A More Affordable Full Mouth Reconstruction

A More Affordable Option for Full Mouth Reconstruction

By Mina Levi, DDS, 09/04/2014

66 year old female L.D. presented to Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS with an old broken partial denture and needed to explore full mouth reconstruction with minimally invasive options. There are multiple ways to approach a full mouth reconstruction. The first is to place implants in the areas of the missing teeth and restore with crowns. This is the most bio-mimetic option as the implant acts just as a natural tooth root would. However, this option is also the most expensive. Another option is to replace the partial denture. The most cost-effective option, however is to replace the denture with Snap-On Smile.

What is Snap-On Smile?

Snap-On Smile is an affordable cosmetic solution that can be either temporary or permanent. Snap-On Smile is made from impressions of the individual’s own teeth to be able to “snap on” over the teeth and cover any aesthetically unappealing flaws. It is made from dental resin, which makes it thin but strong enough to eat and drink with.

 

The Snap-On Smile is great for patients who:

1. Have gaps or spacing between the teeth. Invisalign clear aligners are also great for this issue as well, but the Snap-on-Smile is a little more cost-effective.

2. Have overly-crowded teeth.

3. Have teeth that are shorter than usual.

4. Are waiting for implants to heal before the crown is placed.

5. Are looking for an alternative to old fashioned partial dentures.

 

Patient L.D. decided to go with the Snap-On Smile option.

After replacing two crowns due to dental decay, the Snap-On Smile was delivered and the patient was very happy with the result.

If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to see if Snap-On Smile is right for you, visit the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS on the web atwww.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

 

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, Snap-On Smile, full mouth reconstruction, reconstruction, restoration, dental restoration, partial denture, denture, dentures, dentures San Francisco, implants san Francisco, missing teeth, dental decay, crowns, porcelain crowns, Dental Bridges, Dental Implants, Teeth Gaps, Teeth Crowding

Titanium vs Zirconia Implants

Titanium vs Zirconia Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great, and probably the best, option for patients looking to replace a missing tooth. Dental implants are metal or Zirconia anchors, which act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. Small posts are then attached to the implant, which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves one surgical procedure and oftentimes teeth can be placed immediately. The dental implant is a good alternative to full dentures or partial dentures, since it acts like a real tooth. Once a person and their cosmetic dentist have decided that dental implants are the right choice for them, the next big question is which implant to go with, titanium or Zirconia. In this article, we highlight the pros and cons of metal-free Zirconia implants to compare them against traditional titanium implants and give you the cosmetic dentistry knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

Zirconia implants

Pros

•   Great for patients who have metal allergies. Zirconia implants are all ceramic and metal-free, which gives patients the implant option without risking an allergic reaction.
•   More aesthetically pleasing. The Zirconia implants are all-white, which blends better with tooth color and does not leave the dark gray undertones of a metal implant.
• · Integrates better with soft tissues than the titanium implant.

Cons

• · All one piece. The Zirconia implant is one piece whereas the titanium implant is two pieces, so if anything happens to the top, the entire implant must be replaced.
• ·  Slower healing time. Zirconia implants take about 5-6 months to heal in comparison to the 3-4 months that titanium implants take.
• ·  More expensive. The cost of Zirconia dental implants is higher than the titanium implant option.

If you are in need of a dental implant consultation, for example if you are wearing a denture or need to have a tooth replaced, visit premier San Francisco metal free implant dentist D.r Mina Levi DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066. More information regarding either Zirconia implants, titanium implants, the cost of dental implants or cosmetic dentistry is always available on our website.

Topics: San Francisco Implant Dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Zirconia Implant, Dental Implants, Titanium Implant, Cost of Dental Implants, Dentures, Partial Dentures, Missing Tooth, Missing Tooth Replacement, Cosmetic Dentist