Case Presentation: Cosmetic Veneer Transformation!

Check out this awesome veneer transformation! This patient came to us with anterior teeth that were cosmetically compromised but structurally sound. The patient's left lateral incisor had an aging composite filling, the two central incisors were chipped and all the teeth had uneven staining and decalcification. In cases like this, we like to use zirconia veneers to enhance aesthetics while altering the original tooth as little as possible. 

Teeth are prepared for veneers by removing a small amount of enamel to compensate for the new dimension of zirconia. Once the teeth are prepared, impressions are taken and sent to our lab. You will spend two weeks in temporary veneers while the technicians hone in the ideal dimensions and shade to match your other teeth. The result, as seen above, is a beautiful transformation that looks entirely natural. Modern veneers can make you look younger and create a more vibrant smile with minimal changes to your existing teeth. If you would like to know more about veneers, how we place them and why we use them, please give our office a call!

Case Presentation: ZOOM Whitening

Take a look at the dramatic change we achieved in this patient using the ZOOM Whitening products. Can you believe this transformation only took a single office visit?

At a typical ZOOM appointment, we start by quickly polishing the teeth to remove any surface staining. Then, a special material is applied to the gums surrounding the teeth to protect them from the bleaching gel. The actual "bleach" is a special formulation of peroxide that is activated using the ZOOM light. The entire session takes about an hour and a half where you can relax, listen to Pandora music, watch cable TV or catch up on your favorite Netflix series! If you would like to know more about your bleaching options or to schedule a ZOOM appointment for yourself, please call or email our office.

Replacing A Lost Crown

Imagine you are enjoying a nice meal when you suddenly notice a strange space open up in the front of your mouth. To your horror, a crown on one of your front teeth has fallen off! Every dental office sees two to three cases like this yearly- as with this patient today. Fortunately, we were able to replace the missing space with a cosmetic Emax lithium disilicate crown. The end result was fabulous- we saved the tooth and improved on the esthetics of the previous crown!

Dental crowns can come loose for a number of reasons. Most commonly, cavities start at the margin between the tooth and the crown and undermine the seal. Once this seal is broken, the crown quickly loses the adhesive and retentive properties that bond it on the tooth. Other common causes of crown loss include trauma, chewing sticky foods and post/core failure. 

If you ever lose a crown, do NOT try to re-cement it (even using temporary crown cement from the drug store). You run the risk of creating a bond so strong that the dentist cannot remove it without damaging the tooth or a bond so weak that it causes the crown to become a choking hazard. Rather, call our office as soon as possible and let us know what happened. Depending on how the crown fell off, what was underneath the crown and if there was any damage to the tooth we may be able to recement it with little modification.

Unfortunately, there is no way for us to determine if the crown or tooth is savable over the phone. Your best bet is to schedule an emergency appointment at your earliest convenience. The longer your tooth stays exposed without a crown, the more likely it is to become damaged through daily use. If you would like to know more about lost crowns and how to protect your teeth, please give our office a call!

Lower Incisor Implant Restoration

The top photos show the shade guides used by the lab to match the adjacent teeth. The metal pieces indicate the location of the implants for the impressions. The bottom photo highlights the great job Opus One Lab did in matching the colors of the teeth and gums!

Bet you've never seen implants like this! Today's patient came to us after having lost their lower anterior incisors due to periodontal disease. Periodontal problems are common in this area due to a combination of plaque buildup, poor access due to crowding and (sometimes) tension of the lower lip on the gum tissues. Unfortunately, losing these teeth can have many undesirable effects, such as problems tearing food and lack of esthetic support for the lower lip. 

In treating this patient, two implants were placed by a specialist next to the lower canines. Once the surgical sites were healed, impressions were taken and sent to Opus One Dental Laboratory. At the lab, Four prosthetic teeth were created in a bridge from implant to implant. To correct for the missing bone, pink porcelain was added to the bottoms of the teeth to simulate gum tissue. The result is a very functional and natural looking replacement! If you would like to know more about amazing transformations we can achieve with dental implants, please give our office a call!

Braces for Adults

With more nearly 1.5 million patients last year, adult orthodontics are certainly on the rise. Adulthood can certainly be a time where finances and resources align to make the dream of straighter teeth a reality. Wether used on their own or in combination with other cosmetic dental procedures, braces can create a dramatic change in almost any smile. 

Many adult patients will opt for traditional wire-and-bracket braces. These orthodontic appliances are the most versatile option, achieving most tooth movements with ease. The entire procedure is overseen by an orthodontist, who directs and refines treatment on the fly.  The most obvious drawbacks to this type of orthodontics is the esthetics of the exposed appliance. In fixing this, some specialists place tooth colored brackets that better blend in with the surrounding tooth enamel. A second drawback is the increased time devoted to oral hygiene. Brushing and (particularly) flossing become more difficult with a metal bar running across the teeth. However, there are many readily available products that make keeping your braces clean a no brainer. 

For those wishing to avoid the appearance of traditional orthodontics, removable Invisalign trays might be an ideal choice. Here, a series of trays are custom fitted to your teeth to gently push them to their desired positions. Since nothing is truly anchored to the teeth/mouth, tooth movements take a longer time. Additionally, some types of adjustments are difficult/impossible without traditional braces. Invisalign works great for minor corrections, crowding, or correcting orthodontic relapse (for those who have reoccurring tooth movement after finishing childhood orthodontic treatment). 

There are always a number of great options for perfecting and maximizing your smile. Braces and trays represent the ideal solution for those looking for straighter and more evenly spaced teeth. If you would like to know more about your cosmetic options, please call our office to schedule an exam!

Dental Questions: What is a flipper?

With the rise of dental implants, many patients are electing to have teeth extracted rather than spending time and money on a losing battle. Since implants can take months to heal before a crown is placed, there is now a question on what to do with the missing spaces in the meantime. While you can elect to leave these areas open in the interim, this is not an option when the implant is placed in the smile zone. For these situations, you may be made a flipper- or temporary denture. 

Flippers are also known as stay plates or temporary partial dentures. They are made of a hard, pink acrylic resin that supports the prosthetic teeth. They may also have a series of metal clasps that hold the frame firmly in place. Flippers differ from permanent dentures primarily in the way they rest on the teeth and gums. Partial dentures are fitted to the mouth so that the teeth serve as the primary supporting structures. If the gums have to be utilized in holding the denture, very specific areas are used, as to not cause any lasting damage. In contrast, flippers rest entirely on the gums and soft tissues. Over time, the constant pressure on gums can cause the underlying bone to resorb or irritate the periodontal tissues. With this in mind, they are inappropriate as permanent appliances. However, they can be a great interim solution in implant placement. 

Flippers are created by a dental laboratory and take about two weeks to complete. They typically blend seamlessly with the natural tissues and aren't noticeable as "denture teeth." If you would like to know more about flippers and how they can be a part of your implant treatment, please give our office a call!

Best Cosmetic Dentist in the Conejo Valley

Check out this new video testimonial from one of our very satisfied patients! Twenty years ago, Jennifer suffered from pain and headaches associated with stress on her temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In solving this, her previous dentist used dental crowns and veneers to improve the way her teeth came together and ease her TMJ pain. Although the procedure was successful, twenty years of wear combined with gum recession had affected the appearance and function of these restorations. 

An important component of the dentistry we provide is managing our patients' fears and expectations. Jennifer was understandably very nervous coming into her appointment to have her crowns and veneers replaced. On top of the typical stress of a dental visit, she was concerned if the new restorations would fit as well as the originals. Fortunately, Dr. Kari Ann Hong is an expert in providing dentistry with a compassionate touch. Jennifer put on our noise isolating headphones and relaxed while Dr. Kari finished the appointment in just two and a half hours! She even left our office in custom temporary crowns that mimicked the esthetics and mechanics of the permanent units to come. 

Having your smile rejuvenated can be a stressful and daunting process. However, we pride ourselves in creating a relaxing atmosphere that makes the experience enjoyable! If you would like to know more about dental crowns, veneers or implants, please contact our office at (805) 480-9820 or at staff@thousandoaksfamilydentistry.com.

Case Presentation: Midline Correction Update!

Here's a final update to our patient who received four Emax crowns to correct their crooked anterior midline. As you can see, the new crowns create a natural and straight smile with extremely esthetic results. In addition to centering and paralleling the patient's midline, the new restorations give the teeth a more rounded and youthful profile. Additionally, we were able to match the shapes of the two lateral incisors, creating a more harmonious appearance all together. 

A case like this highlights the importance of symmetry in cosmetic dentistry. In comparison to the before pictures, our patient's new smile is centered, with the left and right side incisors appearing as mirror images of each other. The result is a smile that exudes "natural beauty." If you would like to know more about the ways we use cosmetic dentistry to improve our patients' smiles, please give our office a call!

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Case Presentation: Implant Crown

The advent of dental implants has made many procedures more predictable with better cosmetic results. Today's patients is a great example of the power of modern implants. They came to us missing two mandibular incisors and enough open space for one replacement tooth. Unlike the maxillary (upper) teeth, asymmetric midlines are much less noticeable on the lower arch. Using previous dental technologies, replacing this tooth would have required modifying the two adjacent teeth and creating a dental bridge. Preparing mandibular incisors for bridges is problematic, as the teeth are already so small that any reduction in size makes them very fragile. Additionally, bridges are harder to maintain than individual teeth and create food/plaque traps. 

For this patient, a single dental implant and crown created a perfect cosmetic solution to their missing incisor. They were fortunate to have enough bone level in that area to support the titanium anchor. Many times the bone around the mandibular incisors is too thin, requiring grafting or negating the possibility of an implant all together. This is why a proper consultation, exam and treatment plan is crucial in preparing for an implant procedure. If you would like to know more about dental implants, how we use them and who might be a good candidate, please give our office a call!

Dental Veneers in Thousand Oaks | Patient Jennifer Loves her New Smile!

Check out this new video testimonial from one of our very satisfied patients! Twenty years ago, Jennifer suffered from pain and headaches associated with stress on her temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In solving this, her previous dentist used dental crowns and veneers to improve the way her teeth came together and ease her TMJ pain. Although the procedure was successful, twenty years of wear combined with gum recession had affected the appearance and function of these restorations. 

While our main focus was replacing the crowns and veneers in respect to Jennifer's TMJ pain, we also wanted to improve upon cosmetics and tooth form. In doing this, Dr. Kari Ann Hong used Emax Lithium Disilicate restorations to add new life to Jennifer's smile. Emax is an incredibly versatile material that can be used to treat many dental conditions. For instance, some Emax veneers are barely a millimeter thick and yet are tough enough to withstand years of abuse. 

For Jennifer, the new crowns and veneers are absolutely transformative. The smile is an extremely important facial feature that immediately draws the eyes. A beautiful, white and symmetrical smile stands out and creates a dramatically more youthful look. If you would like to know more about dental crowns, veneers or TMJ pain, please contact our office at (805) 480-9820 or at staff@thousandoaksfamilydentistry.com