Category Archives: Dental Health

Predictable Implant Abutment Selection | New York, NY

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Over the past decade, the dental profession has witnessed an influx of abutment designs and techniques. The promises of aesthetics, predictability, and ease, however, are seldom realized. The fact is that every tooth to be replaced has its own anatomy, gingival tissue contour, bone level, tissue tone, adjacent tooth, and other variables that are hardly “predictable”. One or two types of abutments cannot be used in case designs with predictable results. With the same abutments used on all cases, an aspect of treatment may be compromised (i.e., occlusion design, aesthetics, food impaction, or the presence of a black line on the tissue). Proper diagnosis for each tooth in each situation must be discussed with the surgeon and restorative dentist.

A proper waxup of critical areas (e.g., cement enamel junction levels, interproximal spaces, and available bone with or without augmentation procedures), may possibly provide an acceptable result. Four parameters have remained constant: the width of the implant, depth of tissue, angulation of placement, and clearance of the opposing arch for available material. These parameters enable clinicians to select the appropriate abutment.

Abutment selection, however, cannot be accomplished until the tissue has properly healed. In this new generation of implant prosthetics, every implant clinician must have a provisional abutment applicable for all cases, to aid in determining the shape of the tooth being restored, and the final abutment. In the aesthetic zone, during immediate restoration, the provisional abutment can help scallop the tissue and maintain the height of the gingiva. During delayed healing placement, zirconia abutments may be the next choice due to its warmer color tone.

To read more of this article, 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.

Ensure Long-Term Protection of Patients’ Restorative | New York, NY

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As the clinical challenges of debilitated dentition are addressed, clinicians must also consider the significance of occlusal rehabilitation and with this, occlusal protection. The following two case presentations represent different, but significant occlusal challenges. As each patient sought aesthetic improvement, often the solution involved major occlusal change. The use of an anterior splint device (ie, BiteSoft™) to manage occlusal disharmony and Bruxism may often be required to achieve long-term treatment success and preserve the patients, as well as the clinician’s restorative investment.

“For patients with Bruxism, BiteSoft™ provides a means to effectively manage the condition and offers peace of mind knowing that their investments are adequately protected.”

Want to read more, including Dr. Rosenthal’s case presentations? 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.

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Vain? | New York, NY

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No one wants to be thought of as vain, but in this day and age, a large stress is placed on the way we look. If we don’t like something about ourselves, we try to change it. We go on diets, we dye our hair – there is a myriad of options we can do to improve our appearance. Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry that mainly deals with the appearance of teeth. There are several procedures involved, like teeth whitening, teeth straightening, veneers, crowns, bleaching and reshaping. While it is true that cosmetic dentistry is “elective” in more ways than one, in just as many ways, cosmetic dentistry also offers plenty of benefits from an improved smile.

A better-looking smile helps improve your self-confidence and self-esteem significantly. This then makes it easier for you to go out, smile and socialize with other people. By helping you become more confident about yourself and feel more attractive, you have a much better chance of living a better and more positive life.

The word “cosmetic” always gives off the impression that the main, and only, beneficiary is one’s appearance and that it’s only done to improve one’s look. Though, as far as cosmetic dentistry goes, it’s not always just about esthetics, it’s also about improving your oral and overall health.

Not only that, but there are many other cases where cosmetic dentistry helps in improving the overall function your teeth. Those with misaligned teeth or bites often develop worse dental problems that may result in painful areas outside of one’s teeth and this is something that cosmetic dentistry can help with.

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.

A Miracle of Collaborative Giving | New York, NY

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A smile makeover gives new hope to a cancer patient.

By David Ward, DMD

I’ve often had patients come and go with very little fanfare. It’s not that I don’t want to know more about my patients’ personal lives; it’s just that the day’s pace leaves me with precious little time to ask more than the typical superficial questions: How are the kids? How is your spouse? Congratulations on your new baby!

But on a rather ordinary day in March 2011, I met an extraordinary person. At the age of 55, Roger decided it was time to get the smile he always wanted. After cursory introductions and greetings, I sensed Roger’s uneasiness and asked about his health and medical information. He told me he’d recently seen a doctor for a medical problem and needed more tests. They suspected cancer.

But Roger quickly became more upbeat and began opening up about his desire for a better smile. It was immediately clear that we’d have a great relationship and I’d enjoy providing him with a new smile.

After discussing his goals and desires for his smile, we started discussing a budget. We obviously wouldn’t be able to complete the full plan of crowns and veneers he’d hoped for due to financial constraints, but we agreed on a staged treatment over a period of time. Roger left after chatting with just about everyone on my team, which became a common occurrence that we all came to enjoy during the course of his treatment.

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Snoozing Your Way Through Dental Appointments | New York, NY

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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

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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

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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.

A Systematic Approach to Full-Mouth Reconstruction of the Severely Worn Dentition | New York, NY

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Dental Continuum

Restoration of the severely worn dentition is one of the most challenging procedures in dentistry. In order to successfully restore and maintain the teeth, one must gain insight into how the teeth arrived at this state of destruction. Tooth wear can result from abrasion, attrition and erosion. Research has shown that these wear mechanisms rarely act alone, and there is nearly always a combination of the processes. Evaluation and diagnosis should account for the patient’s diet, history of eating and gastric disorders, along with the present state of the occlusion. Emphasis must be placed on the evaluation of occlusal prematurities preventing condylar seating into the centric relation position. Behavioral factors that may contribute to parafunctional habits and nocturnal bruxism are also important to understand and manage in order to successfully restore and maintain a healthier dentition. Once a complete understanding of the etiology of the dentition’s present state is appreciated, a treatment plan can be formulated, taking into account the number of teeth to be treated, condylar position, space availability, the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) and the choice of restorative material.

While all occlusions wear to some degree over the lifetime of the patient, normal physiological wear usually does not require correction. Severe or excessive wear refers to tooth destruction that requires restorative intervention. Severe attritional wear can result from occlusal prematurities that prevent functional or parafunctional movements of the jaw. This wear can be seen at the site of the prematurity or on the anterior teeth as a result of the “hit and slide” forward. Restoration of the worn anterior teeth then becomes a challenge as the availability of space for prosthetics becomes limited. If lengthening the teeth is a goal in order to achieve a more esthetic smile, then the question of the need to alter VDO subsequently arises.

To continue reading the article, “A Systematic Approach to Full-Mouth Reconstruction of the Severely Worn Dentition” by Dr. Jay M. Lerner DDS, 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.

Tobacco Is Killing the Good Ones | New York, NY

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It’s nothing new – we all know that smoking is bad for you. And while there are lots of ways to quit smoking on the market, many still haven’t made the choice to quit. But this goes beyond lung conditions and cancer risks, smoking is also affecting our smiles and dentists have a hard time advising their patients on the dangers of smoking. In order to help sway the masses, let’s take a look at what can happen if you continue to smoke or use tobacco products.

A new study has indicated that there is a reason why smokers suffer higher rates of oral diseases. It has been discovered that in smokers, good bacteria are essentially ejected by pathogens created by smoking. Believe it or not, but our mouths are the frontline when it comes to keeping diseases at bay. These good bacteria in our mouth work by keeping bad bacteria that causes infections and diseases (pathogens) away. In nonsmokers, good bacteria will repopulate the mouth shortly after cleaning and acts a shield to protect your mouth from disease. In smokers, good bacteria will not resurface and instead the mouth gets colonized by pathogens (bad bacteria). And it is these pathogens that will cause infections and diseases will rapidly develop. If you see these symptoms or find that your mouth is changing for the worse, we advise to talk to your dental professional about seeking treatment. Prevention is the best medicine and can keep your smile healthy and radiant.

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

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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.