Joshua Grooms DDS

Dr. Joshua Grooms would like to take some time this week to discuss toothbrushes.  His patients are always asking "Which toothbrush do you recommend?".  Every dentist may have a different opinion on exactly which brush you should be using.  Dr. Grooms, more importantly than telling you a certain name brand to go buy, wants to let you know what things to look for when picking out your next brush. 1.  SOFT BRISTLES - soft or even extra-soft bristles are so important.  Some patients go for the medium or even hard bristles thinking it will help remove the plaque and grime from their teeth better.  The truth is that plaque is relatively easy to remove with a soft bristle brush if the proper technique and time is taken to do so.  Hard bristles increase the risk of gum recession or even wearing down the enamel over time (toothbrush abrasion). Toothbrush Abrasion 2.  DON'T BRUSH TOO AGGRESSIVELY - if you are a "scrubber" or have signs of br...

So this week Dr. Grooms discussed crown restorations.  He wanted to share these images with you of an actual case he performed this week. The tooth started out with a large silver filling and broken tooth structure. The tooth was then reduced in all dimensions to support an all ceramic crown restoration Finally using Cerec technology a porcelain crown was milled in office and cemented same day!!!

My dentist says I need a Crown....What does that mean??????? Everyday in my practice I have to make the decision whether or not it is time for a tooth to receive a crown instead of just a large filling.  I have, on more than one occasion, ran into hesitant patients, who don't want to invest in a crown.  Let me explain what exactly what a crown is and answer some common questions. 1.  Can I just have a cap instead?  - You may hear the word "cap" used by your friends/family or even by your dentist.  What is the difference?  Absolutely nothing.  "Cap" is used to try to describe what a crown is.  When we place a crown on a tooth, it completely covers the coronal portion (top part) of the tooth, therefore we say think of it like a baseball cap covering your head. 2.  Why can't I just put a large filling in, it's much cheaper? -Fillings are a great way to restore a tooth when the amount of tooth structure lost is small.  After a large...