Thank You for the opportunity to deliver our care to you in 2017. Happy Holidays from all of us, and Cheers to an outstanding 2018!
Modern Ceramics - Apple Watch vs Teeth
What do Apple Computers company and dentistry have in common? The Apple Edition Ceramic Watch is made of Zirconia, a material commonly used in dentistry today. Zirconia undergoes a sophisticated fabrication process called sintering where its powder form is treated with heat to compact into a solid material of tremendous strength. Zirconia can be shaped, layered with additional ceramics, or simply stained and glazed to create realistic details found in natural teeth. The discovery of Zirconia allows dentists and dental ceramists to create beautiful restorations which can resist fractures. However, Zirconia is extremely technique sensitive in the lab. Making Zirconia look good for front teeth requires the work of ceramists with meticulous artistic skills.
The first photo below shows the Apple Watch made out of Zirconia. Note the highly polished glossy surface. The Zirconia is so strong that a watch casing can withstand the stress of wear and tear.
The second photo here shows a clinical case of upper and lower veneers we recently completed with Zirconia. Note the detailed characteristics which give the veneers life. By taking advantage of the strength of the material, and combining its scientific properties with the art of dental ceramics these veneers will out last those created by materials in the past.
Apple Watch photo courtesy of macworld.co.uk
Happy Holidays !
Season's Greetings from our team to you. May your Holidays be filled with love and your New Year a spectacular success !
Happy Thanksgiving !
From all of us to your family, a sincere Thank You for the opportunity to provide our care to you! May your celebration be sumptuous and filled with love.
Anterior Teeth Wear - Treat or Ignore?
Anterior teeth wear usually exhibits a classic pattern where the canines will get ground down first, followed by the front four teeth. It is a challenge to restore and maintain this kind of bite profile. If we go by the belief that enamel is sacred and that we should never grind away teeth to restore them with porcelain, then allowing the teeth to destroy themselves to tiny short stumps goes against this belief.
If we restore early enough and the patient is diligent with night guard wear, then the treatment can be predictable and effective.
Anterior bite problems dictate length, shape, and position of the anterior teeth. Hence, on occasion where dentists and patients may mistakenly violate the mechanical principle of the bite at the expense of esthetics, then one can expect the bite to fight off anything that is in its pathway.
By choosing not to treat an anterior bite case, the teeth will wear themselves away. In the case below we can see the actual opening of the nerve canals on the front teeth. Severe wear cases also leave us with very little tooth structure to work with. Hence, anterior teeth wear should not be ignored.
