I am a total "science nerd." It's true. I was that weird kid who actually asked for extra credit assignments in school. I am also made fully aware that this quirk has carried through into my adulthood every time I catch myself perusing the virtual bookshelves of the internet, looking for college textbook sales even though I have no compelling reason to read them other to satisfy my own twisted sense of "fun."

Perhaps it is because of this intellectual drive of mine that I am absolutely fascinated by the application of science into solving real-life problems - especially those that I face every day as a dentist. As a case in point, let's take the dental crown. Now, if you are reading this, then there is a good chance that you have a crown in your mouth right now - they are one of the most common and time-proven treatments in dentistry. If you're not familiar with what I am talking about, imagine a tooth that is so broken that a simple filling would not be enough to restore its strength. In these cases, the tooth is at a very real risk of breaking off more, leading to expensive treatment and perhaps even loss of the tooth altogether.

Because of the crown, however, this situation does not have to be hopeless. By covering the whole tooth with a protective outer layer (the crown), we can hold the rest of the tooth together while at the same time making it look and function how it's supposed to. It's a win-win for everyone. At least, in these days it is.

This wasn't always the case though. It's true that crowns have proven their worth over the years when it comes to fixing teeth. When it comes to making them look "natural," on the other hand, we are just recently starting to see some really exciting advances.

It used to be that gold was about the only reliable material we had to work with- and it worked well. I have even met a high-end veterinary dentist who uses gold crowns to fix tiger teeth (now there's an interesting job). Gold has a few problems though. First of all, it's expensive - given the high quality alternatives we have today, I would recommend that other options be considered for this reason alone. Second of all, gold is...gold. That might work well on back teeth, or even front ones if you are into the whole "pirate" look, but most people these days want something a little less noticeable.

This is where science comes in. Back in the 50s, they developed a way of fusing a layer of porcelain onto the outside of a metal (gold) core. This worked well for years, and some dentists still use these in their offices today. They are strong, functional, and they look...OK. There is often a band of metal that can be seen near the gums, and they are extremely difficult to use when matching front teeth, but they can work well. For a long time it's all we had.

But not anymore. Today, there are a lot of other options available (thanks to science). Because of further technological advances, we can choose from a variety of ceramics or even white-colored metal when trying to give you back your beautiful smile. It really is amazing. Talk to your dentist today to see what would work best for you.

Dr. Hazard works at Loftus Family Dental with locations in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls. At Loftus Family Dental, we offer free exams and X-rays for all new patients, treatment for the entire family, a wonderful team, and acceptance of almost all insurances in the area. Call today at (855) 4-LOFTUS. or visit our website, LoftusFamilyDental.com.