Minneapolis Dentist Creates Perfection With Porcelain

Friday, May 8, 2009— ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — “Instant gratification takes too long,” whined Meryl Streep’s character in the movie Postcards from the Edge.

Her character isn’t the only person in demand of instant results. There’s an increasing population segment trading in months or even years of braces for a quicker solution to crooked teeth- porcelain crowns.

“People’s smiles are really important to them, especially since there are so many options these days for improving them,” said Minneapolis, MN cosmetic dentist Dr. Walter L. Hunt. “Combine that with the appearance-driven society we live in and it’s no surprise that people want quicker fixes when it comes to smile makeovers.”

Today, an increasing number of adults seek teeth alignment options, Hunt said. The American Association of Orthodontists reports that about 20 percent of patients in orthodontic treatment today are adults, according to the organization’s Web site.

But not all adults who want straight teeth are willing to go through a lengthy treatment process, said St. Paul dentist.

Braces can take nine to 36 months to align teeth, depending on the severity of malocclusion, Hunt said. Porcelain crowns or veneers can be completed in as little as two weeks.

“When you talk about that kind of time frame, you’re talking about making it possible for a person to completely make over their smile a couple of weeks before their wedding, if they want,” he said. “That is incredibly appealing to some people.”

Porcelain Crowns- The Process
Crowns are “caps” that fit over teeth and improve a wide variety of problems, Hunt said. They are used to improve broken, chipped, stained or crooked teeth. Crowns can be made purely of porcelain or they can be porcelain that has been fused to metal. Fully porcelain crowns offer the best in aesthetics, while porcelain fused to metal offers a bit more strength.

The procedure for getting dental crowns typically takes two visits, he said. The first visit involves preparatory work. The teeth that will receive the crowns are reshaped and buffed down slightly so the crown can be placed on top and appear natural- not bulky.

Impressions are taken and sent off to a dental laboratory, where the crowns are custom-made to fit each individual tooth. The patient is fitted with temporary crowns to wear while the permanent crowns are fabricated, he said.

The permanent crowns are placed at the second appointment.

That many seem to some like an invasive process just to get straight teeth. But there are other factors to consider when dealing with adult patients, such as prior fillings and other dental work done throughout their lives. All of these can have an adverse effect on the appearance of a person’s teeth.

Porcelain crowns can improve a patient’s smile by covering flaws, he said.

In minor cases where adult patients have teeth in relatively good shape, but they just want them to be straight, an option such as Invisalign is the way to go. Invisalign is a tooth alignment system that uses a series of clear plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth like a retainer. Over time, these custom-made aligners shift teeth into proper alignment.

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Learn More

If you would like to learn more about Personal Care Dentistry, a Minneapolis, MN cosmetic dentistry practice, you want more information on porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, Dental implants and tooth whitening or you would like to schedule an appointment, please call (651) 636-0655 or visit our website www.personalcaredentistry.com or our cosmetic dentistry blog. Dr. Hunt’s office is located at 2233 N. Hamline Ave., Ste. 320 in Roseville, MN, 55113.

About Dr. Walter Hunt

Dr. Hunt is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He keeps his finger on the pulse of dental technology by exceeding the state's required number of dental continuing education courses. He passes this training on to his patients by treating problems with advanced techniques and by performing procedures using only the most modern and high-tech equipment available.

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