A single porcelain veneer can greatly enhance a smile when using a custom blend of porcelains This patient came in frustrated and disappointed with a recent restoration on a front tooth. On exam, we discovered a damaged central incisor, with a pre-existing veneer that was over-sized and poorly fitted at the gum-line. The overall color…
Read MoreThis patient had white resin fillings placed years ago, and had since decided to whiten her teeth. The whitening effect on the enamel of her teeth had a tremendous impact – however, in contrast, this tooth whitening made the original bright, opaque color of the fillings stand out in a negative way. The patient had…
Read MoreSingle porcelain veneer replacing stained bonding This patient had a small misshapen Peg Lateral incisor (upper right) that was bonded with a resin veneer made from plastic filling material a decade prior. She had become aware of a dark stain at the edge of the restoration, as well as a dull matte finish compared to…
Read MoreFeldspathic veneer brings full adult contour to a “peg lateral” incisor This patient had been aware that one of his front teeth looked different from the others – it was small and hidden beside the adjacent tooth, and looked grey in comparison. As a rising star in international business, he was concerned that his habit…
Read MoreAccording to Gordon Christensen, dental equilibration (bite balancing) might be one of the most widely UNDER-utilized services in dentistry. – JADA April 2005 136(4): 497–499; Teeth that fit together correctly do not require the additional muscular activity needed to shift the jaw to the side or squeeze unilaterally when one side hits first. The art of…
Read MoreA large filling is frequently not strong enough to withstand biting pressure on a cracked or damaged tooth. In that case, it is customary for the tooth to be protected with a restoration called a crown. Crowns can be made of different materials: gold, porcelain, or some combination. This patient had a porcelain-metal crown on…
Read MoreGummy smile enhanced through gum recontouring, braces, and crowns This patient initially wanted to improve the appearance of her smile, complaining that her teeth were too small, and spaced apart. The aesthetic analysis concluded that the overall size of her upper front teeth were both too narrow for the width of the patient’s mouth, and…
Read MoreConventional film X-rays would require chemical processing and did not have the capability of changing contrast and gain. With digital X-rays, we can see the earliest of decays, and thus treat decay conservatively. This patient was seen in our hygiene department for routine cleaning and check-up. The ultra low-radiation exposures did not initially show the…
Read MoreOne of the most challenging types of “simple dentistry” is to accomplish a direct resin restoration (aka, white filling) that looks good, functions well, and seals out bacteria from re-entering the side of the tooth. Only a few years , which had been somewhat sensitive since being placed. An X-ray of the area shows where…
Read MorePorcelain veneer vs bonding: Qualities to consider in decision making process This patient had chipped the front left tooth playing sports as a child. Previously, it was conservatively repaired with resin bonding (tooth-colored plastic filling material) which had discolored, and to the patient’s disappointment, three times before it had broken under the weight of his bite. A…
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