Tuesday, December 31, 2013

My New Teeth: E-max All Porcelain Crowns

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!

Quite an unlikely post for a beauty blog, eh? Today, I'll be sharing with you one major gift I gave myself this year.

The truth is, I've never been confident with my teeth and smile. (Well, now I am and so I am sharing this with you.) I've had braces for almost a decade (grade 6 to college, anyone?), all because I went to the wrong dentist who didn't really know how to fix teeth. (If you want to know who she is, feel free to send me an email.) Along the way, my two front teeth got badly damaged and died. Both teeth underwent root canal therapy and through the years have been stained and discolored from the inside. I only got to know my current dentist (Dra. Marife Pedreña) when I was in college, and she was the one who finished the braces my previous dentist started.

Dra. Marife and I
 
Dra. Marife has mentioned "jackets" or porcelain crowns to me before, but I didn't want to since the process sounded intimidating. I asked first if I could have veneers, but she suggested that porcelain crown would be a better alternative since my teeth were already brittle from the root canal.

She had long been recommending me to get porcelain crowns to help improve my teeth's appearance and smile. It took me a while to finally go for it, since it doesn't come cheap. This year, I decided to get all porcelain crowns to replace my two front teeth. I did this procedure last September 2013, and I consider this an early Christmas gift for myself. (It counts, since September is already a -ber month!)

Dra. Marife's current rates* for porcelain crowns are as follows:
  • P4,000/unit for porcelain fused to metal crowns
  • P10,000/unit for E-max all porcelain crowns
  • P15,000/unit for Zirconia crowns
*Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Upon doing my research online, I found that she actually has low rates for porcelain crowns without compromising quality. Other dentists offer all porcelain crowns for P15,000 to P20,000+ per unit!

The reason why I didn't go for the porcelain fused to metal crowns is because it can cause the gumline to look dark after a few years. Our gums recede with age, which reveals the metal part of the crown. I chose E-max all porcelain crowns because it looks most natural and translucent, just like real teeth. (The downside of all porcelain crowns is that it's more brittle compared to the porcelain fused to metal crowns, so I have to be careful not to eat hard, extra crunchy food.)

For the entire procedure, I went back to the dental clinic 3x in the span of 9 days.

Before (September 2, 2013)

My two front teeth have previously undergone root canal many years ago. Over the years they've discolored with a grayish/brownish tint, and I don't even smoke. (They look even darker in person.) Plus, they both are tilted and have an uneven shape.

For my first visit, Dra. just made an impression of my teeth, so the lab could make me some temporary plastic crowns. She also helped me pick a shade that was close to my teeth so it would look natural.

During (September 5, 2013)

For my second visit, Dra. said that this would take longer (about 1 hour and 30 minutes). Dra. applied topical anesthesia on my gums and then injected local anesthesia on the top part of my gums near the front teeth. When my gums finally went numb, she proceeded with grinding my teeth, so they looked like 2 baby fangs (ugly, hence no picture!). This was required so the jacket could be inserted properly. She also cleaned my teeth and gums in preparation for the temporary plastic crowns. This was the bloody part, but thank God my eyes were covered and I was under anesthesia, so I felt nothing. Yes, it was painless and I couldn't believe it either. Then, my dentist made another impression again (to be sent to the lab, so they could make an accurate crown model that would best fit my teeth). After that, she attached temporary crowns made of plastic for my teeth, which I would wear for just less than a week before I could finally get the final, permanent all-porcelain crowns.

The temporary plastic crowns instantly made my teeth brighter, which my boss noticed the moment I spoke with her. There was a minor imperfection with my temporary plastic crown, but I don't really mind since I know they'll be gone in less than a week.

Temporary Plastic Crowns

Trivia: I've heard from a friend who knew of a dentist that did NOT issue temporary crowns during the process. Imagine walking out of the dental clinic with 2 baby fangs for teeth, which would last for one week before you got the final crowns. That's a crime! Exactly the kind of dentist you should avoid at all cost.

After (September 9, 2013)

On my third and final visit, Dra. applied topical anesthesia on my gums, but no injection. The temporary plastic crowns were removed with some slight hammering. (I kept them as remembrance.) She cleaned my teeth and gums again, and finally attached the E-max all porcelain crowns. The procedure lasted just about 30 minutes, and I was done. The E-max crowns had a thinner feel compared to the temporary plastic crowns, plus it had that gradient, translucent effect that looks like real teeth.

The E-max all porcelain crowns won't decay, unlike real teeth. Some might last for a lifetime, while some for decades or so, and it all depends on how well you take care of it.

Before & After

I'm very happy with how my teeth turned out. It has helped improved my confidence a lot, and it's something I wish I've done earlier. My teeth may not be toothpaste commercial worthy white (because I didn't get them bleached after almost a decade of wearing braces), but it looks even and very natural. If I didn't tell you, you wouldn't even know I had them done. But, now you do. Total damage to my wallet was P20,000 (for 2 teeth), but it is worth every penny!
 

If you want to visit or consult with my dentist, here are the details:
Marife Pedreña
Tel. no.: 4155777
967 Tres Hermanas Bldg. Room 200-B Quezon cor. Roosevelt Ave. Quezon City
(If you're commuting, just ask the driver to drop you off Mercury Drug Pantranco, beside Fisher Mall.) 

It's important to have a good relationship with your dentist. He or she has to not be intimidating or scary, and most importantly, he or she has to be knowledgeable and updated with the latest trends in dentistry. I highly recommend Dra. Marife. (Get this: Even toddlers/kids love her too, and that's really something!) She has been our family dentist for about 6 years now, and I don't think I will let anyone else touch my teeth. Not even for free. :D

Love,
Helen

PS. This is not a sponsored post. I paid for the treatment using my own money.

43 comments:

  1. beautiful smile! mahal pero worth it. :)

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    1. Thanks, Mariel! :) Yes, it was so worth it. Mas like ko pa to kesa sa new gadget. Haha!

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  2. i had braces too. but it only lasted four years. my teeth alignment is nown fine.

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  3. Hi Helen, is she Maxicare accredited? Thanks!

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    1. Unfortunately she isn't. I have Maxicare too but I'd still rather go to my family dentist. :)

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  4. It's great that you documented this! :) I have a naturally small tooth / fang as a lateral incisor where my dentist advised to get a crown as soon as possible after I remove my braces. Thanks for your post, now I know what to expect! :)

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  5. Hello! You look even better now! So that's the reason why you did not smile much in your photos.

    Btw, what lipstick/lip product were you using in the After photo? Thanks! :)

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    1. Thank you, Aisa! Yes, that's the exact reason why I don't like showing my teeth before.

      For the after photo, I used Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey. It looks really natural. :)

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  6. Hello! what is the dental specialty of your dentist?

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    1. Hello! It's general dentistry and orthodontics. :)

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    2. I am curious how it looks near the gums since its covered with your lips. Does it look good like natural tooth? hindi mahahalata ganun na parang dinikit?

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    3. I wonder how it looks near the gums natakpan kasi ng lip mo. Ung kasing iba halata na hindi totoo ung ngipin kasi hindi natakpan nung gums ung dulo ng crown. Balak ko ding magconsult sa dentist mo.

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    4. It looks like real teeth, kasi yung top part ng jacket, nakaembed under the gums. But you have to choose all-porcelain crowns and not porcelain fused to metal crowns (since this can make the gumline dark with age).

      Do consult with Dra. Marife, she's really nice and she can help you with your dental concerns. :)

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  7. Hi Helen, I just want to consult regarding your emax crown (since you have it). I just had my crown replaced by emax crown. Pero kasi when I checked it, kapag tinatapatan ko siya ng flash light, mahahalata mo na crown lang yung teeth unlike sa nakita ko sa research na kapag emax crown, translucent siya at hindi halata na may crown ka. I just want to know sa case mo, if kapag natatapatan ng flashlight yung back ng teeth mo kung translucent ba siya like real teeth or makikita mo na crown siya? Please, sana you can enlighten me kasi parang na-peke ako ng dentist ko. I just want to ask the same person na may emax crown. Thank you

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  8. Hi Helen,

    I just want to consult regarding your e-max crown (since you have it). I just had my crown replaced with an e-max crown. Pero kasi when I checked it, kapag tinatapatan ko siya ng flash light, mahahalata mo na crown lang yung teeth unlike sa nakita ko sa research na kapag e-max crown, translucent siya at hindi halata na may crown ka. I just want to know sa case mo, if kapag tinapatan ng flashlight yung back ng teeth mo kung translucent ba siya like real teeth or makikita mo na crown siya (has a darker shade sa real teeth)? Please, sana you can enlighten me kasi parang na-peke ako ng dentist ko. I just want to ask the same person na may emax crown.

    Thank you

    Cheers,
    Kat

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    1. Mine's translucent, and pag strong yung flashlight I can even see the stubs of roots na kinakapitan ng crown. (TMI, hehe)

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  9. I've had 6 PFM crowns done this month by my dentist of 18 years, and he charged me 5k each. But I totally regret that I did, because he made wrong impressions of my mouth and teeth, so the crowns were bigger and and this case, the natural upper teeth were affected and had to be reduced to a pulp and now, are hurting. The dentist made a lot of alibis, and so after 18 years of fixing my teeth and 10 crowns later, i've had just enough of this dentist. I need to look for another one who can fix my teeth once again without pulling the natural ones.

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  10. Hi Helen,

    Yung front teeth na crowns mo ba magkadikit when manufactureed, or individually made at inilagay individually?

    Would you know if kaya ng dentist mo na tanggalin ang PFM crown sa isang pasyente without affecting the natural tooth inside that crown? Yung dentist ko kasi PFM ang inilagay tapos malaki ang crown eh, kaya gusto kong ipatanggal. I think magpapa crown ako ng mga 10 teeth all in all pero gusto ko E-Max na din.

    Dan

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    1. Hi Dan, yung akin nilagay individually, though for cases with 10 jackets, dentist might recommend bridges na. I can't answer for her since she's the one who knows better, so ka consult nalang with her to be sure.

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  11. Hi Helen, Can't find her dental clinic details sa net/google, gusto ko lang makita qualifications/experience nya if okay lang? Plano ko palagay ng 5 zirconia based sa prices na ni post mo eh, pero may problema kasi ako sa bite ko, at ipapatanggal ko ang bridge na inilagay ng sablay kong dentista. Salamat ulit.

    Dan

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    1. Nakadisplay sa clinic niya yung mga hinahanap mo.

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    2. So kailangan talaga pumunta ng clinic, wala syang website or facebook page na may details ng hinahanap ko?

      Thanks

      Dan

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  12. Hello po! Ask ko lang hangang ngayin ba okay pa rin un color ng emax crown mo? Yung akin kase porcelain sya nagiba ng color depende ata sya sa gumawa at sa dentist.

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  13. Hello po! Ask ko lang hangang ngayin ba okay pa rin un color ng emax crown mo? Yung akin kase porcelain sya nagiba ng color depende ata sya sa gumawa at sa dentist.

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  14. Hello po! Ask ko lang hangang ngayon ba okay pa rin un color ng emax crown mo? Yung akin kase porcelain sya nagiba ng color depende ata sya sa gumawa at sa dentist.

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    1. Hi Jas, yes same color parin yung crowns ko. Yung gumline lang may slight discoloration.

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    2. Salamat :) masmanipis ba ang emax crown kesa sa porcelain fused to metal crown? Maramdaman ko kase un kapal ng porcelain crowns ko eh

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    3. Siguro, di ko alam yung texture kasi wala ako nun, pero dalawang layer kasi yun so less translucent siya.

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  15. Hi miss helen! Would you know kung yung rates are still the same? I have crowns kasi maliliit teeth ko and I think it was really a wrong move kasi wala naman sira. :( emax yung crowns ko kaso parang medyo opaque wala yung translucency sa ilalim like real tooth

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    1. Rates are subject to change without prior notice, as this blog post was published almost 3 years ago. It's best to call them or just go for a consultation first.

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  16. _hi mam. . .ask ko lang po kung ganon p rin yung price niya now?yan p rin po b ung telephone# at place ng dental clinic?thank you. . .

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  17. You look great po. Meron po bang website si Dra. Marife Padrena?

    Salamat po.

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    1. Thank you! Wala ata siyang website. Not sure. :)

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  18. Hi Helen, thanks for sharing your experience about porcelain crowns! Anyways, how does porcelain crowns differ from dental veneers? Thanks in advance!

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  19. Thank you for reading and spamming, James.

    For the benefit of others who might ask the same question: Dental veneers are thinner and they are just placed in front of the tooth. Whereas a crown covers the entire circumference of the tooth. For my case, my original tooth was stained gray from the inside, so veneers won't be enough.

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  20. Hi. Ganun pa rin ba ang rattes ni dra until now? Thank ypu. :)

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  21. Wow, amazing. I'm wearing porcelain-fused-to-metal crown, the downside of this is that it leaves dark line on the edges. So unnatural. Now, I'm planning to replace it with a new one. Is emax all porcelain also leave dark lines on the edges of tooth? Thanks

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  22. Hi ms. Helen. How does your teeth look right now? Im curious coz i was also advised to have a zirconia crown. Does it look the same after almost 4years?

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  23. Does she have other clinics? Can you also post here her cellphone number.

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  24. Hi can you please post her cell phn number or fb page if available. Thank you

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