A quick dental education

There is more to a pretty dental restoration than how white the restoration looks or how dramatic the before and after images are. Don't be fooled by how bright the woman's lipstick is on the after photo. Quality equates to longevity; beauty should and can be part of that equation. It boils down to design, materials and more importantly, fit. Machinists call it tolerance (how close the parts fit together). The tighter the fit, the stronger the structure, the more resistant it is to factors leading to decay and the longer it will last. This holds true for automobiles, planes, and dentistry too.

The art of exceptional dentistry is about adhering to some basic protocols, and following the motto, "good enough should never be acceptable." I build airplanes and my family will be traveling in one of those planes. If I adopted the philosophy of "good enough" or if the Boeing worker followed that philosophy, how would anyone know whether that plane would fall apart on the first flight or the one hundred thousandth flight. My family and the public need the plane to last; I feel the same way about my dentistry.

Below are four radiographs; the two on the left of the screen depict the concept of exceptional fit or close tolerance and the two on the right of the screen depict poor fit or poor tolerance. I take pride in the quality of dentistry I provide. While other dentists may offer services for less money, the work may not be built to last and may even cause more problems. Consequently, the restorations displaying poor fit can also cost a person much more than what I charge as price does not always determine quality. You don't always get what you pay for, but if the dentist is of good moral character and reasonably coordinated with their hands, chances are you will get what you pay for.

Exceptional fit:		Poor fit:

Top two images show implant crowns. The crown on the left of the screen displays exceptional fit.

The crown on the right exhibits gaps where the crown interfaces with the implant abutment. Even though implants and their parts are made of titanium and/or gold and do not decay from bacteria, fit is critical for the health of the gingival tissue, and the underlaying bone around the implant. Poor fit can also lead to bad breath.

The two bottom images show the same distinction on posterior crowned teeth.