Pediatric Dentistry

Stainless Steel Crown

The stainless steel crown provides an effective and practical way for restoring badly broken down baby and permanent teeth. While dentists in general would prefer to do small, traditional fillings, on occasion these fillings may not be expected to withstand the forces of chewing for a long enough period of time. Alternatively, the stainless steel crown is very durable and can be expected to provide good functional service for many years or until that time when the tooth is ready to fall out. On young permanent teeth the stainless steel crown can act as an excellent temporary filling and is often replaced with a porcelain crown once the child has reached adulthood.

There are a few common reasons for placing a stainless steel crown:
Repairing baby and/or adult teeth that are significantly decayed.
Repairing baby and/or adult tooth following a nerve treatment
Repairing baby and/or adult teeth that are structurally deficient due to a genetic or other unknown condition
On occasion a tooth may be too damaged to be repaired with a stainless steel crown. If this is the case the dentist may discuss other treatment options including extraction of the broken tooth.

Space Maintainer

Space maintainers also can be placed on the mandibular or maxillary arch. Consequently, we could have a maxillary removable bilateral space maintainer, or a mandibular fixed unilateral right side space maintainer, and so forth. There are numerous variations on these basic themes. For example, some space maintainers are used for missing anterior teeth and some are used to preserve space for posterior unerupted teeth.

Space regainer

A fixed or removable appliance capable of moving a displaced permanent tooth into its proper position in the dental arch.

Palatal crib/ Oral Crib

The appliance's technical name is a "fixed palatal crib," and is a type of brace that sits full-time on the upper teeth and the roof of the mouth. The crib consists of semicircular stainless steel wires connected to supporting steel bands or rings. The half-circle of wires fits behind the child's upper front teeth, barely visible in normal view. The bands are fastened to the baby upper second molars. There are a number of different crib designs used by orthodontists, all variations on the same theme. Treatment for thumb sucking patient

Palatal Expander

A palatal expander, also known as a rapid palatal expander, rapid maxillary expansion appliance, palate expander or orthodontic expander, is used to widen the upper jaw so that the bottom and upper teeth will fit together better. It is thought this can only be done when the patient is still growing, unless surgery is used to separate the two halves of the palate, however there is evidence to the contrary. It is most often followed by braces to straighten out all the teeth now that room has been created.

Crown and Bridge

Fixed Partial Denture

A tooth-borne partial denture that is intended to be permanently attached to the teeth or roots that furnish support to the restoration.

All Porcelain/ All Ceramic Crown

Advantage: good esthetically

Disadvantage: not as strong as porcelain fused to metal crown, require more tooth reduction

Porcelain Fused to Metal Crown

A porcelain-fused-to-metal crown (PFM) could be considered to be a hybrid of the other types of crowns, in the sense that it is composed of two different types of materials. One is a metal alloy that is used to create that portion of the crown that fits directly on the tooth. The other is porcelain. The porcelain forms the tooth-shaped aspect of the crown and gives the crown a white tooth-like coloration.

All Metal Crown

A metal dental crown is stronger than a porcelain restoration and even stronger than the original tooth enamel coating. The area of the mouth with the highest chewing force is in the second molar area. The masseter muscle ( beaver muscle ) attaches right over the second and third molar area so that there's a great deal of force applied to these teeth. The second molar area is also very hard to see so having metal is not a big esthetic problem.
The surface of a metal dental crown can be highly polished so that the gum tissues will grow up onto the restoration. There are several choices for the type of metal used. Gold is the most popular dental casting alloy but many dentists also use a silver palladium alloy. Besides color, the only other disadvantage is that it conducts hot and cold temperatures. This is not important if the tooth has had a root canal but can be bothersome for several months with a living tooth.
Since gold or silver alloys are strong, the dentist can take less tooth structure off to make room for a metal dental crown. Whenever possible, it is always a good thing to conserve natural tooth material. This type of restoration is particularly good in patients that suffer with tooth grinding problems. The metal surfaces help prevent excessive wear and help support the adjacent teeth.

Dentures

Complete Denture

Complete dentures are the restoration of last resort. They are indicated as a treatment procedure only when the prognosis for the remaining teeth is hopeless, when any remaining teeth will not adequately support a prosthesis or when all upper or lower teeth
have been removed.

Removable Partial Denture

Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework. Removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments. Precision attachments are generally more esthetic than metal clasps and they are nearly invisible. Crowns on your natural teeth may improve the fit of a removable partial denture and they are usually required with attachments. Dentures with precision attachments generally cost more than those with metal clasps. Consult with your dentist to find out which type is right for you.

Flexible Denture

Flexible partial dentures are the comfortable, beautiful, and affordable choice. It was long thought that removable partial dentures had to be rigid to be effective. The innovation of the Valplast Flexible Partial allows the restoration to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility in your mouth.
This is the underlying thinking behind Valplast's innovative flexible, removable partial denture. The flexibility, combined with strength and light weight, provides total comfort and great looks!

TMD Splint and Mouth Guards

TMJ SPLINT

Splints and night guards are plastic mouthpieces that fit over the upper and lower teeth. They prevent the upper and lower teeth from coming together, lessening the effects of clenching or grinding the teeth. They also correct the bite by positioning the teeth in their most correct and least traumatic position. The main difference between splints and night guards is that night guards are only worn at night and splints are worn full time (24 hours a day for 7 days).

Myofunctional Appliance

Myofunctional Appliance

Removable or fixed orthodontic appliance which use forces generated by the streching of muscle,facia or periodontium to alter Skeletal of dental relationship

Types of Myofunctional Appliance

1. Bionator: The double retainer ("bionator") covers the surface of both the upper and lower teeth and is held in place when the patient moves their lower jaw forward to bite into it. For maximum benefit, it needs to be worn for 14 hours/day for several months until the overbite is reduced. After that, it is worn only while sleeping, just like a regular retainer, in order to maintain the improvement that was achieved.

The goal is to encourage the lower jaw to grow in a more forward direction. If the upper teeth are leaning forward, it can help with this, too.

2. Frankel Appliance: Soft Tissu Borne appliance. Good in mixed dentition. Good when soft tissues significantly contribute to the malocclusion

3. Twin Block Appliance: most commonly used, consist of two separate removable appliance. It is recommended for some patients where the upper jaw is larger than the lower jaw. As a result, the upper teeth protrude ahead lower teeth.

4. Herbst Appliance: This appliance encourage the lower jaw to grow in forward direction by positioning forward and holding it there. It is also has the ability to push the upper molar backward. It is normally worn for 12 months

Dental Braces

Dental Braces

Also known as orthodontic braces are device use in orthodontics to align teeth and their position with regard to a person's bite. They are often used to correct malocclusion such as underbite, overbite, cross bite and open bite, or crooked teeth and with various flaws of their teeth and jaws. They are mainly used for children however adult can also use them.

Types of Braces

1. Traditional Braces -made of metal stainless steel

2. Clear braces - made of ceramic or plastic alloy

3. Gold Plated braces- are for people allergic to nickel titanium braces

4. Lingual braces - braces behind the teeth

5. Self ligating Braces - Damon Braces

6. Invisalign

Cosmetic Dentistry

Distema Closure


Distema are spaces between teeth and usually the gap closes by composite filling





Laminates




These wafer-thin shells of porcelain which are bonded onto the front side of teeth can be an excellent cosmetic solution for teeth that are stained, chipped, or slightly misaligned.





Advantages

1. It create very life-like tooth appearance
2. It resist staining

Disadvantage

1. Expensive

Tooth Bleaching

Also known as tooth whitening.

Types of Tooth Bleaching

1. Bleaching Gel (Take Home Bleaching): applies in teeth using guard trays. Advantage: cheaper, Disadvantage: Result depends on patient following instruction
2. Laser Bleaching ( Chairside Tooth Bleaching): usually done in an hour using laser. Advantage: you can see the result in an hour, 4-6 shades lighter. Disadvantage: more expensive