Archive for January, 2011
January 23, 2011 at 12:04 am by Ian Kerr
Filed under Clinical Cases
These next three cases highlight the sort of treatment that StoneRock Dental Care is most passionate about. What we see here is how much we can do enhance a smile and protect damaged teeth with out removing any sound tooth tissue.
The reason we are so passionate about it is that we know just how important it is to minimise the impact of dentistry on the teeth that we are treating. Enamel is like gold dust and the older we get the more precious it becomes. If we can preserve as much sound enamel and dentine as possible then we leave the teeth in a stable condition that leaves options open for later on in life. If we do heavy impact dentistry such as full coverage crowns at an early age then we have removed so much sound tooth tissue (up to 60% of the original tooth structure in the case of an anterior tooth) then we have very few restorative options left when the crown needs replacing.
Case 1
This case shows the replacement of a missing tooth using a direct fibre reinforced bridge that was fabricated in the mouth as a one visit procedure. The bridge did not require the removal of any sound tooth tissue so could be done completely painlessly.
Case 2
This case shows a smile rejuvenation with simple whitening and direct bonding of composite veneers fabricated in the mouth. This case required no drilling or local anaesthetic.
Case 3
This remarkable case involved whitening, an indirect fibre reinforced bridge to replace a hopelessly damaged lateral incisor and implant retained crowns to replace some of the missing teeth. The case took months to complete but has left the patient with all of the sound tooth tissue that they came in with so reducing their risks of complications and leaving them with all available restorative options for the future.
As ever, if you would like to know if any of these techniques could help you improve the health, function and appearance of your teeth then please do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 01580 752202
January 23, 2011 at 12:02 am by Ian Kerr
Filed under Dental Forum
As dentists we are quite rightly required and expected to give our patients information about all of the various treatment options available to them and to discuss with them the advantages and disadvantages of each one, highlighting not only the benefits but also any likely concerns or risks. This is a crucial role for us and one that requires a great deal of time and no small measure of communication skills. It is a role that we at StoneRock take very seriously and one that we pride our selves on providing a first class service in.
The discussion about treatment options usually works best when it takes the form of a conversation; one where patients feel able to discuss honestly any fears, concerns or objections that they have about any particular procedure. At the heart of these conversations is often one over riding question “Is it safe?” Many patients fear that the procedure or indeed the materials used may harm them more than the condition we are trying to treat. These fears are often of such a level that dental treatment has been avoided to such an extent that the patient is suffering pain, infection, loss of function and loss of self esteem from the state of the mouths. Over coming these fears in a sympathetic, non judgmental manner is of primary importance if these patients are ever going to be able to receive dental treatment. When ever possible, treatment should be provided in such away that it can accommodate the patients wishes without compromising their care. Sometimes this is not possible and the dentist, ultimately, must decide on the ethical suitability of a treatment if it is compromised beyond a reasonable level.
The question “Is it safe?” can usually be addressed in broad terms by looking at evidence from studies that look at large numbers of patients treated in a similar manner over many years. This can give us a rough idea of risk but it can never answer the question “Is it safe for me?” What a some patients want to know is, “what will happen to me in the future if you do this treatment for me?” This question is unanswerable in any meaningful way. We can never truly know what the outcome will be in an individual, only what the probable outcomes may be. This may sound like a woolly answer sometimes but it is the only honest one.
It is impossible to eliminate all risk from our lives. Ever treatment carries some risk of failure and of complications. Any material that has an effect will have a side effect. Every material will contain elements that are not “safe” in one form or another. BUT good dentistry done well can transform lives and can provide predictable, pain free results that work time and time again and that is something that, to my mind, is always worth the risk.
January 22, 2011 at 8:50 pm by Ian Kerr
Filed under Behind the Headlines
Prof Brian Millar, of The Kings Dental Institute (where I was lucky enough to work for several years) has clearly had one of those “light bulb” moments that makes everyone else think – “why didn’t I think of that?”. He and his team of researhes have come up with a noise canceling devise that can irradicate the whine of the dentist drill. The device has taken almost 10 years to perfect so his “light bulb” moment was some time ago but it will be a very welcome device for millions of patients world wide for whom the drill noise can stimulate very powerful, negative emotions.
Here comes the science bit. The device uses a digital signal processor that analyses the incoming sound and produces an inverted wave pattern to cancel out the incoming sounds. It can be attached to a patients MP3 player allowing them to listen their music in a much more relaxed state.
The device is not yet available but rest assured StoneRock Dental Care will be investing in a few of them as soon as they are.