March 19, 2007, Los Angeles ( L.A. ) and Beverly Hills – How long has it been since you felt comfortable laughing out loud? Are you overly-conscious of unsightly metal fillings?

Silver-colored fillings were most widely used until several years ago. These amalgams tend to darken teeth and some contain mercury, a substance better suited to thermometers. Mercury creates other problems because it expands and contracts in reaction to hot and cold foods and drinks. Fractures can result, some of which are quite painful. Perhaps worst of all, mercury can be absorbed into the body's tissues.

Fractures that don't cause pain may go unnoticed for years, allowing bacteria to infiltrate deep into your mouth. These bacteria may eventually reach the tooth's nerve and blood supply. When this happens, you become a candidate for the dreaded root canal.

Several other metals continue to be used, particularly for the back teeth . These include nickel alloy, gold or gold alloy, palladium and chromium alloy.

These darker metals are most visible when we laugh. Fortunately, modern cosmetic dentistry offers improved techniques and materials from which to choose.

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser recommends porcelain crowns as an excellent alternative to metal. Dental porcelain has similar properties to tooth enamel. Like our natural teeth, porcelain both absorbs and reflects light, giving it a translucent look. This translucence is what gives our teeth that shiny, pearly look.

All-porcelain crowns also blend in perfectly with your surrounding teeth. They are durable and highly resistant to discoloration.

To provide even greater strength, Dr. Mobasser may recommend fusing the porcelain to metal. While this may be the best solution for weakened teeth, the metal backing stops light from traveling through the porcelain, creating a more opaque appearance.

Also, with time, the crown's metal lining may be revealed in a thin black line near the gumline.

These procedures require just two visits. At your first appointment, Dr. Mobasser will remove a thin layer of the tooth, making room for your new crown. He'll then prepare the exposed surface so it will bond well with the crown.

Once this work is completed, Dr. Mobasser will attach a temporary crown to cover the tooth until your next visit.

At your second appointment, he'll attach the new crown and fine-tune the fit until you're both satisfied. Dr. Mobasser then will permanently bond the crown to your tooth.

LEARN MORE

Call top cosmetic dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser today at 1.310.550.0383 or email us to schedule an appointment and learn more about porcelain crowns.