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Planning and Preparing for Dental Procedures: Your Questions Answered


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Planning and Preparing for Dental Procedures: Your Questions Answered

Making decisions about your smile can be confusing. Should you have a tooth pulled or get a root canal? Should you get adult braces or stick with a retainer? Should you use at-home whitening remedies or have your teeth professionally whitened? If questions like these are keeping you up at night, you've come to the right place. I used to stress out over routine dental procedures, and as a result, I did loads of research on everything dental-related. To help others, I'm using this blog as a place to collect, review and share what I've learned through the years. I hope you can use the information here to help you plan and prepare for your next dental appointment.

Need a Dental Crown? The Benefits of Zirconium

When a tooth becomes broken or chipped, you shouldn't delay repairs. If a nerve becomes exposed, the pain or increased sensitivity can be unbearable. Even if the tooth does not hurt, you'll need to get it attended to as soon as possible. A chipped tooth can have a jagged edge, which can easily cut your tongue.

A dental crown is the best option, and a cosmetic dentist can shape a crown that slides right over the broken tooth, restoring it to its former glory. Your dentist will offer you a number of options when it comes to the materials used, but there's a clear leader. Zirconium crowns are not the cheapest way to go, and yet their numerous benefits make them well worth it.

Superior Strength

Zirconium crowns are almost unbreakable, and are made from an ultra-hard ceramic. They'll be far stronger than your natural teeth. The natural strength of the material means that with proper dental hygiene, the crown can last for a lifetime.

Low-Allergen

Zirconium crowns are low-allergen, so if you're the type of person who is prone to sensitivity and irritation from common items, they are the best choice. This can be important since the crown is designed to stay in your mouth for the rest of your life.

Low Thermal Conductivity

Your teeth have a low thermal conductivity, which reduces their sensitivity to food and drink that is too hot or too cold. Some crowns can increase this sensitivity as the materials used have a high thermal conductivity. Zirconium crowns have a similar thermal conductivity to your natural teeth, so sensitivity to the temperature of food or drink is not an issue.

Less Time in the Dentist's Chair

Zirconium crowns are also easier to fit than their counterparts made from other materials. With any crown, a certain amount of the tooth needs to be shaved down in order to accommodate the crown. Zirconium crowns are exceptionally thin when compared to other crowns, meaning less tooth needs to be shaved down. This reduces the amount of time you'll have to spend in the dentist's chair—something that most people will appreciate!

If you need a crown, your dentist will discuss all the options with you. With all the benefits of zirconium crowns, you might find it easy to make your decision. The end result will be entirely natural looking, and with proper care it will be there forever. Learn more by contacting local cosmetic dentists.