Cosmetic Dentistry – Dental Bridges

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By Arthur Kezian

Do you have missing teeth? Have you considered getting them replaced? There are different options to choose from ranging from flippers to bridges or implants. A cosmetic dentist like Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS can help you change your look and give you the smile you’ve been yearning for. Dentistry has come a long way, and now, dental bridges can look as natural as your other teeth. A cosmetic dentist makes sure that the tooth being replaced by a bridge is not only beneficial to your health, but looks esthetically pleasing as well.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a dental device that plainly bridges a gap between your teeth. A bridge usually consists of two crowns (abutment teeth) that sit on either side of the gap between your teeth. Between these two crowns would be a false tooth to replace the one that is missing. This tooth that sits in between two crowns is called a pontic. Depending on the type of crown you and your dentist choose, you can either have a metal crown or a porcelain crown. Nowadays metal crowns are not used as much, but a mixture of metal and porcelain is used a lot. This mixed-material crown is called a PFM (porcelain fused to metal); the inside of the crown is made of metal while the outside is made of porcelain to look more natural.

Types of Dental Bridges:

                                                                                                              
There are a few different types of bridges that could be made. First, there are traditional bridges – these are the bridges with two crowns and a pontic hanging in between. These types of bridges are the most common and could be made from the materials mentioned beforehand. There are other types of bridges for special cases as well, like Maryland bridges. These types of bridges are made of plastic material and are supported by metal. The pictures in this article are those of a Maryland bridge case.

Dental Bridge Procedure:

During your first visit, you and your dental professional will discuss your case to decide which type of bridge will benefit you most. After you have decided and the treatment plan has been made, you are ready to begin. As always, the first part of the procedure is the anesthesia. As long as you are numb, the procedure is painless! Just like regular crowns, a portion of your enamel has to be reduced. After reduction, impressions will be taken of your teeth. These impressions will then be sent off to a lab where your crowns and bridge will be made. You will be given a temporary solution to wear until your actual bridge is ready.

During your second visit, you will be given anesthesia again. This is to prevent you from feeling any discomfort as your temporary is taken off, as your new bridge is cemented on, and as the access cement is cleaned off. Usually, an X-Ray will be taken with the bridge in place (before cementing) to make sure there is a correct and tight fit. If everything looks fine, your bridge will be cemented in place. Once the cement is cleaned out, you are finished.

A two-visit appointment for a bridge can be life-altering. If you’ve been thinking about replacing your missing teeth, don’t hesitate to call Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS and Staff. They can help answer all your questions and make an appointment for you. The procedure as well as the expense will be made as easy as possible for you.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

Porcelain Crowns and Veneers

By Arthur Kezian

Do you feel uncomfortable with your smile? Have you thought of way to change it? Whether you need it a little whiter and brighter or you want a big change, a cosmetic dentist can help you. Two treatments that can change your smile drastically are dental veneer procedures and dental crown procedures. Have you considered dental crowns or dental veneers? Although these two procedures are very different from each other, they both create a similar look for you and your smile. Cosmetic dentist, Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS, is experienced with dental crown and veneer procedures. Call his office today to get more information about the procedures!

Porcelain Veneers Bring Beautiful Smiles:

Porcelain crowns replace the outer portion of a tooth to maintain its original function. Crowns can be used in cases where decay has taken over a big portion of the tooth, when the tooth has experienced trauma, or after a root canal to give strength to the tooth. Crowns do not only replicate the function of your tooth but can also be made to look a lot like it, or even better than it looked before. Crowns can be made from a few different materials, all making the crown look very natural. One type of crown that many people opt for is the porcelain crown. This crown looks the best esthetically because it is all porcelain and metal margins do not show. Consult with your dentist to see which crown is best for your case and your budget.

The crown procedure is split up into two procedures. The first part includes getting you numb, removing the enamel of your tooth to make room for the crown to slip on, and taking impressions of the shape of the tooth after it has been restructured. These impressions are sent off to a lab where the crown will be made. Depending on your dentist’s schedule and the lab, your crowns will be made somewhere between one to two weeks. Until they are delivered back to the office, temporary crowns will be placed on the teeth being worked on so you can still chew and smile normally.

When your crowns are delivered, you will go in to have them seated permanently. Your dentist will make sure the crown fits correctly and looks nice before using permanent cement. The cement needs to dry for a few minutes and then the access cement will be cleaned out. This is the final step of the procedure.   

Dental Veneers

Dental Veneers are very thin (usually porcelain) shells that cover the surface of your teeth. If you have problems with the size, shape, color, or alignment of your teeth, veneers could change that. The procedure for veneers is usually a two-appointment visit, the first being the preparation and the second being the seating of the veneers. Veneer procedures are a lot like crown procedures; the main difference is the amount of enamel that has to be removed. For veneers, only about half a millimeter of your tooth is removed; this is basically how thick the veneer is going to be. After your tooth is prepared, impressions are taken to be sent off to the lab. Just like crown cases, you would have to wait 1-2 weeks for the lab to send the veneers back to your dentist. Once the veneers are at the office, you are ready for the second stage of the procedure – the seating of the veneers.

Dental veneers and dental crowns can both be completed in as little as two visits. You can have a nicer, brighter smile in no time! If you’re interested in porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns, please call Dr. Arthur A. Kezian today! You can also log onto his website to find more information about crowns and veneers as well as before and after cases!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

Dental Veneers Can Change Your Life

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By Arthur Kezian
Once you start your career, or already have one that involves a lot of socializing, you are going to need to smile often. What happens if you don’t like your smile though? Don’t worry; a cosmetic dentist is just around the corner. If you have problems with the alignment, color, size, or just overall look of your teeth, then you could consider getting dental veneers. Dr. Arthur A. Kezian provides tremendous medical and professional assistance for dental health and care. He assures you have a long-term, fabulous smile on your face.

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are basically thin shells made to cover the surface of your tooth. Veneers can be made from a few types of materials, including resin composite and porcelain. Resin veneers are thinner and don’t entail too much removal of teeth, but porcelain veneers seem to be a better option. Porcelain veneers resist stains a lot better and they also look more natural than other materials. Dental veneers made of porcelain usually last longer and look more esthetically pleasing.

The Procedure:

Once you and your dentist have treatment planned your procedure, you are ready to begin. The first step of the procedure would be to get you numb. Not too many patients enjoy this part, but remember, it is a very quick part of the procedure. Take a few, deep breaths through your nose to help you relax, and before you know it, the injection will be over.

Once you are fully numb, you are ready to undergo the dental procedure. Your dentist will remove a small layer (about half a millimeter) of your enamel to make room for the veneer that will be placed on your tooth. After some quick drilling, an impression will be taken of your teeth to be sent to a lab. The veneers will be delivered back to the office in about two weeks. Depending on your teeth, your dentist will make you temporary veneers until the permanent ones come in.

You will make a second appointment to finish the procedure when your veneers arrive. Your dentist will make sure that the veneers match your teeth in terms of shade and shape. If they look natural and fit correctly on your teeth, they can be bonded. Your teeth will be cleaned and etched to make sure the bonding remains strong. Once it is cemented in, a light cure is used to dry the cement. At this point you are almost done with the procedure; the only thing left to do is clean some of the excess cement off once it has dried.

Veneers can last somewhere between 5 to 10 years, but depending on your habits, your homecare, and the way you take care of them, they could last longer. If you’re interested in getting dental veneers, call Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS. He and his staff can help answer all your questions about dental veneers, you could even stop by the office to have a free consultation.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

What to Expect During a Root Canal Therapy Procedure

By Arthur Kezian

If you were to ask someone what a root canal was their reply would most likely consist of the words “painful” or “scary”. Why is this so? Many people fear the procedure, when in reality, there isn’t much to be afraid of. Surely, there have been cases where a patient has not liked the procedure, but there have been twice as more cases where the patient has been satisfied. People associate root canal therapy to the pain they felt before the procedure, and so, saying that a root canal is painful isn’t necessarily correct. Before we can jump into why a root canal is actually very beneficial, let’s break it down so you can have a better understanding of what happens.

Opening the Root Canal:

If you are having throbbing or pulsating pain coming from your tooth, it is probably because decay has reached the nerve of your tooth or there is an abscess and infection around the tip of your root. If this happens, you need to call a dental professional with emergency hours. They should be able to get you right in and start the first step of the root canal. If the nerve of your tooth is dead, you wouldn't really need anesthesia, but many dentists will give you some localized anesthesia anyways to make sure you are totally at ease and do not feel a thing. If the injection is the part you are afraid of, just remember, the pain lasts for a few seconds and then it is gone. We tend to hype things up in our minds and make situations seem worse than they really are. As long as you know you are in good hands, all you need to focus on is your breathing. Before you know it, the injection will be over.

Once you are fully numb, your dentist will create an access to the root of your tooth by drilling a hole from the biting surface. The bacteria is cleaned out, the decayed nerve tissues are taken out, and the pulp is removed. Specific files are used to make sure the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out. The first part to the procedure is done.

Closing the Root Canal:

The second part of the root canal therapy (RCT) involves closing the tooth back up. Depending on your dentist and the circumstance of your tooth, the tooth may be closed the same day it is opened and cleaned out or it may be left open for drainage, will have medication placed inside, and will be closed during a following appointment. If this is the case, the tooth is not actually left open. A small, temporary filling is placed on the tooth to prevent food and bacteria from entering. Once the tooth is ready to be sealed, a rubbery material is placed inside the tooth. This material is called gutta percha, and it basically replaces the nerve of your tooth. Once the tooth is filled, a more sturdy filling will close the access hole the dentist had made to get into the tooth. This is the final step to your root canal. Most dentists recommend you get a crown placed on top of a tooth that has a root canal to provide strength and support to the tooth.

Now, we can state that a root canal procedure is very beneficial. It saves your tooth from being extracted and it saves you from a lot of pain. There is no reason to fear a root canal procedure. Apart from an extraction, a root canal is the only way to stop a painful tooth from acting up.

If you have any questions regarding root canals or emergency dentists, feel free to call Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS. The office staff will be delighted to help you and answer all your questions. Dr. Kezian has been in the practice for more than 30 years and has done numerous root canal procedures. If a good, experienced dentist is what you need, call his office today.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.