September 24, 2007 at 8:36 pm by Ian Kerr
Filed under Clinical Cases
This case is just the sort of work I love to do. It involves changing smiles, which can really change peoples lives. The reason I love this work is that I get to do it all by hand in 1 visit and there is NO drilling to the teeth and so NO need for any anaesthetic. It is entirely painless!
The patient did not like the gaps and felt that his teeth were too small. I was able to build them up using direct white filling materials and we were all delighted with the results. The patient will need to keep the teeth very clean, especially around the gums and will need to limit the amount of black coffee he drinks. If he does this and remains a non-smoker then we can expect this result to last 8- 10 years. At this time the work can be redone with no damage what so ever to the underlying teeth.
If you would like to know more about how we can enhance your smile then please call the surgery on 01590 752202 and we will be happy to help.
September 24, 2007 at 8:25 pm by Ian Kerr
Filed under Clinical Cases
This case highlights how we can remove even extensive amalgam fillings and replace them with very natural looking cast overlays and direct white fillings.
The patient did not like the large metal fillings and was aware that they were making her teeth much more vulnerable to fracture and decay. She wanted her teeth to be stronger, nicer looking and easier to keep clean. We were able to fulfil all of her requirements and she was delighted with the results. The treatment took two visits per side and caused no discomfort through out.
If you would like to know more about how we can prolong the life of your teeth and make them more natural looking at the same time then please call the surgery on 01580 752202 and we will be happy to help.
September 6, 2007 at 10:29 pm by Ian Kerr
Filed under Clinical Cases
I love this next case as it shows just exactly why I do whitening. The patient has gone from being embarrassed about her smile to loving it, with no damage to the teeth and no drilling or injections!
We used a combination of home and surgery whitening, with the patient wearing upper and lower gel trays for 14 nights followed by a 1 hour session using the same trays but a stronger gel at the surgery on the 15th day. As with every case the patient experienced a mild level of sensitivity but this passed after a couple of days. Needless to say the patient was delighted.
If you would like to know more about whitening and how it might improve your smile then please do not hesitate to call us at the surgery on 01580 752202 and we will be happy to help.
September 6, 2007 at 10:20 pm by Ian Kerr
Filed under Clinical Cases
Some times, when a front tooth dies off it can darken and ruin an otherwise attractive smile. Previously the only way to improve the appearance of the tooth was to cut it down and cover it with a porcelain crown or a veneer. This worked OK but was destructive to the tooth, leaving it weakened and prone to fracture.
Fortunately, newer techniques using whitening gels allow us to lighten the tooth colour so leaving it natural looking and much stronger than if it had been crowned. The two cases below show the sorts of results we can achieve using this internal whitening approach.
In both cases it was necessary to redo the root canal filling as there was infection present under each tooth. The technique was the same for each case and involved the patient using a whitening gel in a close fitting mouth guard for 5 days, worn each night and as much as possible during the day. A small access cavity was left open in the back of the tooth, which allows the patient to place the gel inside the tooth each time, so maximising the whitening effect. At the end of the five days the cavity is refilled and the tooth left in it’s otherwise natural state.
This very dark tooth would need to be very heavily drilled if it was to be covered by a crown or veneer.
The root canal filling was of poor quality and needed replacing.
Once the root canal filling was replaced the access cavity was left open to allow internal whitening.
At the end of the five days the cavity was resealed and the tooth was fully whitened
The following case used exactly the same technique and was an extremely rewarding result as it saved the patient from having very surgical enhancement if the tooth had been lost.
The dark tooth really detracted from an otherwise lovely smile. Again the root filling need replacing first.
The result took five days to achieve and has left the patient feeling much more confident about her smile.
If you would like to know more about the techniques used here, then please call the surgery on 01580 752202 and speak to our treatment co-ordinator Victoria Eaton.