One out of five people suffer from this disease that will affect one’s life quality and length.  The first line of treatment is usually a device called a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device.  Sixty per cent of users are non compliant.  A dental appliance made by Dr. Hedge in Cincinnati can achieve similar results as the CPAP.  No hoses, noise, or discomfort. You can stop “wrestling with the CPAP snake”.

People that suffer from tetracycline stained teeth have had minimal success with traditional whitening products. Traditional techniques and products do not have a chance against this complex  problem.  A specific treatment designed for this problem combines in office treatment with very specifically made home whitening appliances will make a tetracycline stained smile a beautiful white smile.

    This patient from Cincinnati, Ohio thought that Invisalign would correct her problems.  She had four bicuspid’s extracted and orthodontics as a teenager.   This treatment often results in a caved in lower third of the face with minimal lip support.  Her main issue was to get fuller teeth in the front to support her lip.  This case was done by placing four minimal prep veneers on the front teeth.  No shots or anesthetic was necessary.  She was thrilled with the result.

Potential cosmetic dental patients often worry about how they will look while in temporary crowns, veneers, or bridges.  This should never be a concern as these patients will look even better than they do before treatment.  The patient above had a front tooth that had lost it’s bone support and needed to be removed.  The picture on the right is a new temporary cosmetic bridge that she will wear for two months while the bone is filling in.  Proper planning by the cosmetic dentist is critical in order to achieve results like this.

There has been a lot of consumer interest in no preparation porcelain veneers generated by the direct to the consumer  advertising by Den-mat Corporation.  Although they have their indications, they are not always the best choice.  Teeth that are already proclined (buck toothed), teeth that are already crowned or veneered, teeth with large existing fillings or decay, teeth that are very dark and lower teeth are better treated with traditional prepped porcelain veneers.  Many dentists also offer very thin no prep veneers with stacked feldspathic porcelain, as alternative to Lumineer’s.  I use Durathin veneers made by Experience Dental Lab in Utah. www.durathin.com

Scott Smith, a record holder for many of the longest golf statistics, was fitted for a Power Performance Mouth Guard by Dr. Hedge.  Scott has the highest swing speed recorded at 164 miles per hour, the highest ball speed recorded at 222 miles per hour, and the longest competitive drive at 539 yards.  The Power Performance Mouth Guard increases strength and balance and will hopefully help Scott beat his previous records.

 The most important part of a cosmetic dentistry consultation is a series of digital photographs to help the patient see what their teeth really look like from the “outside.   Most patients have no idea what their smile looks like from the side, a view which everyone else sees.  We take a series of 13 images on every new patient to help them understand what the condition of their teeth and gums are in.  Our treatment coordinator, Corine Leech then reviews all of the pictures with our patients going over what is there and the treatment options.  Photographs are also used to show our patients before and after pictures of patients that have been treated with cosmetic dentistry.  we will find a case that is just like theirs. 

Giselle Bundchen, Brazilian supermodel and the highest paid model in the world, was asked her as a frequent flyer what goes in your toiletry bag…. She said deodarant, toothbrush, paste, floss and my braces…….The interviewer said, “excuse me, braces?”"I wear invisalign at night” Katherine Heigl from Grey’s Anatomy and Knocked Up was giving an iterview to Vogue Magazine during her lunch and began it by saying…”Wait a minute. I need to take out my Invisalign.  I am fixing my gnarly tooth.”  She went on to explain how cool and easy it has been for her.  Rumor has it that Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey have had their teeth straightened with Invisalign.  

   Direct bonding was in vogue as the way to improve a smile twenty years ago.  It was a way to close gaps and overlay dark teeth.  The result was usually fairly good, but not by todays standards where we can use porcelain.  Direct bonding was fairly fragile and was prone to chipping and cracking.  It would also begin to break down at the edges leaving brown stains.  Today we have porcelain veneers that are much stronger and naturally beautiful.  The pictures above are an example of this.  The pictures on the left are of some 7 year old bonding that was replaced by porcelain veneers on the four front teeth.  The longevity should be three times as long for porcelain veneers than direct bonding. 

 Many patients want the smile enhancement that porcelain veneers can offer, but don’t want their teeth prepared, or to get a shot to have them done.  The problem with conventional no prep veneers, is that the are not very attractive.  They often look like “chicklets” on the teeth.  The are monochromatic and have little natural translucency.  Dr. Hedge has developed a technique in Cincinnati, Ohio where he can deliver beautiful, natural veneers with no preparation to the teeth and without anesthetic.  This type of veneer cannot be done in all cases, but is a consideration in many cases.