Great Case.
Female. Lost 3 teeth on upper left side. 4th tooth broken at gum line.
Placed 2 implants.
Extracted broken tooth after implants placed.
Went very smooth.
Tons of stability upon placement.
Will update when crowns go in.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Snap on Smile
I blogged about the "Snap on Smile" a while back.
Well, here it is.
Delivered our first case yesterday.
Here are the before and after pictures.
The appliance is completely removable.
Its made of an ultra durable plastic.
You do everything with it. Even eating.
Just take it out at night.
No shots or drilling.
For more info go to www.snaponsmile.com
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
But it doesn't hurt?
This is a question we get asked all the time.
"Are you sure I have a cavity. Because it doesn't hurt."
Well, saying that is like saying, "Why do I need to change my oil when my car is running just fine?"
Your car may be running fine and you could save yourself $49.99 by not changing your oil.
However, when you engine seizes up your repair bill is now about $4,000 for a new motor.
You didn't end up saving a lot in the end.
Same is true with teeth and cavities.
you could save yourself the small cost of getting a cavity filled but then when it starts to hurt you will need to get a root canal and a crown. That means that your cost, and your discomfort, will be significantly more.
Save yourself the money and the discomfort.
Get your cavities filled when they are small.
Monday, December 20, 2010
What's a root canal?
For those of you needing a root canal, or those of you that have already had one, but have no idea what a root canal is, this video is for you. The posts and the crown are not always needed but other then that this video is pretty good.
Some of you may have heard horror stories associated with this procedure. The problem most people have while getting a root canal is that they do not get it done by a bald dentist.
That makes all the difference in the world : )
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
The black line
I get asked all the time, by patients, why they have a little black line at the base of my crown. The answer to that is because your crown is made partially of metal. It is called a porcelain fused to metal, or PFM, crown. The metal is what gives the crown the strength and the porcelain is what is layered over the top to make it look like a tooth.
That little black line that people see is the metal sneaking a peek out from underneath the crown. And unfortunately that little line will never go away.
In Dr. Ellis' office we do our very best to keep up on the latest technology. This includes crowns that are made of NO METALS whatsoever. This way there will never be a little black line showing through.
These new crowns are called Bruxzir crowns and they are made completely out of zirconium. This substance is incredibly strong and does not present the problem of older PFM crowns with there black lines or chipping of porcelain.
Technology is moving fast and we are trying to to stay up with it. Come in and talk to us today about a beautiful new Bruxzir crown.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Snoring problem???
Most snoring can be linked to displacement of the lower jaw during sleep.
This new product has only been on the market for a little while now.
Its function is to reposition the lower jaw in such a way that
snoring will be diminished if not done away with all together.
Fabricated by your dentist in just one appointment.
Reports from patients is wonderful.
Stop that snoring, TODAY!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Cosmetic Bonding
Just did this case yesterday.
No shots.
No drilling.
30 minutes.
All for the cost of 2 fillings.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Mouth guards
It is pretty important that anyone in sports wears a mouth guard when they compete.
Right now on our office facebook page we are offering a limited number of FREE sports mouth guards. Hop on over and see if you can get one.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"$100 Dollar Bill"
We are giving these little beauties out every day!!
Just refer your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, or even your most hated rivals to our office for their dental care and we will send you one just like it.
No cheesy thank you cards, gift certificates to the scratch and dent grocery store, or even drink mugs with sayings like "I love my dentist" on them.
Just cash.
and who couldn't use a little more money in their pocket these days.
You can go to our office Facebook page to see testimonials from patients who have already received there bonuses.
Monday, November 22, 2010
My tooth just tipped over!!!
Most people think that its no big deal to get a tooth taken out. they will say things like "its just one tooth" and "I've got a ton more". Well, you do have a lot more teeth then just that one but this does NOT mean that getting a tooth out will not create many other problems in the mouth.
Some of the problems that can occur are as follows.
#1 The tooth that chews against the tooth you just took out will move up, or down, into the spot just vacated by the extracted tooth. This top tooth is moving down into the mouth.
#2 The teeth right next to the extracted one will begin to tip into the spot just vacated by the extracted tooth. These next two pictures were taken 5 years apart. The patients tooth tipped completely over and needed to be extracted.
Both of these can cause your bite to be thrown completely off and make chewing uncomfortable.
#3 As you chew hard and crunchy foods, they will pinch up against the gums where the tooth used to be.
Moral to the story is this.
If you can fix your teeth, then do it.
If you can't, then get the hole filled where the tooth used to be ASAP.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Cosmetic Dentist Myth
Here is a little video I put together.
Its called, "The Myth of the Cosmetic Dentist"
Enjoy
Monday, November 15, 2010
Periodontal Disease
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal Disease is when the supporting structures of the teeth (gums and bone) become diseased and begin to deteriorate. When this happens the support that they provide for the teeth begins to weaken. This weakening can continue to the point that perfectly healthy teeth can become loose and simply fall out of your mouth.
"Since I brush regularly I don't have to worry about that right"?
Wrong.To insure that periodontal disease does not reek its havoc on your mouth a few things are essential. First is to brush.
Second is to floss.
Third is to use an antibacterial rinse.
Fourth is to see your dentist on a regular basis for a professional cleaning.
These steps may not prevent 100% of periodontal disease. Certain factors such as genetics also can play a large part. However, doing these things can greatly reduce the chances of you ever getting periodontal disease.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Just Gross
Probably the grossest thing in all of dentistry, to me, is meth mouth. Years of methamphetamine can rot a persons teeth like nothing you have ever seen.
ENJOY!!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Halloween Candy
As we are coming up on Halloween it seems only appropriate that we discusses if it is okay to let your kids eat their Halloween candy?
Absolutely YES!!!
As long as the eating of the candy is done in the proper way. After we eat anything (bread, eggs, cheese, etc.) our mouth's will produce extra saliva. This saliva is secreted in an attempt to neutralize the acids that are being produced by the bacteria that live in our mouth's. These bacteria are feed off of the food that we consumed. Typically a person's salivary rate will return to normal in about 15 minutes and at that point the acids attacking your teeth are back to manageable levels. A good brushing and flossing will then get your teeth the rest of the way to being clean.
Therefore, the proper way to have your kids eat all of that candy would be to let them eat their candy for about 10 minutes or so after dinner. Once they have had their little treat send them to brush and floss for the night. Doing this will allow them to eat their candy. Allow you to look like a cool parent. And present only a very slim chance, if any, of your child getting any cavities from their Halloween haul.
The thing NOT to do would be to let them keep the bag in their room and have a piece here or there all day long. This will keep the sugar on their teeth all day and the salivary glands will never get a chance to catch up. And since they will not brush after every piece of candy they will eat the acids produced by the bacteria will have much more time to do damage to the teeth before being brushed away.
So go ahead. Let the kids have their candy. Just make sure its in short spurts and that a good brushing and flossing follows.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Do I need a Root Canal?
There are several reasons why people may need root canals.
One reason would be trauma. Hitting a tooth hard enough can cause the tooth to die and need a root canal. Fracturing a tooth by biting into something hard can expose the nerve and also lead to a root canal. The final reason for a root canal is illustrated in the picture below. If a cavity is left untreated and it gets down into the nerve of the tooth then that tooth will need to have a root canal. The need for a root canal may be indicated if a person has moderate to sever pain in the area of the problem tooth. Another indication would be a s
mall pimple or lump forming in the are of the tooth.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
TMJ problems.
TMJ is the abbreviation for Temporal Mandibular Joint. It is the joint directly in front of your ear that is used by your body to open and close your mouth. It is like most other joints in your body in that there is cartilage, fluid, bones, and muscles involved. And just like any other joint in the body any piece to this puzzle can deteriorate, get misplaced, damaged, or have any other number of problems.
If any sort of damage does occur then pain may result. If you are having pain there a number of different treatments available to help resolve the problem. One of those ways is to have the patient where a TMJ mouth guard. This appliance will help stabilize a joint that may be damaged or inflamed and gives the dentist valuable information as to what may be causing the problem.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
What are sealants?
Sealants are a protective barrier that is placed over a child's tooth to protect it from decay. Sealants are typically placed over the first and second adult molars soon after they come in. The first molars come in at about age 6 and the second adult molars at about age 12. The reason that baby teeth are not sealed is the fact that they will usually fall out before any serious damage can occur. Sealing of teeth does not typically happen throughout adulthood because adults have have the capacity to brush their teeth well enough to prevent decay. It is the newly erupted adult teeth, in the child, who isn't the best brusher, that we are most worried about. Sealants are quick and painless. They are covered completely by most insurances and they are a tremendous benefit to any child that gets them.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
What type of crown?
If your dentist tells you that you need a crown then you have a decision to make.
What type of crown do you want to get?
Well, that depends.
The strongest is gold. With gold there is almost zero chance of fracture, chipping, or failure of any kind.
However, when you smile people are going to see the gold in your mouth.
With a white crown no one will ever know you have one. If the color is matched properly they are invisible.
White crowns however, do have the chance of fracture, chipping or failing in some other manner.
The choice is yours. Consult your dentist to see what is right for you.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tongue Piercing
Should you care about piercing your tongue?
Only if you care about your tongue.
Below is an infected tongue piercing.
Tongue piercing can be very dangerous.
The tongue has many many nerves that can be damaged during piercings.
This damage could forever change the way you taste your food.
Since the mouth can not be kept sterile, as other parts you may pierce,
the chance of infection is greater.
Cracking your teeth on a tongue ring is also a very real concern.
Therefore, DON'T DO IT!!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Will the snoring ever stop!!
Another new product that we are offering patients.
Silent Sleep device.
Help that loved one, and yourself, get a better nights sleep.
This device helps with proper jaw placement during sleep to prevent snoring.
For more information you can go to www.mysilentsleep.com
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Snap on Smile
New product on the market.
Called Snap-on Smile. Covers any missing, broken or worn out teeth.
Removable if you want to go without it.
No Shots, just a couple of impressions.
We will see how it works.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Cosmetic Bonding
Many people have small gaps in between their teeth that they would like fixed. Most people think that expensive braces or crowns are the only answer so they choose to do nothing.
This is not the case. Cosmetic bonding is a procedure where white (color chosen to match your teeth) filling material is placed on the side of each tooth where the gap exists. This closes the gap and makes a rather unaesthetic spot a whole lot better. You can still floss the area, no one can tell that anything has been done, and best of all it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get it done.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
What is cleft lip/palate?
The word "cleft" simply means a crack or divide. A cleft lip is simply the body incorrectly or incompletely closing the facial structures during development. This incomplete closing leaves a cleft, or divide, in the lip and/or palate of the new born. Below is an ultrasound showing a cleft lip.
About 6,800 children in the United States are born with isolated cleft lip/palates each year. This number accounts for about 70% of all the clefts in children. The other 30% of clefts are associated with one of over 400 syndromes that include a cleft as part of the syndrome.
Clefts are normally very repairable and the scare can be almost unrecognizable.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wisdom teeth
Do I really need my wisdom teeth out?
More than likely you do.
There is only a small segment of the population that has enough room that would allow for all 4 wisdom teeth to erupt completely into the mouth. Wisdom teeth removal can range in difficulty from very simple to very complex. Which end of the spectrum your own personal wisdom tooth removal ends up being is dependent upon several factors. How far can you open your mouth, how far up, or down, into the jaw do your teeth sit, and at what angle do your teeth lie are just a few of the concerns that must be addressed by you and your doctor to determine what to expect from your own wisdom tooth surgery.
Artist rendering of different kinds of wisdom tooth positions.
Two actual patient x-rays of horizontally impacted wisdom teeth.
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