoretically could be created on the same day as the preparation appointment (this would depend on how busy the lab is, pre arranged priority service, etc). The iTero restoration COULD be done in a matter of days and not weeks.

Is it the same day? No. But would you prefer one appointment for 2-2.5 hours, or 2 appointments, the first only 30 minutes long and the second 15-20 minutes?

What kind of service and treatment do YOU want? Most would prefer what professionals would request. Ask a dentist (that has done their homework) which method would they seek for themselves. A strong majority would prefer iTero (nothing is ever 100%, especially in dentistry).

Digital Teeth Impressions Cadent Itero

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:43:58 +0000

Dr Timmerman is always trying to serve his patients better. As technology improves, he is always looking to add to his services. Rarely is the decision based on making HIS job easier, but always if the technology benefits the patient.

One such advancement is iTero by Cadent. This machine can take an impression of teeth WITHOUT the gooey stuff that runs down your throat!

The data is sent electronically to a lab and models are created. These models are sent to another lab for fabrication of the crown or bridge.

The benefit is super accuracy… The images produce models that are many times more accurate than impression materials (I could quote a stat, but it would be made up…!). Routinely, the restorations simply drop in place with virtually ZERO adjustments. With impression materials, it is common to adjust the contacts and the bite when cementing the final crown. Never say never, but it is RARE to adjust a crown when iTero is used.

If you would like a restoration that is strong, beautiful and built to last, call 206-241-5533 to learn more!

eMax Crowns

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:49:22 +0000

The internet is allowing consumers to not only learn HOW to restore their smiles, but with what MATERIALS too! Quite often by brand.

Ivoclar Vivadent has a crown material called eMax. It comes in two flavors, e.MAx and e.Max HT for more translucency. Of these, there is CAD, ZirCAD, press and ZirPress. Each variation has its advantages, so Dr Timmerman decides what is best for each case.

Rest assured, if you are seeking the latest in dental materials, Dr Timmerman offers it!

Metal Free Crowns and Fillings

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:58:45 +0000

In years past, crowns and fillings were made entirely from metal (gold or a mercury alloy) or porcelain fused to a metal core. They were useful in their time, as non metal alternatives were prone to fracture. Technology has changed everything, and crowns and fillings no longer need to have metal in them AT ALL.

By bonding porcelain or composite resins to teeth, Dr Timmerman can be more conservative and fabricate restorations that are more biocompatible. With the absence of mercury, common side effects can be avoided as well as teeth are less prone to fracture.

If you would like dental restorations that do not contain any metal, call today!

Recent Seattle Extreme Makeover

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:46:57 +0000

Dr Timmerman wanted to share a recent case, showing a simple combination of porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers and a porcelain bridge. Bonded in place, metal free and life changing!

Call 206-241-5533 to see what can be done for YOU!

Single Front Tooth Restoration

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:28:17 +0000

Dr Timmerman doesn’t always treat multiple teeth when restoring a smile. Quite often it only takes a single tooth to be restored to get a smile “back on track”. But that can be a challenge. One of the greatest challenges (for all dentists) is to restore a single front tooth. Surface texture, if not done well, can be too smooth, so when the light interacts with the smile (like during a cocktail party or other social gathering) the appearance is less than desirable. Matching the color of one front tooth can be difficult, as the shade on one side of the tooth is often different than the other side. Material selection is important as well, since light reacts with different mediums in a variety of ways. Old fashioned crowns are made with a metal substructure that can block light and make a tooth look opaque and lifeless.

Here is an example of a single front tooth restored. Can YOU tell which is fake?

An enhanced smile does not always mean restoring multiple teeth, especially if one is satisfied with how everything looks in the first place! If you would like to know more, call 206-241-5533 today for a free consultation!

What are dental crowns?

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:26:04 +0000

Dr Timmerman is often asked to place a porcelain cap on a tooth. What patients refer to as caps are classified as crowns in a dental office and with associated paperwork for third party benefits. It is a matter of semantics, as a cap means crown, or a crown means cap. Either way, it is the same thing.

So what is a porcelain cap/crown? If a tooth is cracked, fractured, has a large existing filling or is missing part of the tooth, a crown is placed to replace the missing tooth structure, or provide a more stable chewing surface for a tooth. In order to provide adequate substructure, often the tooth is built up before preparing the tooth for the crown. Crowns stay on a tooth mainly by design, similar to two inverted styrofoam cups staying together when retrieving one.

Dental caps/crowns are made out of gold, porcelain fused to a gold frame or all porcelain. They are cemented or bonded to the tooth and designed to be one of the longest lasting restorations in dentistry.

Call 206-241-5533 to see what Dr Timmerman can do for YOU!