KoR teeth whitening is a deep bleaching system that is used to treat patients for standard whitening treatments and for those that have tetracycline stains on their teeth. For children especially that take the tetracycline antibiotic, it will discolor his or her teeth.  Veneers are not always a viable solution for these patients, but KoR teeth whitening has been found to be an effective solution.  Recently, as I was browsing the KoR website, I came across a great story of what KoR can do for a person with tetracycline stains.

My name is Walter Mick, and I practice in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. KöR Whitening works wonders for tetracycline cases, and, really, all bleaching cases. I’d like to tell you about the most emotional case I’ve ever treated in my practice. This case had a huge emotional impact on the patient and his wife, and my staff will always remember what happened.

Bill presented to my office as a new patient requesting full-mouth extractions and full dentures. He had all his teeth and no periodontal disease whatsoever; however, he absolutely hated his dark tetracycline-stained teeth (see pre-op photo with C-4 and A-4 shade tabs – his teeth were much darker than C-4) and had trained himself to never smile. The effect on his life was just too much for him to bear. He’d looked into veneers, but there was no way possible for him to afford it. Can you imagine the horrible emotional distress he was in to request full-mouth extractions and dentures?

I’d heard of KöR Whitening by Dr. Rod Kurthy, but I’d never tried it. So Bill was my very first case. You can see that the results were nothing less than miraculous – well beyond our expectations. Bill’s smile was incredible now!

When Bill saw himself in the mirror after we completed KöR Whitening, he literally could not speak. His wife was sitting in the operatory, and the sight of Bill’s new white smile brought her to tears. That day was probably the biggest highlight of my entire dental career.

Before KöR Whitening, we used various combinations of in-office and at-home bleaching, all with disappointing results. Since treating Bill, we use KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching^™ for all of our bleaching cases. The results are always dramatic, predictable and have outstanding outcomes.

There is hope for tetracycline stains and for a restored, beautiful smile with the many advances in today’s dentistry.

The process by which veneers are made and placed on the tooth differs depending on the material that one uses to create the dental veneers or the crown.  Below are examples of the different kinds of materials that are used for dental veneers and the levels of strength that each of them offers.

An Introduction to Layering

All feldspathic materials are layered, meaning that the lab technician physically layers the porcelain on the veneer or crown.

Placed on the Natural Teeth

• Pressed porcelain veneers can be made of 100% pressed porcelain, which is the strongest option.
• Feldspathic materials can be placed on the front surface of the natural teeth to make them look like natural teeth.

Placed Over Crowns

• Porcelain layered on metal crowns are strong, but they are generally layered with feldspathic porcelain, which means they can break.
• Zirconium layered with feldspathic like materials.
• Pressed porcelain crowns with no feldspathic materials on them at all.

Strength of Veneers and Crowns

• Feldspathic veneers – around 80 mPA – Some studies have it as high as 150 mPA.
• Pressed veneers – Non-layered 240 mPA – Layering does not affect the core strength, but you can still chip the areas that are layered. These layered areas are 150 mPa.
• Porcelain to metal crowns – 500-700 mPA – Layering does not affect the core strength, but you can still chip the areas that are layered. These layered areas are 150 mPa.
• Zirconium to porcelain crowns – 1000 mPA – Layering does not affect the core strength, but you can still chip the areas that are layered. These layered areas are 150 mPa.
• Full pressed EMAX – 400 mPA – Layering is not used.

Bonding

The exact same type and method of adhesive dentistry is used when bonding either the feldspathic or pressed porcelain veneers onto the teeth.

What Is Crown Lengthening?

Crown lengthening involves removing excess soft tissue to establish the correct cosmetic tooth proportions. In most cases, the underlying bone will have to be changed as well, because the gum tissue is attached to the bone. The bone position tells the gums where to attach. If the bone is not changed the gums can regrow and cover the teeth again.

A crown lengthening can be performed prior to or in conjunction with crown placement to ensure the crown fits securely over your natural tooth. Gum lifts can also be performed post-implant-placement for cosmetic and oral health reasons.

Generally, the procedure will take about an hour, and patients usually require only local anesthesia. The surgery is highly predictable, and patients respond very well.

All-on-4 is a dental implant solution that allows a fixed denture to be placed using only four dental implants. The way that the implants are placed eliminates the standard healing time that applies to other types of dental implants. Thus, the All-on-4 surgery procedure, when performed in an office with substantial staffing and resources, can be conducted in one day, making the drive for out-of-town dental implant patients a more reasonable option.

There are several parts of the All-on-4 dental implant process. For eligible candidates the surgery can be conducted in one day, but the procedure can be done in as few as two appointments.

1. Consultation – The initial visit where specific needs are addressed and a solution prescribed.
2. 3D CAT Scanning and Cone Beam Scanner – Through state-of-the art technology, the surgery is planned.
3. Impressions – Where the proper molds are created for the dental implants to make the teeth for the patient.
4. Education – Education consultants provide feedback and information for each patient, in order to make certain proper care and upkeep are given post-surgery.
5. Surgery – The day of surgery the implants are placed and new teeth are attached to the dental implants.

The Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center is able to conduct each of these parts of the process onsite, thus minimizing the number of trips the out-of-town patient must take. With onsite education consultants, a dental surgeon, and implant dentist, the Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center is able to take a patient from start to finish.

The All-on-4 is available to clients that after the initial consultation have shown to be eligible candidates. The procedure will not be available for those patients that will require bone grafting or another surgical procedure before implants can be placed.

The initial consultation will determine whether or not the patient is a candidate for the All-on-4 dental implant procedure.

Many patients want to improve the overall appearance of their smile when they get teeth replaced. I provide all of my clients with an examination and a consultation to discuss needs, preferences, and concerns. Depending on each person’s unique situation, I may recommend one or more esthetic treatments, such as:

• Tooth-colored fillings to repair decayed teeth
• Teeth whitening to remove stains and discolorations
• Porcelain crowns to esthetically restore form and function to structurally unsound teeth
• Porcelain veneers to transform cracked, chipped, stained, or awkwardly shaped front teeth
• Replacing old metal dental work with all-white restorations
• A gum lift to recontour or reduce excess gum tissue

My Dallas dental center houses a lab with a master ceramist that I chose for her extensive knowledge and talent. I’ll design your custom restoration, then she’ll fabricate it to my exact specifications for a custom fit and impeccable finish. Cosmetic treatments performed in conjunction with dental implants create stunning, one-of-a-kind smiles. Your smile will feel as good as it looks and provide lasting satisfaction and pride. If you become nervous at the thought of dental visits or treatment, consider sedation dentistry for a calm, soothing experience.

Renew your smile and change your life in the process.

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Photo Credit: Golden Years Dating