Panama Dental Clinic - Dental Vacations - Dental Tourism
General Dentistry, Orthodontics, Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

English, Spanish & German speaking Dentists

Clinica de Especialidades Odontologicas
Doctora Luz Magalys Serrano
Doctor Luis Ramon Arias

David, Panama
Office Phone:  507-777-4887
Clinic:  507-6676-6134

            Building Beautiful Smiles...


Cosmetic Dentistry Options:

 Dental Bonding , also known as composite or tooth bonding, is an excellent way to fix cosmetic and structural imperfections in the teeth. Dental bonding can repair cracked, chipped, and discolored teeth as well as replace silver amalgam fillings. Cosmetic bonding can also repair misaligned teeth, providing a straighter, more uniform smile.

The Tooth Bonding Procedure

To begin the teeth bonding procedure, the dentist selects a composite resin ( dental bonding material) that matches the natural shade of your teeth. The dentist then roughens the existing tooth so the resin can adhere properly. Next, the composite resin is carefully applied to the tooth, shaped, and smoothed to achieve the desired look. It is then quickly hardened via a high intensity light. Lastly, the bonded tooth is buffed and polished so it has the same appearance as the surrounding teeth.

Teeth bonding can usually be completed in one office visit, depending on the extent of repair needed. Even if treatment needs to be performed over two or more visits, you will be pleased to notice a significant difference in your smile after the first treatment.

Benefits of Cosmetic Bonding

Tooth bonding offers several benefits for patients. It is quick, affordable, relatively painless, and long lasting. Dental bonding is also a great alternative to more extensive cosmetic dentistry treatment with porcelain veneers, bridges, and crowns. Additionally, the composite resin used in a cosmetic bonding procedure is very flexible, expanding and contracting with the natural tooth to prevent cracks and tooth loss. Dental bonding is an excellent option for individuals looking to repair imperfections in their smile.  Return To Top Of Page

Dental Bridge, otherwise known as a fixed partial denture, is a prosthesis used to replace missing teeth and is not removable by the patient. A prosthesis that is removable by the patient is called a removable partial denture.

A dental bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a preparation pattern determined by the location of the teeth and by the material from which the bridge is fabricated. In other words the abutment teeth are reduced in size to accommodate the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth in a correct alignment and contact with the opposing teeth.  Return To Top Of Page

Porcelain (or Composite) Veneers a veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to protect a damaged tooth surface. A very popular procedure for restoring chipped, worn and discolored teeth. Even teeth which are crooked and spaced too far apart or too close together may benefit from veneers. They can also help those who may have permanently stained or discolored teeth which cannot be helped with professional whitening systems.  There are two types of material used in a veneer, composite and porcelain. A composite veneer may be directly placed (built-up in the mouth), or indirectly fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory, and later bonded to the tooth, typically using a resin cement such as Panavia. In contrast, a porcelain veneer may only be indirectly fabricated.

Today, with improved cements and bonding agents, they typically last 10-15 years. But patients who receive veneers should understand that they may only last 10-15 years and then may have to be replaced. Return To Top Of Page

Tooth Colored Fillings - Light Cured Resin Composite:  Dental composites are also called white fillings, used in direct fillings. Crowns and in-lays can also be made in the laboratory from dental composites. These materials are similar to those used in direct fillings and are tooth colored. Composite resin fillings (also called white fillings) are a mixture of powdered glass and plastic resin, and can be made to resemble the appearance of the natural tooth. They are strong, durable and cosmetically superior to silver or dark grey colored amalgam fillings. Composite resin fillings are usually more expensive than silver amalgam fillings.

Besides the aesthetic advantage of composite fillings over amalgam fillings, the preparation of composite fillings requires less removal of tooth structure to achieve adequate strength. This is because composite resins bind to enamel (and dentin too, although not as well) via a micro mechanical bond. As conservation of tooth structure is a key ingredient in tooth preservation, many dentists prefer placing composite instead of amalgam fillings whenever possible.
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Dental Crowns:  There are many different methods of crown fabrication, each using a different material. Some methods are quite similar, and utilize either very similar or identical materials.

Full gold crowns (FGCs) consist entirely of a single piece of alloy. Although referred to as a gold crown, this type of crown is actually composed of many different types of elements, including but not limited to gold, platinum, palladium, silver, copper and tin. The first three elements listed are noble metals, while the last three listed are base metals. Full gold crowns are of better quality when they are high in noble content. According to the American Dental Association, full gold crown alloys can only be labeled as high noble when they contain at least 75% noble metal.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns consist of a metal coping that is made with the same lost-wax technique used for a full gold crown, that then is primed for an application of feldspathic porcelain. The coping may conform to the proper dimensions of the restored tooth except for the facial surface of the tooth; it may be a thin shell on the prepared tooth designed to be covered entirely with porcelain; it may also be somewhere in the middle, such as cut back so as to provide space for porcelain only on the facial and occlusal surfaces of the crown.  Return To Top Of Page

Dentures: The fabrication of a set of complete dentures is a challenge for any dentist, including those who are experienced. There are many axioms in the production of dentures that must be understood, of which ignorance of one axiom can lead to failure of the denture case. In the vast majority of cases, complete dentures should be comfortable soon after insertion, although almost always at least two adjustment visits will be necessary to remove sore spots. One of the most critical aspects of dentures is that the impression of the denture must be perfectly made and used with perfect technique to make a model of the patient's edentulous (toothless) gums. The dentist must use a process called border molding to ensure that the denture flanges are properly extended. An endless array of never-ending problems with denture may occur if the final impression of the denture is not made properly. It takes considerable patience and experience for a dentist to know how to make a denture, and for this reason it may be in the patient's best interest to seek a specialist, either a Denturist or a Prosthodontist, to make the denture. A general dentist may do a good job, but only if he or she is meticulous and usually he or she must be experienced.

The maxillary denture (the top denture) is usually relatively straightforward to manufacture so that it is stable without slippage. The lower full denture tends to be the most difficult because there is no "suction" holding it in place. For this reason, dentists in the late 1990s have come to a general conclusion that a lower full denture should or must be supported by 2-4 implants placed in the lower jaw for support. A lower denture supported by 2-4 implants is a far superior product than a lower denture without implants, held in place with weak lower mouth muscles. It is routine to be able to bite into an apple or corn-on-the-cob with a lower denture anchored by implants. Without implants, it is quite difficult or even impossible to do so.

Some patients who believe they have "bad teeth" may think it is in their best interests to have all their teeth extracted and full dentures placed. However, statistics show that the majority of patients who actually receive this treatment wind up regretting they did so. This is because full dentures have only 10% of the chewing power of natural teeth, and it is difficult to get them fitted satisfactorily, particularly in the mandibular arch. Even if a patient retains one tooth, that will contribute to the denture's stability. However, retention of just one or two teeth in the upper jaw does not contribute much to the overall stability of a denture, since a full upper denture tends to be very stable, in contrast to a full lower denture. It is thus advised that patients keep their natural teeth as long as possible, especially their lower teeth.  Return To Top Of Page

Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative counterparts (bridges and dentures). Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. Additionally, implants may be used in conjunction with other restorative procedures for maximum effectiveness. For example, a single implant can serve to support a crown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth, and can be used with dentures to increase stability and reduce gum tissue irritation.

Procedural advancements, including the development of narrower “mini” implants, mean that more people than ever before are finding themselves candidates for implantation. However, candidacy for implantation still varies, meaning that your dentist may determine that you should opt for an alternative restoration. Keep in mind, too, that dentists do not need a specific license by law in order to perform implant dentistry. A general or restorative dentist may perform the crown and bridge placement that is associated with implant restoration. However, prosthodontists are the specialists who often complete this crucial procedure.  Periodontists and oral surgeons perform the implant surgical procedure itself.

The Dental Implant Procedure: Today's dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth. This appearance is aided in part by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting but require a period of osseointegration. An osseointegrated implant takes anywhere from three to six months to anchor and heal, at which point your dentist can complete the procedure with the placement of a crown. Once the implant has anchored with the jawbone, artificial prosthesis may be attached and the process is done.  Return To Top Of Page

Laser Tooth Whitening Systems
These systems generally require an application of gel which is activated by either light, a single or even two different types of lasers. Such systems are:

* LaserSmile™ Laser Whitening System (Biolase): A purple gel is applied to one to several teeth at a time, then the dental damn gel which will protect your gums is applied. After these applications are complete, laser light is then applied to the teeth for as little as 2 minutes collectively for the average whitening cases. Most visits require 2 hours of treatment time.

* PEARLINBRITE™ Laser Whitening System: This system utilizes Energy Transfer Crystals , or ETC's. ETC's actually absorb the laser's energy and transfers the energy to the hydrogen peroxide molecules of the gel. This whitens the stains in your teeth with oxygen on a much higher level that typical carbamide peroxide gels. Usually several applications, lasting up to 30 seconds, per each tooth is needed per session. However, only one session is usually sufficient in most whitening cases. Most visits require 30 minutes of treatment time.

* BriteSmile™ 3000 Laser Whitening System: This system uses a 15% hydrogen peroxide gel application in conjunction with gel plasma light technology. Application may take up to 20 minutes on average, the gel is then exposed to the light which speeds the whitening process by exciting the hydrogen peroxide molecules. After the light exposure, the gel is left on the teeth for a little over an hour.

How long does whitening last? Well, that depends upon you and your habits. It also depends upon which option you chose. Typically carbamide peroxide gels can last anywhere from 6 - 12 months whereas professional laser whitening can last up to a year and a half.  Return To Top Of Page

Orthodontics
"Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is malocclusion, which means "bad bite." The practice of orthodontics requires professional skill in the design, application and control of corrective appliances, such as braces, to bring teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and to achieve facial balance."

The general attitude towards braces is usually very negative, thankfully orthodontics have advanced significantly. Granted, patients needing extensive straightening may not benefit from the newer techniques but usually all complaints can be remedied. Not only do orthodontics improve your smile but they improve dental health, in general. Dental problems which are not necessarily cosmetic such as gum disease and tooth decay are more likely to happen in individuals with orthodontic problems.

Your Options In Orthodontics
Today's options are not like the train tracks of yesteryear. Many new materials decrease the wear time for many patients and there are even clear or colored brackets like hot pink or neon green, invisible trays and invisible types which are placed behind the teeth, called lingual braces.

* Standard metal braces: Such as Titanium alloy set ups with or without colored or clear brackets may take anywhere from 1 to 3 years on average and are costly to the patient.

* Non-invasive Straightening Products: There are even non-metal, removable trays which can effectively move the teeth as long as they are worn for the recommended amount of time. Results have been seen from 6 months to 1.5 years in average cases.

* Orthognathic surgery/Surgical Alignment: This is reserved for misalignment of the jaw and other types of maxillofacial and mandible dysfunctions.  Return To Top Of Page
 

Clinica de Especialidades Odontologicas
Doctor Luz Magalys Serrano
Doctor Luis Ramon Arias

David, Panama
Office Phone:  507-777-4887
Clinic:  507-6676-6134

Email:  panamadentalclinic@gmail.com