Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restorative dentistry. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Complementary Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry at Work

Complementary Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry at Work
By Mina Levi, DDS, 09/18/2014

In order to have a beautiful, radiant smile, the first and most important thing is to ensure that the mouth is healthy. This may require some restorative dentistry such as tooth colored composite fillings, Zirconia metal free implants and/or porcelain crowns. Restorative dentistry can complement cosmetic dentistry so that the patient can have the healthy smile that they’ve always wanted. 45 year old female patient S.K. presented to Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS with a complicated cosmetic and restorative case. The patient was missing her left and right lateral incisors and had discolored and crowded teeth. The first step in the treatment plan with Dentist San Francisco was to go through Invisalign orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth and at the same time, place Zirconia metal free implants in the spaces of the lateral incisors. This allows the teeth to be straightened and the bone to heal around the implants.

Dentist San Francisco Missing Teeth


After the implants were placed and the Invisalign orthodontic treatment was finished, S.K. had Zoom whitening performed to whiten the teeth. Then, abutment supported porcelain crowns were placed over the implants to finish the smile.
 
Dentist San Francisco Zirconia metal free implants 

The patient was very happy with her new beautiful, healthy smile.

Dentist San Francisco Cosmetic Dentistry

If you have any questions or concerns about Invisalign orthodontics, Zirconia metal free implants or Zoom whitening, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.


Thursday, May 29, 2014

Does Chewing on Ice Hurt My Teeth?

Does Chewing Ice Cubes Hurt Your Teeth?
By Mina Levi, DDS, 05/29/14

When you get to the bottom of your pop or your glass of water, it is tempting to sometimes chew and eat the ice cubes that are left at the bottom of your glass. Many people chew on ice cubes for different reasons. Even though ice cubes are zero calories, chewing on them is not all that healthy for you. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why you shouldn’t chew on ice cubes for the sake of your oral health.

Dentist San Francisco

      1. Chewing on ice cubes puts pressure on the teeth. The enamel that covers your teeth is very hard and brittle. Chewing on ice can wear down the enamel and chip pieces of the enamel off of the teeth. This can expose the underlying dentin and make your tooth sensitive, and can make way for oral bacteria to gather there and decay the teeth.

      2. Chewing ice can damage the gums. Ice cubes are hard and can be sharp at times. Chewing ice puts pressure on the gums as well as on the teeth, and can cause the gums to recede away from the teeth. Once gums recede, they will not grow back so it is important that you keep your gums as healthy as possible.

       3. Chewing ice causes a hot/cold cycle in the mouth. This hot/cold cycle can cause micro-fractures in the enamel of your teeth over time. Tooth enamel expands at a different rate than fillings, so if you have any fillings, they will expand/contract with the hot and cold temperature changes. This will cause fillings to pull away from the tooth and cause fractures, as well as leaving space for decay to form.

It is important that you identify the times and situations in which you chew on ice, so that you can recognize them beforehand and stop the habit. If you have any concerns about chewing ice and the effect it is having on your oral health, give Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS a visit on the web atwww.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.