for improved esthetics and maximum chewing efficiency. SiNGle ViSit traNSfOrMatiONS Digital dentistry has also given us CEREC, which allows practices to create crowns or caps in just one visit. Advantages include no more temporaries or impressions – and no second appointment. CEREC crowns are al-porcelain, metal free, and bonded to the teeth – which actually makes the teeth stronger. Today’s crowns look natural as doctors are able to select color restorations that closely match the natural smile.
alone, so orthognathic jaw surgery was recommended in conjunction with orthodontics to achieve desired improvements in the bite. “The envelope of movement possible has certainly been expanded by the use of TADs,” says Wells. “TADs serve as absolute anchors against which certain teeth can be moved in the desired direction without the undesirable movement of surrounding teeth.” This procedure can sometimes help patients bypass surgery, costly permanent dental implants and crowns. Today’s orthodontists use the highest level of diagnostic information available to formulate a treatment plan
Many practices use CEREC technology to design custom crowns, inlays and onlays. This awards the patient with one visit, one numbing, less sensitivity and instant replacement of the tooth. The new porcelains are stronger than traditional porcelain fused to metal in crowns. Practitioners then mill them onsite in about an hour. OrtHODONtiCS One of the most exciting recent advances in the field of orthodontics has been the growing use of mini-screw implants, or temporary anchorage devices (TADs), to help move teeth in ways that were not previously possible. “In the past, braces were limited by the orthodontic equivalent of Newton’s third law, in that every force put upon a tooth that an orthodontist desired to move, also resulted in movement of the surrounding teeth that were being used as anchors,” says Dr. Andrew Wells of Hart & Wells Orthodontics in Raleigh. To avoid this, complex archwire techniques and contraptions such as headgear were employed in an imperfect attempt to achieve desired movement. In some instances, there was no way to move teeth as desired with braces
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A porcelain crown created by Dr. Baker in just one visit, using CEREC technology.
that optimizes both balanced biting function and enhanced smile esthetics. As recommended for all procedures, talk to your provider about options and learn more about what’s right for you. People are living longer today, and many are keeping their teeth into the later adult years. As we age, we tend to take more prescription medications that can decrease saliva and weaken enamel. For adults, it’s more important than ever to preserve your natural bite and maintain good oral health. New innovations are everywhere – from digital x-rays, same-day crowns, chair-side bleaching and tooth-colored materials, to sleep apnea treatments, laser dentistry and remineralizing pastes created to strengthen tooth enamel and make it less susceptible to decay. In addition to daily care, the ADA recommends regular checkups and advises seeing your dentist at signs of bleeding gums during brushing, swollen gums or gums pulling away from teeth, persistent bad breath, pus between gums, loose teeth, bite change or a change in the fit of partial denture. Making the regular routine of caring for your mouth a priority can yield a healthy, radiant smile that lasts a lifetime.
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