Dr. Sunil Kurup, DDS, Utilizing the Power of Technology for Patient Care

The medical industry has benefited from some truly revolutionary advancements in technology in the past two decades. Thanks to the internet, the power of idea sharing has enabled scientists and engineers to develop incredible equipment and machines to help make medical care better than it has eve been in human history. Dentists particularly have been able to utilize the power of these tools to turn what was once a painful, uncomfortable and rather ugly profession into a safe, relaxing and problem free service that it is today.
 

For renown family dentist Dr. Sunil Kurup, DDS, utilizing this wonderful technology is at the center of what his practice, Distinctive Family Dentistry, believes in. the pride themselves on safe and comfortable dentistry practices that can help reduce anxiety and give the best solutions for solving oral hygiene problems. Digital x-rays are a great way for dentists to get to the bottom of oral hygiene problems, and find out the best ways to solve them.
 

Digital x-ray images are important in order to determine the unique treatment required to treat patients specific dental needs. With Distinctive Family Dentistry's digital x-ray system, the radiation dosage is at a significantly lower level than most imaging provided by other methods. They are proudly able to offer systems that fit their patients needs as technology advances, making dentists like Dr. Sunil Kurup, DDS and his team more efficient and effective at solving your dental concerns.
 

Their advanced dental imaging provides many advantages, not only for the patient, but for the doctor as well. Allowing not only for the patient to experience having images taken in under a minute, but being exposed to minimum radiation dosage. As for the dentists' convenience, the system allows for the doctor to view printed images at high resolution that not only show a complete visualization of the nerves, but also allow images to view the sinuses, teeth, and bones that help better to aid disorders such as TMJ, the placement and planning of implants, and even procedures involving oral surgery or orthodontic treatment. 
 

Digital x-rays are among one of many significant advancements made in medical technology over the last two decades, which have enhanced patient treatment and also allowed dentists to be even more effective and efficient in their roles. Dentists like Dr. Sunil Kurup, DDS pride themselves on being able to embrace the newest technology an use it to improve their services and make their patients have the best dental experience possible.

Dr. Sunil Kurup, DDS, Dental Crowns

Dental crowns cover the entire tooth above the gums. They are used in various cases, including:

•    Holding a dental bridge.
•    Covering a broken or very worn tooth.
•    Covering a dental implant.
•    Preventing a weak tooth from breaking or holding together a cracked tooth.
•    Covering discolored or malformed teeth.

Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. Gold crowns are visually appealing, thus popular.

For adult patients, stainless steel crowns are used on permanent teeth until a permanent crown can be made. This temporary crown provides protection until the permanent crown can be implemented. When used for children, they cover a baby tooth that is decaying. Once the baby tooth comes out, prior to the growth of the permanent tooth, the crown comes out, too. Stainless steel crowns are usually used on children, because once the crown is on, the child does not need to make any further trips to the dentist; the crown will remain on the tooth until the tooth itself comes out. 

Porcelain dental crowns (porcelain fused onto metal) can be made to match the color of the person’s natural teeth. This means that they look more like real teeth than any other crown. These crowns, though, do not wear as well as crowns made of resin or metal. They are also prone to chipping. 

Another way to match the color of the patient’s real teeth is to use a crown that is either entirely porcelain or entirely ceramic. This is a good choice for people who are allergic to metal. As with the porcelain-metal crowns, they are not as strong as metal crowns.

One of the cheaper options is an all-resin crown. These, though, will also wear down eventually. Furthermore, they can fracture more easily than the porcelain-metal hybrid.

The metal crowns, to which some patients are allergic, are often gold. Some of the crowns made from less-expensive metals contain nickel, often a source of irritation not only in crowns, but in various forms of jewelry, including earrings. Metal crowns are highly suitable for back teeth, because they wear well and stand up to the tremendous force exerted by chewing. In addition, breakage rarely happens, and these crowns are highly resistant to chipping.

The choice of a crown is one best left to a consultation between the patient and the dentist. With such a wide variety to choose from, they are certain to find exactly the right crown type. 

Dr. Sunil Kurup, DDS, Metal Fillings

These days, the teeth are regarded as one of the most important facial features. They must be strong, white, even, and straight. Fillings should be as close to invisible as humanly possible.
 

Quite a bit of controversy has arisen in recent years over amalgam fillings, which have been used for well over a century to fill the holes in teeth. Amalgam contains mercury, which has been linked to many serious health conditions. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that the amount of mercury found in amalgam fillings is insufficient to cause health problems. No link has been ascertained between these fillings and serious mercury-related illnesses. Therefore, amalgam fillings are considered safe for anyone above the age of six.
 

The benefits are that dental amalgam is the least expensive type of filling to get, which is important for price-conscious patients. They are also strong and less likely to break than many other filling types.
 

Mercury takes several different chemical forms. The dangerous form of mercury found in some kinds of fish is different from the kind of mercury used in amalgam fillings. The fish mercury is called methylmercury, which is absorbed almost entirely by the digestive tract. The mercury in amalgam fillings is elemental mercury. This form of mercury releases mercury vapor, which is largely absorbed by the lungs. Each form of mercury is processed differently by the body, and the body shows different tolerance levels for each of these forms.
 

Health consideration aside, many people prefer not to have amalgam fillings because of their appearance. A tooth stuffed full of amalgam presents a grayish appearance that can’t be changed by bleaching, as the color comes through the tooth from the inside. A laugh that opens the mouth widely can reveal a number of fillings, which is not only unsightly, but suggests that the person doesn’t practice regular or sufficient oral hygiene. These days, a mouth is expected to show white teeth on all surfaces. Gold crowns are not only accepted, but popular; the problem with crowns is that they are applied to cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged teeth – a heavy price to pay to flash a little gold.
 

Ceramic fillings are commonly used as replacements for the amalgam type. It is always best to consult this idea with your dentist so you can decide on the best method of treatment for you. It may be that leaving the amalgam fillings where they are is the wisest decision.