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Dentists and Art
This new invention has made some of answers to the above questions easier and less painful to those who want to opt out of the surgical procedures. This is possible from the new ceramic material ZIRCONIA created at Centre for Image dentistry in Bethesda, Maryland. This procedure pioneered by Dr Kristallis creates a realistic looking gums with texture, color and tint exactly matched by the dentist and which fits exactly, can be glued to in a matter of 10 mins.
Cosmetic Gums
BETHESDA, Md. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) — Doctors have long known how to make replacement teeth, but gums have been a different story. It’s often impossible to reconstruct the defects caused by disease or surgery. Now, doctors say there’s a new innovation on the horizon that’s sure to make patients with gum defects smile.
Elise Kestenbaum loves to garden, but until recently, not even the most beautiful flowers could put a smile on her face. That’s because six dental surgeries left her with an embarrassing hole in her gums.
“It was pretty devastating,” says Kestenbaum. “I was still never comfortable smiling or talking.”
At first, Kestenbaum thought she’d just have to learn to live with the problem. But then she met a dentist who is devising an innovative way to close the gaps left in gums.
“This is very new,” says Thanos Kristallis, D.D.S., a prosthodontist at the Washington Center for Image Dentistry in Bethesda, Maryland. “I’m literally developing this technique.”
Dr. Kristallis creates ceramic gums that attach to teeth or implants. The innovation is possible thanks to zirconia, a strong ceramic that looks much more lifelike than dentures made of plastic or metal.
“[The substance] is just as strong as metal,” Dr. Kristallis says. “That’s a huge breakthrough in our field. For the last 30 years, we didn’t have a material strong enough.”
Dr. Kristallis begins by taking a mold of the patient’s mouth. He then bakes the mold and attaches the ceramic gums to it. After that, Dr. Kristallis begins the painstaking work of getting the coloring, texture and tints of the fake gums exactly right. He even adds shine to make them look wet. “What I’m trying to do is re-create nature,” he explains.
It only takes 10 minutes to cement the new gum to a patient’s tooth. It doesn’t hurt, and the faux gums will last up to 30 years. In a recent international dental journal, Dr. Kristallis explained the procedure could be used on either a very small area of the mouth or the entire arch. Since the new gums are ceramic and not metal, patients don’t have to worry about allergies. There are no side effects or recovery time associated with the procedure, but it is expensive in that it costs between $1,000 and $2,000 per tooth attached to a gum.
Kestenbaum is pleased with her ceramic gums. “Everything was covered. It was one piece. I could eat. I could talk,” she says. “I smile more, and I smile bigger, and I don’t worry about it.”
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Thanos Kristallis, DDS
The Washington Center for Image Dentistry
(301) 652-2300
BACKGROUND: Roughly 95 percent of all Americans suffer from some form of tooth decay or gum disease, making dental disease the most common chronic disorder in the United States. Dentists have long known how to replace missing teeth, but damaged gums are a different story. After sustaining six oral surgeries, dental patient Elise Kestenbaum wound up with several embarrassing holes in her gums. “I had a dentist who thought I had an abscess and destroyed the bone [beneath my gums] 10 to 15 years ago,” explains Kestenbaum. “It eroded all of the tissue, and the bone there disappeared, so I was left with a big hole in the front of my mouth that was very hard to cover. It was pretty devastating.” Like many patients with craters in their gums, Kestenbaum found herself unable to smile with confidence and began to look for procedures that could remedy her situation.
TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS: Cosmetic gum surgery is generally reserved for people with gummy smiles or long-toothed grins. People with gummy smiles may complain their teeth look too short in relation to their gums, so dentists may use lasers to remove excess tissue and further expose a patient’s teeth. People with toothy grins have the opposite problem and feel that receding gums have exposed too much of the tooth. In this situation, a cosmetic dentist can conduct periodontal plastic surgery to lengthen the gums and make a patient’s smile more aesthetically pleasing. Though there are several surgical procedures that can remedy almost any gingival disorder, there are few, if any, quick and easy fixes for people with crevice-laden or abnormal-looking gums.
NEW TREATMENT: Now, a strong ceramic material called zirconia is making it possible for dentists to create long-lasting, realistic looking ceramic gums for dental patients like Kestenbaum. These gums can be attached to a patient’s teeth, or they can be bound to implants in the mouth. The process of creating ceramic gums begins when the dentist takes an impression of a patient’s mouth and creates a model. The ceramic gums are formed around the model to ensure the gums will fit properly once implanted. Once the ceramic gums have been created, the dentist begins his painstaking work of getting the coloring, texture, and tints of the gums exactly right. He also adds some veneer to make the gums look shiny and wet. When the ceramic gums are complete, it only takes 10 minutes to glue them to the tooth. The procedure is completely painless, and the gums are said to last up to 30 years. “We can replace a small, little part in between the teeth, and we can go all the way and replace a full arch,” explains Thanos Kristallis, D.D.S., the cosmetic dentist who pioneered this particular procedure. Dr. Kristallis says the gums don’t just look good, they’re also durable. “[The cosmetic gums] are just as strong as metal,” he explains. “That’s a huge breakthrough in our field. For the last 30 years, we didn’t have a material strong enough. And though we tried to use ceramics, they were just very weak.” Kestenbaum says she is very pleased with her ceramic implants. “Everything was covered,” she says. “[The gum] was in one piece, so I could eat. I could talk. There was no pain or surgical recovery. Now I smile more, and I smile bigger, and I don’t worry about it.” Though effective, Dr. Kristallis says his technology is still very cutting-edge and new. “This [procedure] is very new. Every case is progress, and it’s a breakthrough. It’s very exciting,” he says.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Thanos Kristallis, DDS
The Washington Center for Image Dentistry
(301) 652-2300
Searched by:Yesim Kale, DMD
“Here are some reasons why I should be your cosmetic dentist!”
Anthony Vocaturo, DDS, FIADFE, FAGD
Cosmetic Dentist for the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageant systems and numerous international modeling agencies.
Anthony Vocaturo, D.D.S., currently practices cosmetic and restorative dentistry at the New Jersey Center of Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry in Bayonne, New Jersey. He received his dental degree in 1992 from New York University College of Dentistry and is now affiliated with the University as a clinician and speaker. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. To keep up-to-date in the changing world of dentistry, Dr. Vocaturo attends various continuing education courses.
In 1997, Dr. Vocaturo co-founded and is the President of the Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and Esthetic Dentistry and co-founder of Generation Next Dental Education Seminars. This group of dentists and physicians works to advance the recognition of cosmetic dentistry and facial esthetics, and to maintain the highest standards of those who practice it. Dr. Vocaturo is also president and founder of GAMA Seminars and Consulting. He internationally presents numerous lectures on cosmetic dentistry, inlays/onlays, and clinical adhesive cosmetic dentistry, and consults for various companies throughout country, including Digital Medical Diagnostic, Zenith, AXIS/NTI, Kultzer, Midwest Dental, Kavo Dental, Ultradent, Caulk/Dentsply/Ceramco among others for product development and refinement.
Dr. Vocaturo maintains membership in professional organizations including the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He has received numerous awards from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and is an ACCREDITED MEMBER in the National Chapter. He is also the President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Dr. Vocaturo has authored numerous articles for various dental journals, including Dentistry Today and the Journal of Practical Hygiene. His work and photos are being used for manufacturers’ advertisements, many of which serve as testimonials. These advertisements appear in Dentistry Today, Dental Products Report, Journal of the American Dental Association, Practical Periodontics and Esthetics, as well as numerous international dental journals, including the Canadian Oral Health. Dr. Vocaturo has also appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs speaking on cosmetic dentistry worldwide.
In addition, Dr. Vocaturo is also a fellow of the International Academy of Dental-Facial Esthetics and is a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. Dr. Vocaturo is 1 of less than 10 dentists in the world to hold all 3 of these recognitions.
Dr. Vocaturo has also been chosen as one of the TOP 100 dentists in the United States and Canada, for the past 4 years; 1997 – 1998, 1998 – 1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001.
“I am thankful to Dr. Vocaturo for his treatment because now I have the confidence when I smile.”
-Ulrica Udani,
Miss New Jersey Teen 2000
Drs Vocaturo and Lapine’s clients include some of the most beautiful smiles in the world.
Cosmetic dentistry can brighten dull teeth, whiten stained teeth, close gaps between teeth, repair chipped teeth, mask metal fillings, and straighten crooked teeth. It opens doors and removes obstacles to professional and social success.
With the two-visit smile transformation, or as it can be called, the two-visit smile make-over, Drs. Vocaturo and Lapine give their patients new smiles. During the consultation visit, they use study models and “wax-ups” (cosmetic computerized imaging) to show how smiles can be improved. Two visits later, the doctors have given the patient a wonderful new look.
If a person has doubts about his or her smile, or if a person refrains from smiling fully or smiling altogether, Dr. Vocaturo and Dr. Lapine offer the opportunity to regain the freedom and the confidence that has been lost.
Dr. Vocaturo is recognized as a leader in the field of cosmetic dentistry. He writes numerous articles for leading dental journals, presents numerous seminars on cosmetic dentistry and has appeared on several radio and television broadcasts.
For more patients before-after photos plz visit this link:
http://www.drvocaturo.com/smile/examples.html
Dr. Joel L. Rosenlicht is a Board Certified Oral Surgeon with a private practice in Manchester, CT. He is currently the Vice President of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and is also the Treasurer for the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Rosenlicht has lectured nationally on implant dentistry and has authored or co-authored numerous articles that have appeared in peer-reviewed dental journals and chapters in four textbooks. Dr. Rosenlicht has taken time out of his busy schedule to discuss how the XCPT software can be used to improve communications between the dental team and patients.
Osseonews: Dr. Rosenlicht, the XCPT software program has been developed to improve communications with patients. With this program you can display a patient’s panoramic radiograph or pictures of their oral cavity on the computer monitor. Could you describe how the XCPT software program can be used to educate patients about their implant treatment plan.
Dr. Rosenlicht: The XCPT software program is a very versatile and useful program that enables the dental team to effectively communicate with patients. Treatment plans involving dental implants can often be complex and difficult for patients to understand. It is our responsibility to communicate the information to the patient. The better we are at communicating, the better the patients are at understanding their treatment plans.
Osseonews: Overall would you say that since you started using the XCPT program, case acceptance has increased.
Dr. Rosenlicht: There is no question that case acceptance has increased since we started using the XCPT program. But even more important than that is the fact that it is far easier for us now to gain case acceptance because the patients understand the treatment plan so much better than before. I think this is a very important point. We do not have to spend as much time or work as hard as we have in the past to gain case acceptance. We have found that once the patient truly understands what his needs are and what we intend to do to resolve those needs, case acceptance follows logically and easily.
Osseonews: Can you describe how this works with the typical patient.
Dr. Rosenlicht: One of the great virtues of the XCPT program is that the center of our discussion focuses on the patient’s own radiographs and own presentation of teeth, edentulous ridges and soft and hard tissues. We are not drawing diagrams on the bracket table. We take the patient’s radiographs and illustrations of their oral cavity and demonstrate on them where the problematic areas are and how we will correct or improve them. We can demonstrate exactly where we intend to place implants using their true diameter and length. We can also demonstrate exactly how we intend to restore the implants. This is all done pictorially for the patient.
Osseonews: How many times do you have to go over the treatment plan with the patient?
Dr. Rosenlicht: In the overwhelming majority of cases, we only have to go over the treatment plan once. The XCPT program is that effective. At the end of the session we print out hard copies for the patient. They take these hard copies of the treatment plan displayed on their radiographs or oral cavity imaging home with them. If they have any questions they can call us and they can refer to their hard copies and we can pull them up on the screen. This kind of discussion works very well because we both have something concrete before us and we can refer to specific areas with ease. Many patients do have questions later and this is a great way to discuss them.
Osseonews: How often do patients go home with their hard copies and discuss the treatment plan with their spouse or significant other?
Dr. Rosenlicht: In our experience, this happens quite often. These treatment plans may be expensive or complex and patients often want to discuss them with their spouse or significant other before making a commitment. Having the hard copies greatly facilitates the patient explaining the needs they have and how these will be addressed in the treatment plan.
Osseonews: The XCPT software creates a vivid and explicit set of visual illustrations for the patient. About 65% of the adult patients in the United States are visually dominant. So this kind of educational program should be very effective for most of the patient population.
Dr. Rosenlicht: That is certainly true but it is even better than that. For patients who are visually dominant we can manipulate the visual illustrations and focus in on certain areas or show other views. We have great latitude to modify the visual imaging. And again, this is all on the patient’s own radiographs and views of their oral cavity. This makes this a very personal experience.
For those patients who are auditory dominant, which is about 25% of the adult patient population, we can use the radiographs and views of the oral cavity as cues for spending some more time actually discussing the treatment plan. These patients require more discussion and more verbal dissemination of information. Again, we find the XCPT a very useful too for dealing with these patients.
Osseonews: The XCPT program enables the dental team to tailor the presentation or the information to suit the particular needs of each patient.
Dr. Rosenlicht: Some patients require a lot of information and others do not. Some just want to know something about the basics. The dental team has to make an assessment and then decide how much information to present and in what format.
Osseonews: Compared to other forms of communicating with patients, the XCPT seems to be so much more sophisticated.
Dr. Rosenlicht: That is absolutely true. And many patients expect this kind of a ‘high tech’ presentation. Today patients are far more knowledgeable than ever. With the internet and search engines, so much more information is easily available. Patients come in knowing more and expecting more. If you are proposing what most patients would consider a ‘high tech’ form of dentistry then they also expect a ‘high tech’ presentation. Drawing pictures on the bracket table just doesn’t cut it anymore.
I like to think of this as sort of a ‘wow’ effect. You want the patient to be wowed with your presentation, especially the high tech part of it. If you are proposing high tech dentistry, don’t even think of drawing pictures on the bracket table, or worse, holding up the patient’s radiographs and pointing at sites.
If I could just add one other dimension here to the discussion. The XCPT takes the stress out of communicating with patients. You do not have to search for pictures or illustrations. You do not have to relate generic examples to the patient’s own situation. You have a very neatly packaged system that does it all for you.
Osseonews: Do you feel that XCPT type presentations are going to become the standard operating procedure in most practices?
Dr. Rosenlicht: Put it this way. If you are not using the XCPT or a program like it now, you will be in the future. This is the way information transfer has been developing in dentistry. If you are going to do sophisticated, high tech dentistry, this is the kind of the communication tool that you need. I would put this in the ‘must have’ category of dental assets.
Osseonews: How can the XCPT be used to communicate with other dental specialists and general practitioners?
Dr. Rosenclicht: This is a very important point. The XCPT makes it so much easier for members of the dental team to communicate with each other. You can e-mail back and forth radiographs, imaging and variations or questions on the treatment plan. You can manipulate your copies of radiographs or oral cavity imaging. This becomes an essential tool, especially in complex cases.
Osseonews: What is your advice for the beginner with the XCPT?
Dr. Rosenlicht: For the computer literate dental team member, the transition is an easy one. But even for people like me who are not computer literate, there are excellent directions. The ‘Help Menu’ is excellent and very easy to use and extremely helpful. Just start at the beginning and gradually build up your skills. You do not have to be a geek to figure out how to use the program.
There is a learning curve. Start with the basic skill sets and practice them. You will find that you can master the program in a short time.
Osseonews: Do you use XCPT in the operatory?
Dr. Rosenlicht: We have installed fixed computer monitors in the operatories. This makes it easier to display the information to the patient. We are comfortable presenting simple treatment plans in the operatories. For more complex treatment plans, we prefer a private office setting.
Osseonews: Who presents the treatment plans to the patients?
Dr. Rosenlicht: I firmly believe that it is the doctor’s responsibility to do this. The implant coordinator can be present to help with questions on financial arrangements or logistics. But the doctor should present the treatment plan and should answer any questions the patient might have.
Osseonews: Can these custom treatment plans be entered into the patient’s record?
Dr. Rosenlicht: You can make an entry either in an electronic or paper dental record. In any case, this constitutes a very important piece of information. You can establish that you spent a significant amount of time and effort describing the treatment plan to the patient. You can have entries for alternate treatment plans, potential for complications, and so on. This creates a strong argument for your diligence in educating the patient and obtaining a true informed consent to the treatment plan. As we move into an ever more litigious society, the virtue of maintaining complete dental records assumes great significance.
Osseonews: On behalf of Osseonews.com I would like to thank you for discussing this subject with us. For further information on the XCPT software, please go to www.XCPT.com.
Interview conducted by Gary J. Kaplowitz, DDS, MA, M Ed, ABGD
Editor, Osseonews.com
For tutorial videos please link this adress:
http://www.xcpt.com/tutorials/
http://www.xcpt.com/download/ FOR 30 DAY FREE TRIAL !
The beauty hides in hearts,
Esthetis is in smiles…
The names would be forgotten but,
The beautiful smiling and looking sincerely
Would never…
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