Woodland Hills California Cosmetic Dentist - General Sedation Implant Dentist

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and Onlays are partial crowns that can be made of porcelain. They are recommended for large cavities or replacement of large old metal (mercury) fillings that are not restorable with regular filling materials. Impression of the prepared tooth is sent to the laboratory for the ceramist to handcraft the restoration. This procedure will take two appointments. Advantage of Inlays/Onlays are the conservation of healthy tooth structures.

Indirect Composites

Crowns, inlays and onlays can be made in the laboratory from dental composites. These materials are similar to those used in direct fillings and are tooth colored. One advantage to indirect composites is that they do not excessively wear opposing teeth. Their strength and durability are as high as porcelain or metal restorations and they are less prone to wear and discoloration.

How is this procedure performed?

Inlays and onlays are performed using very similar procedures. Both require two trips to the dental office. At the first appointment, Dr. Ahdout begins the procedure by numbing the area using a local anesthetic. The decay or damage is removed using a drill, preparing the tooth for its new surface. After all the damage is removed, an impression is made of the prepared tooth so the inlay or onlay material can be cast in a form that will fit the tooth exactly. A temporary restoration is placed on the tooth to protect it for two to three weeks until the laboratory makes the new structure and it can be bonded to the tooth.

Using the impression, a laboratory prepares the new tooth surface using gold, porcelain or composite resin. Upon return to the dentist's office, the temporary restoration is removed and the surface is cleaned to prepare for the new structure. Dr. Ahdout will then try in the new restoration to ensure that there is a correct fit that doesn't interfere with your bite. If the fit is good, using special cement or bonding, the inlay or onlay is permanently attached to the tooth. Some minor adjustment may need to be made to the restoration if there are interferences.

What are the most common benefits of this procedure?

Inlays and onlays are ways of repairing relatively extensive tooth decay or damage without having to replace the whole outer portion of the tooth as with a crown. Less tooth material is removed so inlays and onlays tend to be more conservative and esthetic than crowns. Unlike fillings, these procedures strengthen a tooth's structure. They also tend to last longer than a filling, because the inlay or onlay material is custom made and bonded to the tooth.

Lumineers

Lumineers is a brand of porcelain veneer that is made of cerinate Porcelain. Cerinate is exceptionally strong which allows the veneers to be made very thinly. In most cases they do not require tooth reduction, therefore there is no pain and/or the need for anesthesia (5 years warranty).

LUMINEERS BY CERINATE Technique

Da Vinci Veneers

Da Vinci Veneers are a kind of porcelain veneers that come with a life time warranty (as seen in Extreme Makeover).

What happens during the Da Vinci Porcelain Veneers™ restorative procedure?

In most cases, patients need three appointments for the entire procedure: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.

Diagnosis and treatment planning:

It's critical that you take an active role in the smile design. Spend time in the decision-making and planning of your smile. Ask questions and understand the corrective limitations of the procedure. If necessary, have more than one consultation to feel comfortable that Dr. Ahdout understands your objectives.

Preparation of teeth::

This appointment will take from one to two hours. To prepare the teeth for your Da Vinci Veneers™, your teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. At this appointment, a mold is taken of the teeth, which is sent to the Da Vinci certified dental lab for the fabrication of the veneers. This should take no longer than two weeks for your new smile to be created. In most cases Dr. Ahdout will fit you with a temporary smile during the fabrication of your new Da Vinci Veneers.

Bonding of your Da Vinci Veneers:

This appointment will take about one or two hours. First, Dr. Ahdout places the veneers in water or glycerin, then on the teeth to check their fit and get a true sense of their shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, make sure you view the aesthetic results and pay particular attention to the color. At this point, the color of the Da Vinci Veneers can still be adjusted with the shade of the cement to be used.

The color cannot be altered after veneers are cemented. To apply your Da Vinci Veneers, your teeth are cleaned with specific dental cleansers to achieve a firm and permanent bond. Then special cements are sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement and your new smile is in place.

Teeth Whitening

TYPES OF WHITENING::

A. In Home Whitening: we manufacture custom-made bleaching trays that can be used to apply whitening gels to your teeth. The trays are worn during the day for 1-2 hour or overnight. It takes approximately 2 weeks to see perfect results.

B. In office Whitening: (Sapphire) This procedure requires direct dentist supervision. It takes approximately 1/2 hour to brighten your teeth up to 10 shades.