Okuda Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Posts for tag: Dental Crowns

By Wynn H. Okuda DMD, Inc
June 20, 2017
Category: Oral Health

If one of your teeth doesn’t look as good as it used to, a crown can make it look like new. Porcelain crowns, in particular, are the ideal dental crownsrestorative option for a number of reasons. Take a moment to explore how getting porcelain crowns at the Honolulu, HI cosmetic dental office of Dr. Wynn Okuda can restore both the look and function of your teeth. 

Crown Restorations
In most cases, when there are one or two problem teeth, one of the first solutions your dentist will consider is crowns. Dental crowns are a replacement for the outer enamel of a tooth that’s healthy on the inside. When all of the teeth are strong, they support each other and improve the overall function of your mouth. The addition of just one crown can make your smile considerably stronger and healthier.

Why Porcelain?
Crowns can be created using metal and ceramic material, but porcelain is the material of choice for most dentists. That’s because it has a combination of durability, resiliency and good looks that is unmatched by other dental materials. Porcelain is very smooth and feels as natural as human tooth enamel. Dr. Okuda specializes in porcelain crown installations at his Honolulu cosmetic dental office. 

The Crown Placement Procedure
You’ll have to visit your dentist at least two times to have a crown installed. At one appointment, the outer enamel layer will be removed to make room for the device. An impression will be made and a temporary acrylic crown will be added to preserve the spacing of your teeth. At the follow-up appointment, the newly fashioned permanent crown made of porcelain will be bonded to the surface using a strong dental bonding agent.

Does Your Smile Need Restoring?
A porcelain crown can do wonders for restoring the appearance and function of your teeth. Some patients forget that they even have a crown after a while because they look so natural and blend in with the rest of your teeth. Call (808) 734-1099 today to schedule a visit to Dr. Okuda’s Honolulu, HI cosmetic dentistry.

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By Wynn H. Okuda DMD, Inc
October 21, 2016
Category: Oral Health

Let porcelain crowns restore strength and function back into a broken or decaying tooth.

It can be frustrating to find out from our Honolulu dentist, Dr. Wynn Okuda, that you are dealing with a broken, decaying or infected tooth.dental crowns Many people that come into our office complaining of dental pain are often dealing with damage that has reached the inside of the tooth. If you are dealing with this issue find out more about dental crowns and how they can help.

What is a dental crown?

While dental crowns have been around for a very long time, the magic of advanced dental technology has been able to design crowns that truly look just like the crown of a real tooth. These hollow tooth-shaped caps are custom-designed to fit over your tooth to become its new and improve outer surface.

Why do I need a dental crown?

Imagine how weak a damaged tooth is, whether from injury, serious decay or an infection. Imagine how easy it would be to further damage a tooth that is already not as strong as it should be. Now you know why a dental crown is needed. A dental crown can fully restore function and strength back into a tooth that so desperately needs it.

Our Honolulu general dentist wants to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible, but since it’s damaged the best way to do this is often through a dental crown. By placing the crown over the tooth and cementing it into place we can breathe new life back into your smile.

While dental crowns are often restorative in nature they may also be used for aesthetic purposes as well. While less common, a crown may be placed over a tooth that is severely malformed, uneven or discolored. If the tooth cannot benefit from veneers, teeth whitening or other cosmetic treatments than we may recommend getting a dental crown to improve your tooth’s appearance.

Have questions about dental crowns? Want to find out if they are right for you? Then call our Honolulu dental office today to schedule your consultation.

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By Okuda Cosmetic Dentistry
August 21, 2014
Category: Restorations
Tags: crowns   Dental Crowns  
If you were to describe your smile, what would you say about it? Would mostly positives ring true or would you find that a lot of what you have to say is less than nice? No need to beat up on your smile. If you are dealing with cracks, chips or broken teeth, there is a solution that will give you something to smile about. If you want a healthy, beautiful smile, then it’s time to look into dental crowns.
 

Understanding Crowns

While dental crowns have been around for a while, they’ve been a common treatment for a reason: they are a tried-and-true way to restore damaged teeth. Dental crowns can fix an array of dental problems:
  • To cover a broken or chipped tooth
  • To protect a weak tooth from breaking (this weakness could be due to significant dental decay)
  • To securely hold a dental bridge
  • To hide a dental implant
  • To hide a misshapen tooth
  • To conceal a significantly discolored tooth 
Dental crowns are colloquially referred to as a “cap” since it covers over the tooth to hide any imperfections, giving your smile a much-needed boost. While a dental crown can be made from stainless steel and other metals (like gold), crowns today are often made to mimic the look of a natural tooth. Therefore, the dental crown we will fit you with will be made from porcelain, so it looks most like a real tooth.
 
If you are a good candidate for crowns, what can you expect from the procedure? The process is very simple and straightforward and only takes two visits.
 

Your First visit

During the first visit we will prepare the tooth and possibly run X-rays to check the roots and surrounding bone of the tooth to make sure they are healthy and strong. If there is significant decay, we may recommend root canal therapy first and foremost.
 
The tooth will then be filed down to make room for the dental crown. Using special putty, we will make impressions of the tooth and send it to a lab for fabrication. In the meantime, we will fit your tooth with a temporary crown.
 
In about two to three weeks, the lab will send back your fabricated crown and it will be time for your second visit.
 

Your Second visit

The second visit is very simple. Your general dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit of the permanent one. If everything looks good, we will numb the area and cement the beautiful new dental cap in place. Isn’t that a reason to smile?
 
If you’re tired of a chipped or less-than-perfect smile, then dental crowns might just be the answer you’ve been looking for. To find out more, call your local dentist at (808) 734-1099.
 
Have dental crowns made life a bit easier? If so, we would love to hear how they’ve helped you!
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