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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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