The 21st Century has seen incredible advancements in the field of metal free dental restorations.  We have always provided care on this leading edge, and offer several applications of these varying technologies.  It can now be declared that the "silver filling" is obsolete.  We have several options that we can offer you when you are faced with the need to restore one of your back teeth (your molars and premolars) or replace your unsightly existing silver fillings.

The new machined / hand-laid porcelain technology that is now available for front teeth is now the first metal-free crown technique that is truly strong enough to universally recommend for the replacement of crowns or large silver fillings for your back teeth.  This new system, called "Procera", gives you the strength of the traditional gold / porcelain crown (which is how over 95% of all crowns are currently made), while providing the beauty and translucency of porcelain.  As with front tooth crowns, the metallic, grayish metal underpinning found in most of today's crowns is replaced by an aero-space porcelain foundation. You've probably seen that unsightly "gray line at the gum" on existing crowns (for yourself or other people) that can be caused by the current mainstream metallic-based technique.

We create Procera crowns by shaping your teeth in the same way that is done for other types of crowns, but that's where the similarities end!  Your impression and mold is scanned by computer, and the virtual model of your teeth is sent via modem to Goteberg, Sweden.  Once in Europe, the inside of your crown is created with incredible precision by a computerized milling machine.  The final result, which looks like a porcelain "thimble", is Fed-Exed back to Milwaukee, and our ceramic artisan (Tim Hansen of Hansen Dental Lab) hand applies porcelain to the thimble, layer by layer, until the truly natural appearing crown is completed.

Currently, all these advanced technologies and procedures only add about $ 40 to the cost of a Procera crown (compared to the conventional metal-backed crown).  Since it is very likely that the the Procera crown is truly the crown of the future, we predict that this cost differential will disappear within a few years.

If you ever need to replace a medium to small silver filling or gold inlay, or if one of your back teeth has decay, we can also offer another new technology called "Ceromer" inlays and onlays.  This material is a hybrid of porcelain and advanced composite resins, and is matched to the color of your tooth.  Since it is a composite, we can take advantage of it's ability to utilize light-sensitive bonding technology for a near perfect seal with your tooth.  While Procera is ideal for a crown that covers your entire tooth, a Ceromer inlay or onlay is appropriate for the replacement of regular fillings or routine decay.  It's less expensive than a crown, and less tooth structure is removed to create your new restoration.

If you're interested in looking in to your possibilities for replacement of decay or unsightly silver fillings with metal free, ceramic based functional and cosmetic restorations for your back teeth, please give us a call and avail yourself to our complimentary consultation policy.  To review the details regarding this service, simply return to the "cosmetic" menu and click on the "free consult" button.

The "Procera" system, by Nobel Biocare, represents an absolute revolution in the field of metal - free dentistry for your back teeth as well as your front teeth!

Dr. Hart offers all ceramic crowns for both the front teeth and back teeth using conventional porcelain, the new "Targis" ceramic hybrid materials (such as these crowns), as well as the incredible, new revolutionary "Procera" crown.

We also offer tooth colored, bonded "Ceromer" inlays and onlays;  which are excellent high-strength, tooth-colored alternatives for old-fashioned silver amalgam "fillings."

 

Before

 

After

 

As you can see, your old silver fillings can be removed, with virtually no removal of any healthy tooth structure, and replaced with attractive, durable, and bonded Ceromer inlays!