WE had mentioned in a previous post that at Pearl Dental Arts we use Cone Beam Computerised Tomography scan (CBCT) results prior to implant placement. Here is a case where a surgical guide was prepared in advance to assist in implant placement.

This patient had been wearing a partial upper denture for many years and wanted implants instead. However, due to extreme anxiety, she was not prepared for the surgery involved in implant placement. Finally she chose to get the less invasive mini dental implants.

We took preliminary molds of her teeth to prepare working models, which were then sent to our lab. The lab. prepared a scan appliance (similar to an acrylic partial denture) which the patient used at the time of getting the CT Scan. The scan files were forwarded to our lab where the entire treatment plan was virtually planned by 3D computer graphics. A surgical guide was prepared from this virtual model using CAD-CAM technology.

At the implant placement appointment, after local anesthesia, the surgical guide was placed in the mouth and guided us in precise and efficient placement of four mini implants over which a temporary bridge was placed, thereby eliminating the partial denture.

Surgical Guide Made from CT Scan Data

We will post additional photos of this case as it progresses to completion.

Dr. Paghdiwala has been awarded a Mastership in Implant Dentistry by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He places dental implants surgically (including mini dental implants) as well as place the final restorations on the implants: either crowns and bridges on the implants or dentures supported by the implants. Please go to www.pearldentalarts/contact-us/ or call us at 215 504 4070 for a complimentary implant consultation.

 
Pearl Dental Arts offers free custom-made fluoride trays to cancer-treatment patients who have received radiation of the oral cavity, jaws, neck or thyroid. Radiation of these areas damages the salivary glands, resulting in dry mouth, which in turn ends up with a very high incidence of cavities.
 
Fluoride is proven to reduce the rate of cavity formation, and therefore patients who are scheduled to get radiation are advised to start fluoride within one week after radiation.
 
One of the most effective methods of fluoride application is by using thin, clear custom made trays that can be made in our offices, at no charge. All we need is an impression of the teeth, from which we will make models used for fabricating custom-fitting trays for your mouth. We will prescribe fluoride gels that you can fill in these trays and wear the trays for 5 minutes before bedtime for the rest of your life! it is important not to rinse or eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after use of the fluoride gel. More detailed instructions for use will be given to recipients of the trays.
 
We are requesting manufacturers of fluoride gels, rinses and pastes to offer us supplies that we can distribute to cancer patients who do not have insurance or cannot get them on their prescription plans or have a high copayment. If anybody knows such manufacturers, please forward them our request.
 
If you know of someone who needs such fluoride trays, tell them to contact us. It is important to realize that we are offering this service to cancer treatment recipients throughout the country. Patients do not necessarily have to be in Philadelphia or the suburbs, they can be anywhere in the country. If they can get a local dentist in their city prepare models of their teeth, the patient can mail us their models, we will prepare their fluoride trays and mail them back. We will even pay for the postage at our end.
 
So give us a call, at 1-888-PEARL81 or email us at info@pearldentalarts.com and we will call you back with more information.
 
 
 

 
At Pearl Dental Arts we are proud to offer our patients the latest in implant diagnosis and treatment planning by using Cone Beam Computerised Tomography scan (CBCT) results prior to implant placement. Our patients can now have CBCT done at our office and then have the scan files forwarded to our lab where the entire treatment plan can be virtually planned by 3D computer graphics. A surgical guide is already prepared from this virtual model using CAD-CAM technology to enable us to place implants in your mouth precisely and efficiently.
 
CT scans of the jaws show the volume of bone, density of bone, presence of important anatomical structures such as nerves and sinuses in the proposed implant placement sites. This allows the dentist to accurately determine the best location, angulation, diameter and length of the implants to be placed. Surgical guides prepared with the aid of the CT Scan can allow quick, efficient placement of the implants during the actual surgical procedure, thereby increasing patient comfort. Three dimensional models fabricated from the CT scan also enable the dental laboratory to custom-fabricate appliances or restorations, both temporary and permanent, that can be fitted on to the implants right after the implants are placed.
 
Dr. Paghdiwala has been awarded a Mastership in Implant Dentistry by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He places dental implants surgically (including mini dental implants) as well as place the final restorations on the implants: either crowns and bridges on the implants or dentures supported by the implants. Please go to www.pearldentalarts/contact-us/ or call us at 215 504 4070 for a complimentary implant consultation.
 
 
 

 
Traditionally, dentists relied on two-dimensional x-rays to determine implant placement. Today, 3D Computerised Tomography or CT Scans have become the state of the art in dental implant diagnosis and treatment planning.
 
CT scans of the jaws show the volume of bone, density of bone, presence of important anatomical structures such as nerves and sinuses in the proposed implant placement sites. This allows the dentist to accurately determine the best location, angulation, diameter and length of the implants to be placed. Surgical guides prepared with the aid of the CT Scan can allow quick, efficient placement of the implants during the actual surgical procedure, thereby increasing patient comfort. Three dimensional models fabricated from the CT scan also enable the dental laboratory to custom-fabricate appliances or restorations, both temporary and permanent, that can be fitted on to the implants right after the implants are placed.
 
At Pearl Dental Arts we are proud to offer our patients the latest in implant diagnosis and treatment planning by using CT scan results prior to implant placement. Our patients can have their Cone Beam Computerised Tomography scans (CBCT) done at our office and then have the scan files forwarded to our lab where the entire treatment plan can be virtually planned by 3D computer graphics. A surgical guide is already prepared from this virtual model using CAD-CAM technology to enable us to place implants in your mouth precisely and efficiently. Dr. Paghdiwala has been awarded a Mastership in Implant Dentistry by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He places dental implants surgically (including mini dental implants) as well as place the final restorations on the implants: either crowns and bridges on the implants or dentures supported by the implants. Please go to www.pearldentalarts/contact-us/ or call us at 215 504 4070 for a complimentary implant consultation.
 


 

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1) Teeth whitening does not lead to loss of healthy teeth.
Not one healthy tooth has ever been lost from whitening. There are numerous research studies that show that teeth whitening causes no damage to tooth structure physically, chemically or structurally.
 
2) Teeth Whitening can be done in as little as one hour.
With different in-office techniques, whitening can be done in an hour, especially with use of lights, such as the Zoom Advanced Power Lamp. Take-home methods require about 10 days to two weeks.
 
3) Teeth Whitening can be done with over-the-counter products, such as Crest Whitestrips. However, the results are usually better with professional methods and products only available from dentists.
 
4) Teeth whitening is not permanent, needs periodic touch up to maintain the lighter shade. Teeth that have been professionally whitened can restain from smoking, drinking coffee, tea and soda, eating berry pie, and not brushing and flossing. Certain foods also stain teeth more than others. Therefore it is essential to use touch-up products periodically. We prepare trays and dispense gel that is filled in the trays and worn for about an hour every four months to remove any new stains.
 
At Pearl Dental Arts, we offer many different options for whitening teeth at all of our locations, in Newtown, Levittown and Philadelphia. Dr. Paghdiwala and his associates have been whitening teeth for over 20 years. You can set up an immediate appointment for a free consultation to evaluate what option is best suited for you. Call us at 1-888-PEARL81 or go to www.pearldentalarts.com/contact-us/ to request an appointment.
 

 
 

 
It is important to replace a missing tooth, mainly to prevent the adjacent and opposing teeth from shifting, to prevent the bite getting out of alignment and to prevent gum problems that always accompany shifting and malalignment of teeth.
 
There are several methods of replacing missing teeth:
1) Removable Partial Dentures
2) Fixed Bridges
3) Implants
 
Removable Partial Dentures:
These can be either all plastic, or have a combination of metal and plastic.
In the all-plastic category we also have flexible thermoplastic materials such as Valplast, Flexite and several others. In the metal and plastic kind are the cast partial dentures with metal clasps that are cast to precision and provide good retention but the metal is unsightly. Removable partial dentures are usually the least expensive method of replacing missing teeth. The disadvantages are that they are removable, there is a lot of denture material in the mouth, the esthetics is usually not the best and food often gets under the denture.
 
Fixed Bridges:
Unlike the removable dentures, fixed bridges are cemented onto the teeth, not removable, they can be of porcelain (or porcelain fused to metal) so they are more esthetic, and there is much less metal and plastic in areas of the mouth other than the area of the missing tooth. The main disadvantage of fixed bridges is that the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth have to be filed down to fit the bridge over them to replace the missing tooth. Another limitation is that there should ideally be good, firm teeth on either side of the missing tooth. Jf the teeth that will suppott the bridge are to the front of the missing tooth and none behind, the bridge can put excessive load on the front tooth and weaken it.
 
Implants:
An implant is a titanium root form that is embedded in the bone in the ares of the missing tooth and replaces the root of the missing tooth. This titanium implant fuses to the bone and the crown that replaces the missing tooth is placed over the implant. The success rate of dental implants is almost 97%, the adjacent teeth do not need any grinding and the implant supported crown is fixed, not removable like a partial denture. At the outset an implant may appear to be more expensive than other methods of replacing missing teeth, but in the long run, considering that dentures and fixed bridges fail more frequently and need replacing and may damage adjacent teeth necessitating additional expensive treatment, an implant supported crown works out to be the best method of replacing a missing tooth nowadays.
 
At Pearl Dental Arts, we offer many different options for replacing missing teeth at all of our locations, in Newtown, Levittown and Philadelphia. Dr. Paghdiwala and his associates have been placing implants, bridges, partial dentures and full dentures for over 30 years. Dr. Paghdiwala has been awarded Mastership in implant dentistry by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). You can set up an immediate appointment for a free consultation to evaluate what option is best suited for you. Call us at 1-888-PEARL81 or go to www.pearldentalarts.com/contact-us/ to request an appointment.
 
 
 

 
There are many conditions and reasons where a person can end up with a missing tooth. Except for third molars (wisdom teeth), it is usually better to replace the missing tooth as soon as possible.
 
If the missing tooth is not replaced:
1) the adjacent teeth in the same jaw will tilt towards the space of the missing tooth
2) teeth in the opposite jaw will move towards the space of the missing tooth
3) due to all this shifting of the teeth in the same jaw as well as the opposite jaw, the bite becomes
very irregular
4) The spaces between the teeth become irregular, become difficult to clean properly, resulting in
periodontal problems
 
There are several methods of replacing missing teeth. At Pearl Dental Arts, we offer many different options for replacing missing teeth at all of our locations, in Newtown, Levittown and Philadelphia. Dr. Paghdiwala and his associates have been placing implants, bridges, partial dentures and full dentures for over 30 years. You can set up an immediate appointment for a free consultation to evaluate what option is best suited for you. Call us at 1-888-PEARL81 or go to www.pearldentalarts.com/contact-us/ to request an appointment.
 
 
 

 
Traditionally, dentists relied on two-dimensional x-rays to determine implant placement. Today, 3D Computerised Tomography or CT Scans have become the state of the art in dental implant diagnosis and treatment planning.
 
CT scans of the jaws show the volume of bone, density of bone, presence of important anatomical structures such as nerves and sinuses in the proposed implant placement sites. This allows the dentist to accurately determine the best location, angulation, diameter and length of the implants to be placed. Surgical guides prepared with the aid of the CT Scan can allow quick, efficient placement of the implants during the actual surgical procedure, thereby increasing patient comfort. Three dimensional models fabricated from the CT scan also enable the dental laboratory to custom-fabricate appliances or restorations, both temporary and permanent, that can be fitted on to the implants right after the implants are placed.
 
At Pearl Dental Arts we are proud to offer our patients the latest in implant diagnosis and treatment planning by using CT scan results prior to implant placement. Dr. Paghdiwala places dental implants surgically (including mini dental implants) as well as place the final restorations on the implants: either crowns and bridges on the implants or dentures supported by the implants. Please go to www.pearldentalarts/contact-us/ or call us at 215 504 4070 for a complimentary implant consultation.

 
Whether you are interested in a complete smile makeover or need repairs or replacement of one or two teeth, we can provide you with strong, natural looking zirconia-based crowns and bridges.
 
Zirconia has tested stronger than any other all-ceramic crown or bridge, it mimics the opalescent look of natural tooth and is one of the most biocompatible materials used in medicine.
 
Steps in making a Zirconia crown:
After preparing the tooth for a crown, we take an impression of the tooth and send it to the lab. The lab. prepares a model of your tooth. This model is then scanned and the understructure for your crown is designed in a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) program.
 
This CAD data is fed into a CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) program and a zirconia understructure is milled very accurately to fit your tooth precisely.
 
This high strength zirconia understructure is then sintered in the oven, esthetic ceramic is applied over it and fired again at high temperature. Finally, the porcelain is given some staining and glazing to get a very natural looking crown.
 

 
Many adults who did not have orthodontic treatment in their teenage years have struggled with irregular smiles all their adult life. Whether it be crowding or spacing or an irregular bite, they have just lived with it as they did not want the metal braces and wires once they were out of school.
 
Today, however, even adults can have their teeth straightened with Invisalign. Treatment with Invisalign is quick and easy. With Invisalign, you don’t wear metal braces. Instead, your teeth are straightened by wearing a series of clear plastic aligners. The aligners are so inconspicuous that most people won’t be able to tell you’re wearing them. You’ll wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks at a time, while your teeth move little by little toward the smile you’ve always wanted. The aligners are worn all the time, except when you’re eating, brushing, and flossing. Because the aligners are removable, you can eat all your favorite foods.
 
Invisalign treatments usually take about a year, they are usually covered by Insurance even on adults, and the portion not covered by Insurance can be paid over an extended period as long as 24 months at zero percent interest through Care Credit. Our office can do all the necessary paper-work for the Insurance as well as the zero percent payment plan.
 
More information can be had at www.pearldentalarts.com/invisalign/. To set up an appointment for a free consultation call us toll free at (888)PEARL-81, send us an email or you can

.