Do You Smile a lot?
Research shows that the average woman smiles 62 times per day and the average man only 8 times per day.
On contrast, babies smile about 200 times per day and children 400 times!
Why does this matter?
Think of it this way. It takes muscles to smile and it takes muscles to frown. WHICH muscle are you exercising? What happens to muscles that you exercise? They get bigger and stronger, of course. So if muscles that smile pull your lips and face up, what to muscles that make you frown do?
So, when you look at a person that smiles a lot more than they frown, they have happy lines! This is critical. We can read a face, subconsciously, almost immediately. Emotions and feelings are transmitted through facial expressions much better than words.
Think of what it takes to make someone express these emotions:
– Happy
– Excited
– Mad
– Sad
How do you know that someone is sad or happy? It is pretty easy – the up or down turning of the smile.
So if you want to prevent those marionette lines at the sides of your smile, SMILE!
Smile more than you frown…in fact, just stop frowning all together! There are many more benefits to smiling, such as the release of endorphins which make you feel better.
At Ideal Dentistry we now offer Botox Cosmetics to help prevent and treat some of the areas on the face that contribute to age lines. Botox has been used for medical purposes for over 50 years now and is a very safe product. Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions.
Keep Smiling.
Everybody likes beautiful white teeth.
Did you ever wonder how a white composite filling is placed?
What is involved in replacing a silver mercury/amalgam filling?
Well, here is a quick step by step outline demonstrating the placement of a white filling.
ISOLATION:
We need to isolate the tooth with or without a rubber shield. Below you can see how some of the fillings are isolated. In some of the teeth the silver mercury or decay has already been removed. We use a clamp to separate the teeth so a tight contact can be achieved in the final restoration.
We then use high powered magnification and strong lights to look for fractures in the tooth. More often than not a silver mercury filling/amalgam results in the tooth being fractured. If fractures are present, as seen above, then a white filling cannot be placed, but rather a full cuspal coverage restoration such as a crown is needed.
FILLING:
Proper filling of the cavity is key to avoid post-operative sensitivity. The white filling material has to be placed in a dry, clean environment and layered in no more than 2mm increments. This is where most errors take place! Meticulous handling of the materials is essential.
FINISHING:
Once the restoration has been placed and hardened with a strong LED like light it needs to be polished and adjusted. If the filling hits the opposing tooth even a little bit too much then it can kill the tooth! So, proper adjustment is critical. Once the filling has been adjusted correctly it needs to be polished to a high gloss.
I hope this helps everyone understand the basic principles of a white filling. Of course there are many more details and variables, but that is for the dentist to understand 🙂
Keep smiling.
Let’s say you live in Prospect, Kentucky (Louisville Kentucky), and are looking for a true Cosmetic Dentist, how do you find one? As soon as you starting looking at signs, searching online, or listening to the radio you will realize that everyone is a Cosmetic Dentist, even in Louisville or Prospect, KY!
Just yesterday I did the same thing to see what my patients face when trying to make an educated decision when it comes to selecting a dentist.
Here is what I found:
On the radio you hear a respected person that shall remain nameless (but we all miss her show) advertise for a “chain” of dental offices saying their care is “second to none“. Really, second to none? Wow, that sounds like top quality care!
What labs do they use? Run of the mill labs.
Do their dentists have advanced training warranting their claim? Nope, they sure don’t.
I wonder what “second to none” means to them…
So, this reiterates the general understanding that you can’t believe anything advertised online…kinda sad. I guess that is why it is called “paid advertising.”
So that eliminates listening to radio and TV for suggestions – how about the web?
So here in “Goshen” or “Prospect” we have our own “Cosmetic Dental Experts“! We are so lucky that we even have a new graduate that is a top dental expert! How is that possible? It took me over a decade to develop the skills and experience to consider myself a Cosmetic Dental expert. Hmmm, further review shows that ALL dentists in the area around us are Cosmetic Dental experts. How lucky are we!
It is for this specific reason, the “Wolf in Sheep clothing” epidemic, that you need to dig deeper and learn more about credentials yourself if you want to find a true Cosmetic Dentist. Once you have a “Wolf” dentist experiment with your smile it is too late…
Here are some simple suggestions:
- Don’t be fooled by TV or Radio. Remember, they are paid advertisements
- Don’t look for a Cosmetic Dentist – everyone is a Cosmetic Dentist
- Look for credentials beyond just being a dentist! AACD Accreditation (not just membership, they have to be accredited) is the top cosmetic dental achievement in the World
- Avoid being a test subject – seek out experienced dentists, not new graduates
- Don’t let massages, botox and spa comforts substitute your need for quality dentistry – it is a dental office, not a spa!
- Before and After photos! Yes, all dentists that have done a lot of cosmetic dentistry have hundreds of cases. Make sure what is posted online is their actual work!
I hope this helps you avoid making a mistake that can not only cost you a lot of money, but change how you feel about yourself for years to come…
Keep Smiling.
I get more and more patients coming to see me that have researched all the different types of porcelain veneers out there, and they know exactly what they want…when they come in. That all changes after we talk a bit about each product and what really matters, the artist/dental technician, not the material.
There are many more porcelain materials out there than I listed, it would be a never ending list. Part of being a cosmetic dentist is understand how each material works, what benefits and negatives they have, and which material will best suit the case at hand.
Here is a very basic list of the major categories of materials:
1. Feldspathic Porcelain: This is the original material, hand layered, and still the most esthetic option out there. This porcelain is also the weakest (until bonded to enamel) and requires the most skill to cement/ bond correctly.
2. Pressed Porcelain Veneers: This porcelain used the lost wax technique, meaning the teeth are made out of wax first and then this wax model is turned into porcelain by melting porcelain into the same shape as the wax teeth were. This gives the porcelain strength but results in some loss of esthetics. Pressed porcelain veneers can be made out of one block color of porcelain and stained to change color, or the block can be cut back and porcelain can then be layered and melted on top, which is a more esthetic option. Empress and Authentic are two very famous pressed porcelain materials.
3. Ultra Thin Veneers: Many new materials are super thin and strong, such as the Cerinate materials (Lumineers). Cerinate is a feldspathic porcelain reinforced with leucite crystals. While these are strong materials they often are not as esthetic. The thinner the veneer the more skill is required from the dental technician!
4. Milled Porcelain Veneers: CAD/CAM machines can now custom mill porcelain crowns and veneers. These restorations are strong but often lack the esthetics achieved through a dental technician.
So, there are obviously many choices out there. Which do you pick? My suggestion – none. Let you cosmetic dentist pick! Tell your dentist what outcome you desire, and he/she should have a deep understanding of all these materials. Coupled with a world class technician any one of these materials turns our beautiful!
If you really want a beautiful result, get to know your dental technician, not “lab”. Work with one person. Look at their website, their portfolio, etc. You are spending 10-30 thousand dollars on your smile, be picky!
Keep smiling.
We believe that there is a better way, a more personalized way, a more successful way to deliver dentistry and treat our patients. Dr. Hahn, a natural born problem solver, is passionate about helping patients escape the Dental Cycle (the continuous need for more dentistry over time at constantly increasing cost) and has created a unique approach to dentistry, Ideal Dentistry, focused on helping you prevent seeing the dentist.
We believe that dentistry is an art as much a science, and that every restoration we deliver, every filling we place needs to be as beautiful and functional as humanly possible.
We believe that a smile is a gift to you and everyone who you come in contact with. A smile is as important to human interaction as words. We believe everyone deserves to have a smile they are proud of. At Ideal Dentistry we listen to you and help you gain a smile that is uniquely you, using the most conservative methods available.
The Dental Peace Program, created by Dr. Hahn to help you maximize your dental health and minimize your need for future dentistry, is one of the pillars of Ideal Dentistry.
Your smile is our reward.
Keep smiling,
Dr. Chris
Straight teeth not only look better but also are healthier. Traditionally to get your teeth straightened would require a significant investment in braces, clear or with wires, and a long time commitment.
What if we could straighten your front teeth, top or bottom, in about 6 weeks?
What if we could straighten your teeth with an appliance you can remove when you like?
What if we could straighten your teeth at a fraction of the cost of braces?
Would you be interested in getting your teeth looking and feeling their best?
At Ideal Dentistry we are always on the cutting edge of dentistry, no pun intended. Invisalign is able to straighten teeth in a fraction of the time required by traditional braces.
After we straighten teeth we usually whiten them, do some minor cosmetic contouring and voila, you have an incredibly beautiful smile.
Cosmetic Dentistry is not a specialty. Every dentist advertises that they are a cosmetic dentist, so how do you pick a dentist to give you a beautiful, lasting smile?
After all, your smile is essentially one of your most important features! You spend a lot of time researching shoes, clothing, purses, cars, you name it. All these “things” come and go, but a smile is forever. Why would you not do your due diligence when it comes to something so important?
After practicing dentistry for over 15 years here is my opinion:
1. Experience does matter. Find a dentist that has proven he/she has a passion for cosmetic dentistry.
2. Walk the talk. The old saying: “Watch one, do one, teach one” really does apply. You cannot be a cosmetic dentist if you have not watched and learned how to do it, then practiced how to do it, and finally at the pinnacle of knowledge taught how to do it. If your dentist is teaching other dentists how to do it, then they probably know how to do it pretty well themselves. There are only a few dentists in the nation that are speakers on cosmetic dentistry. These dentists would be my first choice as a patient.
3. Passion Passion Passion. So, we all know that if you love what you do you do a better job. Does your dentist love what he/she does? Are they passionate? Are they excited to show you all the before and after photos of their work? Do they write blogs about what they do? Do they have a smile on their own faces? Do not, under any circumstance, ever, pick a dentist that does not like what they do.
4. Team. A dental office that provides quality cosmetic dentistry requires a top of the line team. I could not do what I do without my team, they are the best. Everybody from the front office to the assistant need to love what they do. If the team is not top notch, how can the dentistry be top notch?
5. Laboratory. Top notch cosmetic dentistry is not made in China, but that does not stop many dentists from sending their dentistry to China to be made. If you want a beautiful smile you need a top notch dental laboratory technician. There are several great lab technicians in the USA that can give you the smile of your dreams, but I guarantee you that any dentist that subscribes to in-network insurance here in Kentucky will never use them for one simple reason, and that is cost. You get what you pay for in dentistry. Like it or not, quality dentistry costs more money. Quality dental technicians are expensive. Quality materials cost more. Quality training for the dentist to become a top notch cosmetic dentistry takes time and money, quality team players cost money, and so forth. There is no way around this, you truly get what you pay for in dentistry.
6. Do it right the first time. Too often I see patients that come to me for a second opinion AFTER they had poor dentistry done. This only results in more discomfort, cost and time issues…Pick the best dentist you can afford now. Find someone that teaches you how to FIX your mouth, not just patch what is causing it to break down. There are ways today to prevent the need for dentistry for a long time!!!
So, when you are looking for a dentist, especially a cosmetic dentist, consider the facts above. Pick wisely…Dentistry is not a commodity, it is an art. Do it right the first time and save not only on time and money, but frustration and discomfort as well.
Keep Smiling.
I would like to discuss how dentures can change your life today…why you ask, well, simple , I have had several wonderful patients come to my office recently who had to put their life on hold because of their bad dentures.
When I speak to a group of dentists my goal is not only to teach them about cosmetic dentistry, but much more importantly, teach them that we as dentists can change lives…we can make or break patients confidence, success, and most importantly, happiness.
The two patients I am referring to are beautiful young ladies that won’t smile, or hardly talk anymore. They are blessed with a beautiful features but feel that life is miserable due to their teeth. That is how powerful your smile is. I am honored to be able to be the dentist that re-ignites their zest for life by giving them back a smile that represents who they are.
So, how do we do it? It all has to do with customization…meaning, taking a few extra steps when making a denture to ensure they are unique and natural looking. I set all the front teeth by hand, in wax, until the patient likes the way they look. Then when the denture has been turned into hard acrylic I shape and polish the teeth until they look real and match the patients personality. Lastly, I place dental implants whenever possible to secure the denture, giving you the confidence that your teeth won’t become loose at the wrong moment.
If you want “real” and “beautiful” looking dentures, or you have a friend that suffers from bad dentures, give me a call and let’s make you smile again!
Keep smiling.
Magnification in dentistry in 2013 is a must. Dental fillings, crowns and porcelain work such as veneers require that we work in fractions of millimeters.
- The thickness of a porcelain veneer can be around 0.3 mm!
- The edge of a filling may require as little as a 0.5 mm bevel around the whole tooth
- The edges of porcelain crowns come to sharp point and are thinner than the thickness of your fingernail
- Even with 20/20 vision you still are blind compared to magnification
There are many more examples such as finding decay, fractures, etc. that require the use of dental loupes. Simply put, without dental loupes you are seeing only a fraction of what really is going on!
At Ideal Dentistry we use the maximum level of magnification with a halogen light to ensure that the quality of all restorations, as well as your exams, are world class.
How can you ensure a perfect fit of a crown if you can’t even see the edge?
How can you diagnose a fractured tooth below a silver mercury filling if you can even see the crack?
Remember, quality dentistry is lasting dentistry. Get it done right the first time. Get it done under magnification!
Keep smiling.
Straight teeth are an important icon in our society – it is no wonder parents will forgo many creature comforts to straighten their kids teeth as teens.
Everybody understands that a good smile gives you an edge in society:
- People hire people with nice smiles
- People date people with nice smiles
So what can you do about your smile? Here is a case I just completed on someone that was told she could not have clear braces by another dentist.
Besides the improvements in esthetics, the case also significantly helped the patient functionally. She now is able to keep her teeth clean! It is much more difficult to manage crooked teeth than straight teeth. Invisalign Clear Braces gave this lady a beautiful smile!
Consider you smile…is it a healthy smile? Is it a beautiful smile? How would straight, healthy teeth improve your life?
Life is better with a beautiful smile!
Keep Smiling.
