Cosmetic Dentistry

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is bonded on top of your natural enamel to restore or protect a tooth with damage too extensive to be addressed by a more conservative restoration, like a dental filling. Dental crowns may be made of porcelain, metals or composite resin materials. Porcelain may be fused to a metal to give the crown additional strength.

Why do I need a crown?

If you have developed a large cavity or broke off a sizable portion of your tooth, a crown may be recommended to restore the tooth in your case. Dental crowns can help to preserve a tooth when a smaller restoration like dental bonding or a filling would be inadequate. Crowns are also placed on teeth after root canals when they are susceptible to breakage if they don’t have some form of reinforcement. Dr. Taskonak will discuss specific rationales for a crown in your case with you.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge consists of crowns that anchor a pontic (artificial tooth) to replace a single missing tooth or a small number of missing teeth in a row. The crowns are bonded to the adjacent teeth, also known as the abutment teeth, and they hold the pontic in place. Dental bridges offer a budget-friendly option to fill in the empty space left behind by a lost tooth (or teeth).

What is a veneer?

A veneer is a thin tooth-shaped shell that is bonded to the enamel on the front of the tooth (unlike a crown, which covers an entire tooth’s surface). Veneers may be used to conceal defects like chips, cracks or deep stains in the teeth. They also can be used to create the illusion of proper positioning in a slightly crooked stretch of teeth.

What is a full mouth reconstruction?

Patients in need of multiple cosmetic dentistry interventions to achieve their smile goals, such as those whose smiles have been severely damaged by injury or oral diseases or those with underlying congenital or developmental issues that left them with unattractive smiles, can combine multiple cosmetic dentistry interventions. Such a full mouth reconstruction can greatly enhance patients’ smiles.

How long does a full mouth reconstruction take?

This will largely depend on the number and types of procedures being performed. After evaluating your case, Dr. Taskonak can make recommendations about specific procedures and give you a better idea of what your anticipated treatment timeline may be. Rest assured that your investment of time will be worthwhile to get the results that you want.

How can cosmetic dentistry help improve the appearance of my smile?

Patients may be dissatisfied with their smiles for any number of reasons, from the shade and shape of their teeth to an incorrect alignment to structural flaws in the teeth. Dr. Taskonak can draw from his professional expertise to select cosmetic dentistry interventions to correct any of these problems, in addition to other concerns.