Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

Archives for October 2018

Do I Need a Special Dentist for Implants?

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My husband wants to get two dental implants. I think he needs a specialist and he said regular dentists do it. Because we’re talking about surgery, I just want to make sure he gets the best care possible. What’s the right type of caregiver for this?

Cindy

Dear Cindy,

Illustration of dental implants in three parts

I don’t blame you for wanting the best dentist possible for your husband’s care. In fact, it’s not just the sign of a loving wife, but a wise one as well. To answer your question, there isn’t a dental implant specialty, but there is a distinction in what type of dentist your husband should see for his implant procedure.

Finding the Best Dentist for Dental Implants

The first thing you want to look for is a dentist who is well-trained in the dental implant procedure. When I say well-trained, I’m not referring to a good dental school. This procedure is so advanced it requires significant post-doctoral training.

For instance, Dr. Cha completed every course at the famed Misch International Implant Institute. Not only that, he’s done so many successful implant cases he’s now a fellow at the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). This puts him among the top implant dentists in the world.

The second thing you’ll look for is a dentist who can do the surgery himself. Many dentists who say they do dental implants actually only do the crown portion and farm out the surgery to another practice. While that can work, often communication issues arise which means the dental implant isn’t placed in the exact position the dentist needs.

Oral surgeons may be good at surgery, but they don’t always understand the science behind how teeth should properly meet with each other. This can lead to biting or aesthetic issues. If you have a dentist trained in the surgery, there’s no chance of bad placement through miscommunication.

Finally, you’ll want a dentist who is skilled in cosmetic work. You want the porcelain crown used for the tooth to look both beautiful and natural, blending in perfectly with your natural teeth. Ideally, you’d find a dentist who is not only highly qualified in dental implants but is also accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Avoiding My Sister’s Porcelain Veneers Disaster

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My sister and I were both planning on getting a smile makeover. She beat me to the punch and I’m feeling glad she did because I’m hoping to learn from her disaster. I don’t want to sound mean but her teeth look like horse teeth. Is there a way I can make sure my teeth won’t look bulky? She said hers were no-prep. Is that the problem or is it something else? She’s pretty disappointed in her smile.

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

A porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I wonder if your sister’s dentist placed Lumineers on her teeth. They’re a brand of porcelain veneers which are highly marketed as being no-prep. The problem is some smiles do need prep even with an ultra-thin brand of porcelain veneers. Otherwise, they look bulky. Your sister’s smile sounds like one of those.

Sadly, these are marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. Being easy to place is completely different than making them look stunning. There’s much more to porcelain veneers than just the prep of the teeth.

The key to a beautiful smile makeover is choosing the right dentist to design your smile. Cosmetic dentistry is an art form. If you were commissioning a portrait you wouldn’t just hire the first artist that popped up on your internet search. You’d do research to see if you like the type of work they do.

Getting Gorgeous Porcelain Veneers

You’ll want a dentist who’s passed accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the world. They’ve passed stringent oral and written exams. Additionally, they had to demonstrate their artistry by providing a large sample of specific cases they’ve completed.

Any accredited dentist can give you a truly stunning smile. In fact, most of them have a beautiful smile guarantee. You’ll find your smile makeover gives you increased confidence.

As for your sister, you can’t really “improve” veneers once they’ve been permanently bonded on. Her best bet is to have her case completely re-done. If her dentist cares about the quality of his work, he won’t want a patient to be disappointed in their smile. Hopefully, he’ll be willing to do it over or give her a refund.

If he does it over, make sure he allows her to look at her porcelain veneers carefully with a try-in paste before he bonds them on. She should give complete approval before allowing them to be permanently bonded.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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