The West Wind
Dental Difference
Why Are Fillings and Dental Crowns So Important?
If you notice any dark spots on your teeth or sensitive locations within your mouth you should schedule an appointment with your dentist right away. A possible solution for us to fix the problem is a filling or dental crown depending on the severity. Fillings and dental crowns protect teeth that have already been damaged by tooth decay from decaying any further or spreading onto other healthy teeth in your mouth.
The dentist will suggest a filling or a crown based on the size and location of the damage or decay in your mouth. Tooth fillings can often stop a small cavity in its tracks if it has not spread too far, but once a majority of the pulp chamber of the tooth is compromised, you may be looking at a dental crown being needed.
Benefits of Receiving a Filling or Crown:
1. Strengthening A Fractured Tooth
If you have a fractured tooth, a crown restoration can be placed on your tooth to seal and protect it. Teeth fractures can result from trauma caused by physical activities like sports or an accident to the mouth. They can also happen due to old age because your teeth become weaker over time making them vulnerable to chips or fractures.
2. Protecting & Healing Your Teeth
Tiny holes in your teeth can develop over time, which can trap food particles and debris. Over time, these holes will cause tooth decay from the bacteria build-up which creates acid that attacks your teeth enamel even further. A composite filling should be placed to fill the holes and seal the teeth to stop the decay from spreading. You cannot get back lost tooth structure in a cavity, however, with a tooth filling or a dental crown, you can halt the problem.
If these problems are not treated, you could have permanent damage and experience variable levels of pain, infection, and even tooth loss. Your dentist will go over the differences and the advantages of getting a filling or a crown based on your specific issue at the time of your appointment.
At West Wind Dental, we can make and place a permanent dental crown in a single appointment.
In our same-day procedure, we use a scanning device called Cerec to take digital images of the tooth, and then our computer software creates a 3D model of the tooth from these images. The digital design is then sent to another in-office machine that carves the shape of the crown out of a ceramic block.
Are you experiencing any pain in your mouth?
Dr. Andrew Hamilton, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Hamilton is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), the Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society (KVDDS), the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), the International Academy of Facial Aesthetics (IAFA), and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICIO). He also routinely attends courses through the Pikos Institute in Northwest Florida and has achieved fellowship status in the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA) as well as the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD). Dr. Hamilton is a proud alumnus of the Kois Center program in Seattle and is currently serving on the faculty of the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA).
With the little spare time left over, you’ll find Dr. Hamilton enjoying his time steelhead and salmon fishing and playing the occasional round of golf.