Monthly Archives: July 2015

Complete Dentures

July 19, 2015complete denturesarlington, complete dentures, decay, dental implant, dental implants, dentist, Dr Gentry, immediate partial denture, northern virginia, partial denture, Philip Gentry, virginiaDoctorGentry

Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth—things that people often take for granted.

When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.

Types of dentures:

Conventional. This full removable denture is made and placed in your mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several months.
Immediate. This removable denture is inserted on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. Your dentist will take measurements and make models of your jaw during a preliminary visit. You don’t have to be without teeth during the healing period, the denture will need to be relined or remade after your jaw has healed.
Overdenture. Sometimes some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared by your dentist. Implants can serve the same function, too.

New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness. You may find that saliva flow temporarily increases. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems should go away. Follow-up appointments are generally needed after a denture is inserted so the fit can be checked and adjusted.

Even if you wear full dentures, you still have to practice good dental hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.

Dr. Gentry’s photos of one of his immediate complete upper denture cases.

unnamed-1 — Broken off decayed upper teeth

unnamed-4 — Panoramic x-ray showing teeth.

unnamed-3 — Upper immediate denture made from dental impressions.

unnamed-2 — Immediate full upper complete denture placed the same visit of extractions.

Porcelain Crowns

July 19, 2015crownsDoctorGentry

For most teeth, Dr. Gentry’s first choice for type of crown is Bruxzir Solid Zirconia. This of course depends on the clinical situation and exactly what would be best for each individual patient.

BruxZir® Solid Zirconia is made from virtually unbreakable, biocompatible zirconia. Because BruxZir dental zirconia has no porcelain overlay, it is more resistant to chipping, cracking or breaking in the mouth. This makes BruxZir ideal for bruxers and grinders, who have broken their natural teeth or porcelain restorations in the past.

Dentists have long relied on full-cast gold and porcelain metal crowns & bridges for long-term durability and strength. But with the introduction of BruxZir, an equally strong solution is now available to use in most situations. What’s more, when compared side-by-side to full-cast gold and porcelain metal crowns, BruxZir zirconia crowns are the most natural-looking choice. This is what Dr. Gentry has in his own mouth.

1. Broken down teeth prepared for Dr. Gentry’s crowns.

2. Porcelain crowns cemented on the 2 upper bicuspid teeth. Notice the last upper crown is an old technology PFM crown that has worn through the porcelain in the middle on top.

Another example of one of Dr. Gentry’s crowns:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4taHSdbP_w&sns=em

Nightguards

July 19, 2015nightguards for grinding/clenching teetharlington, bite splint, dental, dentist, Dr Gentry, nightguard, northern virginia, Philip Gentry, virginiaDoctorGentry

If you or someone you know experiences severe tooth, jaw or facial muscle pain, it may be from the effects of grinding or clenching your teeth. The good news is that Dr. Gentry may be able to prescribe a custom-made Comfort H/S™ (Hard/Soft) Bite Splint, which offsets the pain caused by bruxing or grinding your teeth.

A nightguard is a proactive step to protect your existing healthy teeth. A clear, thin removable device, your custom-made bite splint is worn over your lower or upper teeth as you sleep.

Studies suggest those who grind and clench their teeth may experience up to 80 times the normal tooth wear per day compared to those who do not. The good news is that a simple bite splint can offset the effects of this often-subconscious habit while protecting your teeth from daily wear and tear.

Restoration of a large carious lesions using the Garrison Interproximal Matrix System

July 19, 2015cavities-before/afterarlington, caries, cavities, cavity, composite restorations, decay, dental, dentist, Dr Gentry, northern virginia, Philip Gentry, tooth bonding, virginiaDoctorGentry

When deep decay that is close to the tooth pulp is present in a tooth, many times it requires a root canal. In this 35 year old patient, Dr. Gentry restores her upper bicuspid tooth without a root canal or crown. Gentry cleans out the decay, places a Vitrabond glass ionomer pulp cap, and places a Herculite composite restoration, using the Garrison Matrix System.

Cavities

July 19, 2015cavities-before/afterarlington, caries, cavities, cavity, composite restorations, decay, dental, dentist, Dr Gentry, northern virginia, Philip Gentry, tooth bonding, virginiaDoctorGentry

Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Cavities, also called tooth decay or caries, are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks, and not cleaning your teeth well. Cavities and tooth decay are among the world’s most common health problems.

If cavities aren’t treated, they get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth. They can lead to severe toothache, infection and tooth loss. Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits are your best protection against cavities and tooth decay.

Some examples of Dr. Gentry fixing patient’s dental cavities:

a09693e3-1681-44c5-a852-a1f25b44d651 — Decayed premolar tooth

d79e7376-2bf0-4027-88b2-f3c884e0648b — Opened up to reveal deep decay

274781b0-058d-4202-aa12-b2c02c7112ad — Decay removed

af908175-5d5d-4b71-b71e-d77b97d5fa80 — Matrix band placed

aabd3920-023e-424f-aad1-40d5ea832d53 — Finished restorations

Decay on sides of teeth extending under the gums

Dr Gentry completing a Biomet 3i implant of a lower left first molar.

July 18, 2015dental implantsarlington, dental implant, dental implants, dentist, Dr Gentry, northern virginia, Philip Gentry, virginiaDoctorGentry

unnamed — Porcelain crown, gold screw, custom abutment.

Dental bonding

July 18, 2015chipped teeth-before/after, dental bonding-before/afterarlington, composite restorations, dentist, Dr Gentry, Dr. Philip Gentry, northern virginia, Philip Gentry, tooth bonding, virginiaDoctorGentry

Dr. Gentry repairs a chipped front tooth.

Immediate partial denture cases

July 18, 2015immediate partial denture, partial dentures-before/afterarlington, dentist, Dr Gentry, Dr. Philip Gentry, immediate partial denture, northern virginia, partial denture, partial dentures, Philip Gentry, virginiaDoctorGentry

In these 2 examples of immediate partial dentures, Dr. Gentry extracts the patients broken, decayed, hopeless teeth and places the partial denture at the same visit. Following healing dental implants, fixed bridges or a flexible partial denture will be fabricated.