Category Archives: Tooth Decay

KING FOR A DAY! WHAT IS MY CROWN MADE OF?

KING FOR A DAY! WHAT IS MY CROWN MADE OF?

Written by Dr. Alice Vessel Your dentist may prescribe a crown, often called a “cap”, for various reasons. Generally, a crown replaces decayed or broken tooth structure to restore the form and function of the tooth. Then you are hit with a smathering of choices—PFM, gold, ceramic, zirconia… yada, yada, yada. Let us explore the…

Read more

MY DENTIST SAYS I HAVE “DEEP POCKETS” BUT I’M ALWAYS BROKE!

MY DENTIST SAYS I HAVE “DEEP POCKETS” BUT I’M ALWAYS BROKE!

While “deep pockets” are a blessing in the financial world, they are a curse in the dental world. Discovered by using a small instrument with 3-millimeter increments (a perio probe), the measurement is used to diagnose periodontal disease. WHAT IS A PERIODONTAL POCKET? Our teeth are anchored in boney sockets. When a particular type of bacteria…

Read more

“DOC, PULL ‘EM ALL AND GIMME FALSIES!”

“DOC, PULL ‘EM ALL AND GIMME FALSIES!”

OH, I WISH I had a penny for every time I heard that cry. It can be a daunting task taking care of 28-32 misbehaving teeth. But, it is often well worth keeping your teeth and avoiding dentures. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TEETH ARE LOST When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone disappears. When all…

Read more

THE ROOT OF EVIL

THE ROOT OF EVIL

Nothing in dentistry conjures up fear and anxiety as the mention of a ROOT CANAL. Hallmark would make a mint on condolence cards for those who have to endure a ROOT CANAL. WHY DO I NEED A ROOT CANAL, ANYWAY? When a tooth experiences an insult, such as decay, that invades the tooth, the nerve…

Read more