What's New In CosmeticDentistry
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Thomas K. Hedge D.D.S., F.A.C.E.
LVI Vision
June 2002
Cosmetic dentistry is advancing today faster than ever before. We have new capabilities in restoring, sensitive tooth whitening, and replacing missing teeth, preventing decay and gum disease, and halting bad breath and snoring. The dental office itself has also changed a great deal. Today's dental office offers computerized scheduling and billing, CD-ROM patient education systems to educate the patients about procedures and treatments, intraoral video camera's to show the patient problems, low dose digital x-rays, lasers to perform gum surgery, and many other high tech items. Let's highlight a few new innovations one at a time.
SENSITIVE TOOTH WHITENING AND OTHER PROCEDURES
This is perhaps the single greatest development in recent years. Many of us remember the hot and cold sensitivity we used to , , experience after having a filling or crown placed. This has been practically eliminated with the introduction of new teeth bonding, desensitizing, and sealing agents.
TOOTH COLORED RESTORATIONS
It is no longer necessary to have fillings, inlays, or crowns that do not match the color of your teeth. Old silver restorations and the edges of crowns can look black with time. These can often take on the appearance of decay to others. Restorations can now be made that are indistinguishable from the surrounding tooth structure.
SENSITIVE TOOTH WHITENING
A simple procedure utilizing a custom fabricated bleaching tray and a safe dentist dispensed tooth whitening agent. This treatment is accomplished by the patient wearing the bleaching tray with the tooth whitening agent in the tray at night while sleeping. The entire process takes about two weeks and the results on yellow and/or brown teeth are dramatic.
INTRAORAL VIDEO CAMERAS
An intraoral camera affords a comfortable and enjoyable way to see your dental condition and better understand the need for proper dental treatment and daily care. Images of your teeth and gums are magnified up to 28 times their size. Hard copy pictures of these images can be printed in photo format.
CD-ROM
CD-ROM patient education systems can explain any treatment or procedure with narrative and photographs Systems typically have a collection of over 10,000 before and after photographs and 100 presentations on procedures.
DIGITAL X-RAYS
This new system uses a computer sensor to record the x-ray image instead of film. Images are read on a computer screen and can be enlarged and enhanced. Radiation doses are decreased by up to 90 %. The disadvantage to this system is that image quality is not as good as with film and early diagnosis is more difficult.
LASERS
The use of lasers in cosmetic dentistry started with soft tissue, or gum surgery. This is still the most frequently used application. Lasers make delicate cuts and cauterize bleeding instantly. Lasers are just beginning to be used to cut tooth structure and remove decay. Anesthetic is often unnecessary with a laser due to the short burst of energy. Laser's, however, cannot be used for most dental procedures, such as crowns, veneers, and most filings.
ELECTRONIC ANESTHESIA
Injections of Novocain are not always needed to perform dental procedures when these devices are used. A pair of electrodes are attached to the face and a mild electrical current is increased by the patient using a control knob. When at an appropriate level, nerve activity is blocked and dental procedures can be performed. This device cannot be used for all dental procedures and has been described by some patients as more uncomfortable than a traditional Novocain injection.
