What is the Difference Between a Crown and a Veneer?

December 11, 2010 alexnguyen

At a new patient consultation this week I was asked this question. In fact, this question comes up quite often. Technically ... The difference between a crown and a veneer is how much tooth structure is removed. A crown covers the entire tooth, and is done when the original tooth has been compromised with decay and/or fractures. A veneer is like a new facing on the tooth.

In a smile ... a crown or a veneer should look exactly like a real tooth.

In this case below you will find a combination of real teeth, crowns, and veneers. From an esthetic stand point, there should be no difference between a crown and a veneer. They both should blend in with the rest of the teeth in your smile.

Images of actual patients of Alex Nguyen, DDS are Copyrighted and Digitally Embedded to track Unauthorized Use.

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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.

CAD/CAM Technology in Dental Implant Treatments

December 3, 2010 alexnguyen

CAD/CAM is a technology utilized in many aspects of dentistry. In dental implant treatment for patients who have lost all teeth, we can take advantage of this powerful tool to survey our patient's dentition, review existing position of implants, and design the final prosthesis. Today's sophisticated computer softwares allow the dentist and lab team to review restorative cases in multiple dimensions before fabricating the prosthesis.

In the example below we were able to identify a positioning problem with one of the implants. Rather than producing a compromised restoration, we were able to resolve the issues before proceeding.

This is one of the many ways we deliver quality practice to our patients everyday.

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Smiles of Regret. Who Do You Choose to Restore Your Teeth?

November 19, 2010 alexnguyen

Over the years I have had the opportunity to see cases of patients who came to me for initial consultation but ended up elsewhere for the completion of their dental work. Here are some cases where the patients returned to me a few years later to express their discontent and to complain about problems with their teeth. These are smiles of regret. Who do you choose to restore your teeth? Sometimes people will make their choices based on beautiful advertisements that they see. Sometimes the choice may be based on a price tag that may fit their budget at that particular moment. The key to remember is that an unsuccessful restorative case may eventually cost you more time and money to have the work redone.

CASE I: Excess cement materials left under the gum line and around every single restoration. This caused chronic inflammation of the gum and bone loss over time. The patient was also unhappy with the esthetic result.

CASE II: Restorations done without regards to the foundation of this patient's bite. After 3 years, there are gaps between teeth, crowns with open margins, crowns that are breaking away, and discomfort on chewing. There are even teeth left unrestored. The patient was also unhappy with the esthetic result.

Images of actual patients of Alex Nguyen, DDS are Copyrighted and Digitally Embedded to track Unauthorized Use

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Problems with Root Canal Teeth and the Importance of Proper Advanced Planning for Dental Implants

November 14, 2010 alexnguyen

Root Canals will alleviate pain from the affected teeth. However, when root canals are not done properly problems may not be evident until much later. This patient described the symptom as "some discomfort around my old crown".

Thorough clinical exam and xray revealed a fractured root where a large post was placed in the canal. The root canal and crown were done many years ago. Root canal treated teeth have a higher chance of root fracture. Although the patient had no pain after the treatment, the failed root canal and post placement sustained a low grade infection around the root area. Where there are infections, bacteria slowly cause the jaw bone to break down.

In areas where the bone is extremely dense, the patient may not have any symptom until too much bone have been lost. In the xray below we can see the outline of the extent of the bone loss. What you cannot see when looking at the area inside the mouth is an entire wall of bone that has been destroyed. That wall of bone used to exist between the root and the gum tissue on the out side.

So why is this discussion important in treating these kinds of problems?

If we simply extract this tooth, the bone loss area will collapse. After the area has healed, any subsequent grafting procedures and treatment planning for dental implant in the area may become extremely difficult to carry out.

If your treatment preference is to replace this tooth with a dental implant, it is crucial that you consult with the right clinician to properly treatment plan the situation. Carrying out the treatment with proper advanced planning will minimize further complications to the area.

Images of actual patients of Alex Nguyen, DDS are Copyrighted and Digitally Embedded to track Unauthorized Use.

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Cosmetic or Form Follows Function? Follow Up of a Full Mouth Bite Rehabilitation Case

November 6, 2010 alexnguyen

Ta da ! ! ! This full mouth rehabilitation case restored this patient's smile with a combination of crowns, bridges, and veneers.

The important principles include:

1. The patient's personal preferences

2. The scientific foundation of the human dentition

3. The art of modern porcelain materials and technique

Before:

After:

Images of actual patients of Alex Nguyen, DDS are Copyrighted and Digitally Embedded to track Unauthorized Use.

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