Chameleon Composites

Now, in our office we are happy to offer our patients the latest in cosmetic composites.
These new fillings are made with an advanced technology which is referred to as the chameleon effect.
This technology allows us to match a composite with any shade or color of tooth like never before.
See photos below before and after using composite materials with the chameleon effect.

Your smile is one of the most noticeable focal points of your overall appearance, which can easily prove to be ‘eye candy’ or an ‘eye sore’.  As a result, more and more people are turning to cosmetic dentistry to achieve their ideal smile.  In addition, patients look to obtain treatments that would re-establish the best dental function possible, along with color and shading effects that would make their teeth look and feel natural.  Crowns have been widely popular in both these instances of cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

Crowns are common dental restorations that are used to improve and strengthen the appearance of existing teeth.  When a patient undergoes a procedure such as a root canal, the tooth is weakened, essentially becomes non-vital, and is highly susceptible to damage.  To protect and prevent damage from happening to the tooth, crowns “cap” a prepared tooth to prevent fractures and possible discoloration that is not uncommon with a root canal tooth.

Crowns can also restore an already fractured tooth or provide support to a tooth that has been subjected to extensive decay that does not sustain enough support on its own, relieve extreme tooth sensitivity, and replace missing teeth by covering a dental implant.  Aesthetically, crowns are utilized to cover poorly shaped or discolored teeth, eliminate unattractive spaces and straighten crooked teeth.

Over the past few decades, improvements in dental supplies and restorative techniques have made it possible for most of us to achieve our ideal smile.  In most cases, this refers to model-perfect teeth, resistant to color and overall changes that provide the strength and functionality close to or exceeding that of one’s original teeth.  In recent years, zirconia crowns are steadily becoming a preferred choice as they provide competitive strength and resistance to chips and fractures (up to five times stronger than all porcelain crowns).  Furthermore, with the proper care and treatment, they can lead to a significantly low probability in crown failure, in comparison to crowns made of other porcelain or ceramic materials.

Sometimes referred to as “white steel”, zirconia is an FDA-registered, USA-manufactured, tough ceramic material with the ability to be customized thinner than other materials while maintaining its strength.  Zirconia crowns can look beautiful and very natural.  They also have no metal in them, and can be made in options such as translucent or opaque, to fit the unique desires and varying existing situations of each individual patient.  Over the years, people with crowns commonly deal with the unsightly gray lines along the margins of the gumline that develops from Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) crowns.  Among the many advancements in cosmetic dentistry, zirconia crowns help eliminate the dreaded black line as gums recede or when crowns have a poor marginal seal.

Zirconia is also 100% bio-compatible, meaning that your body will never reject it, thus eliminating concerns regarding allergic or adverse reactions such as those caused by traditional alloy metals or amalgams that have been commonly used in dentistry.  In breakage tests, zirconia has held up much better than than its all-ceramic counterparts, and because the body does not reject zirconia, this material is the preferred choice in other medical applications as well. In this aspect, zirconia crowns outlast other porcelain and ceramic crowns, with a lifetime potential.

Zirconia offers remarkable strength for both anterior and posterior tooth restorations.  PFM crowns are offered by most dentists today to provide the proper strength and durability to withstand the occlusal forces created by chewing or grinding on posterior (back) teeth.  Dentists and patients alike prefer ceramic crowns for anterior (front) teeth due to aesthetic qualities that best replicate and match the patient’s original tooth color.

At little to no additional cost, zirconia crowns can provide you with a strong and beautiful crown that has the potential to restore your smile for a lifetime.  Zirconia crowns require no additional procedures or tooth preparations than other standard crowns.  Talk to your dentist and explore your possibilities for tooth restoration and cosmetic options that best fit your vision of a perfect smile with the best possible oral health. For more information, schedule an appointment and evaluation with Dr. Bram today at (631) 752-2929.