Patient Services

Metal Free Dentistry

In the past, traditional silver amalgam fillings with a large mercury content were placed routinely. They still constitute the majority of restorative dentistry performed in dentistry today. Our office, however along with an increasing number of progressive dental practices, no longer places this type of restoration for a number of reasons.

Toxicity:

There is a significant controversy today about the mercury in the amalgam filling material. Mercury is a toxic poison and although still accepted by organized dentistry, we cannot see a good reason for placing a mercury containing restoration when today's alternative materials outperform silver fillings without the potential risks of mercury.

Tooth Damage:
Non-precious metal fillings corrode (rust) in the wet environment of the mouth.

Over time, this inevitable corrosion causes serious expansion of the filling material, resulting in stress and fracture of the previously strong and healthy surrounding tooth structure. In simplest terms, silver fillings eventually "crack" the teeth they are placed in. metal free1

Cost:
The inevitable corrosion of silver fillings and the eventual fractures we see necessitate extensive treatment to restore the affected teeth. Although initially cheaper to place, a silver-mercury filling may be the most costly way to restore a tooth in the long run.

Esthetics:
Silver fillings initially look unnatural, and after their expected corrosion they are downright ugly. Today's bonded alternative materials blend into the teeth and give patients the natural esthetics they expect and deserve. metal free2

The basic options for tooth-colored restorations are usually:

Directly Placed Resins:
White filling material bonded directly into the tooth. They are used in areas where the strength of the remaining tooth is not in question and are placed in one office visit.

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Laboratory Fabricated Bonded Restorations:
Heat and pressure cured plastic/ceramic restorations are created from a precision mold of the prepared teeth and are bonded into place at a second office visit. They are used to strengthen teeth which have been weakened by tooth decay or previously placed fillings.

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If you have any questions about your restorative treatment options, please feel free to e-mail your questions or call our office to speak with any staff member

A Beautiful Smile

There is nothing like a beautiful smile.

But what makes a person's smile look attractive to others? Just some of the
factors may be:

The color of the teeth

The spacing or crowding of the teeth
The symmetry of the smile
The way the upper teeth edges relate to the lower lip
The ratio of height to width of the front teeth
The gum tissues height on the upper front teeth
How each tooth relates proportionally to the other teeth
The shape or taper of each individual tooth
The position of the midline of the teeth
The vertical and horizontal position of the teeth and smile

Even an untrained eye is acutely aware of a problem with any of these factors. Although a person may not know why someone's smile does not look attractive, their eyes just know when something is not correct.

Everyone is an expert at knowing when a smile is unattractive, but only the dentists at Great East Dental are experts at knowing why the smile isn't right and how to correct it. Studies show that people who are attractive to others are perceived to be smarter, friendlier, more competent and more trusted than those perceived to be unattractive.

People with attractive smiles also tend to have better self esteem, more confidence and feel better about themselves and their relationships with others. Your smile is the most important feature of your face, and it can't be covered up with makeup or be changed by plastic surgery. But there is hope for those who previously had only dreamed of a beautiful smile.

Today's dental techniques make it possible to take an unattractive smile and change it to create a natural and esthetically pleasing result. Some, of these procedures are simple and inexpensive while others may be more complex.

The doctors in our office are uniquely trained to analyze the smile and make the necessary changes to create exceptional results for our patients. If you want to be the best you can be, a beautiful smile is a great place to start.

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Fresh Breath

Let's face it. We all know someone with halitosis, commonly known as Bad Breath. It's an embarrassing condition that is all too common. And the real problem is that many people are totally unaware that they even have it.

It can be devastating. Bad Breath can affect your personal life, your business life, your social life, and ultimately your love life.

We have seen patients who were told by dentists to just have a cleaning or brush and floss more. Millions of dollars are spent every year on mints and mouthwashes which are not only ineffective, but which actually can worsen the problem. Many patients have gone through sinus operations, tonsillectomies, digestive tract examinations, MRI, and x rays, all without relief. Worse yet, many doctors and dentists shrug off the problem, telling patients to stop worrying about it, leaving the patient without anywhere to turn.

But today there is a better way. With some simple and inexpensive treatment, halitosis can be controlled. A chemical called chlorine dioxide, found in several products available today, and some changes in home care can effectively control bad breath for the vast majority of patients. These products and personalized instruction on how to control bad breath are available at Great East Dental. Although we would recommend that the halitosis sufferer see one of our dentists for a definitive diagnosis, we can ship products to those for whom this is not possible.

If you would like to receive a Bad Breath Fighter Startup Kit, which includes a chlorine dioxide toothpaste, mouth rinse, patented tongue cleaner, and complete information and instructions, just e-mail us for more information.

We also know that it can be embarrassing to tell someone you know or care about that they suffer from Bad Breath. If you have a friend, loved one, or business associate who suffers from halitosis and whose life is being adversely affected by it, but who may be unaware of the problem, we would be happy to send an anonymous and tasteful letter which will make the person aware of the problem and tell them about the recent advances now available to control this problem. Just e-mail us their name and address and we will be happy to do this for you. Don't hesitate, because they are probably not even aware of the problem and how it may be affecting their business and personal life, and would probably truly appreciate knowing. Wouldn't you?