I recently returned from the annual conference of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in Boston. This meeting, more than any other, re-ignites my passion for dentistry and gives me a higher vision of what is possible to achieve. The lectures and workshops I attended were first rate, and the knowledge and skills I acquired will immediately raise the level of care I provide. Following are a few pearls from the courses I took:
- We have been successfully placing porcelain veneers for many years. New products and techniques now allow us to place these amazing smile enhancing restorations, in many cases, with no preparation to the underlying teeth, making them non-invasive and essentially reversible.
- New products, techniques, and ongoing research provide increasing support for what everyone wants: a new tooth in one day. If you have a front tooth that for some reason needs to be replaced, in many cases the tooth can be removed, a root replacement implant installed, and a temporary tooth attached to the implant, all in the same day.
- Have you ever noticed a smile that doesn’t quite look right because too much gum tissue shows or the teeth seem to be going downhill on one side? A beautiful smile has just as much to do with where the teeth are located in the smile as it does with the color and shape of the teeth themselves. New treatment options and tools for diagnosis allow us to accurately assess and correct this important aspect of smile design.
- Implant supported attachments offer a much better solution to loose dentures than adhesive products. If an existing denture is otherwise satisfactory, these procedures can often be performed without the expense of replacing the denture or the embarrassment of going without it.
Please let me know if you have questions or would like to discuss any of these procedures further.
Yours for excellent dental health,
Dr S
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Truth about Tooth Colored Fillings
In the last decade tooth colored fillings have become a very popular alternative choice to traditional silver/mercury amalgams. The latest insurance company statistics show that 65% of the fillings placed in the US are tooth colored composites compared to 35% amalgam. If you prefer tooth colored fillings, there are some things you need to know.
Tooth colored fillings are completely different from amalgam fillings. They are not just the same hole filled with a different material. Everything from the preparation to the way the filling is placed is different and much more technique sensitive.
Before you choose a composite restoration you should ask your dentist four questions.
1) Do you use a dental dam or other device to completely isolate the tooth? Saliva contamination during the filling process will severely compromise the final result and must be avoided.
2) How do you determine that all of the decay has been removed? Complete decay removal is critical to the bond of a composite filling to the tooth. There are products available that can confirm total decay elimination.
3) Do you place the composite filling all at one time, or in separate, small layers that are individually cured? Composite fillings shrink as a percentage of their volume when cured. Larger filling increments shrink more and make the restoration more prone to post operative sensitivity and premature failure.
4) Do you offer both silver amalgam fillings and tooth colored composites? Because they are do different, you may want to choose dentists who focus their skills and training on tooth colored composites only.
Millions of silver amalgam restorations have been placed by US dentists over the years and have proved to be a valuable service to many. Tooth colored composites now rival amalgams for durability, but only if placed using the proper techniques.
For your dental health,
Dr S
Tooth colored fillings are completely different from amalgam fillings. They are not just the same hole filled with a different material. Everything from the preparation to the way the filling is placed is different and much more technique sensitive.
Before you choose a composite restoration you should ask your dentist four questions.
1) Do you use a dental dam or other device to completely isolate the tooth? Saliva contamination during the filling process will severely compromise the final result and must be avoided.
2) How do you determine that all of the decay has been removed? Complete decay removal is critical to the bond of a composite filling to the tooth. There are products available that can confirm total decay elimination.
3) Do you place the composite filling all at one time, or in separate, small layers that are individually cured? Composite fillings shrink as a percentage of their volume when cured. Larger filling increments shrink more and make the restoration more prone to post operative sensitivity and premature failure.
4) Do you offer both silver amalgam fillings and tooth colored composites? Because they are do different, you may want to choose dentists who focus their skills and training on tooth colored composites only.
Millions of silver amalgam restorations have been placed by US dentists over the years and have proved to be a valuable service to many. Tooth colored composites now rival amalgams for durability, but only if placed using the proper techniques.
For your dental health,
Dr S
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