Many people fear their semi-yearly trips to the dentist. The prospect of a cavity and the dreaded reality of a filling weigh heavily on many minds. Add in the possible need for a crown or veneer to repair damaged teeth, the dental visit quickly goes to the bottom of the “to do” list.
Thankfully, innovation in dentistry has made tooth restoration easier, more convenient, more accurate and overall less worrisome for patients. Our office uses CEREC® equipment, which provides for on-site creation of natural-looking ceramic fillings – in a single visit. We use a digital camera to take an optical impression of the damaged tooth, design the appropriate restoration using CAD software and mill tooth-colored ceramic on-site in about 10 minutes. There’s no need for a temporary and return visit. From tooth preparation to placement and bonding, a patient can have his or her smile restored in less than an hour.
CEREC is a shining example of recent advances in the dental profession and we at Rye Smiles for Life are proud to be among the first in the metropolitan Washington, DC area to offer patients this new approach to tooth restoration. Contact us at Rye Smiles for Life and find out how this new dental technology can improve your smile and your life today.
We recently received this note from a very happy patient. We always appreciate the trust our patients place in us to give them the smiles they’ve always dreamed of. It’s especially rewarding to get this kind of feedback.
Dear Dr. Rye,
I love to smile. I have a great big smile and find smiling and laughter good for the soul. However, as I aged, my teeth became yellowed and worn. Even though they were mostly straight (thanks parents!) there had developed some crooked spots. Additionally, medication I had taken as a child had stained some of my teeth and the old bonds covering it up were cracking and dull.
I came to Dr. Rye with a request. Make my smile pretty again. I decided that at 52, your smile lights up your face in ways that plastic surgery and Botox cannot. It is the center of attention and a youthful smile makes a youthful woman. We selected a bright white porcelain since I am a fair, light-eyed blonde. The process was explained in detail, mock-ups of the finished product were presented to me to show how Dr. Rye would shape the teeth to all be matched and in alignment. The staff is absolute superb; caring and compassionate. (Love that Kim!)
I got the best Christmas present to myself ever. The veneers went on right before Christmas. What an incredible difference! Everyone was completely “wowed” by my brilliant, perfect teeth. And I mean perfect. Hollywood has nothing on me. I had a formal portrait done a couple of months after and I look ten years younger. What a beautiful change.
This procedure is an investment. It is not cheap. But it is an investment in you that will last a lifetime. Botox is short, face lifts droop, but your teeth will be white and dazzling forever. People always comment now on my beautiful smile, which, since I am always in the public eye, is a big plus for me.
Thanks Dr. Rye for making positive difference in my life. Smile. : )
Valerie – from Fairfax
Technology today is changing our everyday lives. Many people, however, aren’t aware that technology also is impacting dentistry in new and exciting ways. Cutting-edge innovations in dental instruments are requiring less time in the dental chair, causing less discomfort and creating satisfying results. One breakthrough instrument, called CEREC®, allows dentists to quickly restore damaged teeth with natural-colored ceramic fillings, saving patients time and inconvenience.
What is CEREC?
CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Translated, it means that a dentist can economically restore damaged teeth in a single appointment using a high-quality ceramic material that matches the natural color of other teeth.
How does the instrument work?
CEREC uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one instrument. The dentist uses a special camera to take an accurate picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is transferred and displayed on a color computer screen, where the dentist uses CAD technology to design the restoration. Then CAM takes over and automatically creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, the dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth. The whole process takes about one hour.
What does this innovation mean for a patient?
A tooth-colored restoration means no more silver fillings discoloring smiles. The filling is natural-looking, compatible with tissue in the mouth, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant. Dentists no longer need to create temporaries or take impressions and send them to a lab. Because of this, the traditional second visit has been eliminated. CEREC has two decades of clinical research and documentation to support the technology. The restorations have been proven precise, safe and effective.
How can I find out if this is an option for me?
Contact us at Rye Smiles for Life. We will be happy to answer your questions on this new technology.
What you should do if you think you have gum disease:
• ASK your Dentist or Hygienist to do a comprehensive periodontal evaluation for you at least once per year and a periodontal screening at every visit
• If you have gum disease and HBP you should have a salivary diagnostic test to determine the type and amount of bacteria in your mouth
• If periodontal treatment is recommended, do it.
• Get your teeth professionally cleaned four times per year
• ASK your Dentist or Hygienist to outline a daily home care routine that meets your specific needs
For more information visit: www.americanheart.org & www.perio.org or contact us!
