Dental crowns are no longer just for celebrities. My patients who get crowns cross all socioeconomic groups. Most people I know wouldn’t go through life with a giant wart on their cheekbone. With modern technology it’s too easy to get it removed. Why then, would someone walk around with worn or broken down teeth?

Decades ago getting dental crowns was called it etting your teeth “capped.” Men and women whose careers thrived on their looks invested in dental crowns to increase their bankability as actors. Today, that economic advantage has spread to all professionals.

Let’s face it: a nice smile on any face is pleasant to look at. I don’t know of a single woman or man who likes to get up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “hey, I’m likin’ those worn down decayed looking teeth!”

Dental crowns, along with dental implants, are the most asked for service in my practice. Beyond the appearance factor, crowns allow you to restore natural chewing function. When you allow decayed teeth to remain for extended periods, or walk around with root canals that aren’t crowned, you compromise your chewing function. You also put stress on muscles and this often leads to head, neck and jaw discomfort. The body is a finely balanced mechanism and the teeth are integral elements in maintaining that delicate balance.

The best dental crowns, in my thirty-five years’ experience, are those made by technicians who have mastered their art. I send my crowns to be made in a lab because I find the workmanship to be superior to anything that can be made in an office. Although in-office dental crowns offer you a faster turnaround, this benefit is outweighed by the fact that they’re not being made by a skilled lab technician who crafts natural-looking and perfect-fitting crowns every day. To say a dental assistant or even a dentist can produce the same quality is like comparing fast food to a slow cooked gourmet meal. We all know there’s a difference. In the case of dental crowns, the fees usually are the same regardless of where they’re made. So, given the option myself, I’d wait and get the crowns made by experts since I’m paying the same anyway.

There IS a secret to getting your cosmetic work done for less. And it’s simple. It’s getting it done right the first time.

Even high quality crowns, veneers and dental implants can fail in your mouth. They can feel unnatural and make it uncomfortable to chew. Done incorrectly, they can lead to popping and clicking in your jaw or head, neck and back pain.

The secret to saving thousands on your crowns, porcelain veneers and dental implants is to ensure that the cosmetic dentistry actually “fits” your head, neck and jaw. Consider that dentistry is engineering on a very tiny scale. Everything must fit together to function correctly. Often, patients come to me with a jaw joint imbalance that has led to a deteriorated dental condition. Once this imbalance is corrected, cosmetic dental work can be placed on a sound structure.

This is called orthopedic cosmetic dentistry . This is not a recognized specialty in dentistry, but a protocol I’ve followed based on thirty-five years of experience, training and research into the best ways to ensure that cosmetic dental work lasts, does not interfere with natural chewing function, or create a structural imbalance leading to pain.

If you’re over the age of forty and have considered getting veneers, implants or crowns, I apply the principles of orthopedic cosmetic dentistry to Midlife Dentistry. That’s a sequence of treatment to restore the health of your teeth and gums and enhance your smile and usually entails some procedures that are common in the midlife mouth, such as:

* Your head, neck and jaw are balanced so that your cosmetic dental work is sitting on a sound structure. This ensures that your cosmetic work will last and save you from redoing procedures.
* As you age your teeth wear down, often causing an uneven bite. This can lead to unexplained pain in the head and neck area. If not addressed, you may have to redo cosmetic dental work. Worse, you may seek medical treatment for pain that has been caused by your cosmetic work.

But whether you’re midlife or not, your teeth and gums are part of the interrelated structure of your head, neck and jaw. A comprehensive program ensures the outcome of natural chewing as well as the expected aesthetic outcome. If your primary concern is just looks, then you may not get the work done correctly the first time.

I regularly have patients come to me to correct cosmetic work that was done over misalignment of the head, neck or jaw. This often leads to unexplained headaches due to a basic malfunction that was only made worse by veneers or crowns.

Some signs you may be ready for orthopedic dentistry are:
1. Thinning of your lips.
2. Wrinkles or sagging around your mouth and jaw.
3. A wearing down of your teeth causing your chin to get closer to your nose.
4. You avoid chewing on one side of your mouth.
5. You have missing or cracked teeth.
6. You don’t smile for pictures anymore.
7. You noticed facial pain with increased pressure in your head and sinuses.
8. You put your hand over your mouth when you smile.
9. You notice your smile is getting crooked as teeth wear down unevenly.
10. You’ve had an increase in root canals, especially on one side of your mouth.
11. You have neck and low back pain that creates inactivity.

The primary role of dentistry is chewing. Whether you are getting simple fillings or implants and crowns, your dental work needs to function naturally. With this approach to your cosmetic dentistry, your work is performed so that it’s in alignment with your structure. It is also done in the correct sequence, since all procedures are done in my office. This leads to work that doesn’t have to be redone. And that’s the secret to saving thousands on your cosmetic work.

You can learn more in my free downloadable ebook: Lifetime Smile.

If you are interested in a Consultation for Implants, Veneers, Crowns or Bridges,
call our St Louis dentist office 314 576 3000.

Midlife Dentistry is a service mark owned by Dr. Peter J. Pagano, DDS PC

For example if your tooth had a three surface cavity, many dentists would do a crown and build up. I might start with a three surface filling to see if that alleviates your problem. If the filling doesn’t hold up, you may need the crown in six months, but often times the less invasive — and less expensive –dental procedure will suffice.

Research and polls done in the last few decades repeatedly show that your smile influences how you are perceived and treated by others in every situation in life.

A survey done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 74% of American adults believe an unattractive smile can harm a person’s chances of career success. Julia Roberts was at one time the highest paid actress in Hollywood. She also was voted as having the best smile in the business. Think there’s a connection?

People see your smile or teeth as the first or second thing they notice when they look at you. Some studies say it’s the eyes – others say the smile. Either way, when you come into contact with other people they will notice your teeth and smile no matter what, since the mouth and eyes are the chief vehicles for communication.

When that occurs, instead of your teeth all sharing equally in the function of chewng, some are forced to work overtime to compensate for missing, broken or shorter teeth.

If you were driving your car with two bald tires and two new tires, it would create a rough ride.The analogy is comparable when it comes to your teeth. If you chew on an uneven surface a tooth can crack, resulting in more chewing force on the remaining teeth.

It’s not only for cosmetic reasons that you straighten your teeth position, get crowns or implants. These treatments improve the way your teeth mesh together. They also balance your bite. They can even enhance or even create entire body balance. You may not notice an immediate effect from imbalance and uneven chewing, but like the “perfect storm,” many health conditions are the result of long-term, non-optimum conditions that have been ignored.

Secret #1: Your dentist may not have the latest technology.

Digital x-ray: Dentists who do not have digital x-ray equipment are practicing in
the dark ages. Digital x-rays use less radiation than film. They are easier to read
and make diagnosis more accurate.

Ultrasonic Cleaning: Ultrasonic instruments vibrate plaque and calculus off your
teeth, even in areas below your gums. It is much more comfortable than oldfashioned
hand scraping.

Doc comment: I agree. Thats’ why our office has had this technology for years.

Secret #2: Your dentist may be using mercury.
Mercury is toxic. Norway and Sweden have banned the use of mercury fillings..
But mercury fillings are less expensive and easier for the dentist to use. If your
dentist does not use composite fillings, don’t go to that dentist any more. In the
US, the FDA is way behind the ball and not actively warning patients about this
like they have been mandated by the courts to do.

Doc’s comment: Very accurate. I haven’t used mercury in my office for years.

Secret #3: The lab may be more important than your dentist.

Dental labs create dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, and other
dental restorations like implant crowns. There is a huge difference in the quality
of these labs. You should be particularly wary if your dentist is using a lab in
China or Mexico. Some of the top labs in the U.S. are Aurum Ceramics,
MicroDental Laboratories, da Vinci Dental Studio, and Williams Dental Lab.

Doc’s comment: True. Aurum Ceramics is one of the labs we use a Artistic Dentistry.

Secret #4: There’s more to good dentistry than filling cavities.

A competent dentist screens for more than tooth decay. He or she should be
concerned about sleep apnea, jaw-related pain known as TMJ, oral cancer,
diabetes and hypertension.

Doc’s comment: All good points. I cover some of this in my free downloadable
electronic ebook found at http://stlouisdentistdrpete.com