Choosing a Procedure – Feeling Overwhelmed?

September 5, 2008

Procedures from Which To Choose

Feeling overwhelmed is natural when there are lots of procedures, and you don’t know much about them. Let’s look at the different ones to get a better understanding of them.

· Crowns today are made from porcelain as the standard of care. They fit over your existing damaged or decayed teeth like a cap. They are also used as prosthetic teeth for dental implants (see below). Crowns help a host of problems, such as teeth which are:
o Broken
o Decayed
o Poor in appearance
o Weakened

· Dental implants are prosthetic teeth (crowns) that sit on top of posts anchored to the jawbone. These implanted anchors and posts are made of titanium, a strong metal that is rarely rejected by the body. They have the look and feel of real teeth and are the standard of care for missing teeth now instead of dentures or bridges.

· Gum recontouring is now possible with the use of laser dentistry. Gum reshaping can correct a “gummy” smile as well as other gum-related problems.

· Porcelain veneers are thin shells that cover the fronts of the teeth. They are typically custom-made and offer many benefits such as fixing teeth that are:
o Chipped
o Discolored
o Gapped
o Somewhat crooked

· Tooth whitening is a process of lightening teeth several shades. Zoom! Teeth whitening is a procedure performed by a cosmetic dental professional in the dentist’s office. The benefits of Zoom! Teeth whitening are:
o Comfort for people who are sensitive about their teeth
o Convenience
o Effectiveness
o Long-lasting results
o Fast procedure
o Safety

Types of Dentistry Practiced by Cosmetic Dentists

Besides the procedures that are available, you should be aware of the types of dentistry that might be used to treat you. They include:

· Laser dentistry is much more comfortable and efficient compared to traditional treatment methods in performing such procedures as:
o Cavity preparation
o Decay removal
o Gum recontouring/reshaping
o Root canals (endodontics)
o Soft-tissue (gum) surgery

· Neuromuscular dentistry combines both the art and science of determining the ideal placement of the jaw based on the head and neck muscles, to get the bite in its proper position

· Sedation dentistry uses sedative to not only help people relax and eliminate their fear of dental work, but also makes it so many procedures may be performed at once, saving the time of multiple office visits. Three types of sedation may be offered:

· IV Sedation - also known as Deep Conscious Sedation. IV sedation is rarely offered by most dentists since there are requirements that the IV sedation administrator has expert advanced training and is certified by the State Board of Dentistry. Dr. Djawdan is the only cosmetic dentist in the Baltimore area with the required licensing and training to perform IV sedation.

· Enteral Conscious Sedation – also known as Orally Administered Sedation. This type of sedation uses a pill application of the sedative.

· Inhalation Conscious Sedation - also knows as “laughing gas.” Another name for this type of sedation is Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation. This type of sedation is most commonly used by dentists.

Remember that you should choose procedures that will treat your full smile by reconstructing your entire mouth and offering you a new smile design. This is an investment in your smile, your mouth, and ultimately, in yourself. You will feel more confident and self-assured when you invest in cosmetic dentistry. Individual procedures aren’t what make the difference; finding a competent cosmetic dentist who can give you a blueprint for treatment that will make your mouth functional and beautiful is what makes it worth the investment.

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