Orthodontist - Baltimore
3 Locations in Baltimore!
Locations
3 convenient orthodontic office locations in Baltimore Maryland!
Pikesville Office
1314 Bedford Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21208
(410) 653-6379
Harbor Orthodontics
2 East Lee St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-659-0770
Parkville Office
8813 Waltham Woods Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21234
410-882-2100
Crowns
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.
The Right Time For An Orthodontic Check-Up: No Later Than Age 7
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7 because, while your child's teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect.
Schedule an appointment if you recognize any of the following problems in your growing child:
Early or late loss of baby teeth- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Jaws that shift or make sounds
- Speech difficulties
- Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
- Facial imbalance
- Grinding or cleaning of the teeth
Tips For Good Oral Health
Good oral health is important, and some people may need orthodontic treatment to achieve it. The following list contains steps to help ensure your child's smile stays healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Watch for Signs of Trouble Problems such as early or late loss of baby teeth, difficulty chewing or biting or mouth breathing are all reasons to schedule a check-up with an orthodontist.
See anOrthodontist No Later Than Age Seven Even with baby teeth present, an orthodontist can detect existing or developing problems. An early evaluation is essential.
Brushing and Flossing To ensure proper dental health care, it's important to get childern on a consistent schedule of brushing after every meal and flossing once a day.
Eat a Healthy Diet Sugary itmes such as candy and soda pop cancause cavities. Parents are urged to control how often and how much of the sugar-laden items their childern consume.
Put an End to Bad Oral Habits If thumb and pacifier sucking are prolonged, either habit may cause problems with proper growth of the jaw and with tooth alignment.
Change Your Child's Toothbrush Regularly A toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months, whenever the bristles show signs of wear or after an infectious illness like strep throat.
Take Care of Braces Children currently in orthodontic treatment should avoid hard, sticky, chewy or crunchy foods thatmay harm braces and potentially prolong treatment time.
Guard Teeth While Playing Sports Make sure your child wears a mouth guard while playing sports to lessen the chances of fracturing or knocking out teeth.
Visit the Dentist Regularly A child should have the first dental visit no later than the first birthday, and regular checkups every six months thereafter.
For more information on orthodontic treatment, visit www.braces.org
Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth.
Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.
Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
Procedures
A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. A cast is made of the existing tooth and an impression is made. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In some cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place.
Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas.
Caring For Your Crowns
With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration.
Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.