CEREC: The world's only system for the fabrication of all ceramic dental restorations in one office visit.
In October, 2007, our office invested in a relatively new and exciting technology: CEREC, the world's only system for the fabrication of all ceramic dental restorations in one office visit. This system allows us to fabricate natural looking tooth-colored inlays, onlays, and crowns in one visit! These restorations are sometimes necessary when a tooth needs to be restored but a conventional bonded filling is inadequate to successfully do the job long term. For you, the patient, this means less injections, less drilling, and less time out of your schedule!
Traditionally, these types of procedures require two visits. On the first visit, the tooth is prepared, an impression is taken, a temporary crown or onlay is made, and the impression is sent to a dental laboratory. A dental technician fabricates the restoration and sends it back to the dentist. The patient is scheduled for the second visit several weeks later, another injection is necessary, the temporary crown/onlay is removed, and the permanent one is tried on, adjusted, and cemented. With CEREC, the procedure is done in a single appointment, start to finish.
The technology that allows us to utilize this fantastic process is based on CAD-CAM engineering. Instead of taking an impression of the prepared tooth, we take a digitized 3-dimensional image of the tooth. A sophisticated computer program helps us design the appropriate restoration. The restoration design data is sent to a separate milling machine in the office. A ceramic block that matches the tooth shade is placed in the milling machine. Fifteen minutes later, the restoration is completed and ready to be tried in. It is then polished and bonded onto the tooth...permanently!
ViziLite Plus: Oral Lesion Identification and Marking System
Better Screening Saves Lives
The newest tool in the fight against oral disease is the ViziLiteŽ Plus oral lesion identification and marking system.
Because early detection is the key to successful outcomes, our practice has incorporated ViziLite Plus, a technology cleared by the FDA, into the standard of care of the practice, to ensure that you receive the most comprehensive oral cancer screening possible. ViziLite Plus is a simple, painless and non-invasive technology that improves the doctor's ability to visualize, mark, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages, before they can progress to something far more serious, and potentially life-threatening. ViziLite Plus helps the doctor see what he/she can't see with the unaided eye.
The newest tool in the fight against oral disease is the ViziLiteŽ Plus oral lesion identification and marking system.
 | We now know that oral cancer claims one life every hour in the U.S. — more than the number of lives lost to skin cancer, cervical cancer or Hodgkin's disease. Alarmingly, more than 25% of oral cancer victims have no lifestyle risk factors. Also, we now know that the human papilloma virus, known as HPV, the same virus that causes cervical cancer, has been determined to cause oral cancer. |
Because early detection is the key to successful outcomes, our practice has incorporated ViziLite Plus, a technology cleared by the FDA, into the standard of care of the practice, to ensure that you receive the most comprehensive oral cancer screening possible. ViziLite Plus is a simple, painless and non-invasive technology that improves the doctor's ability to visualize, mark, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages, before they can progress to something far more serious, and potentially life-threatening. ViziLite Plus helps the doctor see what he/she can't see with the unaided eye.
Comprehensive restorative dentistry:
In the rush to straighten, whiten, bond and veneer our teeth, there may be a tendency to overlook what's really important- health. Cosmetic dentistry is rewarding to both the patient and the dentist, and sometimes amazing to behold (consider the popularity of the TV series Extreme Makeover ), but health must be considered. Restorative dentistry includes all those procedures which help to create optimal health of the teeth. These may be different kinds of fillings, crowns, inlays, and onlays. We might also include the gums and supportive bone (periodontal components) in this conversation. This is certainly an important focus in our practice - a beautiful house needs to be built on a sturdy foundation.
In the rush to straighten, whiten, bond and veneer our teeth, there may be a tendency to overlook what's really important- health. Cosmetic dentistry is rewarding to both the patient and the dentist, and sometimes amazing to behold (consider the popularity of the TV series Extreme Makeover ), but health must be considered. Restorative dentistry includes all those procedures which help to create optimal health of the teeth. These may be different kinds of fillings, crowns, inlays, and onlays. We might also include the gums and supportive bone (periodontal components) in this conversation. This is certainly an important focus in our practice - a beautiful house needs to be built on a sturdy foundation.
ZOOM!:
Speaking of Extreme Makeover, we were so impressed with the ability to whiten teeth in a few short hours, we bought the system! It is truly impressive. We have found that ZOOM in combination with touch-up whitening products creates beautiful results. We also offer several different kinds of take-home whitening products which can be used at night or during waking hours to maintain your white smile. This combination of products has allowed us to offer many different whitening options to our patients.
Speaking of Extreme Makeover, we were so impressed with the ability to whiten teeth in a few short hours, we bought the system! It is truly impressive. We have found that ZOOM in combination with touch-up whitening products creates beautiful results. We also offer several different kinds of take-home whitening products which can be used at night or during waking hours to maintain your white smile. This combination of products has allowed us to offer many different whitening options to our patients.
Digital X-rays:
One of the most significant technological advances in medicine/dentistry is digital radiography. In our office, we have a digital panoramic machine as well as intraoral digital x-ray sensors. What this means to you is a significant reduction of radiation exposure - up to 80% less than a conventional x-ray! The advantages to us include a clear, almost instantaneous image with no processing of x-rays, no dark room, and no environmental impact from the chemicals of x-ray development. We are truly excited about this cutting edge technology.
One of the most significant technological advances in medicine/dentistry is digital radiography. In our office, we have a digital panoramic machine as well as intraoral digital x-ray sensors. What this means to you is a significant reduction of radiation exposure - up to 80% less than a conventional x-ray! The advantages to us include a clear, almost instantaneous image with no processing of x-rays, no dark room, and no environmental impact from the chemicals of x-ray development. We are truly excited about this cutting edge technology.
Nitrous Oxide:
Once referred to as "laughing gas," nitrous oxide or conscious sedation, is a safe, effective aid in reducing anxiety associated with your dental visit. Lets face it, not everyone is ready to hop into the chair, get numb, and go! That's why we have offered nitrous to our patients for over twenty years. Nitrous is actually a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen which is titrated for each individual to create a warm feeling of well-being and relaxation. It is delivered through a light mask that fits over the nose. A vacuum tube attached to the outside of the mask sucks away the left over gases. A special fail-safe machine with built-in safety features prevents the patient from becoming "oversedated." A huge advantage of nitrous oxide is that it is eliminated from the body 3 to 5 minutes from the time it is discontinued. This means that you can drive home, and you don't need an escort. It can also be an excellent adjunct in treating a fearful child.
Once referred to as "laughing gas," nitrous oxide or conscious sedation, is a safe, effective aid in reducing anxiety associated with your dental visit. Lets face it, not everyone is ready to hop into the chair, get numb, and go! That's why we have offered nitrous to our patients for over twenty years. Nitrous is actually a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen which is titrated for each individual to create a warm feeling of well-being and relaxation. It is delivered through a light mask that fits over the nose. A vacuum tube attached to the outside of the mask sucks away the left over gases. A special fail-safe machine with built-in safety features prevents the patient from becoming "oversedated." A huge advantage of nitrous oxide is that it is eliminated from the body 3 to 5 minutes from the time it is discontinued. This means that you can drive home, and you don't need an escort. It can also be an excellent adjunct in treating a fearful child.
Porcelain Veneers:
Porcelain laminate veneers are the most aesthetic means of creating beautiful results. We can often change color, size, and shape of the teeth with as little as .5 mm of tooth reduction - far less than is required for a crown. Veneers can be used to close spaces, align teeth, restore chipped or broken teeth, and mask discoloration. Many times we will do a mock-up in tooth colored wax to see what the final result might be before we commit to treatment. If the mock up looks promising, an appointment is scheduled in which the teeth are shaped appropriately, an impression is taken, and temporary veneers are fabricated. A dental ceramist then custom fabricates a thin shell of porcelain for each tooth. These are bonded to the teeth at the subsequent visit...and beautiful smile photographs are taken!
Porcelain laminate veneers are the most aesthetic means of creating beautiful results. We can often change color, size, and shape of the teeth with as little as .5 mm of tooth reduction - far less than is required for a crown. Veneers can be used to close spaces, align teeth, restore chipped or broken teeth, and mask discoloration. Many times we will do a mock-up in tooth colored wax to see what the final result might be before we commit to treatment. If the mock up looks promising, an appointment is scheduled in which the teeth are shaped appropriately, an impression is taken, and temporary veneers are fabricated. A dental ceramist then custom fabricates a thin shell of porcelain for each tooth. These are bonded to the teeth at the subsequent visit...and beautiful smile photographs are taken!
Bonding:
Several years ago we decided to discontinue the use of silver amalgam fillings. Many of the fillings we do for our patients are called composite resins. These are essentially sophisticated sculptable glass-reinforced plastics which are bonded to the teeth. Other bonded fillings are made out of laboratory-processed composite materials or porcelain. All tooth colored fillings are bonded onto teeth with a series of adhesives. This is one major advantage in the use of bonded restorations as compared to silver fillings. Bonding can also be an aesthetic option for treating front teeth. It can be used to repair chipped or decayed teeth, improve discoloration, close spaces, and fill in voids or erosions. Dr. Fishbaine is truly an artist and has had beautiful results with cosmetic bonding of front teeth by layering different shades of bonding material to create "real-looking" teeth. It's advantages include single visit treatment, less cost than veneers, good shade matching, and often conservative treatment. On the downside, it does not resist discoloration as well as porcelain and sometimes requires "touch-up" procedures or replacement over the long term.
Several years ago we decided to discontinue the use of silver amalgam fillings. Many of the fillings we do for our patients are called composite resins. These are essentially sophisticated sculptable glass-reinforced plastics which are bonded to the teeth. Other bonded fillings are made out of laboratory-processed composite materials or porcelain. All tooth colored fillings are bonded onto teeth with a series of adhesives. This is one major advantage in the use of bonded restorations as compared to silver fillings. Bonding can also be an aesthetic option for treating front teeth. It can be used to repair chipped or decayed teeth, improve discoloration, close spaces, and fill in voids or erosions. Dr. Fishbaine is truly an artist and has had beautiful results with cosmetic bonding of front teeth by layering different shades of bonding material to create "real-looking" teeth. It's advantages include single visit treatment, less cost than veneers, good shade matching, and often conservative treatment. On the downside, it does not resist discoloration as well as porcelain and sometimes requires "touch-up" procedures or replacement over the long term.
Implants:
Implant dentistry has revolutionized the way we help individuals with missing teeth. There are many clinical situations today that are treated differently than they were ten years ago thanks to the continuing improvement in this discipline. Often a cylinder- shaped titanium implant can be surgically place in the jaw and used to replace a missing tooth. The bone in the jaw fills in around the implant (osseointegration) and a crown is then placed on the implant. It feels very much like a real tooth. Implants can also be used if a patient is missing all or most of his teeth to create bridges or "snap on" dentures which feel like biting on real teeth and do not inhibit taste as conventional dentures sometimes do. Since the early 90's, the use of implants has grown tremendously, and our practice reflects that growth. Dr. Fishbaine has successfully restored hundreds of implants for our patients.
Implant dentistry has revolutionized the way we help individuals with missing teeth. There are many clinical situations today that are treated differently than they were ten years ago thanks to the continuing improvement in this discipline. Often a cylinder- shaped titanium implant can be surgically place in the jaw and used to replace a missing tooth. The bone in the jaw fills in around the implant (osseointegration) and a crown is then placed on the implant. It feels very much like a real tooth. Implants can also be used if a patient is missing all or most of his teeth to create bridges or "snap on" dentures which feel like biting on real teeth and do not inhibit taste as conventional dentures sometimes do. Since the early 90's, the use of implants has grown tremendously, and our practice reflects that growth. Dr. Fishbaine has successfully restored hundreds of implants for our patients.
Other Services
General dentistry encompasses all of the disciplines of dentistry to some degree. As such, Dr. Fishbaine offers many services in his practice including root canal therapy, full and partial denture fabrication, oral surgery and minor orthodontics. He also maintains good relationships with all of the local dental specialists in the area and can help to assist patients in selecting the appropriate specialist when a problem presents which requires a referral.
General dentistry encompasses all of the disciplines of dentistry to some degree. As such, Dr. Fishbaine offers many services in his practice including root canal therapy, full and partial denture fabrication, oral surgery and minor orthodontics. He also maintains good relationships with all of the local dental specialists in the area and can help to assist patients in selecting the appropriate specialist when a problem presents which requires a referral.
