Veneers

Everyone is conscious about their appearance. Everyday, we are becoming more aware of our outlook. Beauty takes form in different ways in an individual, it is accentuated in multiple ways in some people. Some have a good smile, while others have a beautiful face. Fortunately we have the technology these days that enables us to make a change to our appearance. When I say make a change, I’m not talking about beauty makeovers and facial reconstruction surgeries. I am referring to smile enhancement procedures that could make a huge difference to a persons outlook. Why? How? …

Allow me to explain. One of the most prominent change in a persons look is their smile. A beautiful smile, is a desire deep  inside everyone’s heart... Enhance your smile, enhance your looks. Colgate came up with a very ingenious idea. I’m sure most of us would agree on this picture below on How Important A Good Smile Is, and its influence. 
These pictures below are the courtesy of Colgate.

PAY GOOD ATTENTION TO THESE PICTURES BELOW …

                        NOTICE ANYTHING OBVIOUS ???

Im sure most of us will notice that in all 3 pictures, the guys had some deformity on their teeth. Be it food, gap between teeth or a discolored tooth, it STANDS OUT immediately. Now...

 LOOK CLOSELY !!!

In the 1st picture, the lady has more than five fingers on her left hand. In the 2nd picture, there is a phantom arm sitting on the guys left shoulder while in the 3rd picture, the poor guy has one missing ear! Wasn't all of these physical defect obvious?? Well OF COURSE they are, they just didnt stand out obvious enough! 

Clearly it proves that dental defects catches ones attention drastically. Food stuck between teeth, disfigured tooth or poorly maintained teeth when smiling draws more attention than any physical defect. All that is needed to be done is simply removing, or rectifying the defect. A small and simple repair is all that it needs, which could totally change the scenario in this case! 

Conclusion??? Sometimes a small change is all that is needed to produce a big result. Now how hard is it to alter ones smile? Simple cosmetic procedures is all it takes to enhance one’s smile. And today, everyone can own a smile they want. What is so DYNAMIC about a good smile? Well let me tell you, that there are many of us hidden among this huge society who have a complex against cameras, meeting people, and even talking to people of the opposite gender. A poor set of teeth, congenitally or developmental, either discolored, maligned, disfigured, missing or broken, could have a huge impact on a persons social life. The inability to SMILE, TALK confidently or get into CLOSE PROXIMITY with someone could lead to some people being antisocial, feeling shy and having a lack of confidence. Some avoid cameras, while some others end up smiling awkwardly in pictures. The very same people who are suffering from these problems have showed great improvements and complete transformations from who they were after a smile designing procedure. Now if it works for these people and brings an advantage to them, then EVERYONE deserves a chance to enhance their smile – and be a winner! I will introduce a method of smile enhancement that is Minimally Invasive, Simple, Safe… and results = STUNNING! With this procedure, “almost” anything is achievable !

The world of dentistry is changing rapidly, aesthetics can be achieved easily with the use proper techniques and materials. One of the most aesthetic and easiest methods to do this, is by the use of Veneers. Veneers are laminates that are placed over the labial surface of the tooth. It is like a porcelain blanket covering the tooth, wrapped on the outer surface completely and partially on the inner surface. A veneer is able to change the color,

texture, morphology, length and width of a tooth. It serves as a strong concrete like layer protecting the tooth, similar to how tiles function.

  Veneers can alter the alignment of our teeth to a certain degree. Moderate to mildly malaligned teeth can usually be corrected with veneers, provided a good treatment plan was done. With the use of high end ceramic; Noritake porcelain, veneers creates a beautiful glowing tooth surface that helps resist stain and plaque accumulation. It not only serves aesthetically, but also restores function in maintaining good oral hygiene when it comes to brushing. A properly designed veneer allows food particles that usually gets lodged between teeth to get washed off easily. This may even serve those who naturally have gaps between their teeth, uneven teeth or chipped tooth surface. Lets paint some pictures here for you to understand.

… a happy smile …

Another case of a 30 year old Chinese male who always had yellow teeth filled with stains no matter how   

much he brushed, and no matter how much he scaled. He was unhappy about his appearance.

A doctor walked in to our clinic one day, having a terrible dental condition. Due to negligence, she had 

suffered from eroded and attrited teeth over the years. We worked on her teeth, raising her bite and 

protecting her teeth with help of some crowns and veneers.

Gum Disease

Ever seen someone smiling at you with beautiful white teeth, supported with a splash of bright pink gums? Most people are concerned about their appearance, so they take real good care about their teeth. But what they fail to realize is that beneath those strong white tusks of theirs lies a supporting structure that holds their teeth in place, allowing them to be used for chewing efficiently. These supporting structures serves as pillars to the whole dentition structure in the mouth, just as how tall skyscrapers are supported by strong pilling underneath them. The fundamentals to a good oral hygiene and healthy teeth starts from your gums. Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck. They provide comfort, shelter and a cozy home for your teeth to live in. It is a very peaceful and harmonious neighbourhood providing a soft cushion blanket around your teeth.

HOWEVER ... when we have gum disease, this soft cushion around your teeth becomes painful and red. It will cause discomfort to your teeth and if not treated, this lovely comfortable home for your teeth might get jeopardized. This is brought upon by destruction of the underlying supporting tissue and bone , forming "pockets" around the teeth. What was once a beautiful home is now a wrecked warzone with disease and dead cells.

But it does not stop there. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to live. As bacteria develop around the teeth, they can accumulate and advance under the gum tissue. These deep pockets collect even more bacteria, resulting in further bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need to be extracted. So much for the beautiful white teeth we were safeguarding all this while.

Now that I have got your attention regarding healthy gums, let us discover what gum disease is all about and why does it happen. There are many kinds of gum disease. Knowing what they are and their underlying causes might help us understand gum disease better. The mouth is a very complex structure, it comprises of both hard and soft tissue supporting each other in an equilibrium. The fundamentals of healthy gums is keeping a good oral hygiene and preventing the formation of calculus ( hardened, calcified food, a.k.a. Plaque ). Accumulation of plaque, a sticky soft layer of slough over tooth surface, usually approximated close to the gums (cervical area) over a period of time could cause swelling of the gums. That is the primary indication of a gum disease. The 1st type of gum disease is Gingivitis.

GINGIVITIS simply means inflammation of the gums, ( gingiva - gums, itis - inflammation ). It is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Good news is Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Factors that may contribute to gingivitis include, diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.

  If gingivitis it's left untreated and persevered over a period of time, it will deteriorate and affect the underlying supporting tissues-causing periodontitis. Periodontitis ( peri - around, odonto - dental tissues, itis - inflammation ) is an inflammation and destruction process of the periodontium tissue, such as the cementum (overlying structure that protects the roots), the alveolar bone (base that the tooth sits on-the bone socket), the periodontium ligament ( tissue fibers holding the tooth in its place, prevent a tooth from dislodging or moving on an otherwise healthy tooth, also known as the shock absorbers to reduce impact on the tooth ) , and finally the gingiva ( gums ). Any destruction to these tissues could result in mobility of the tooth, gum recession-leading to sensitive teeth, tooth ache-due to bacteria colonies brooding in the calculus, causing pain due to the inflamed supporting tissues, bleeding of gums during brushing, and leakage of the seal between the oral environment filled bacterias and the sterile tip of the root, resulting in abcess formation. Periodontitis is a result of a longstanding gingivitis that is left untreated. It all starts of with poor oral hygiene, where bacteri colonies start to dwell within the gums, causing minor swelling on your gums.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS ???

It is very important to identify the predisposing factors for gum diseases. Elimination of the source of infection is better than treating it. Get to know your risk factors.

1.    Hormonal changes in girls/women. These changes can make gums more  sensitive and make it easier for gingivitis to develop.

2.    Diabetes. People with diabetes are at higher risk for developing 

infections, including gum disease.

3.    Other illnesses. Diseases like cancer or AIDS and their treatments can

also negatively affect the health of gums.

4.    Medications. There are hundreds of prescription and over the counter 

medications that can reduce the flow of saliva, which has a protective effect on the mouth. Without enough saliva, the mouth is vulnerable to infections such as gum disease. And some medicines can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue; this can make it difficult to keep teeth and gums clean.

5.    Genetic susceptibility. Some people are more prone to severe gum

disease than others. Back to top Who gets gum disease? People usually don’t show signs of gum disease until they are in their 30s or 40s. Men are more likely to have gum disease than women. Although teenagers rarely develop periodontitis, they can develop gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease. Most commonly, gum disease develops when plaque is allowed to build up along and under the gum line.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE GUM DISEASE?

Symptoms of gum disease include:

1. Bad breath that won’t go away 

2. Red or swollen gums  

3. Tender or bleeding gums  

4. Painful chewing  

5. Loose teeth  

6. Sensitive teeth  

7. Receding gums or longer appearing teeth  

More teeth are lost through gum disease than through tooth decay. Gum disease is likely to strike anyone who neglects oral hygiene or eats a poor diet. Particularly at risk are people with alcoholism, malnutrition, or AIDS/HIV infection or who are being treated with steroid drugs or certain cancer chemotherapies. Regular brushing and flossing help to prevent puffy, sore, and inflamed gums. It is important to know when to expect gum problems if we understand the causative factors. We have to first rule out the involvement of any sistemic disease that could possibly cause the gum condition. This can be achieved by a good history taking and clinical examination, followed by blood tests, histopathological examination of biopsy, and medical consultation.

Well, this introduction to GUM DISEASE is to educate us all about the heritage we own and how important it is to maintain and preserve it. There is much more to the gums and teeth than we think we know. This is yet merely tapping into the depth of dental science, of which we should be aware of. In the next volume, I shall discuss further about the types of gum diseases, the cause and impact on an individual, and also the solutions available to curb this disease.

However, the basic remedy to a healthy gum and teeth are to :-

1.    BRUSH

2.    FLOSS

3.    USE MOUTHRINSE

4.    REGULAR VISITS TO YOUR DENTIST FOR SCALING&POLISHING

5.    EAT RIGHT – a healthy diet always brings about positive results to the body !

For any further inquiry, please visit WWW.MALAYSIACOSMETICDENTIST.COM , or you could contact me at dryogeshbds@yahoo.com .