Royalty

The Story of the Patient and His Crown

Once upon a time, Dr. Christopher Drew saw one of his amazing patients for a dental exam. He saw that one of the patient's teeth was very weak and brittle. He recommended a crown! The startled patient was thrilled to hear he would become royalty by coming to Dr. Drew's Tempe, AZ office! Then Dr. Drew recommended a GOLD crown, and the patient was even more excited. WOW! First royalty, then a gold crown. What luck?! Just as his excitement peaked, the patient crouched in pain and held his face and said, "OUCH, my tooth really hurts!" Dr. Drew then explained exactly what a crown is and how it would make the pain go away.


He said.....

"A crown is a dental restoration that covers or "caps" a tooth to restore it to its normal shape, size, and function. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. A crown can:

~restore a tooth when there isn't enough tooth remaining to provide support for a large filling.
~attach a bridge to replace the missing teeth.
~protect a weak tooth from fracturing.
~restore a fractured tooth.
~cover a dental implant."



Dr. Drew also showed the patient this picture to better educate him about what a crown looks like.

Dr. Drew explained that crowns are made by several types of materials. Metal alloys, ceramics, porcelain, or combinations of these materials may be used. Porcelain can be matched to be the same color as the teeth surrounding the crown for a beautiful smile!

The patient was now more happy about getting a "tooth" crown than becoming royalty. The crown Dr. Drew would place would protect the patient's tooth and cure the pain he was experiencing.

The End

If you are in any type of pain with your mouth or teeth, please call us at 480-839-0502 at our office located on 6200 S. McClintock Rd. #111 Tempe, AZ 85283. We look forward to hearing from you.

"Don't Be So Sensitive"

Do you enjoy ice cream or hot soup? If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, your answer is probably "NO!"

What causes sensitive teeth?

Cavities and fractured teeth can cause sensitive teeth. If these problems have already been ruled out, by Dr. Drew, then the worn tooth enamel or an exposed tooth root may be the cause.

A layer of enamel, the strongest substance in the body, protects the crowns of the healthy teeth. A layer called cementum protects the tooth root under the gum line. Underneath the enamel and the cementum is dentin, a part of the tooth that is less dense than enamel or cementum.

The dentin contains microscopic tubules (small hollow tubes or canals). When dentin loses it's protective covering, the tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to stimulate the nerves and cells inside the tooth. This causes hypersensitivity and occasional discomfort. Fortunately, the irritation does not cause permanent damage to the pulp.

How to prevent sensitive teeth.

Proper oral hygiene is key to preventing gums from receding and causing sensitive-tooth pain. To schedule your teeth cleaning and exam, please call our Tempe, Arizona office today at 480-839-0502. If you brush your teeth incorrectly or even over-brush, gum problems can result. Come in and ask Dr. Drew and our professional staff any questions you might have about your daily oral hygiene routine.

Treatment

Sensitive teeth can be treated. Dr. Drew may suggest that you try a desensitizing toothpaste, which contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve. Dr. Drew recommends Sensodyne Toothpaste. Desensitizing toothpaste usually requires several applications before the sensitivity is reduced.

If Sensodyne doesn't ease your pain, Dr. Drew may suggest in-office techniques. A fluoride gel, which strengthens tooth enamel may be applied to the sensitive areas of the teeth.

In cases where hypersensitivity is severe, persistent and cannot be treated by others means, Dr. Drew may recommend endodontic therapy (root canal).

Please call our Tempe, Arizona Office located at 6200 S. McClintock Rd. #111 Tempe, Arizona 85283 to schedule your oral health exam today. Or call us at 480-839-0502.

~click on the BLUE words to find out more. this information is from the American Dental Association

Care Credit

At Drew Family Dentistry, we want our patients to feel as comfortable as possible when receiving any kind of treatment. One way we accomplish this, is through Care Credit. Care Credit is a NO INTEREST payment plan that allows our patients to get the treatment needed to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile!

Care Credit is a healthcare credit card specifically designed to pay for procedures not covered by insurance.

With Care Credit you can:

~Pay for co-payments, deductibles, and treatment not covered by insurance.

~Start treatment immediately at out Tempe, Arizona dental office and pay over time with LOW minimum monthly payments.

~Have no annual fees

~Reserve existing credit cards for household or unplanned expenses.

~Apply online at http://www.carecredit.com/ or call (800)-365-8295.

Please call our office TODAY if you have any questions about our fees, or about Care Credit.

Cracking The Case

Dr. Chris Drew and staff are cracking the case on cracked teeth!

Case Scenario:

When you bite down you feel shape pain. It quickly disappears and perhaps you ignore it. You avoid certain foods or chew only on one side of your mouth.

Does this sound familiar? You may have a cracked tooth.

Case Details:

Q: What causes a cracked tooth?

A:
-chewing on hard objects or foods such as ice, nuts, or hard candy.
-an accident
-grinding and clenching your teeth
- uneven chewing pressure
-loss of significant portion of tooth structure



Q: How can you tell if a tooth is cracked?

A: You may not even be able to tell which tooth hurts or whether the pain is from an upper or lower tooth. A crack may appear as a hairline fracture, running vertically along the tooth.



Q:Why does a cracked tooth hurt?
A: A cracked tooth may hurt because the pressure of biting causes the crack to open. When you stop biting, the pressure is released and a sharp pain results as the crack quickly closes.

This is a picture of what a cracked tooth might look like. The red arrows point to the crack.

Even though the crack may be microscopic, when it opens, the pulp inside the tooth may become irritated. The pulp is a soft tissue that contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels. If the crack irritates the pulp, the tooth may become sensitive to temperature extremes. If the pulp becomes damaged or diseased as a result of the crack, endodontic (root canal) treatment may be necessary to save the tooth.

Case Solved:

Treating a cracked tooth:
Depending on the size and location of the crack, treatment may vary from bonding to a crown to hold the crack together. This may include endodontic treatment if the pulp is involved. A severely cracked tooth may need an extraction if the tooth cannot be saved. Dr. Drew will need to determine the best treatment for you.


IMPORTANT CASE FACTS:Frequent and regular dental exams and oral health checkups are very important. They will allow Dr. Drew to diagnose and treat problems in the early stage. If you are having any symptoms of a cracked tooth, please call our office as soon as possible. We are ready to solve the case!

Visit: http://www.ada.org/ for more information.

This information is from the American Dental Association.