 Next Issue: Fractured Teeth
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Dear Colleague,
Each month, ADOS and Dr. Chamberlain bring you answers to puzzling dental and oral surgery questions. Enjoy our monthly Answers column and feel free to pass it along to any of your colleagues who may benefit by being added to the distribution list.
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BRUX ZIRCONIUM CROWN RESTORATIONS
Crown restorations were once thought of only
for police dogs, for restorations post-endodontic therapy, and for those pets
prone to fracturing teeth. More dogs are competing in events that require use
of their canine teeth, such as obedience and flyball, and therefore, protection
of the canine teeth becomes more important. In veterinary dentistry, the focus
of crown restoration therapy has always been on protecting the underlying
remaining tooth structure. We often sought out the hardest, most wear
resistant, strongest materials such as stainless steel or titanium. These
crowns have the typical metal appearance. There are other materials that can be
used for crowns that are more esthetic, such as porcelain, ceramic, or porcelain
fused to metal, but these materials are easily chipped, require more
preparation of the tooth (thus weakening the tooth), and are not easily
repaired.
Recently, a new zirconium-based material has
been introduced that is touted to be as strong and wear resistant as metal
crowns. The main advantage of this type of crown material is that it can be colored
a natural tooth color. The crown is milled from a single block of zirconia
material by computer-assisted design to perfectly fit the prepared tooth and
the tooth preparation can be minimal, just like metal crown preparations, thus
preserving as much natural tooth strength as possible. These crowns are ideal
for those clients who desire the protection of metal crown restorations, while
maintaining the look of a natural tooth.
The process for tooth preparation,
impressions, bite registration, stone models, and cementation of the new brux
zirconium crowns is very similar to that of metal crown restorations. The only
difference is the need to advise the dental lab as to the proper shade of the
tooth to be restored. Dental shade guides are used to get the closest color to
that of the surrounding teeth, for the best match possible. If these crowns are
done well, it is very difficult to tell which teeth have been treated. The cost
of these crowns is fairly close to metal crowns, unlike other esthetic crown
options, so this definitely gives owners the choice between chrome (stainless
steel or titanium) or natural tooth color for protection. These crowns are advertised
to be strong enough to be used on carnassials teeth restorations as well. It is
important to keep in mind that even metal crowns can wear if enough abrasive
materials are used on them for a long enough period of time. These are expected
to react similarly, but this wear should be much slower than natural tooth
structure and allow these pets to return to working/training while protecting the
tooth as much as possible. For more information on these cosmetic crowns,
please feel free to call our office. 
More working and competition dogs are wearing
their teeth If this wear continues into the pulp canal, it
can lead to painful pulp exposure, pulp infection, and dental abscesses Wear can be prevented or slowed significantly
by placing protective crown restorations A newer crown material allows for minimal
tooth reduction during preparation, protection of the tooth much like a metal
crown restoration, and the cosmetic look of natural tooth structure The cost of these crowns is similar to that of
metal crowns
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ANIMAL DENTISTRY & ORAL SURGERY Thomas P. Chamberlain, MS, DVM
Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College
The LifeCentre
165 Fort Evans Road, NE #106
Leesburg, Virginia 20716
571.209.1146 (phone)
703.777.9968 (fax) |
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