Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and you're always allowed to ask. A crown is the right call when a tooth is cracked or too broken down for a filling to hold. But not every tooth needs one, and a second opinion is reasonable any time a treatment plan surprises you. Here's how to tell the difference, what to ask, and when a second look is worth your time. I'm a dentist telling you it's okay to question your dentist. I mean it, so let's get into it. When does a tooth genuinely need

An infected tooth won't heal on its own. Left untreated, the infection spreads: the nerve dies, an abscess forms, and it can move into the surrounding bone and nearby tissues. You'll most likely lose the tooth, face more complex and expensive treatment, and in rare cases a dental infection can turn serious. A root canal stops all of that while the tooth can still be saved. Nobody's excited to hear they need a root canal, and "just wait and see" is tempting. Here's honestly wh

A root canal removes the infected or inflamed tissue from inside your tooth, disinfects the hollow canals where that tissue lived, and seals them, so we can save the natural tooth instead of pulling it. Despite the reputation, a modern root canal feels a lot like getting a filling. The procedure relieves typically relieves the pain; it doesn't cause it. There are exeptions but most patients who are expereincing discomfort often feel better after the procedure than they did be

A CEREC crown is designed, milled, and bonded in our office in a single visit. A digital scan replaces the goopy impression, the mill carves your crown from a solid ceramic block while you wait, and you leave with the finished crown. No temporary, no second appointment.

For most teeth, yes. Same-day crowns are milled from the same ceramics dental labs use, lithium disilicate and zirconia. Long-term studies show comparable fit and durability. They're also bonded the same day the tooth is shaped, which means less sensitivity. A few cases still call for a lab, and we'll tell you when yours is one. If you're asking this question, you're probably wondering whether "one visit" is code for "cutting corners." Fair. Let's take it apart honestly. Are

Our in-office SprintRay MIDAS 3D printer Our in-office 3D printer builds precise dental appliances layer by layer from a digital scan of your mouth: implant surgical guides, night guards, models, and temporary restorations, with printed permanent restorations arriving fast. For you, that means fewer visits, better-fitting appliances, and implant placement planned to a fraction of a millimeter. Most people hear "3D printing at the dentist" and picture us printing teeth like a

Dental veneers are thin custom shells, usually made of porcelain, composite, or advanced 3D-printed ceramic, that are bonded to the front of teeth to improve their color, shape, size, or alignment. They can dramatically improve a smile, but the right approach depends on the individual: the condition of the teeth, the bite, the gums, and what you actually want to change. If you've been researching veneers after seeing them on TV, on Instagram, or in a friend's before-and-after

Diet is one of the biggest factors in cavity risk. Cavities are caused by acid produced when bacteria in the mouth digest sugar and refined carbs, producing acid which dissolves the enamel. The frequency of exposure matters more than the total amount eaten. What you eat and how often you eat it has a bigger impact than most people realize, and processed foods are especially hard on teeth because of hidden sugars and how often they're snacked on. Often processed foods get stuc

A child should have their first dental visit by age 1, or within six months of their first tooth coming in. The first visit is short, gentle, and focused on helping the child feel comfortable at the dentist. Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association (ADA) recommend this timing, and here at Family Dental Care of Bellevue, we're always happy to welcome your little one. A child's first dental visit is short, gentle, and all about helpin

Fluoride used to be the most boring topic in dentistry. Then it started making national headlines — states removing it from drinking water, federal agencies launching new reviews, and a lot of worried conversation online. If you've found yourself standing in the toothpaste aisle wondering whether you should switch to the fluoride-free stuff, you're not alone. Parents ask us about this almost every week now. It's a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer — not a broch

You're reclined in the chair, and you hear numbers like your hygienist is calling out lottery results: "Three, two, three. Four, three, four." Most patients have no idea what's happening. Some assume it's a grade. (It's not — nobody's failing.) It's called periodontal charting, or perio charting, and it's one of the most useful few minutes of your entire visit. Here's what we're actually doing. What is perio charting? Your gums don't attach to your teeth right at the edge you

A modern root canal is not painful. With current anesthesia and techniques, most patients describe the procedure as feeling similar to getting a filling. The pain associated with root canals is usually caused by the infected tooth before treatment, not by the procedure itself. If you have been told you may need a root canal, it is completely understandable to feel nervous. The words carry decades of cultural baggage. But the reality of a modern root canal is genuinely differe

If you wake up with a sore jaw, hear clicking or popping when you chew, or get frequent tension headaches, the cause may be your jaw joint — the TMJ. At our Bellevue office, Dr. Bauer treats TMJ disorders with a conservative, step-by-step approach, and for the right patients, therapeutic Xeomin can be a remarkably effective way to relieve the muscle tension behind the pain. Here's how we think about jaw pain and where Xeomin fits in. Dr. Bauer uses therapeutic Xeomin to relax

Here's a fun fact to chew on this Fourth of July: George Washington's famous dentures were never made of wood. The real story is stranger — and a lot grosser — than the legend, and it's a great reminder of just how far dentistry has come in 250 years. So as the country celebrates its founding, let's take a quick, slightly squeamish look at the mouth of the Father of Our Country. So What Were Washington's Dentures Actually Made Of? Forget wood. Washington's dentures were a wil

Curodont is a drill-free, needle-free treatment that uses a biomimetic peptide to regenerate tooth enamel damaged by early-stage decay. Instead of removing tooth structure with a drill, it works with your body to rebuild the minerals a cavity has started to take away. For patients in Bellevue looking for a non-invasive way to treat early cavities, it offers a gentle alternative to the traditional drill and fill. At our office, this fits a question we have heard for years: "Is

Dental x-rays are imaging tools that allow dentists to see areas of the teeth, gums, and jaw that aren't visible during a regular exam. They're essential for diagnosing cavities, infections, bone loss, and planning treatment. We hear this question often, and it's a fair one. X-rays let us see what's happening between, around, and below your teeth — areas that simply can't be evaluated with a visual exam or mirror alone. They're how we catch problems while they're still small.

A filling replaces missing tooth structure inside the tooth. A crown wraps around and protects the entire tooth. When we recommend a crown instead of a filling, there can be a couple reasons why. Usually there isn't enough healthy tooth left to reliably support a filling, or the tooth can be cracked, weakened, or at high risk of fracturing. Some times the chewing surface of the tooth has been eroded and there is little to no remaining enamel on teh chewing surface. If you've

We always choose the most conservative restoration that will give a lasting, predictable result — because once natural tooth structure is gone, it cannot be replaced. An onlay is a custom dental restoration that covers part of a tooth, while a crown covers the entire tooth. A conservative crown is a full crown prepared in a way that preserves as much natural tooth structure as possible. Restorations exist on a spectrum, from small fillings on one end to full crowns on the oth

A composite filling is a tooth-colored resin restoration that bonds directly to your tooth. We use composite fillings as the first line of treatment for cavities, to replace older worn-out fillings, and for small cosmetic improvements like direct composite veneers. It's the most conservative way to repair a tooth — we keep as much of your natural tooth as possible and add back only what's needed. If you've been told you need a filling — or you're wondering whether your older

A CEREC crown is a porcelain dental crown that is designed, milled, and placed in a single appointment. Instead of two visits spaced a few weeks apart, we can prepare your tooth, scan it, design the crown on screen, mill it in our office, and bond it the same day — no temporary crown and no second visit. At Family Dental Care of Bellevue, we use CEREC same-day crown technology so you can walk out with a permanent, custom-fit crown in one appointment. Below, we'll explain what