Wednesday, March 26, 2014

E.max crowns



We’ve all heard the phrase “the gold standard.” It refers to something that’s a standard for excellence – the best. For thousands of years, gold held that position among materials used in dentistry. Today, however, alternatives have emerged that have exceeded that extremely high standard.

One is an all-ceramic material known as e.max. E.max crowns are made from blocks of lithium disilicate. This is an extraordinary material – as tough and durable as gold but possessing a delicate translucency that looks extremely natural.  Moreover, the amount of translucency can be varied to perfectly match the patient’s existing teeth.

To create an e.max crown, the laboratory technician takes a block of the material and presses it into a coping that gives it the right shape. Final processing perfects the optical properties. Alternatively, computer-driven milling machines can be used to sculpt the material. Such crowns include no metal, so they never have an unsightly dark line around the base. 

The e.max material can be used for crowns, veneers, bridges, and other dental applications. Many common  problems can be corrected with it: dental discoloration, worn or uneven teeth, spaces between teeth, cracked or chipped teeth, and more.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Implant Evolution



I started replacing hopeless teeth with dental implants back in the early 90s, when implants were still relatively new to American dentistry. Since then, I’ve restored almost 25,000 implants, watching with pride as my patients have regained their function, confidence, and beautiful smiles.

I feel particularly impressed when I reflect on how dramatically and rapidly implant technology has changed over the past 25 years.  From large and unsightly structures intended only for folks who had lost all their teeth, implant-supported restorations have evolved into something almost unrecognizable. They’re commonly used to replace single teeth – even the highly visible upper incisors – and they can look indistinguishable from the original dentition.

Implant designs have improved to allow for better anchorage in the bone. Titanium continues to be the best material for artificial tooth roots, but manufacturers have developed ways of treating the surface of this extraordinary metal to better allow jaw bone to grow into and fuse with it. As a result, implant failure rates have plummeted to almost nothing. When trauma or atrophy have diminished the dimensions or strength of a patient’s bone, grafting procedures now make it possible to re-create a strong foundation for placing implants.

Perhaps nothing that has occurred has been more important than the leaps in scientific understanding about how implants react with the human body. With greater knowledge, implant treatment has become shorter, less invasive, and less costly. In the early years, getting implants required multiple surgeries stretching over months or even years. Today, in contrast, many patients can have a tooth or teeth extracted and implants placed immediately. Often only one surgery is necessary, and some patients can receive their new teeth on the very day they get the implants.

More breakthroughs are sure to come. But implant patients today can already feel confident that they’re benefiting from decades of breathtaking progress.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Look Years Younger with Rejuvenating Dental Treatments!


Did you know that tooth decay, chips, stains and other changes may also make you look older than you are? The following are just a few of the most popular rejuvenating dental treatments to fix main factors that contribute to an older smile.
Dental Bleaching
Dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening is a perfect choice for getting rid of those yellowed and dirty teeth look absolutely stunning.
Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers
When dental bleaching isn’t enough to fix cavities or broken teeth, bonding and veneers are another option. Bonding and veneers improve the look of teeth thru changing their color, shape and spacing.
Porcelain Crown
Dental crown is needed to protect a weak tooth, restore broken tooth, cover and support a tooth with large spaces, hold a dental bridge in place, cover discolored teeth and dental implant and make a cosmetic modification.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
White fillings, also known as tooth-colored fillings are dental fillings that give back the natural look of tooth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants may be a treatment for people who have lost a tooth or full set of teeth. The restorations can be used with dental implants include:
            Porcelain Crowns
·      Porcelain crowns rebuild individual teeth due to decay or large filling

Implant-Supported Bridges

·      Implant-supported bridges are best when more than one tooth is missing.

Implant-Supported Dentures

·      For those people who need full set of teeth, implant-supported dentures are a perfect treatment.
Teeth can reveal your real age, so start early with your total teeth care routine!