FAQs

 
Why do teeth get darker?

What are veneers?

What is a crown?

What are composite fillings?


Why do I have bad breath?
 



Why do teeth get darker?

The part of the tooth that we see is made up of three things,:

1) An outer coating called Enamel - This is a translucent layer and gives the teeth characteristics.

2) A middle layer called Dentine - This gives the tooth its basic color.

3) An inner layer called Pulp - This is where the nerve and the blood vessels give the teeth their vitality, by keeping them nourished and alive.

Effecting any of the layers will cause a tooth to darken. The enamel can stain and wear away. As it wears away more dentine shows it color. The dentine also gets thicker over time due to use, and this adds to the color of the tooth. Medication, illnesses, and food supplements can also effect the dentine, making it darker. The pulp can die and change the color of a tooth.

Fortunately, we now have the technology to remedy all of these problems and restore teeth to their healthy natural looking state.

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What are veneers?

Porcelain veneers are often used for the same reasons as bonding (to lighten stains, close gaps and even alter crooked or malformed teeth). They are considerably more durable and stain resistant than bonding.

The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain similar in size to a fingernail. Once it is "bonded" onto the tooth it becomes extremely strong. It also blends in with the remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable to the naked-eye. Once in place, it looks, feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.

Porcelain veneers can be utilized to change the shape and color of a single tooth or if necessary, revamp an entire smile. Porcelain veneers can also be used to correct teeth that have been worn from clenching and grinding.


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What is a crown?

A Crown for a Tooth!

Teeth are often restored with fillings of silver or composite plastics. These materials can often accomplish the aim of replacing the part of the tooth that has been lost in a strong and good-looking manner.

However, there comes a point where the damage to the tooth has removed too much structure to hold a filling. The restoration must be done by a technique that will attach to the remaining tooth, stand up under heavier use and meet more elaborate cosmetic requirements.

The Crown is the dental restoration that can strengthen and restore the entire top of a tooth. The crown can also be part of the attachment of a fixed bridge for the replacement of teeth. The tooth is strengthened because it is covered from the outside with a casting of metal or ceramic that will wrap up and splint the tooth. 

The chewing of the tooth can be improved because it can be reshaped to match more efficiently with the opposing teeth. A crown can improve cosmetics by the use of modern ceramic processes that produce translucency and color that is more natural than has ever been possible.

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What are composite fillings?

Many people have had silver fillings placed into their teeth because they had "cavities". These silver fillings are called amalgams. Amalgam fills the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed.

However over time, the amalgam corrodes and leaks which blackens the silver, and many times the tooth. This is easily seen as soon as a patient opens his or her mouth and is usually a source of embarrassment for the patient.

Composite fillings are made of a porcelain-like material that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal. They are strong and stain-resistant, and they are color-matched to the natural tooth, making them "invisible".

Composite fillings also lack the sensitivity that is often associated with silver amalgam fillings. They are especially suited for smaller cavities and for patients who may be allergic to metal fillings.


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Why do I have bad breath?

Transitory bad breath is caused by foods like garlic and onions and generally only lasts from 24 to 72 hours.

Chronic bad breath does not improve over time. The "odor" of chronic bad breath results when bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue cause the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC's) in the form of hydrogen sulfides. This may be an ongoing problem requiring professional breath management.

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Dr. Davis graduated at the top of his class from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry.

From this achievement he was selected to be a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon which is a national dental honor society recognizing only the top 10% of dental graduates nationwide.

He is highly skilled in all aspects of general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry and is a member of numerous dental organizations such as the AGD, CDA, ADA, and SGVDS.

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We are pleased to offer our patients CEREC restoration services -- a superior method of creating precisely-designed, color-matched and highly durable ceramic fillings, crowns, and veneers right in our practice.

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629 S. Second Avenue - Covina, CA 91723
626.915.8744 office