SEALANTS
Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are placed on the chewing (occlusal) surface of the permanent back teeth to help protect them from cavity formation. Clear, white or slightly tinted, dental sealants are commonly placed when the tooth first completely emerges from the gum. This way there has been little chance that a cavity has started to form in the grooves of the teeth. This early protection can help get through the years when a child may be most susceptible to decay. Molars are often the recipients of this treatment. However, premolars and other grooved or pitted permanent teeth can benefit from this preventive measure.
FLUORIDE TREATMENT
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under six years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also helps speed remineralization as well as disrupts acid production in already erupted teeth of both children and adults.
Mouth rinses and toothpastes containing fluoride in lower strengths are available over-the-counter. A dentist can also apply fluoride to the teeth as a gel, foam, or varnish. These treatments contain a much higher level of fluoride than the amount found in toothpastes and mouth rinses. Varnishes are painted on the teeth; foams are put into a mouth guard, which is applied to the teeth for 1 to 4 minutes; gels can be painted on or applied via a mouth guard. Fluoride supplements are also available as liquids and tablets and must be prescribed by your dentist, pediatrician, or family doctor.
WHITE FILLINGS
A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth by completing and hardening the tooth again. This is accomplished by smoothly eliminating the cavities and by placing in that space a hard resin filling named white filling. There are many types of dental fillings; specifically the white ones are a great solution to fix decayed teeth but also for giving a new young and fresh look to old fillings.
VENEERS
Dental veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length. Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Resin veneers are thinner and require removal of less of the tooth surface before placement.
Veneers are routinely used to fix teeth that are discolored, teeth that are worn down, teeth that are chipped or broken, misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped or teeth with gaps between them. Getting a dental veneer usually requires three trips to the dentist (one for a consultation and two to make and apply the veneers). One tooth or many teeth can simultaneously undergo the veneering process.
CROWNS
A crown is like a protection helmet for the tooth. When a tooth has a groove, a fracture or even an ancient large filling, the crown is usually the best way to reestablish the tooth health and functionality. If you have received a root canal or endodontic treatment in any of the back molars you will always need the protection of a crown for that tooth. We can also use crowns to protect the teeth under risk of breakage of for changing the shape of worn down teeth. When to use a crown instead of a filling? The crown is used when the filling is too big to fix the problem and the tooth is in danger of breakage.
BRIDGES
A fixed (permanent) bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them. This “bridge” is then cemented into place. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, but it prevents other teeth from changing position. Almost every person with one or more missing teeth is a proper candidate for a dental bridge. However, the success of this procedure depends on dental hygiene.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
In this treatmeant, the endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, a channel inside the root, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
Also called endodontic treatment, it is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.
ORTHO AND INVISALIGN
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one’s appearance.The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime.
In the Invisalign treatment, a clear polymer aligner is used to move the teeth by setting them into a different place in the plaster model and then making a new aligner. The aligners are removable and have to be changed every two weeks. Each aligner is specially made according to the patient’s teeth. By changing the aligners, the teeth will start to move slowly accordingly with each new set of aligners until they reach the final position indicated by the orthodontist. Invisalign is the best way of renewing your smile without altering your daily life.
DENTURES & REPAIRS
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. It is made of acrylic resin and, sometimes, of a combination of various metals. Two types of dentures are available — complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.
Complete dentures can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed. On the contrary, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. A disadvantage of immediate dentures is that they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process and generally should only be considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.
DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dental implants are small dental devices that are introduced in the upper and lower jaws which help restore a mouth with few or any repairable tooth at all. This technique is slowly replacing the dentures due to the several advantages it brings for the patients compared with the traditional dentures procedure.
TOOTH WHITENING
Nowadays, there are many products in the market promising whiter and shinier teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) establishes that if a person is candidate to a procedure, the dentist can suggest one that could be done in his office.
Other options include products to use at home which can be facilitated by the dentist or purchased over the counter. However, the odonthologists and the ADA are worried about the incorrect use of these products available over the counter, because most of the times they are too abrasives and its sustained use may damage the teeth. The ADA describes teeth whitening as any process that makes the teeth whiter by applying one of two methods: with or without peroxide. A product can make a tooth whiter, changing the tooth natural color. This kind of whitener contains peroxide, helping to remove deep and superficial stains. Meanwhile, a whitening product without peroxide has other substances for eliminating only the stains.
PRGF
What is Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF)?
Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) is a blood product that contains concentrated levels of a patient’s own growth factors. Growth factors are signaling molecules that tell stem cells in the body to differentiate into different cells such as bone and tissue. They are responsible for managing how the body heals. Increasing the number and concentration of growth factors at a healing wound not only increases the speed of healing, but can increase the quality and quantity of new bone and tissue. This is extremely beneficial when grafting and preparing a site in the mouth for an implant.
BOTOX & DERMAL FILLERS
Botox contains purified bacteria that freeze muscles. In doing so, Botox can help minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by facial expressions. Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes.
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines and soften creases, or enhance facial contours. Dermal fillers contain ingredients that add fullness to areas that have thinned due to aging. This thinning is common in the cheeks, lips, and around the mouth. Injectable filler is a soft tissue filler injected into the skin at different depths to help fill in facial wrinkles, provide facial volume, and augment facial features: restoring a smoother appearance. Most of these wrinkle fillers are temporary because they are eventually absorbed by the body.
MICRONEEDLING
Microneedling or collagen induction therapy: is a dermaroller procedure that uses small needles to prick the skin. The purpose of treatment is to generate new collagen and skin tissue for smoother, firmer, more toned skin. Microneedling is mostly used on the face and may treat various scars, wrinkles, and large pores. It is minimally invasive, requiring no downtime. It’s considered safe for most people who are in overall good health. The procedure isn’t safe for people who use certain acne medications or for women who are pregnant. You’ll experience minor redness and irritation for a few days after the procedure. Total prep and procedure time is about two hours. You may need at least four procedures or more for the best results.