Instant Braces! - Veneer/Cosmetic Case

Patient extremely disliked her rotated/crooked upper front teeth. She stated she felt very uncomfortable smiling infront of anyone because she felt as if they would stare at how "ugly" her teeth were. Patient wanted immediate result and did not want to wear braces.

BEFOREAfter delivery of 4 upper veneers, patient has been extremely happy she can't stop smiling!

AFTER

Are Your TMJ (Temporomandibular Joints) Healthy?

The temporomandibular joints (the TMJ's) are two joints that are a part of the chew and swallowing functions. They are important in supporting the mandible to the skull by means of many muscles. Without two jaw joints our ability to open and close the mouth and move the jaw from side to side will be greatly diminished.

The TMJoints are often overlooked and not seriously considered, since on routine examinations the joints are hidden behind tissue. The oral cavity, the gums and teeth, are mostly seen since those are the parts that we see the easiest. Routine x-rays are taken of the teeth to check for cavities. Pocket probing measurements around the teeth and gums are recorded regularly to check for gum disease. But the jaw joints are rarely considered as important. Most dentist, physicians, chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, etc. are consider these two joints in their overall evaluation since most of the health professionals have had very little training in this area.

If you have been suffering from TMJ discomfort, call us at 858.490.4281.

Sedation Dentistry - It's a Whole New Dental Experience!

One of my patients who I treated Full Mouth Reconstruction on yesterday, came back today and said, “Now that I have experienced sedation dentistry, I have a whole new perspective on getting any dental work done! I’m not and will never be scared of getting any dental treatment … ever again! I can’t even remember a single thing from the whole procedure! I love it!”

Most of our patients here at Dental Design Spa can agree that once you've experienced sedation dentistry, you'll never be afraid to go to the dentist again.

For those of you who are wondering, here’s how it works:

Your companion will accompany you to the office. When you arrive in our office, you will be escorted into the comfort room, covered with a thick, warm blanket and placed on a monitor to watch your vital signs. You are then given a small pill an hour before your dental procedure. After you are comfortable, the experienced clinical team at Dental Design Spa will take care of your dental needs. When your treatment is completed, your companion will return you home.

You'll be sedated just enough to be unaware of the treatment, as if you were relaxing. You'll wake up refreshed, with little or no memory of what was accomplished.

Here are some of the many advantages of Sedation Dentistry:

Because you are completely comfortable, we can do years of dental treatments in one or two visits. We can replace crowns, place veneers, restore sore gums to good health, whiten yellow or stained teeth, fix a chipped tooth, and more. People with very busy schedules can get the dental care they need, easily and quickly.

Imagine being able to smile with confidence and chew your food without pain!

Complex dental treatments that often require six to eight appointments, can be done in as little as one! All while you relax.

People who have difficulty getting numb will find that sedation dentistry eliminates this problem.

Sedation dentistry is a safe way to reduce the fatigue of extended dental treatment requiring long visits.

For more questions, please feel free to contact us at 858.490.4281.

Cosmetic/Veneer Case - 12 units

Here's one of the cases done today:
Patient originally came in requesting for a "fuller" smile. As seen in the "before" picture, her upper teeth are angled "inwards". Patient also asked for a much brighter smile.

BEFORE

Here is after placement of 12 upper veneers. Patient is extremely satisfied of the fact that her new beautiful teeth fill her smile from one corner to the other.

Cosmetic Case - Bonding on a Chipped Tooth

Patient came in with a broken tooth from surfing accident. Patient requested to have it fixed immediately:


On the very same day, patient went home ecstatic with a permanent natural-looking bonded front tooth:

What is TMJ/TMD?

MUSCULOSKELETAL OCCLUSAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TMJ

* Headaches (tension type)
* Temporal pain
* Facial pain
* Pain in the face

* Jaw joint pain
* Pain in the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints

* Postural problems (forward head posture)
* Back, Neck, cervical pain
* Pain in the occipital (back), temporal (side) or frontal (front)

* Pain below the eyes - sub-orbital
* Pain behind the eyes - dagger and ice pick feelings

* Limited opening of the mouth
* The jaw locking open or closed
* Deviation of the jaw to one side

* Multiple bites that feels uncomfortable or, "off," and continually changing
* Clenching/bruxing
* Tender sensitive teeth to cold

* Ringing in the ears, ear pain, and ear congestion feelings
* Sinus like symptoms
* Dizziness or vertigo
* Visual Disturbances
* Tingling in fingers and hands
* Insomnia - difficulty sleeping

What the Reports Say..... and Their Findings.

The American Council for Headache Education in 2001 reported as many as 45 million Americans suffer from headaches. Tension type and migraine headaches are the most common, cluster headaches is the most rare. It has been reported that 85% of headaches will respond to treatment.

The Nuprin Pain Report by Louise Harris Associates reported,

* "Some feel that 70-80% of those with headaches have significant "muscles of mastication component" that are often undiagnosed and untreated.
* That compares with 15,100,000 workdays lost due to dental pain.
* Over 30% of all work days lost is reported in the study may have a dental component (including the muscles of mastication).

If Dentists were able to reduce the headache problems in just their area of responsibility we would save millions of lost work days and maybe reduce the usage of a billion dollars of pain meds.

In 2002 it was reported:

* Estimates indicate that there are more than 45 million headache sufferers in the United States.
* 58% of migraine attacks require some bed rest for a total of 112 million migraine-related bed ridden days per year for the US population.
* Migraine costs to employers is estimated at $13 million annually.
* The average migraineur loses 245 hours per year due to attacks, 84 hours coming from lost work time.

In a more recent Ocotber 2006 study, researchers have reported,

"People whose recurrent headaches have been diagnosed as tension-related actually may be suffering from temporomandibular muscle and joint disorder, or TMJD, a study headed by a researcher from the University at Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine has shown."

"Results showed that examiners could replicate tension-headache symptoms in 82 percent of subjects by performing the clinical examination of the temporalis muscle, which is involved in TMJD."

"The temporalis muscle is responsible for closing the jaw and is involved in chewing, but these core functions of that pair of muscles often are ignored when the presenting complaint is "headache," as opposed to jaw pain, Ohrbach said.

"Because headache is so incredibly common, it often is regarded as inevitable, and if sufferers label the pain as 'headache,' they may not seek help," he said. "Or if they do seek help, the label of 'headache' typically will propel the individual to a physician or neurologist for consultation.

***If you think you have the above TMJ syptoms, feel free to call us and mention this blog for a complimentary consultation at 858.490.4281.***

Cosmetic/Veneer Case on Tetracyline-Stained Teeth

Do you or know of anyone who has tetracycline staining? Have you whitened your teeth numerous times and just cannot get the result you've been looking for? For those of you who doubt about "masking" staining on teeth, there's hope! Below is one of the cases performed today:
BEFORE

AFTER

Veneer/Cosmetic Case for Today

Below is the final result of the veneer case posted Jan 3rd. (Note: Patient did not like the huge "gap" between his upper and lower front teeth. At the same time, patient requested for straighter teeth and an overall brighter smile.)


Below is the BEFORE picture

Looking Deeper into your Mouth, Teeth and Overall Health

Here's something that will make you think differently about your teeth and your mouth (from the book, "YOU - The Owner's Manual" by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. p.179):

Everybody knows the two primary things teeth are used for - eating and stopping hockey pucks. But what may surprise you is that your teeth can provide clues into your health like virtually no other outward part of your body. Why? The biggest concern when it comes to aging and your teeth isn't the presence of periodontal disease, which can make you up to 3.7 years older. Gum disease (gingivitis) has been linked to many other health problems, presumably because the same bacteria that cause periodontal disease can also trigger an immune response that causes inflammation and hardening of the arteries. That same plaque that causes tooth decay - that sticky coating of bacteria, saliva, and three -day-old cauliflower - can also contribute to the plaque in your arteries. And that has a profound effect on all kinds of vascular problems, from heart attacks to erectile dysfunction. Here's a telling fact: Many people in Great Britain go to the hospital with chest pain, they're given an aspirin, a beta-blocker, and an antibiotic for gum disease - because doctors know there's a strong link between the inflammation of gum disease and an aging and unstable cardiovascular system.

Cosmetic/Veneer Case for Today

Picture below is right after delivery of temporaries. Permanent veneers will be delivered in two weeks.