Case Presentation: Anterior Smile Perfection

Another Great veneer case from Dr. Kari Ann Hong! 

This patient came to our office wanting to restore the esthetics and proportions of their smile. The maxillary anterior teeth appeared jagged and uneven due to a combination of grinding and dietary acid wear. The unnatural sharpness in tooth structure lends itself to an older appearing or "worn down" smile. Additionally, old composite (tooth colored) fillings had begun to show contrast against the natural tooth structure. As teeth age, they tend to pick up stains and wear at a rate different from composites. Over decades, these small differences can become very evident, particularly in patients who consume lots of dark liquids (coffee, soda, red wine, etc.).

In recreating this smile, Dr. Kari used a series of eight lithium disilicate veneers. These restorations give the teeth a uniform shape and color, while mimicking the natural opacity of dental enamel. In just two weeks, this smile looks years younger! If have any further questions about veneers and what they can do for your teeth, please give our office a call!

Faith and her Daughter

Faith, our dental assistant, recently brought her daughter by the office for a checkup and quick filling. Dental work can be stressful, but blankets, headphones and your favorite TV show can sure help! If you would like to know more about what we can do to make you feel more comfortable during your dental treatment, please give us a call.

Broken Teeth

Here you can see a maxillary first premolar fractured between its two cusps. Fractures commonly occur here due to natural stress points in the enamel and dentin. This tooth was fractured down into the root space and needed to be extracted. 

Like any hard object, enamel tends to crack or fracture when subjected to a large amount of force. Hence, broken teeth are a very common source of dental pain. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to pain when chewing or a constant radiating soreness. They are sometimes preceded by an audible "crack" or "pop" while chewing a hard object. No matter your current state, a cracked tooth needs to be addressed by a dentist before the symptoms will subside.

One of the trickiest parts of treating cracked teeth is that they are difficult to see. Traditional X-Rays frequently miss cracks, as they are trying to represent your three dimensional tooth in a 2-D image. Visual inspection will reveal some cracks, particularly vertical fractures through the crowns. However, smaller crack and cracks in the root area are impossible to spot with the naked eye. The most reliable way to see if a tooth has broken is by imaging with a Cone Beam CT scanner. Here, a specialist (often times an endodontist or oral surgeon) will take a 3D image of your tooth, revealing any cracks or defects throughout its structure. 

Once a tooth is confirmed as cracked, it will typically need to be extracted. Large splits in enamel running into root structure are impossible to repair or remineralize. Still, some shallower cracks in ideal locations can be treated with a crown and/or root canal. Here, the actual cracked portion of the tooth is removed, preventing the possibility of the defect propagating and getting bigger. However, it is important to note that these conditions are rarely met and extraction is the most typical course of treatment for a broken tooth. 

The most important thing to remember is don't wait and suffer in pain! Especially if you have pain while chewing or feel your teeth "flex" or "shift" when you bite down, there is a good chance you cracked your tooth. This discomfort will not resolve on its own; in fact there is a good chance it will worsen with time. If you have any type of dental discomfort, call our office as soon as possible. We can help you alleviate pain, reach a proper diagnosis and plan for the best course of action for getting your mouth back to normal. 

Dental Questions: Are my child's front teeth coming in normally?

Here, you can see the child's permanent teeth erupting behind the similar baby tooth. 

We often get calls to our office from parents concerned that their child's adult teeth are coming in behind or in front of the corresponding primary tooth. This can create a "shark tooth" appearance that looks to be preventing the permanent tooth from coming in straight. On the contrary, a retained primary tooth is usually not a problem and will come out on it's own. The permanent tooth should "push" the baby tooth out enough that it becomes loose. If the permanent tooth is fully erupted and the baby tooth still isn't loose, a dentist will usually extract the primary tooth before a problem arises. 

Dr. Kari's son Duke with his two mandibular primary central incisors erupting. These are usually the first teeth to appear.

Likewise, the mandibular primary central incisors are the first baby teeth to be lost (notice the permanent tooth erupting it its place). 

Retained teeth are usually a problem localized to the mandibular and maxillary incisors (four front teeth). The two mandibular primary central incisors are the first teeth to erupt at about six months. Subsequently, they are the first baby teeth lost at five to six years. They make way for the mandibular permanent central incisors, which typically erupt at ages six to seven. You can definitely see how a small overlap in timing can create the "double tooth" problem. 

Overall, any concerns with your child's dentition should be brought up at their yearly checkup. We pride ourselves in being an educational and informative office and want you to leave with peace-of-mind.  If you have any concerns with your family's oral health, please call our office!

Jonathan and Duke

A quick office update! Jonathan (Michael's 9-month old) and Duke (Dr. Kari's 7-month old) are both doing great! They recently got together for a play date where Jonathan's mom snapped some fun photos. Look at them getting along so well! We can't wait to meet your little ones for their checkups and exams. Have a great weekend! 

Case Presentation: Special Veneer Restoration

This case is a great example of the more complex esthetic procedures performed at our office. Today's patient came to us with discoloration and decalcification on their anterior teeth. Additionally, their left lateral incisor (the lightest colored tooth in the before pictures) had an existing crown over a root canal. It had a poor long term prognosis and could not endure any more trauma. With this in mind, Dr. Kari created a set of five veneers that restored symmetry to the patient's teeth while incorporating the esthetics of the previous crown. The result is a more natural and youthful smile that does not compromise the existing dental work. A true win-win!  

Dental Questions: What are my options in improving the esthetics of a single tooth?

This new tooth was restored using only bonding and disking. What a change!

Teeth can become cosmetically damaged through a number of different means; from chipping to fractures, staining, decay or even as a result of problems in development. Likewise, our office offers a variety of ways to restore your teeth and make them appear natural in your mouth once again.

As with any procedure, we start the process by making sure the tooth in question is sill alive and healthy. There is no sense in restoring a tooth with serious underlying problems. Secondly, we assess the extent of the damage. For minor chips and blemishes, a combination of bonding and “disking” may be the perfect fix. This process is virtually drill-less and conserves as much tooth structure as possible. You may be surprised to see what we can achieve without a crown or veneer!

For teeth with larger blemishes, or those missing a substantial amount of structure, we will often elect to utilize a crown or veneer. Cosmetic veneers are usually placed on anterior (front) teeth to modify their appearance. Since they are cemented to only one surface, they do not add any additional structural integrity. In other words, the underlying tooth must be in good condition to receive a veneer. In contrast, crowns can be used to improve the cosmetics of a tooth that has lost a significant amount of structure.  Since crowns wrap around the tooth, they can restore shape in every dimension while adding strength and rigidity to the underlying enamel and dentin.

In any instance, the result of your treatment will be a beautiful and natural looking tooth. We pride ourselves in offering high quality cosmetic solutions, no matter what the problem. If you would like to know more about bonding, veneers or crowns, please give us a call!

Case presentation: Full Anterior Veneers

Take a look at this beautiful transformation performed at our office! In the before pictures, notice how the biting surfaces of this patient's anterior (front) teeth are worn down and uneven. Flattened and discolored teeth create an older appearing smile, regardless of age. The new veneers allowed Dr. Hong to develop a uniform and well rounded smile, while correcting the tooth shade. The results are absolutely stunning! If you would like to know more about veneers or any other cosmetic services offered at our office, please let us know!

Office Construction: Final Reveal

Here's a panoramic view of our completely renovated waiting room. Even more inviting than before! A special thanks to The Sofa Guy and Room and Board for the sofas and media center. Also, check out the new artwork courtesy of Latitudes Fine Art. Last but not least, a big thank you to JRP Design and Remodel for their excellent workmanship and timely completion of all our projects. We cannot wait to show you our new look!

Office Cabi Party

Talk about having fun outside the office! Last friday, our hygienist Lori hosted a night of friends, fun and Cabi shopping. No teeth talk tonight! Pictured here are Faith, Kristi, Lori, Mia (Faith's daughter) and Dr. Kari with Duke. We always enjoy the time we get to spend with each other, both in and out of the office!