Comprehensive Cosmetic Treatment

Comprehensive Cosmetic Treatment

By Mina Levi, DDS, 08/14/2014

 

A 22 year old female A.G. saw Dentist San Francisco Dr. Mina Levi with a chief complaint of crowding of the teeth and an upper front tooth sticking out more than she would like. The front tooth that was sticking out had a previous history of a root canal with a large plastic composite bonding over the tooth. The secondary concern was the overall look of the teeth with color and shape. After the initial examination, it was concluded that the patient would be a good candidate for Invisalign orthodontic treatment to correct the crowding and pull the front tooth into alignment with the rest of the upper teeth.

  

 

The Invisalign treatment lasted 10 months for patient A.G., and the teeth were aligned.

  

 

Once the Invisalign treatment was completed, Dr. Mina Levi suggested Zoom whitening to change the color of the teeth. However, the root canalled tooth in the front with the composite material on the top would not change color, and a new restoration would have to be placed at the time that the shape of the teeth was being changed.

After the Zoom whitening, the patient decided to restore the front 8 teeth with Lumineers, very thin limited-prep veneers. To begin this process, San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS reshaped the gumline using laser dentistry, and also re-contoured the teeth in order for the veneers to fit well and not look too bulky in the mouth.

 

After the re-contouring was finished, Dr. Mina Levi took impressions of the teeth and sent them to the laboratory for the Lumineers to be fabricated. About three weeks later, the veneers were placed.

After about 11 months of treatment, through Invisalign, Zoom whitening and Lumineers, the final restorations gave the following final result:

  

If you have any Cosmetic Dentistry concerns or interest in Invisalign, Zoom or Lumineers, give Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS a visit on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

 

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, Cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentist san Francisco, comprehensive cosmetic treatment, comprehensive cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign clear aligners, Invisalign, Invisalign clear braces, orthodontics, Invisalign dentist San Francisco, Orthodontist San Francisco, Zoom whitening, whitening teeth, teeth whitening, white teeth, Zoom dentist, Zoom San Francisco, Lumineers, Lumineers veneers, porcelain veneers,

Porcelain Veneers for Teeth: Understanding the Steps

Porcelain Veneers for Teeth: Understanding the Steps

By Mina Levi, DDS, 05/01/2014

Porcelain veneers are cosmetically available to fix dental issues such as discolored teeth, teeth that are worn down, chipped or broken teeth, and irregularly shaped teeth. When a person is deciding to get porcelain veneers for teeth, it is very important that they understand the steps involved so that they can make the best decision possible for their oral health. In this article, we discuss the steps of traditional porcelain veneers and any concerns that a person should be aware of.

Step One: Treatment Planning

The first step in any dental procedure, whether it’s restorative dentistry or cosmetic dentistry, is treatment planning. It is important for the patient to explain to the dentist what their cosmetic goals are to see if porcelain veneers are a right fit and the best possible option. The dentist will examine the teeth and the overall oral health and decide if dental veneers are an appropriate treatment option both to reach your personal goals as well as maintaining optimal health in the mouth. The patient and the dentist will then discuss the pros and cons of dental veneers, and then the dentist will take X-rays and impressions of your teeth. These impressions can be sent to a dental laboratory before the veneers have been prepped and the lab will manufacture what is called a wax-up. This wax-up is a model of the teeth with wax veneers, to show the patient what their teeth will look like with the porcelain veneers. Once the patient has decided that veneers are the right option, the patient will decide if he or she is happy with the color of their teeth as whitening options such asZoom whitening will need to be completed before the next step in the dental veneers process begins.

Step Two: Preparation of the Teeth

To prepare the teeth for the porcelain veneers, the dentist will need to take off some of the tooth enamel. Most of the time this removal is up to about .5 millimeters of tooth enamel, which will equal the thickness of the veneer to be placed. This is done so that the veneers look natural rather than too bulky. The removal of enamel may require the application of a topical or local anesthetic. Next, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth to make models for the dental laboratory to use in order to create the custom veneers. Temporaries will be placed on the teeth if necessary for the 2-3 weeks during which the laboratory is fabricating the dental veneers. If the removal of dental enamel is an issue or concern, the other option is to go with the Lumineers, which are very thin veneers and require little removal of enamel.

Step Three: Cementing

When the patient comes in for their dental veneer cementing appointment, the dentist will first try the veneers onto the teeth to make sure that the veneersfit as well as analyze that the color matches well with the natural tooth. Then, the teeth will be cleaned, polished and etched, which roughens the surface of the tooth to make the bonding process more successful and strong. A cement substance is applied to the veneers and then they are applied to the teeth one at a time. Once they are properly positioned onto the surface of the teeth, the dentist will apply a blue light which activates the cement and causes it to harden and adhere the veneers permanently to the tooth. Once the veneers are bonded, the dentist will take time to remove any excess cement material as well as adjust the dental veneers so that the bite feels natural. The dentist may have the patient come back into the office after a few weeks to check on the bite as well as see how the gum tissue is reacting to the veneers being placed.

Dental veneers are a great cosmetic option for a wide range of dental issues. If you are interested or have questions about porcelain dental veneers or the process, visit Dr. Mina Levi DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Porcelain veneers, veneers for teeth, porcelain veneers for teeth, dental veneers, dental veneers for teeth, lumineers, whitening, teeth whitening,zoom whitening, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, chipped teeth, broken teeth, discolored teeth, bonding, dental problems, oral health, dental lumineers, tetracycline teeth

Lumineers

Lumineers

By Mina Levi, DDS, 02/06/2014 

A common worry that patients have when considering getting porcelain veneers put on as a cosmetic choice is the amount of healthy tooth structure that has to be removed in order to do so.  Traditional porcelain veneers are thick, so a good amount of tooth structure must be shaved down in order to ensure that the veneers look natural and do not turn out too bulky and stick out. This is a credible concern and causes many patients to turn away from having their dream smile. However, Den Mat’s Lumineers are thin like a contact lens, and allow for a minimally invasive veneer experience. In this article, we talk about what Lumineers are and how patients can benefit from this option.

What are Lumineers?

Lumineers are ultra-thin veneers that can be seamlessly applied over your teeth for a flawless, natural looking smile. They are minimally invasive and do not require shots, temporaries, or the loss of much healthy tooth structure.

How long will Lumineers last?

Clinical testing has proven that Lumineers can look great and last durably for over twenty years.

With Lumineers, can I still chew gum and eat my favorite sticky foods?

Lumineers are applied in the most durable way possible, so you may eat and drink whatever you want. However, Lumineers don’t replace good hygiene, so you should continue to visit your dentist every 6 months for a check-up and cleaning to keep your Lumineers looking their best.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Lumineers or any other cosmetic dentistry options, visit Lumineers Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Lumineers, porcelain veneers, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic options, Lumineers dentist San Francisco