A Cosmetic Dentist Can Improve Your Health and Smile

As a cosmetic dentist, we practice in a field of dentistry that has been around from the very inception of the science. When you consider why man first started looking for ways to care for his teeth, you realize that it was a desire to have better teeth, whiter teeth, or to simply keep natural teeth that lead to the creation of modern dentistry. While much has changed since those first days, cosmetic dentistry is still seen as dental work that works to improve the appearance of teeth, gums, and the bite. This definition is accurate, but we believe that it only tells part of the story. As science is developing a deeper understanding of our teeth, so too is it becoming clearer that the gap between cosmetic and functional dentistry is not quite as wide as once believed. Today’s cosmetic dentist performs a number of vital procedures including crowns, gingivectomies, and bridge that are paramount to the health, hygiene, and functionality in the human mouth. 

For example, cosmetic dentistry encompasses the fitting of a dental crown. Who can imagine a world, today, where we do not have the benefit of a dental crown? A crown is a synthetic tooth that is used to cap a broken or damaged tooth in such a way that no one can tell the difference between the real tooth and the replacement. Crowns are used in cases of an accidental breaking, chipping, or cracking of a tooth and also in cases where the tooth has been damaged by an infection. In either case, we have the option of removing some of the enamel, in a process known as shaving, and replacing it with a full or partial dental crown that takes the place of the natural tooth. We know that this helps with appearance, but it is equally important to note that teeth play a vital role in chewing, biting, and speaking. When cosmetic dentistry replaces a damaged tooth with a crown, we are giving you back the full range of functionality with that tooth, and that is more than just cosmetic in nature.

Think about the fact that somewhere between 30% and 40% of the population suffers from a malocclusion. A malocclusion is the misalignment of your teeth to form an overbite, underbite, open bite, crowded teeth, or even those unsightly gaps some people have between their teeth. Since malocclusion does not pose a direct threat to dental health, the correction of this condition has been deemed to be cosmetic in nature. The challenge with this is that uncorrected malocclusion can lead to serious dental challenges that will impact your mouths functionality.

People who suffer from malocclusion often have a very hard time cleaning every part of their teeth. This is because typically, the teeth are misplaced and have uneven gaps between them. The unevenness creates challenges for the brush to reach every nook and cranny, and often makes it impossible for a person to floss. The plaque that is left behind builds up and eventually leads to dental problems like cavities, bacterial infections, and gingivitis; all of which can be avoided by having  us, as a cosmetic dentist, resolve the malocclusion in your mouth. This is only one of the ways that improving the appearance of your teeth, can also improve your oral health. 

Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation Is Idea for Diabetic Patients

We offer Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation for patients suffering from gum disease.  This is a common condition that millions of adults experience at some point in their lifetime.  When bacteria and plaque build up under the gums, it can cause irritation and make the gums swell, bleed, or even start to recede.  This is a serious condition that if left untreated can often cause bone and tooth loss.  For this reason, we recommend that you have the condition treated right away.

For many people, the idea of having gum disease treated is far from pleasant.  This is because the standard treatment involves using dental tools to pull the gums away from the tooth and scrape out the plaque and tartar.  This, understandably, causes irritation and discomfort.  In our dental office, we use lasers as a viable and more comfortable alternative to traditional therapy.  This ensures that our patients can receive the care that they need, without the sensitivity.

If, however, the gums have started to recede, Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation is a way to restore the gums.  Gum recession occurs when the gums pull away from the tooth structure, and pockets are created in the gum tissue.  Bacteria tends to gather there and will eventually start to attack the tooth, causing bone loss.  Restoring the gum tissue and securing it back around the tooth is necessary for protecting the tooth.  The standard method of doing so is with a gum graft.  In this scenario, tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or a tissue donor and sutured to the gums prior to them being secured back around the tooth.  The procedure is effective but invasive, leading to a longer recovery time.

In order to find a faster and more comfortable way to accomplish the same thing, we now offer PinholeSurgical Rejuvenation.  In this procedure, there is no cutting, no sutures, and no discomfort. Instead of cutting open the gum tissue, a small needle size hole is created so that we can get inside of the gum tissue.  By moving the collagen around, the body makes more collagen, further stimulating the growth of additional gum tissue. The needle size hole will close up on its own, so no sutures are necessary. In fact, most patients have healthy looking gums (no sign of a procedure) the very next day.  This is in comparison with gums that have undergone surgery and look like it.

The reason that this procedure is so much better for diabetics is due to how difficult it can be for a diabetic to recover from any type of procedure.  When blood sugar is uncontrolled, it inhibits the ability of the white blood cells to fight infection and heal the body. This creates complications when a diabetic has dental work done, or any type of physical procedure because it can create a much longer recovery time.  A traditional gum graft takes two to three weeks to recover from for healthy patients.  For a diabetic, this could be a month or longer.  Using Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation instead, means that a diabetic can have healthy gums without the risk of further complications or a delayed recovery.

Gum Recession  >  Periodontist

What to Expect and How to Plan for After Oral Surgery

If you need oral surgery, you have come to the right place.  We are experts and can complete your surgery quickly and with efficiency.  This is critical because not every dentist is an expert oral surgeon, so you need to ask what percentage of their practice is surgical and how frequently they perform this particular procedure.  Having this information at hand will enable you to determine who the best provider is for your particular situation.  As with anything, the more frequently a dentist performs surgery, the better they will be.

Regardless of what type of surgery you have, there will be a recovery process.  Surgery, in its very nature, is invasive so you cannot expect to have an operation and head back to normal life the moment you step off of the operating table.  Instead, it is better to have a realistic expectation and make preparations for how you will feel.  We like to start by advising you to have someone with a comfortable car drive you home.  We perform operations under anesthesia so you will probably feel sleepy when we are done.   If you can have someone drive you home and put you to bed, you will probably sleep for several hours, making the recovery go by faster.

The day before your oral surgery, you should prepare by eating a large dinner.  Unless you have diabetes, you will probably not be allowed to eat for twelve hours before the procedure so make sure that your dinner is filling and contains protein for sustained energy.  You should also get your bed ready with extra pillows that are positioned so you can recline, rather than lay flat on your bed.  We also recommend putting water bottles on your nightstand along with a bottle of ibuprofen and some pudding snacks, or other food that is room temperature and soft, since you won't be able to eat anything significant for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.

You should also purchase some soft ice packs from the drug store.  Buy several so that you don't have to wait for the one you are using to freeze again before placing it back onto your face.  You can use ice for fifteen minutes at a time with fifteen-minute breaks in between.  This will help the swelling to be reduced so that you can feel comfortable and heal faster.  If you have someone to help with this process – excellent.  If not, try to prepare as much as you can ahead of time so that you won't have to get out of bed and can focus on relaxing during your recovery.

We will also give you an antibiotic to take to help reduce the risk of an infection along with gauze to stop and control the bleeding.  If you have any problems during the first 24 to 48 hours after oral surgery, call our office so that we can advise you as to the next steps.  Otherwise, once 48 hours have passed the swelling should be all or mostly gone and you can start to eat the majority of foods again as long as you continue to avoid anything that is sharp like pretzels or chips.

Implant Dentist  >  Dental Implants

An Implant Dentist Compares Dentures, Dental Bridge, and Implants?

As an implant dentist, we specialize in replacing teeth using a permanent solution – dental implants.  We feel that this is the best option for replacing missing teeth, however, we understand that it can be confusing to understand all of the options since both dentures and dental bridges are also used to replace teeth.  While they all provide a viable option, there are clear pros and cons to each and with that in mind, here is what you need to know –

• Dentures.  This method of replacing teeth has been common for hundreds of years with even our Founding Fathers wore dentures made of animal bone and human teeth.  These dentures were smelly and didn't last very long but, fortunately, technology has improved and today's dentures are made of a synthetic materials that mimic the appearance of your natural gums and teeth.  They can last for a long time and provide you with a way to eat and speak, without major issues.  When wearing dentures, however, it can be difficult to eat certain harder foods and those with a full set may even lose some of the flavor sensations that they used to have.  Simultaneously, if the fit isn't perfect, they can slip out of place or make a clicking sound when eating or speaking.  They must also be removed at night and soaked, so they do require adjusting your daily routine somewhat.
• Dental bridges.  Those wearing a dental bridge, have a more permanent tooth replacement option that can look natural.  As an implant dentist, we even have some patients that combine the concept of a bridge with implants by having a set of teeth prepared and then implanted as a unit, rather than one at a time.  Traditionally, however, when people wear dental bridges, they are placed by securing a dental crown onto the two teeth that are surrounding the missing one, then these crowns hold the bridge and synthetic tooth or teeth in place.  Once secure, it is possible to eat most if not all, foods, and the bridge looks entirely natural and shouldn't slip out of place.  The main challenge with a bridge is that your other teeth must be in place and strong enough to withstand the procedure.  This will, however, make permanent changes to the makeup of those teeth that cannot be reversed. 
• Dental implants.  As an implant dentist, we prefer this solution because an implant doesn't require the strength or existence of any other teeth but can rely on its own strength that is gained through a process called osseointegration.  In this procedure, a titanium post is implanted under the gums and secured to the jawbone.  The bone and metal will fuse together to create a root system that the new tooth is attached to.  With a new root system in place, the new tooth behaves like a natural one and is just as durable.  Medically, the main benefit to this solution over the others is that the implant will actually strengthen the jawbone and prevent future bone loss. 

To learn more about working with an implant dentist, call and schedule a consultation.

Dental Implants  >  Implant Dentistry

The Importance of Implant Dentistry for Your Overall Health

We perform implant dentistry procedures for patients that have lost one or several teeth.  Losing teeth is an unfortunate reality of adulthood.  It is common for adults to lose at least one tooth in their lifetime, in spite of advances in dental care.  This can be due to poor oral hygiene, a lack of dental care, or an accident.  Regardless of why a tooth has fallen out, replacing it is critical for the health of your jaw and your body.  

Many people make the mistake of thinking that replacing a tooth is about vanity or keeping their smile intact.  This is an important part of it, but there are greater health reasons for undergoing the procedure.  When a tooth falls out, the roots do as well, and the roots are important for the ongoing health of the jaw.  They help to strengthen it, and when a person has lost too many teeth, the jaw can actually become weaker.  With implants surgery, a titanium post is inserted under the gums and screwed into the jawbone. While this may sound uncomfortable, we will provide you with sedation to ensure that you feel well during the procedure.  This aspect of the procedure is critical to helping your jaw to remain strong.  Through the process of osseointegration, the metal post and jawbone will fuse together, similar to how a natural root would.  As a result, your jaw will be strengthened, and the shape of your face preserved. 

The importance of jaw preservation cannot be overstated and if you look at pictures of people that have lost teeth you can see why. Once a tooth has fallen out the alveolar bone will start to decrease in height, width and volume.  In the first year alone, twenty-five percent of this bone can be lost.  As the starts to deteriorate the gums around it will also be compromised, and if left untreated, this can greatly influence your ability to eat and speak clearly.  Over time, more of the bone structure will be lost until the face starts to have a sagging appearance unless you undergo an implant dentistry procedure.  

When the back teeth are lost only, some people don’t see the importance of getting dental implants since this area cannot be seen when smiling.  It is, however, incredibly important because when the back molars are lost the front teeth have the burden of supporting the jaw.  They were not designed to do so and have difficulty supporting the weight.  This can cause the space in between your nose and chin to shrink, further impacting your appearance. 

While bone loss does play a major role in your appearance, it can also be dangerous to your health.  As the jaw becomes weakened, it is more susceptible to breaking. Even a slight bump or something like a basic car wreck can then cause a major break and subsequent surgical procedures to be required. This can be avoided by replacing missing teeth with implant dentistry that can in turn strengthen the jawbone and prevent further damage to your health or appearance. 

What Causes Gum Recession and How it is Treated

In our office, we treat gum recession on a regular basis and as such, are able to help our patients feel more comfortable and reduce the risk of bone and tooth loss that can come from a receding gum line.  Healthy gums are essential to the overall health of the mouth.  While most people focus their attention on the health of teeth, without the gums, the tooth structure and roots are exposed to bacteria and infection. With this in mind, a receding gum line is more than a cosmetic problem. 

Receding gums are often caused by genetics, something that, unfortunately, cannot be avoided.  There are, however, ways that you can improve the overall health of your gums and prevent them from receding or at least slow down the process.  It starts with what you put into your mouth.  Unhealthy habits like smoking, chewing tobacco or drinking alcohol in excess are bad for the health of your mouth and increase your risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease.  What you eat also plays an important role and by focusing on eating lean protein, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, and nuts, you can improve the health of your teeth and gums whereas foods that are high in sugar or acidic can attack your teeth and promote gum disease.  For this reason, focus on developing healthy habits in order to lower your risk factors. 

We have also treated patients that suffered from gum recession not due to a lack of oral health care, but by going overboard.  As with most things, moderation is the key so avoid brushing your teeth more than three times a day and use a soft or electronic toothbrush when you do.  Over-brushing and aggressive brushing can irritate your gum tissue and cause it to start receding.  You can get just as good of a clean by using a soft brush and brushing in a circular pattern, pushing bacteria away from your gums. 

Treatment Options
If you are suffering from gum recession now, you are likely experiencing some level of discomfort and are at an increased risk for developing infections.  In order to correct the problem and restore your gum tissue, we have several methods for treating it.  The traditional way is to perform a gum graft surgery.  In this scenario, tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth, or from a donor, and grafted to your gums in order to close the pockets and surround the tooth structure as it should be.  This procedure is often necessary for addressing major gum recession, and while you may be sore for a few days, it is extremely effective for protecting your teeth going forward.  

Those that are looking for a less invasive procedure may benefit from pinhole surgical rejuvenation.  To complete this procedure, we will create a small pin-size hole in the gum tissue, insert instruments and wiggle them around to expand the gum tissue.  It can then be secured to the tooth, accomplishing the same goal as a gum graft but without any cutting, sutures, or prolonged recovery time. 

Learn When You Should See a Sleep Dentist

A sleep dentist is the dentist you should see if you are one of the many people that is terrified of spending time in a dentist’s chair. For many people, the idea of getting dental work done bring about extreme anxiety, bordering on terror. Sedation dentistry, also known as sleep dentistry, has risen to the challenge of giving these people the best dental treatment they can get while reducing, or eliminating altogether, the fear of being treated by a dentist. Before you consider getting dental work done, you should know that most dentists have been trained, and are extremely adept at using psychological measures to help put your mind at ease so that you can get through the most dental procedures without the need for sedation. 

If sleep dentistry is an option you choose, you should make sure that you do so for the right reasons. Like with most things, there are good reasons for getting sedation dentistry and there are reasons to not get sedation. What we ask is that you take stock of your levels of anxiety and decide if you can tolerate the treatment with an empathetic dentist and calming measures or if you feel like it is intolerable and will need sedation administered by a certified sleep dentist. 

Here are some of the reasons you should work with a sleep dentist to receive sedation – 

You are going to be undergoing an extremely invasive procedure that could take time and is extremely complex. If you may be unable to hold still and remain calm for the duration of the procedure, going to sleep may be the best option for you.  In cases like this, it may be better for the patient to be asleep during the procedure. 

You know that despite the best efforts of the dentist and despite having an extremely empathetic dental team, you will need a little bit more. In a case like this, you may be able to have a lower level of sedation like nitrous, also known as laughing gas. If you need more than laughing gas, discuss this with us as a sleep dentist. 

If you believe that the only way, you can get through the procedure, is by being completely out of it, then you will want to discuss this with your dentist. For some people being out of it and completely unaware of what is going on during the procedure is the only way to get through it, in which case having a general anesthesia may be the best option for you. 

Finally, if you have extreme fear associated with a particular part of the procedure, you may want to consider working with a sleep dentist. For example, if you have an extreme fear of needles or a dental drill, sedation is probably the best option for you and the if necessary, you can even go to sleep during the procedure. 

In our office, we want to ensure that every patient is completely comfortable during their dental treatments.  Let us know about any anxieties or fears you have so that we can create a sedation plan to help you.