Tag Archives: aesthetic dentistry

Utilising a Restorative Approach to Correct an Adult Skeletal Class III Malocclusion | New York, NY

Gerard J. Lemongello discusses all the steps taken to correct the malocclusion

Edward H. Angle described class III malocclusion as one in which the mandibular first molar is positioned mesially relative to the maxillary first molar (Angle 1900). A class III skeletal relationship can occur as a result of a normal maxilla with mandibular protrusion, maxillary retrusion with a normal mandible, or a combination of maxillary retrusion and mandibular protrusion. A class III dental relationship can exist when the maxillary/mandibular relationship is normal. A pseudo class III malocclusion is caused by a forward shift of the mandible to avoid incisal interferences (Proffit 1986). For many class III malocclusions, both surgical and orthodontic treatment are required. Depending on the amount of skeletal discrepancy, surgical correction may consist of mandibular retraction, maxillary protraction, or a combination of both procedures. For some minor class III malocclusions, or in the case of a pseudo class III malocclusion, surgical intervention may not be necessary.

Treatment objectives, whether utilizing surgery, orthodontic treatment, or restorative treatment, are the same: to correct the class III crossbite, create an ideal overjet/overbite relationship, achieve a dental class I occlusion, correct the occlusal/incisal plane, correct the midline, and restore the teeth to proper size and proportion. The objective is to provide the patient with an acceptable functional-occlusal relationship and an aesthetic dental/facial appearance.

Malocclusions are common. Patients with crowded and rotated teeth, spacing, or a crossbite who are unsatisfied with their appearance may not be interested in traditional orthodontic treatment or surgical correction. Their objections can be related to the length of time needed to complete treatment, or fear of extensive surgery with extended recuperation.

To read more about this case study, click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Esthetic and Functional Provisional Restorations Big Cases | New York, NY

by Dr. Marc Schlenoff

For the past ten years, I have had the honor and privilege to be an Instructor at the Aesthetic Advantage Hands-On Symposium, at the NYU College of Dentistry in New York, as well as an Instructor at the General Practice Residency at Morristown Medical Center. During this entire time, the most asked question from students and residents has been “How can I do more of the big cases in my practice?” I feel that in today’s world of economic uncertainty, the answers to this question are significantly different than even several years ago.

There was a time not that long ago that I would have answered by using examples of advertising and marketing to draw patients to the office specifically for esthetic treatment. There was a buzz about cosmetics, and the primary goal was to attract those people who had already made the decision to have these procedures done. The times have obviously changed, however, and the answers that I now give to the above question are very different.

The keys to being able to attract the large restorative cases in today’s world are communication and treatment planning. The number of patients coming in exclusively for esthetic dentistry has declined significantly in most practices, but the need for restorative care continues to grow as our baby boomer generation (myself included) continues to wear and break their dentition. This is the patient population that needs comprehensive, and thus esthetic dental treatment.

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Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Facial Esthetics—The Framework | New York, NY

Using facial landmarks to dictate tooth position can enhance esthetics and conserve tooth structure.
By Michael Apa, DDS
Facial Esthetics

In order to create individual smiles that compliment patients’ facial features and enhance their overall facial beauty, clinicians can adopt a technique that uses facial landmarks to dictate tooth position. This method not only can enhance the esthetics, it can also ultimately allow the practitioner to be more conservative in tooth reduction.

Curious about learning more about the intricacies of the facial framework? Click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Snoozing Your Way Through Dental Appointments | New York, NY

Of all the health professionals feared most by adults, the dentist is at the top of the list. Dental Anxiety (DA) is the actual diagnosis for this fear and adults everywhere have it. Dental professionals everywhere have been busy making huge strides in order to calm those fears. Some are turning their dental offices into more of a spa feel than a dental one. Aromatherapy, soothing music, weighed blankets – if you can think of a soothing way to relax, chances are your dental professional has it. And if you still need “something stronger”, there’s sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is the way your dentist relaxes you enough to handle the dental procedure through the use of medication, in addition to the numbing agent applied to the area that will be worked on to alleviate any pain caused by the procedure. The use of sedation is to make you as comfortable as possible as they do their job and to make recovery time minimal.

If you don’t need much to relax you, chances are you will receive nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. It is given to you as you breathe through a mask, so zero pain or needles are involved. If you need to be calmed with more than a little gas, the next step up is an oral sedative so no pain or needles are involved to make a patient groggy, but you will be awake during the procedure. IV sedation takes affect a lot quicker, but the dentist also has the ability to adjust the amount as needed. Administered by medications prior to your procedure, deeper sedation methods will render you unconscious and unable to be awakened easily.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Smile Design Enhanced with Porcelain Veneers | New York, NY

by Dr. Dean C. Vafiadis, DDS

Porcelain veneers within reason allow for the alteration of tooth position, shape, size and color. They require a minimal amount of tooth preparation – in this case reduction (approximately 0.5 mm of surface enamel) – and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown, which requires significant removal of sound tooth structure. Although not the only alternative for all esthetic abnormalities, they are truly a remarkable restoration when they are the treatment of choice.

To read more about smile design, click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Encourage Your Patients to Drink More Water | New York, NY

48% of American adults consumes at least one glass of soda and other sweetened beverages each day, according to a Gallup poll. Furthermore, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show more than 16 percent of children ages 2 to 19 have untreated cavities.

What you may not know is that bacteria feed on what you eat and drink, especially sugars, and this creates acid that can break down the tooth’s outer surface and dissolve the valuable minerals that protect teeth from decay. The more your teeth break down, the more likely you will develop tooth decay and other dental maladies in the future.

“Sipping sugary drinks gives bacteria in the mouth more power to create acid that weakens tooth enamel and causes cavities,” said CDA President-elect Lindsay Robinson, DDS. “In addition, sports drinks pose many of the same risks as other sugar-loaded beverages, such as irreversible dental erosion, and should not be substituted for water.”

CDA urges people to swap out sugar-laden drinks for a glass of milk or water this summer. Milk contains lots of calcium, which strengthens teeth and water produces saliva, which helps to keep bacteria from setting up shop in our teeth’s crevices.

“Water contains no sugar, no acids and no calories, so your teeth, and your body, will benefit,” said Robinson. “Water also helps keep gums hydrated and rinses away food particles that would otherwise remain in the mouth promoting bacterial growth that causes decay.”

Most importantly, protect teeth throughout the year by brushing for two minutes, two times a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly and visiting a dentist for a complete dental checkup on a regular basis.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Clinical Instructor Showcase: Dr. David Ward | New York, NY

Today we take some time to highlight one of our fantastic clinical instructors, Dr. David Ward.

A Rhode Island native, Dr. Ward is proud to have followed in his father’s footsteps, and has practiced in Woonsocket, RI for twenty-two years. He graduated with honors from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. His practice focus is cosmetic dentistry and implantology. Combining these passions, he creates beautiful smiles.

Dr. Ward is a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and is Treasurer of The New England Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, The American Dental Association, The American Academy of Implant Dentistry and The International Conference of Oral Implantologists. He is an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologist. Dr. Ward is a Fellow of Pierre Fauchard Academy.

He has received commendation from The Rhode Island Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped for his work with disabled and elderly citizens and lectures locally.

Academic Affiliations

  • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
  • New England Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
  • American Dental Association
  • American Academy of Implant Dentistry
  • International Conference of Oral Implantology
  • American Academy of Implant Dentistry—Fellow
  • International Congress of Oral Implantologists—Fellow

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

The Hands-on Aesthetic Continuum | New York, NY

Dental Continuum

Here is your chance to observe over-the-shoulder or participate hands-on with a patient. Our 4-day program is spread over two weekends with a focus on comprehensive aesthetic and restorative dentistry. Through our lecture series, participating doctors are able to listen to lectures on step-by-step prep techniques, smile design principles, impression and cementation techniques, patient management, treatment planning, material selection, lab communication for a more predictable result, and more.

On our first clinic day, participants may bring a patient and prep a live case or participate without a patient and observe over the shoulder up to 10 to15 cases being prepped and temporized. One month later, participants will return, and through our lecture series, listen to lectures on cementation, occlusion, advanced cases, and marketing.

The following day, they will seat their cases in clinic. Participants who chose to observe will watch over the shoulder 10 to 15 cases being inserted.

It has been shown that the graduates of our long-running aesthetic/ restorative programs have seen their practices grow and flourish even in these challenging economic times. Let us infuse your practice with a new philosophy and fine-tune your skills to become more confident and passionate about the practice of aesthetic dentistry, setting yourself apart from others in your community!

CE Credits: 30

For tuition information, please contact us at 212.794.3552 (Mention code #495 and save upon enrollment)

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

CAD/CAM Veneers and Crowns | New York, NY

Dental Continuum

We, as dental professionals, understand that patients aren’t the most apt to jump into the dental chair more than they have to. Not only to dodge the idea of dental pain, but because restoration procedures can last more than one appointment. Thankfully, we have considered these issues and made developments to the technology to address their concerns.

Over the years, the increase in computer technologies and CAD/CAM designs have be introduced to restorative dentists. These new technologies have helped modernize fabrication protocols, reduced the patients chair time and also reduced laboratory costs.

By taking advantage of these advancements in CAD/CAM and robotic technologies it has made final abutment fabrications and final CAD/CAM restorations more predictable for clinicians. Anterior restorations now can be fabricated in one visit, as where before it took many visits to match the shade characteristics. Furthermore, the use of this technology has enhanced the education experience of newly trained professionals.

Click here to read the full article on “CAD/CAM Veneers and Crowns”.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about CAD/CAM veneers and crowns.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Steps in Creating a Beautiful Smile | New York, NY

The single most important factor in creating a beautiful smile is the ability to visualize the final result before you begin. Laboratory communication, including photographs and models of the approved temporaries, is key to success. A thorough lab prescription detailing shade, texture, central length, incisal translucency, and any other pertinent information helps to facilitate a predictable result. To develop properly proportioned teeth, it is essential to properly address many characteristics, such as contours, shade, size and length of centrals, phonetics, and occlusion. This leads to a key artistic technique—the art of recontouring—with both temporaries and, if necessary, the final restorations.

To read more about this concept, click here.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about smile makeovers.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.