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Few restorative decisions are clearly black and white. The patient has a right to choose a cosmetic outcome at the expense of durability, so long as he or she is fully informed and intelligently accepts the risks of that alternative, and the dentist is also comfortable with the decision. No cosmetic restoration, including cast gold […]

Over 40 years ago, a survey of 60 beauty pageant finalists between the ages of 15 and 17 concluded that when most of these young women asked their dentists for treatment advice related to cosmetics, the response was “it is not important” or “you look good enough.” Today these answers would be considered inappropriate and […]

The type, number, and arrangement of teeth in the mouth is called dentition. Dentin is the hard layer of tissue immediately under the tooth’s enamel. Dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) is where the dentin and enamel meet on the crown of a tooth. It is important to know as much as possible about the physical properties of […]

Hard tooth structure has been described as a composite material made up of enamel, mantle dentin, and the Dentino-Enamel Junction (DEJ). The surface hardness of enamel protects the tooth as it strikes against the opposing one, and guards the softer underlying DEJ and dentin. As it turns out, though, recent evidence suggests that enamel is […]

The idea that cast gold inlays cause teeth to fracture has been propagated over the last 30 or 40 years in dental school textbooks, although recent evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Much of the faulty opinion regarding tooth fractures caused by gold inlay was based on clinical observations of individual experiences. During this time procedures for […]

Many individuals believe that developing technology is synonymous with better outcomes. The dental profession, as a whole, exhibits a will to constantly improve on established standards. Sadly, the idea that technology must be better simply because it is newer and is often mistaken. No area in dentistry better demonstrates this than the development of tooth-colored […]

For decades, cast gold has been the material of choice to repair back teeth when large restorations have failed due to recurrent cavities, fractures, sensitivity to hot and cold, or poor function. The benefits of gold restorations have been historically well-documented in dental school curriculum, post-graduate education, and criteria for licensing. Failing silver filling view […]

The dental crown is an extremely versatile restoration. As a stand-alone repair, it encloses a tooth damaged by decay or trauma, providing strength. A crown protects a tooth embrittled by root canal therapy, and a pair of crown anchors a bridge, replacing one or several consecutive missing teeth. Today, many patients assume that their only […]

The Throughout history, gold teeth have signified social distinction. That precept continues today in some high-profile professions, such as athletes and musicians. Yet there are many more dental health reasons to consider gold as a tooth replacement option. Dr. Mark Cruz is one of only a few dentists in the Dana Point area with specialized […]