Sunday, March 20, 2011

Dental Veneers Bowling Green KY

Dental Veneers

Dental Veneers (also referred to as porcelain veneers or porcelain laminates) are thin tooth colored shells that are custom made for individual patients and placed on the frontal surface of the teeth to improve its appearance.

They are made from porcelain or resin composites but porcelain has superior stain resisting properties. However, the type of veneer appropriate for an individual can be correctly determined only by a dentist.

What are dental veneers used for?

Dental Veneers (or Porcelain Veneers) are used in a variety of cases such as

-Individual discolored teeth
-Worn, chipped or fractured teeth.
-Uneven and irregularly shaped teeth.
-Widely spaced teeth
-What is the procedure in placement of a dental veneer?

Placement of a dental veneer can only be performed by a qualified Dentist which involves basic 4 steps.

-Diagnosis and Treatment planning
-Preparation
-Etching
-Placement and Bonding


1. Diagnosis and Treatment planning: This involves the Dentist determining whether it is appropriate for you to get a Dental Veneer and discuss its limitations with you. He will also take an impression of your oral cavity.

2. Preparation: This involves scraping the outer layer of the tooth up to the thickness of veneer that is to be placed. The dentist may use a Local Anesthetic if required. A model of the patients tooth is made which is sent to the laboratory. Repeated color adjustments might be required to achieve a suitable color. A dental veneer is constructed on this model which can take a few weeks.

3. Etching: The next time the patient is called at the clinic is for the actual veneer placement. The dentist first places the veneer against the tooth and checks for its correct position. Now the dentist cleans and polishes the tooth surface on which the veneer is to be placed. The dentist then uses an acid to etch your teeth i.e it creates a roughened tooth surface which improves its bonding to the veneer.

4. Placement: The Veneer will be placed on the tooth surface with a special tooth colored material called composite used for attachment. After the position has been determined, a special light is used which improves and quickens the bonding/hardening process. A few final adjustments may be necessary and a couple further visits are required by the patient to ensure a normal response of the gums towards the veneer.

Above article from DentalHealthSite.com

Cosmetic, Sedation & Family Dentistry
Chandler Park Dental Care
1857 Tucker Way
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 282-4777
Web: http://chandlerparkdentalcare.com/

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Gum Disease Treatment Bowling Green KY

Dental Health: Laser Use in Dentistry
Laser technology had entered the field of dentistry by 1994 itself. The lasers used for dental treatment are not the cold lasers, which are used for treating inflammation, headache, and pain, and also used in phototherapy. Though it is useful in treating many dental problems, laser is yet to be fully accepted by the American Dental Association. The treatment mode does have FDA’s acceptance, but not that of ADA, whose standards appear to be more exacting. ADA is still not fully convinced of the efficacy and safety of using lasers for dental treatment.

However, the technology is being used by some in treating the following problems:

-Tooth decay. Lasers are useful in removing the decayed portion from the tooth and readying the remaining enamel for the fresh filling. It is also useful in hardening the filling.
-Gum problems. For removing bacteria during a root canal treatment, and reshaping gums, lasers are useful.
-Biopsy. For removing a lesion, or any tissue from the mouth, lasers are used. Tissue removal sometimes becomes necessary for cancer testing. Lasers are also effective in the treatment of mouth ulcers.
-Teeth whitening. Some teeth whitening procedures nowadays employ lasers. Whitening is basically done by the application of a bleaching solution on the surface of the teeth, but the action of this peroxide solution is enhanced by employing lasers.

The Working of Lasers

All forms of laser appear as light and provide energy in the way in which it is required for different operations. When used for hardening the tooth filling, the laser binds together the filling and the tooth. During teeth whitening, it acts as a source of heat which increases the activity of the whitening agents. In surgical use, sometimes it functions as a vaporizer for annihilating tissues. At other times it functions as a cutting implement.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Lasers


Advantages


Lasers have the following advantages over the conventional dental drill:

It is often less painful and so reduces the need for administering anesthesia.
Some people are afraid of the conventional drill. They are more at ease with lasers.
When soft tissue is to be handled, lasers lessen swelling and bleeding.
During cavity treatment, lasers help to retain more of the tooth that is in tact.
Disadvantages

Lasers have the following drawbacks:

-When a tooth has already got a filling, it is not possible to use a laser there.
-The treatments for which lasers can be used are very limited. They can’t be maneuvered around cavities which are between two teeth or bigger cavities that need to be fitted with a crown. Nor can they be used where there are old fillings, or to remove silver fillings, or with damaged crowns. Laser technology is also not helpful in preparing teeth for receiving bridges.
-Even where a laser is utilized, the conventional drill is still required for bite adjustment, and for shaping and polishing the filling.
-Though laser could reduce the need for administration of anesthesia, it cannot eliminate it totally.
-Above all, the treatment does not come cheap. As against a conventional drill that may cost about $600, lasers may cost anything from $39000 to $45000.

Above article from: DentalHealthSite.com

Cosmetic, Sedation & Family Dentistry
Chandler Park Dental Care
1857 Tucker Way
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 282-4777
Web: http://chandlerparkdentalcare.com/

Friday, March 18, 2011

Root Canal Treatment Bowling Green KY

Root Canal Treatment
A Root Canal Treatment (RCT) is carried out to repair and restore a tooth which has been badly decayed or infected and comes under a branch of dentistry called as Endodontics. The RCT actually focuses towards elimination of any infection to the Pulp Chamber of the tooth.

Root Canal Treatment is the last option to save the tooth failing which the tooth has to be extracted. After the RCT the tooth is basically dead as the entire pulp inside the tooth is removed and filled with an inert material.

When is RCT Required?

When tooth decay occurs and is detected, a normal filling procedure is carried out .However, if this tooth decay is not detected, it progresses to deeper layers and finally reaching the pulp chamber. When the tooth decay reaches the Pulp chamber, there is no alternative but to perform a Root Canal Treatment. This is because, the infection in the pulp chamber must be removed else it will progress further.

What is the Pulp Chamber?

The pulp chamber is the inner most layer of the tooth. It is present at the center of the tooth and consists of nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels. It is through these blood vessels the tooth receives nutrition. The cells in the pulp chamber are predominantly odontoblast cells (cells which form dentin) apart from other cells.

The pulp chamber is broad at the center and narrows to a very thin root canal which runs towards the root.

What if I don’t undergo an RCT?

It is essential for you to undergo the Root Canal Treatment to save your tooth failing which you might loose your tooth. The bacterial infection in your pulp can cause tooth abscess, bone loss around root tip and swelling which can spread to your face and neck.

Why has been my Pulp Infected?

You might be thinking why did the infection to the pulp occur in the first place. There can be quite a few causes for this such as:

-Tooth Decay which wasn’t detected and it spread to your pulp chamber.
-Large fillings
-Secondary Caries after tooth filling which lead to further decay progressing to your pulp.
-Physical trauma to the tooth by accidental blows.
-Spread of infection from periodontal pockets to the pulp

RCT Procedure

The Root Canal Treatment procedure should ideally be carried out by an endodontist. An Endodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating diseases and injuries of the pulp and tissues surrounding the root of the tooth. The RCT procedure can be completed in one or more visits.


Root Canal Treatment
An X-ray will be taken to examine your tooth and detect the presence of infection in the surrounding bone.

-The area surrounding the tooth is numbed using a local anesthetic which desensitizes the patient to any pain.
-The tooth to be worked upon is isolated by placing a rubber dam around it.
-The drill is employed to make an access hole to the pulp chamber and the pulp along with decayed tissue and debris is removed. The entire pulp chamber including the root canals is cleaned and disinfected.
-If the Root Canal Treatment is to be spread over multiple visits and some dentists prefer this, the empty pulp chamber is filled with disinfecting agent. This is covered by a temporary filling which is removed in subsequent visits and replaced by a permanent filling.
-The next step is filling of the pulp chamber with an inert material as the tooth is effectively dead. Gutta percha (along with Zinc Oxide eugenol) is generally used to fill the empty pulp chamber and root canals.
-A permanent filling (similar to the filling for treating cavities) is carried out on the tooth and a crown is placed over the tooth. A crown is required in most cases as the tooth becomes brittle due to absence of pulp.
-If your RCT procedure is spread over more than one appointment, minimize the chewing on the affected tooth till the procedure is entirely completed. This will prevent recontamination of the pulp chamber and will also reduce the risk of fracturing or damaging your tooth
Failed Root Canals

The RCT is a very effective procedure and enjoys a 90% success rate. However, complications can and do arise leading to the failure of root canal. A failed root simply means you have get Root Canal Treatment procedure done again or get the tooth extracted by the dentist.

Causes for Failure of Root Canals

Extra Canal: Some teeth may have an extra root canal which might not be apparent to the dentist. Hence, the failure to remove the pulp from this root canal causes the failure of the treatment

Some patients have irregularly shaped root canals and its not possible to remove the pulp from such root canals.

Now, you can probably guess the main reason for the failure of root canal treatment. Any infected pulp left behind leads to the failure of the root canal treatment.

Hypersensitivity to material: Some patients are allergic to the material used in the root canal treatment and hence leading to failure of the procedure.

Defective or inadequate restoration: If a restoration is inadequate or defective, bacteria are able to creep past the restoration causing reinfection.

Instrument left in the root canal: The files used to remove the pulp are quite brittle and often chip inside the root canal and cannot be retrieved. This may cause the failure of the treatment.

Above article from: dentalhealthsite.com


Cosmetic, Sedation & Family Dentistry
Chandler Park Dental Care
1857 Tucker Way
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 282-4777
Web: http://chandlerparkdentalcare.com/

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Smiles From the Heart - News Coverage


On February 4th, 2011, Chandler Park assembled a team of volunteers.  Led by Dr. Eli Jackson and his staff, this team included 11 dentists from all over the country.
During the Smiles From the Heart event, 297 patients received much needed dental care.
These were members of the community who were desparately in need, some of whom were unable to receive dental care due to lack of insurance.
This day of FREE DENTISTRY was a wonderful opportunity for Chandler Park Dental Care to give back to the community that has repeatedly voted them Best Dentist (Bowling Green Daily News Reader's Poll).

Dentist Bowling Green Kentucky
Cosmetic, Sedation and Family Dentistry