Cosmetic dentistry came of age about the same time as the desktop computer and has advanced just as rapidly. What are some of the techniques and technology that make today's smiles?
Adhesives have contributed enormously. The best adhesives come under the brand names of Kerr Optibond Solo Plus, Ivoclar Excite, Dentsply Prime and Bond, Clearfill SE Bond and others. We now have the ability to "glue" porcelain to a tooth with a bond that rivals the biological bond of tooth enamel to the sensitive understructure (dentin).
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What about the porcelains? A lot of patients worry that the porcelain will break. Today's porcelains, such as Ivoclar Empress, are nearly as strong as enamel. Other restorative materials are made of zirconium, a metal that is white and looks as good as porcelain, but is strong enough for bridge work. Some composite resins, such as Kerr Belleglass, Cristobal, and others have been in service for decades and are very strong, especially when reinforced with Vectris fiberglass.
Implants are now considered to be one of the longest lasting options for replacing a missing tooth. Titanium replaces the root of a tooth so that a crown can be screwed in with a screwdriver. By using 3D imaging CAT scans such as iCAT, dentists can place implants precisely where they belong.
Speaking of imaging, digital x rays are now as commonplace as digital photographs. Dexis, Schick, Trophy and other companies make excellent digital x ray equipment. The advantages are instant image, no photo chemicals, no dark room, no films to lose, easy duplication, better/larger image quality, and most importantly, 90% less radiation.
Lasers are now used for decay removal, non-surgical gum treatments, cosmetic gum sculpting, tooth whitening, curing bonding materials, TMJ therapy and so much more.
Just as physicians have EKGs, dentists can now measure muscle activity in your jaw to help diagnose and treat TMD/TMJ. By finding the most relaxed posture for your jaw, your entire chewing system can be improved with orthodontics or resurfaced with porcelain to solve headaches, jaw tension, dizziness, vertigo and many other symptoms of TMD/TMJ. Sometimes, only a simple bite adjustment is needed or a nightguard. Myotronics Corporation is the leader in technology for TMD with their K7 instrumentation and Myomonitor TENS machine. Another company in this field is Bioresearch.
One of the most exciting advances is in the area of digital photography. Many dentists now know how to take great pictures of your teeth so that you can view them on big flat screen T.V.'s. Some dentists are even learning portrait photography.
Like so many fields, cosmetic dentistry has come a long way. One can only wonder what amazing advances await us down the road.
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