What is tooth contouring and reshaping?

Tooth reshaping, or contouring, is one of few instant treatments now available in cosmetic dentistry. Dental reshaping and contouring is a procedure to correct crooked teeth, chipped teeth, cracked teeth or even overlapping teeth in just one session.
The dental contouring procedure can even be a substitute for braces under certain circumstances. It is also a procedure of subtle changes. A few millimeters of reduction and a few millimeters of tooth-colored laminate can create a beautiful smile when performed by a cosmetic dentist, with no discomfort to you. Tooth reshaping, or dental contouring, is commonly used to alter the length, shape or position of your teeth.

Tooth contouring and reshaping (also known as dental contouring) is a dental procedure that helps correct chipped, cracked, or overlapping teeth. Usually categorized as cosmetic dentistry, tooth contouring and reshaping entails changing the length, shape, or position of the teeth.

Some cosmetic dentists make use of computer imaging to give patients an idea of the results prior to the tooth contouring and reshaping procedure. With the help of X-rays, the dentist determines the size and location of the pulp in the patient’s teeth, making sure that sufficient supporting bone exists between each tooth. Anesthesia is not always necessary, although many patients prefer localized novacaine.
Tooth reshaping, or tooth sculpting, is a safe and conservative way to improve your smile. Teeth may become weaker if large amounts of enamel are removed, tooth reshaping should be limited to minor changes or combined with veneers or bonding for the best smile.

• Next the dentist marks the teeth with a pencil as part of the sculpting process. Using a sanding drill or laser, the dentist gradually removes small quantities of surface enamel to change the shape of the teeth. Abrasive strips rubbed across the tooth surface between each tooth help to reshape the sides of the teeth. Finally, the dentist smoothes and polishes the teeth. The entire tooth contouring and reshaping procedure may take up to 3 visits to complete. Bonding and veneers are two popular options for follow-up procedures to create the perfect smile. 
• Tooth contouring and reshaping bears the risk of removing too much enamel, which could lead to breakage or tooth decay. Patients whose teeth were uneven due to bruxism (tooth grinding) often find the results of tooth contouring and reshaping to be short-lived since grinding can continue damaging the teeth further.

At the initial consultation, the dentist will examine your teeth and determine whether the defects that are present in your smile are sufficiently minor to be corrected using contouring and reshaping. He will also x-ray the teeth to make sure that they are healthy enough to undergo removal of a small amount of the surface enamel.

Tooth contouring and reshaping takes place generally in one visit to the dentist’s office, although a follow-up visit is sometimes necessary. Often the dentist will take a “before” photograph to use as a reference. Then, using various tools, the dentist carefully polishes off small areas of the tooth surface enamel and reforms the tooth into a more attractive shape. The edges of the newly shaped tooth are smoothed and polished, completing the procedure. An “after” photograph is made at this point so the differences can be easily seen. After contouring, the teeth are more uniform in shape and size making them appears less crowded and eye-catching imperfections are gone. The length of the procedure is dependent on the amount of changes that are being made to the teeth, but can run from under 30 minutes to over an hour.

Arlington Family Dentistry

3100 Matlock Rd
Suite #103
Arlington, TX 76015

(817) 259-1385

Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.

-An extraction means to have a tooth removed, usually because of disease, trauma or crowding.

If you need an extraction, your dentist will first numb the area to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, your dentist will advise you of what post extraction regimen to follow. In most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal. Your mouth will slowly fill in the bone where the tooth root was through the formation of a blood clot.

Here are other reasons:

1. Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.
2. Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow the permanent teeth to come in.
3. People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for the teeth that are being moved into place.
4. People receiving radiation to the head and neck may need to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.
5. People receiving cancer drugs may develop infected teeth because these drugs weaken the immune system. Infected teeth may need to be extracted.

Some teeth may need to be extracted if they could become a source of infection after an organ transplant. People with organ transplants have a high risk of infection because they must take drugs that decrease or suppress the immune system.

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early 20s. They need to be removed if they are decayed, cause pain or have a cyst or infection. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. In this case, the tooth must be removed. If you need all four wisdom teeth removed, they are usually taken out at the same time.

Here are some tips to follow to make recovery easier:

• Avoid anything that might prevent normal healing.
• Don’t smoke or rinse your mouth vigorously.
• Avoid drinking through a straw for 24 hours.
• Follow the diet your dentist suggests.

For the first few days, if you must rinse, rinse your mouth gently. If you experience swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag and call your dentist right away. Ask your dentist about pain medication. You can brush and floss the other teeth as usual. But don’t clean the teeth next to where the tooth was removed.

Remember, when having an extraction, today’s modern procedures and follow up care (as recommended by your dentist) are there for your benefit and comfort.

Woodhaven Dentistry

Jeff C. Jenkins, D.D.S.
Richard Martin, D.D.S.

5601 Bridge St, Ste 480
Fort Worth, TX 76112
(817) 259-1371
(817) 937-4369 Fax

Orthodontists can today correct successfully the malocclusion problems regardless of the patient’s age. But that does not mean that the orthodontic treatment starting age does not matter. In fact it may play a significant role in the total time and expenses required for the completion of the orthodontic treatment. 

• Orthodontic problems are usually apparent by the age of seven, when most of the adult front teeth have erupted. However, your dentist may detect an orthodontic problem earlier.
• Early examination allows the orthodontist to detect and evaluate problems and to plan an appropriate treatment schedule.
• Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing or make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. Early treatment may also achieve results that are not possible once the face and jaws have stopped growing.

The general categories of orthodontic devices (appliances) are functional and fixed.

Functional appliances use the muscle action from speaking, eating, and swallowing to create forces that move teeth and align the jaws. See a picture of a functional appliance .

1. Some functional appliances are removable, while others are bonded to the teeth.
2. A functional appliance may fit between the upper and lower teeth (a splint) or may span across the mouth between the molars, pressing the bone outward.Fixed orthodontic appliances are sets of wires and brackets cemented to the teeth. These are commonly called braces . Over a period of about 24 to 28 months, the wires are tightened and adjusted, gradually applying enough force to move the teeth (bone remodeling).
3. Retainers are removable appliances made of molded plastic and wire. They hold the teeth in place after braces are taken off. If the teeth start to move back out of position, the orthodontist may bond a short retaining wire to the back of some teeth. This wire will hold the teeth in place.

The malocclusion treatments for children and adolescents are:

1. Extraction (serial removal). Removing some baby teeth may ease severe crowding.
2. Growth modification. This involves wearing fixed or functional appliances during the day and night to move the jaw into a better position.
3. Fixed appliances (braces) gradually move the teeth. For children and teens, this treatment phase usually lasts about 24 months; for adults, about 28 months.
4. Retainers. Retainers hold the teeth in place after orthodontic treatment. Some orthodontists recommend that retainers be worn for many years, because teeth have a natural tendency to drift out of place.
5. Space maintainers, made of metal or plastic. Spacers keep the surrounding teeth from moving (drifting) into open spaces created when teeth are pulled or lost in an accident.

So, early on, get a Pediatric Dentist or Orthodontist to look examine your child. Most initial crowding problems manifest themselves around 7 years of age when the first permanent teeth are erupting. Good luck, just remember that orthodontics is a long-term proposition. Treatment often takes place over several years. After initial early treatment, you may only be wearing “braces” for 12 to 24 months, but you will wear a retainer once your braces are removed.

Reading Orthodontic Group

1268 Penn Avenue
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Phone: 610.374.4097
Fax: 610.372.8119

E-mail: braces@fantasticsmiles.com

If you are missing only a few teeth scattered over either arch (upper or lower teeth), or even if you have a minimum of two teeth on both sides of the arch, then you can most inexpensively replace the missing teeth with a removable partial denture (RPD). There are several types of RPD’s. All of them use standard plastic denture teeth as replacements for the missing natural teeth. The differences between them are the materials that are used to support the denture teeth and retain the RPD in the mouth.

 A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. 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.

Types of Partial Dentures

There are two types of partial dentures: fixed and removable type. The type of partial denture is prescribed on the basis of the health of the teeth surrounding the gap.

1. Fixed Partial Dentures

*These are also known as dental implant bridges, and involve the permanent attachment of artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under gum tissue via a dental implant bridge. These dental bridges are preferred over the removable type, due to their striking resemblance to natural teeth and comfort level. However, their implantation requires healthy teeth for support. They also are harder to clean, as compared to the removable type. Moreover, since they cannot be removed, they are susceptible to inflammation, bad breath and other oral problems. This fixed partial denture is expensive and is recommended for replacing one or two missing teeth.

1. Removable Partial Dentures

*This type as the name implies, refers to partial dentures that can be removed and placed back as and when desired. They are also known as removable dental bridges. They feature metal framework along with metal clasps, artificial teeth and resin base material. They fill the gap between natural teeth, with a false tooth attached to a gum-colored plastic base. The tooth denture is connected by a metal framework which keeps it in place. Those possessing diseased, injured or partial tooth loss can opt for these removable dentures. There are several types of removable partial dentures, which use the same standard plastic denture teeth for the dental partials. They differ only in the materials used to support the denture teeth in place.

The different types of partial dentures are:

• Flipper Partial Denture:

This type is the least expensive of all the available partial dentures. Acrylic material is used to create the pink plastic denture base, which is the standard material used for all removable partial dentures. Onto this base is attached the false teeth to fill the gaps. Wrought wire clasps are cured into the base, whose role is to clasp the natural teeth and keep the denture in place.

Initially a person may find wearing these dentures very uncomfortable. Talking and eating may become cumbersome. Nevertheless, one gets used to these flippers after sometime. To reduce trouble while eating, one should remove the denture before eating. This way food won’t get stuck in the denture. Moreover, the denture is at no risk of damage, by hard food items.

• Cast Metal Partial Denture:

This type comprises cast metal frameworks and is more advantageous as compared to the flipper type. They are strong, rigid and durable, thus, are considered for the long run. Modern frameworks are cast from chrome cobalt (strong alloy), which is less likely to break. The metal used in these dentures is not seen to cause any allergies.

These partial dentures are attached to the teeth in a very stable fashion. The denture rests on the teeth and not on the gums, as in the case of flippers. This stability is achieved by slightly altering the natural teeth surface so that the dentures can fit properly. However, this modification will in no way alter the way the teeth bite into each other or their grinding function.

• Flexible Framework Partial Denture: 

The application of nylon-like materials to the fabrication of dental appliances, is a recent advance in the dental industry. The metal parts and the pink acrylic base is replaced by this nylon-like material. This material is unbreakable and colored pink to resemble the gums. This type of denture blends well with the tissue of the palate and is not noticeable to the opposite person.

Moreover, since this nylon-like material is quite thin and flexible, it is used to build clasps as well. This solves the problem of clasp visibility. Thus, people who are uncomfortable wearing the conspicuous metal dentures, find this type more appealing.

The clasps in these dentures rest on the gums instead of the teeth, unlike the cast metal type. This can lead to sore spots. Nevertheless, these dentures require no alteration of the teeth structure, on which they rests and are quite stable.

• Nesbit Partial Denture:

This type of denture is made to replace one or two lost rear teeth and can be used as a temporary or permanent tooth replacement. These dentures can be legally built only out of flexible framework material variety. The single tooth removable partial denture is referred to as Nesbit.

Unlike the earlier denture types we’ve looked at, this type does not have the region of acrylic or nylon-like material crossing over the arch. Small, flexible material clasps fit around the teeth adjacent to the gap. So the entire weight of the denture rests on the two teeth besides the gap. This results in extreme pressure application on the clasped teeth. Therefore, dentists don’t recommend this type.

In terms of cost, it is an inexpensive dentures type. However, this type of denture is only recommended for temporary purpose. The reason being, this denture is so small, that it can be accidentally swallowed. However, with the new flexible framework material, even if it is accidentally swallowed, it is not prone to cause harm. Nevertheless, they are not good permanent options.

• The Cusil Partial Denture:

This is a full denture with holes, thereby allowing the remaining natural teeth to protrude through. This acrylic denture is lined with a rubber gasket which grasps the teeth. Cusil partial denture is primarily meant for people, who have lost maximum teeth and want to salvage the remaining few, for as long as possible.

Here are tips for caring for your dentures:

• When handling your dentures, stand over a folded towel or basin of water. Dentures are delicate and may break if dropped.
• Don’t let your dentures dry out. Place them in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in plain water when you’re not wearing them. Never use hot water, which can cause them to warp.
• Brushing your dentures daily will remove food deposits and plaque, and help prevent them from becoming stained. An ultrasonic cleaner may be used to care for your dentures, but it does not replace a thorough daily brushing.
• Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures. This stimulates circulation in your tissues and helps remove plaque.
• See your dentist if your dentures break, chip, crack or become loose. Don’t be tempted to adjust them yourself this can damage them beyond repair.

 Maintaining proper dental care and hygiene, is necessary to avoid tooth related problems that lead to complete dentures. Follow the instructions given by the dentist, regarding denture care diligently and in case any damage occurs, take the denture to your dentist immediately. Do not try to repair it yourself. Keep visiting the dentist regularly and happy smiling!

Grand Prairie Dentist

Contact Us:

223 Main.
Suite #30
Grand Prairie, Tx 75052

Telephone: (817) 259-XXXX

If you feel that the right dentist and psychological techniques alone won’t do the trick for you, have a look at the available pharmacological options for coping with dental anxiety.

Does the thought of having your teeth cleaned make your entire body tense with fear? Would you rather endure the agony of a toothache than step foot in a dentist’s office? You’re not alone. A lot of people are so phobic about going to the dentist that they prefer not to have any treatment.

For people who avoid dentists like the plague, sedation dentistry may take away some of their anxiety. Sedation can be used for everything from invasive procedures to a simple tooth cleaning. How it’s used depends on the severity of the fear.

Sedation can be useful if:

• you don’t want to be aware of what’s happening during a procedure and you want to be “out of it”. In this case, IV sedation is the method of choice.
• you want a little help to relax – “laughing gas” can give you a pleasant relaxed feeling
• you have a “gut feeling” that sedation would help you and allow you to get work done which otherwise you wouldn’t be able to tolerate
• your fear is procedure-specific, especially if you know that the fear would still exist in the presence of an empathetic dentist and adequate pain-control
• you perceive your fears to be completely irrational and not helped by either an empathetic dentist or psychological techniques
• you have other mental health problems and you feel you’d benefit from sedation
• your primary aim is “to get your teeth fixed” as quickly as possible, for example because you’re very busy or you’ve got an important social event coming up

Sedation may not be a good option if:

• control and trust are a major issue for you
• you’re considering sedation to “make life easier” for your dentist, for example because you fear that they will get frustrated or angry with you
• you feel you would benefit from a gentle approach which would involve being talked through procedures, going at your pace, and using stop signals
• you feel you’re being “bullied” into accepting sedation
• you have an intense dislike for or fear of the drugs used for sedation (or the psych pharmaceutical industry in general)
• you’re worried that sedation will interfere with your judgment and your ability to communicate your concerns to your dentist

The following types of sedation are used in dentistry:

1. Inhaled minimal sedation. You breathe nitrous oxide otherwise known as “laughing gas” combined with oxygen through a mask that’s placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
2. Oral sedation. Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you take a pill. Typically, the pill is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it’s usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you’ll still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. This is the type of anesthesia most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake.
3. IV moderate sedation. You receive the sedative drug through a vein, so it goes to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation.
4. Deep sedation and general anesthesia. You will get medications that will make you either almost unconscious or totally unconscious deeply asleep during the procedure. While you are under general anesthesia, you cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the anesthesia wear off or are reversed with medication.

Regardless of which type of sedation you receive, you’ll also typically need a local anesthetic numbing medication at the site where the dentist is working in the mouth to relieve pain if the procedure causes any discomfort.

For example, if you are undergoing periodontal scaling and root planing of all four quadrants of your mouth, insurance companies may cover the costs of this procedure if it is completed in one appointment if you are sedated, rather than requiring you to stretch out the procedure to four separate appointments.

Tarzana Endodontics

5567 Reseda Blvd.
Suite 100
Tarzana, CA 91356
Phone: (818) 319-4340