Text Box: All the latest news from Dr. Mark Knapp 48 Toorak Rd. South Yarra 3141 Ph 9867 6405

CLOSING GAPS
Text Box: COSMETIC BONDING Text Box: Bonding means adhering or gluing. It is one of the most exiting areas of dentistry. The technology has been used for almost forty years (believe it or not) but its potention is only just being fully realized, with materials becoming more sophisticated and dentists becoming more savvy. Australian dentists are, in fact, world leaders in the areas with many modern techniques being introduced from home soil. Probably the most obvious advance has been with simple white fillings where cavities no longer need to be hollowed out, as with old fashioned amalgam, in order to lock in and retain the restoration. This has meant less drilling and more healthy tooth being left intact. Readers might like to check out the section on Minimal Intervention and the Terminated Tunnel Restoration that was developed at this clinic almost ten years ago. The most exciting and rewarding procedures, though, involve improving the look of front teeth. While crowns and veneers are sometimes needed, bonding often provides a wonderful alternative. It is more economical and usually less invasive. In other words it rarely requires any drilling. Probably the best way to explain is to illustrate. Have a browse through the following Before and Afters and don’t hestitate to give the clinic a call for explanations.

Using white ‘Composite Resin’ to close the gaps between teeth is one of the most simple cosmetic procedures. It has the great advantage over porcelain veneers of not requiring any drilling and the resin can always be adjusted and modified for shape and colour at any later date.

The technique has actually be been in use for decades.

FRACTURES

The repair of a fractured tooth should be seamless and invisible.  Modern dentists should have at least a dozen different shades of composite resin material available so as to achieve an imperceptible colour match with the real tooth.

Placing a crown or cap is not usually the best alternative since it requires massive drilling of the natural tooth which, in turn, can endanger the health of the inner, living pulp.

RESHAPING A SMILE

These smiles have either missing teeth or teeth that have rotated or tilted.

By sculpting and shaping the enamel in some spots and adding material in others, teeth can adopt a different identity and be made to appear straight.

I have published some articles on ths subject. See Mimicking Tooth Straightening and Treating the Cross-Bite Tooth.

FACINGS

To put a new front on crooked, damaged or darked incisors it is not always necessary to place either crowns or porcelain veneers. Composite facings can be a viable alternative. They are placed in one visit and often do not require any drilling.

COMPOSITE CROWNS

Composite crowns are not as durable as traditional porcelain crowns but, on the other hand, they do not require drilling and are more economical. In addition, any small chips can readily be repaired in a few minutes.

They leave open the possibility of later deciding to procede with the tougher, harder porcelain.

STRAIGHTENING A TOOTH

The eye tooth is crowded and protrudes while the side tooth is tucked in.

In this case, the eye tooth has been trimmed and reshaped, while the surface of the side tooth has been bonded, to effectively move it outwards into alignment.

See Treating The Crossbite Tooth.

The eye teeth were too crowded to be straightened except with orthodontics.

It was decided to extract them and made the teeth behind take on their appearance, by trimming and bonding.

See Cases Of Assumed Identity.