Bakersfield Metal-Free Dentist

New high-tech ceramics are making it possible to do crowns and bridges without using any metal.

Advantages of Metal-Free Dentistry

Aesthetics

In the late 1950s, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (PFM) were developed to strengthen porcelain and prevent stress cracks. Ceramists use an opaque layer of porcelain to conceal the metal. But since they are opaque, these crowns cannot faithfully duplicate the beautiful translucence of natural teeth. Then in the 1980s, technology was developed to bond the porcelain crown to the tooth to increase its strength. These crowns were now strong enough to serve on front teeth, but weren’t strong enough to serve reliably on back teeth. In recent years, technology has developed high-strength ceramics that can withstand biting forces without a metal foundation. They preserve the natural translucence of teeth and so are much more aesthetic than porcelain-fused-to-metal.

Crowns and Bridges

Unlike porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, all-ceramic crowns are biocompatible and natural looking.

• Zirconia – Nicknamed “ceramic steel,” zirconium dioxide is an exceptionally strong ceramic for crafting dental crowns and bridges used on molar teeth. Our ceramist crafts works with zirconia blocks to create natural-looking crowns that last and withstand the stresses of chewing.
• Lithium disilicate – The high-strength ceramic lithium disilicate is used in same-day CEREC crowns and also forms the foundation for e.max crowns. For e.max crowns, that foundation has a layer of porcelain baked over it. Porcelain can be baked with tints and customizations that mimic natural teeth so perfectly that no one will know you have a crown.

Metal Allergies and Sensitivities

Metal allergies or sensitivities can make you cautious about the types of dental restorations you receive. But Woolf Dental doesn’t use any metals in our crowns and bridges. Some metals that are often used in dental restorations include nickel, beryllium, and chromium. There are estimates that as many as 20% of people have an allergy to nickel. Beryllium and chromium can also be sensitizers. Metal allergies from dental restorations can include the following symptoms:

• Changes in oral tissue
• Gum inflammation
• Itching
• Malaise
• Redness

Metal-Free Dental Restorations

A metal-free filling, crown, or bridge can help prevent an adverse reaction and the discomfort that follows. We offer solutions to preserve and protect your oral health, so you can receive the treatment you need without worrying about an uncomfortable reaction.

Fillings

We also exclusively place metal-free fillings. Composite fillings are a mixture of resin and quartz or glass. They preserve more of your healthy tooth structure than amalgam fillings. We will select a composite shade that closely matches your tooth color and will not be visible like dark amalgam fillings.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are custom-made ceramic fillings, usually made of lithium disilicate. An inlay fills the center of the tooth, and an onlay extends to one or more cusps, or peaks of a tooth. The photograph on the right shows a large, leaking amalgam filling that has undermined a couple of cusps of the tooth. The tooth has been restored with a ceramic onlay that covers those cusps to protect the tooth from fracture.

Interested in Metal-Free Dentistry?

Woolf Dental will provide you with long-lasting restorations made of materials that won’t provoke a reaction. Call us to schedule an appointment or complete our Request an Appointment form.