Macomb County Dentist Explains the Benefits of a Porcelain Crown

Hi this is Dr. Antolak from thegentledentist.com at Shelby Township Michigan. 586-247-3500 is our phone number. I have this skull here because I’m showing what natural teeth look like, actually on dead person. I want to compare that and contrast it to what an all porcelain crown would look like to protect your teeth. And to redo the teeth. So what I want to first of all look at is natural teeth and what makes up a natural tooth. Just a little bit of details about that.

Natural teeth are made out of enamel. The outside layer is enamel, okay? And then the inside layer is called dentin. Dentin is a yellow color. And dentin actually gives you the ability to have pain. Dentin does not contain the nerve inside of it. But what happens is that small little tubules of almost like straws. Very, very microscopic straws inside of the dentin. And when you get cold, and you get cold, moderate sensitive or sometimes a toothache, things like that and it will if air is blowing across your teeth and it’s sensitive, these little tubules are full of water. They have water in them, a liquid and so what happens is, as this liquid moves back and forth within these tubules, it can promote pain within the pulp of the tooth. And, therefore, you can feel a sensation for pain. Okay?

Now, also with natural teeth, the reason why they look like they do is, they allow light to shine through the whole thing. As you can see on these. And you all know, that there’s no metal in natural teeth. Natural teeth, the enamel and the dentin, allows light to be transmitted through the tooth. So what we try to do is when we do our cosmetic dentistry. For example, if we try to use an all porcelain crown like this, we can see that it’s all white. Not only is it white, but it will actually transmit light through the crown itself, or through the veneer. So that it gives it a natural coloration and a natural appearance. In relationship to its, maybe a neighboring tooth that’s a natural tooth. So that it will actually allow that to be transmitted into appear very normal and natural. Sometimes, you’ll notice that if people have a dark line when they smile, on their tooth. Or their tooth looks really, really white and kinda dead. That’s because it actually has metal that covers over the tooth preperation, and when there’s metal, it does not allow for light to naturally become transmitted through it. But when light comes in it hits off the tooth and comes right back at your eye and that process of doing that can make it look natural and make it look opaque color because what the laboratories have to do when it’s metal underneath there, they have to put a very thin layer of white.Very opaque of white so that it makes it look natural. But the problem is when it tries to reflect light, it loses some of that natural appearances and it looks kind of dead. It looks too white.

Macomb County Dentist Explains the Benefits of a Porcelain Crown

So if you have a front tooth or something like that that is an issue and you want it to look natural. You’re kind of embarrassed about having to smile hide because you can see that black line above there. Then give us a call at 586-247-3500 and we’ll take care of your smile.

Thank you.