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,

Having a Toothache That's Not a Toothache?

Having a Toothache That's Not a Toothache?

By Mina Levi, DDS, 08/07/2014

At the dental office of Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS in the heart of Union Square, we see a number of interesting and educational dental cases. These cases can serve as learning models in order for patients to become educated about some of the symptoms they may be having, how to treat these symptoms, or what to do to prevent certain situations from occurring. In this article, we discuss a case of a toothache that a patient had that ended up not being caused by a tooth at all.

 

A 49 year old female A.M. saw Dentist Mina Levi DDS in San Francisco as an emergency due to severe pain. It extended to the ear and even radiated to her neck. She was certain that the back most tooth, her second molar, was the culprit.

Dr. Mina Levi examined the tooth. It had a large filling, but there was no evidence of decay or a fracture. The Dentist San Francisco examined all the other teeth on the right side of both jaws. They responded normally to temperature and percussion tests (where Dr. Mina Levi will tap each tooth to determine if the surrounding ligament and bone are inflamed). X-rays of the teeth revealed no evidence of decay or infection.

Dr. Mina Levi then palpated (using her finger to exert mild pressure) around the tooth, and there was no pain. Palpating the muscles of the right Temporomandibular Joint ("T.M.J.) caused SEVERE pain. The dentist asked the patient if she was aware of clenching or grinding her teeth. She said that she was aware that she clenched her teeth, and that she hasn't worn her night guard lately. She also mentioned that she was very anxious lately.

The patient was reassured that she did not need endodontic ("root canal") therapy. Her pain was due to muscle spasms of her T.M.J. and she was referred out to a specialist who  prescribed muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications. She received also a Botox treatment for her muscle pain. Dr. Mina Levi made a night guard for the patient and advised her to start wearing it every night.

The T.M.J. muscles are just in front of, below and above the ear. So, it's easy to understand how the pain radiated to her ear. But, how, you may wonder, did they cause neck pain?

 

Think of a fine Swiss watch. Each part is carefully calibrated to work in harmony with every other part. If just one part malfunctions (or is slightly "off,") the balance and harmony of the entire system is disrupted. So it is with the muscles of the head and neck. Grinding and clenching of the teeth irritates the T.M.J. muscles. This can cause slight changes in the person's posture. These postural changes, however slight, cause straining of the neck muscles and results in pain. So, you see, proper dental diagnosis requires understanding not just of the teeth, but of the fine-tuned, complex relationship of the oral cavity to the rest of the body.

If you are experiencing neck or jaw pain, or have toothache-like symptoms and would like to discuss TMJ and treatment options, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, TMJ, TMJ San Francisco, toothache, toothache pain, tooth pain, jaw pain, neck pain, neck pain San Francisco, jaw issues, clenching at night, grinding at night, clenching and grinding the teeth, night guard, night guards San Francisco, grinding teeth, mouth guards, mouth guards for grinding, TMJ dentist San Francisco, clicking jaw, popping jaw

 

Sports Guards: Do I Need One?

Sport Guards: Do I Need One?

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/31/2014

A sport mouth guard is an appliance that is prescribed to an athlete to protect his teeth from being damaged from a physical blow to the face or an accident. A sport mouth guard is usually made with a thicker material and given its purpose; it is made to extend to cover the entire jaw, even the gum issue so that the entire mouth can be protected.

When an athlete has his or her mouth guards made, he or she can make a decision to incorporate the team colors with the appliance or even the team logo or sign. Sports guards may be fabricated so that it is part of the team uniform. There are different dyes that may be added to the acrylic material, so that some color may be incorporated.

When are sports mouth guards required?

Protective mouth guards are mandated for ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse and football by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Several states have mandated wearing mouth guards for additional sports. Other sports such as basketball, baseball, boxing, and wrestling also require properly-fitted mouth guards. The AAD and AAPD recommend the use of protective mouth guards to prevent oral/facial sports injuries.

What kinds of mouth guards are options?

There are several options with different design and/or fabrication. Options include stock, boil and bite, custom-made vacuform, and pressure-laminated mouth guards. The stock and boil and bite mouth guards are the least expensive, but do not provide the optimal fit for the prevention of injury. Custom-made mouth guards offer the best protection and the best fit. There are also design modifications that are possible that allow for tooth eruption throughout the season, as well as orthodontic modifications.

If you have questions concerning sports mouth guards and which option is the best for you, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, sports, sports guards, sports mouth guards, mouth guards, night guards, mouth guard dentist, mouth guard dentist San Francisco, sports mouth guard dentist, sports mouth guard dentist San Francisco

Saliva Testing

Saliva Testing

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/24/2014

There are many different techniques for diagnostic testing, such as having your blood drawn or giving a urine sample. One of these techniques is saliva testing, which involves the laboratory analysis of saliva to identify certain markers for several conditions. In this article, we will discuss ten uses for saliva testing.

1. For hepatitis. Saliva testing can help identify and diagnose hepatitis. These tests find antibodies as an effective method to identify patients who are infected with hepatitis. Hepatitis C and B are identifiable using these testing techniques.

2. For HIV. The saliva test for HIV, called OraQuick HIV1/2, detects HIV antibodies in high risk populations and about ninety-seven percent in lower-risk populations. It is an effective preliminary method of diagnosis, much like a home pregnancy test. This allows for people to test for HIV without going to a clinic.

3. For genetic disease trait markers. The saliva test for genetic disease trait markers allows patients to test themselves and see if they are carriers of a gene that would not be ideal to pass along to further generations. The saliva test is done by Counsyl.

4. For proneness for periodontal disease. People with periodontal disease or those who are more prone to progressing to periodontal disease have higher levels of peroxidase, hydroxyproline and calcium in their saliva. Testing for this will let patients know if they are more prone to developing periodontitis and will need to have more advanced gum care in order to treat or prevent it. Saliva tests for periodontitis are provided by OralDNA Labs.

5. For allergies. Those who have disturbed levels of immunoglobulin levels in their saliva demonstrate proneness for developing allergies, such as the severe allergy to peanuts.

6. For detecting illicit drug use. This saliva test is one of the most used, mainly used by employers and parole officers to determine if an individual has been using illicit drugs in the recent past.

7. For diabetes. The saliva test for diabetes, called iQuickIt, makes it easier and less of a hassle for people with diabetes to test for blood sugar levels. The saliva test for diabetics removes the requirement to draw blood or prick your own finger.

8. For cardiovascular disease. There are two markers that are tested for in saliva testing for cardiovascular disease. The first is CRP (C-reactive protein) which is a marker for cardiovascular risk, higher levels means a greater risk. The other is Nitric Oxide, which is a marker for cardiovascular protection, higher levels means a smaller risk.

9. For cancer. Certain types of cancer can be detected and diagnosed through saliva testing, such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and oral cancer. Pancreatic cancer is screened by testing for specific mRNA biomarkers. Breast cancer shows higher levels of a breast cancer biomarker in the saliva than healthy individuals. Oral cancer saliva tests track levels of transferring in saliva.

10. For DNA testing/ancestry lineage. Saliva tests are available to test what regions of the world a person has ancestry from. These tests are available through ancestry.com.

If you have questions regarding saliva testing or if you may be a candidate for saliva testing, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, saliva testing, saliva test, oral saliva test, saliva testing San Francisco, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis C testing, hepatitis B saliva testing, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, cancer, oral cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, cancer testing, cancer screening, cancer saliva testing, DNA testing, genetic testing, genetic saliva testing, HIV, HIV test, HIV saliva testing, HIV at home test, diabetes, diabetes test, diabetes blood sugar test, blood sugar, blood sugar tests, drug tests, drug testing, saliva drug testing, allergies, severe allergies, allergy testing, periodontal disease, periodontal disease testing, periodontitis testing, periodontitis

Oral Cancer: Why it is Important to be Screened

Oral Cancer: Why it is Important to be Screened

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/17/2014

You may have noticed at your last regular dental visit that someone asked you if you have had an oral cancer screening in the last few years. Oral canceris a disease in which cancer cells form on the lips, oral cavity or oropharynx. Without noticeable symptoms, you may not think it is necessary to have an oral cancer screening. However, by the time physical symptoms appear, the oral cancer can be progressed too far to be removed easily. In this article, we discuss oral cancer and the importance of oral cancer screenings such as the Vizilite test available with Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS.

About Oral Cancer

Most people are surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer; a death rate that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 40 years. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall has decreased, the incidence of oral cancer has increased by 5.5% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%. Oral cancer is far too often discovered in late stage development, the primary reason for the consistently high death rate. Oral cancer treatment often results in disfiguring effects on patients, and can seriously compromise their quality of life. Early detection and diagnosis can make a tremendous difference in life expectancy; oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages. Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, III and IV, leading to a five-year survival rate of 57%.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer screening tests look for cancer in the mouth and throat before a person has any symptoms. This makes it possible to identify cancer at an early enough stage to start successful treatment. Screening tests are given when there are no symptoms, so it is important to keep in mind that suspicion of cancer is not the reason for the test. For those who are non-smokers, it is suggested that an oral cancer screening is performed once every two years. For tobacco or recreational drug users, it is important to have the test performed once per year since it is a higher risk.

Vizilite Test

The Vizilite oral cancer screening test is an easy and quick system that takes about two minutes to complete and highlights any cancerous or pre-cancerous tissues. The Vizilite system gives no false negatives, meaning that every lesion identified by Vizilite is either cancerous or pre-cancerous. TheVizilite test also significantly reduces the number of false positive lesions identified during standard visual examinations, limiting the number of biopsies that need to be performed.

If you have questions or concerns regarding the Vizilite oral cancer screening test or oral cancer, visit 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, oral cancer, cancer, oral cancer screening, cancer screening, early signs of oral cancer, early signs of cancer, oral cancer screening provider, oral cancer screening dentist San Francisco, oral cancer provider San Francisco, cancer from tobacco, oral cancer from tobacco, oral cancer symptoms, definition of oral cancer, vizilite, vizilite oral cancer screening, vizilite cancer screening, vizilite test, tobacco use

How Weight Loss Products and Health Drinks Affect Teeth

By Mina Levi, DDS 07/10/2014

We are almost constantly being bombarded with advertisements for new weight loss supplements or health and energy drinks, whether it is on television, the radio, or a big printed ad at the supermarket. What many people don’t think of when they are determining whether or not to try this type of health drink or weight loss product is what affect they will have on the teeth. In this article, we will discuss how different health/weight loss substances affect oral health.

Weight loss drinks/supplements

Many weight loss drinks and supplements contain high acid content. Acid in the mouth causes an increase in the speed of development of dental cariesand also produces cervical staining. Also, acids like this may cause gum recession, which exposes more tooth structure and can cause sensitivity.

Cleanses, juices and shakes

Detox cleanses and juice fasts may cause severe tooth structure loss and can even expose the dentin, causing extreme sensitivity. The structure loss also makes the teeth look shorter. Shakes and smoothies tend to be high in acid, sugar and carbohydrates. If these products are over-consumed, they can lower the pH in the mouth (making it more acidic) and lead to demineralization and dental caries.

Energy and sports drinks

Energy and sports drinks, like soda, are highly acidic. While a person is drinking the energy drink, the acid stays in the mouth and can erode the tooth surface, causing decay, gum recession and loss of tooth structure.

source: www.agd.org

Diet fads and their effects on the health of the teeth are a large concern for dentists and patients. It is important to understand the effects of these products and understand the consequences that follow consuming these products. If you are concerned about your diet or supplements you may be taking, contact Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, diet, diet fad, diet supplement, weight loss products, weight loss supplements, diet products, sports drinks, weight loss drinks, diet soda, diet drink, juice cleanse, weight loss shake, energy drinks, sports drinks, tooth decay, decay, dental decay, dental caries, dental cavities,tooth loss, tooth structure loss, loss of tooth, tooth sensitivity, acid, acidic, oral health

Laser Dentistry

Laser Dentistry

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/03/2014

As you search the web, you may have come across a term called “laser dentistry”, such as that used by Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS. This term refers to a type of treatment that uses a laser to change or remove the soft tissue in the mouth. There are many functions of a dental laser, such as for cosmetic or hygienic procedures. In this article, we will discuss the types of treatment that dental lasers can be used for.

Gingivectomy

A gingivectomy is the removal of gum tissue, called gingival, by surgery or with the dental laser. It was originally used to treat periodontal disease or gum disease. Today, it is mostly used to remove excess gum tissue in order to improve the appearance of the gums for cosmetic reasons. Gums may have an unusual shape or be overgrown over the teeth, and the dental laser can trim the gum tissue to have a more natural look.

With the dental laser, there is no need for anesthetic of the area like there is for the same procedure using a scalpel. The laser also cauterizes the gums, so there is no bleeding or discomfort during the gingivectomy.

Canker Sores

The dental laser can also be used to remove uncomfortable canker sores in the mouth. The laser kills bacteria and relieves pain in a matter of minutes. The sore heals at a much faster rate and there is no discomfort when using the laser to treat canker sores.

Bacterial Reduction/Debridement

When the dental laser is used to reduce bacteria in the periodontal pockets, there is no removal of any gum tissue. The laser energy, when directed into the periodontal pocket between the tooth and gum, reduces bacteria, reduces risk of bacteria entering the blood, softens calculus and tartar deposits, and improves the effectiveness of a scaling and root planing procedure (deep cleaning).

At the office of Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS, a DenMat Sol Diode laser is used for gingivectomies, bacterial reductions and canker sore removal. If you have questions about the dental laser, laser dentistry, or procedures that may be right for you, visit the San Francisco Dentist on the web atwww.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, laser dentistry, dental laser, diode laser, gum tissue removal, laser tissue removal, gingivectomy, cosmetic dentistry, gum recontouring, gum reshaping, canker sore, sore in mouth, mouth sore, mouth sore removal, canker sore removal, bacteria removal, scaling and root planing, deep cleaning, periodontal laser treatment, periodontal laser, laser bacterial reduction, laser treatment, San Francisco laser dentistry, dental laser 94108