Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.
A good dentist does not work alone. Their team may consist of a dental assistant or two, a dental therapist, and a dental hygienist. They work together to maintain and restore their patients' teeth. However, when it comes to dental restorations such as veneers and crowns, that responsibility falls solely to the ceramist. A good ceramist is crucial to the creation of reliable and beautiful dental restorations, but even they may struggle to match an old crown with a new veneer, for example. That doesn't mean it cannot be done. It simply means that your dentist may offer you one or two other alternatives.
It is Difficult to Match Older Materials with Newer Ones
Ever since the first set of porcelain dentures was created by Nicholas Dubois de Chémant with the help of the Guehard Porcelain Factory in Paris, 1774, dentists have worked with ceramists and porcelain to create reliable dental restorations. Dental crowns and veneers are both made of porcelain or ceramic. When you and your dentist decide upon either of these restorations, it is then up to the ceramist; using details provided by your dentist, to fashion them.
However, due to the rapid and continued developments in dentistry, older materials are often incompatible with their newer counterparts. For instance, dental crowns that were placed 10 or even 5 years ago may not match with a new crown placed in an adjacent position. The same applies to veneers. Older materials may be inferior, not to mention faded due to the rigors of time. Therefore, you should consider replacing the old crowns or veneers so that they match with your new set.
A New Set, a New Shape and Colour
There are many advantages to completely replacing older restorations when having new restorations done. Colour is one obvious advantage. Older materials may be faded or simply duller in shade which would mean that any newer restorations placed on adjacent teeth may be brighter. The alternative is to compromise the brightness and whiteness of the new, adjacent restorations so that they match the existing restorations.
The same applies to shape and translucence. By replacing the old crowns and veneers with restorations that use the same materials as your new crowns and veneers, the shape, colour, and translucence can be matched. If your current crowns are porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), then veneers placed on adjacent teeth nearby, for instance, will not match because the light passes through them (translucence) differently. However, if despite that, you insist on keeping your old restorations, a skilled ceramist may still be able to craft a set of newer restorations that match your existing ones.
Dentistry today is much more flexible than it once was. If you currently have existing restorations such as crowns and veneers but wish to add additional restorations to your teeth, speak to your dentist. With the help of their ceramist, they can restore your smile and your confidence.
Share19 July 2017
