Can Rotten Teeth be Saved?

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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Question:

Dr. Sam, I am 63 and my teeth are so bad that it seems I have no option but to have them extracted and live with dentures. I hate the idea! Both my parents had dentures which always seemed to have a life of their own as the wobbled around in their mouths. Can rotten teeth be saved?

Answer:

Rotten teeth can be saved depending on the degree of rotten! In many cases, patient can only see the tops of their teeth and they appear rotten but the roots are quite solid. Solid roots or long roots can support new teeth very well and a complete bite and a great smile can be reconstructed if the roots are good.

sara ba Can Rotten Teeth be Saved?

Dr. Sam Muslin Specializes in Mouth Reconstruction and Extreme and Complex Dental Care

Sometimes, some of the teeth have to be extracted and some of the teeth can be saved. The creative and engineering skills of the dentist can completely rebuild the bite with a mouth reconstruction that can be surprisingly successful and look totally natural. Some people can have a combination of dental implants and natural teeth that work very well producing a solid bite that lasts for many years. The technology is very good and highly predictable.

Lastly, if all of the teeth have to be extracted and dentures need to be worn, again the technology of dental implants have improved dramatically. The dentures can be build over the dental implants with snaps so the dentures are more stable. The patient can remove them and clean them and has fairly good chewing power. In other instances, many dental implants can be placed and the patient can have all new, completely fixed or permanent crowns cemented or screwed to the dental implants. It is just like having a whole new set of teeth again. The results are natural looking and natural feeling teeth.

In short, it doesn’t matter if your teeth can be saved because there are solutions for almost any situation of tooth loss that works far better than just a set of dentures worn by your parents. The don’t have to wobble anymore.

Categories : Best Cosmetic Dentistry, Extreme Makeover
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About Osteointegrated Implants and Fibrointegrated Implants

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Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Sam, what is the difference between osteointegrated implants and fibrointegrated implants? I get so confused when my dentist throw all these terms at me! How do I know what I need? I am about to have 2 teeth extracted (one on each side, lower jaw) and I think I’d prefer permanent implants to a bridge – but I’d hate to make the wrong choice.

Answer:

Your implant dentist must make this choice for you and advise you as to the best dental implant for your particular amount of bone, health and bite. You want an osteointegrated implant if it is at all possible and it depends on if you have enough quality bone to support the implant. If the dentist you have chosen cannot make up his or her mind, get a second opinion.

You said you are only missing two teeth so the osteointegrated variety of dental implant works best because the jaw bone is tight to the implant. There are many different types, shapes, surface coatings and surface textures, widths and lengths of osteointegrated implants. All of these technical decisions should be made by the dentist.

The dentist should make an assessment of the type of bone, amount of jaw bone, the width of bone and the brand, type and length of implant to place. The dentist needs to know if their is enough space between the upper and lower jaws and the number of implants that should be used to replace your missing teeth. Sometimes, one implant is best and other times three implants are best.

Additionally, you may be able to have your teeth extracted, the implants place and the jaw bone grafted in just one dental appointment. The technology is that good! In just a few months, your new crowns can be cemented or secured with a screw to the dental implant. There is no hot or cold sensitivity to a dental implant and they do not decay.

There is a huge difference in the ability, knowledge and techniques of dentists that are placing dental implants. Dental implants can fail and when they do, it can be difficult. Find the one of the best dentist available because long lasting success is far less expensive than a low priced dental implant that fails. For more information and to view pictures of Implant Case Studies, visit our Hight-Tech Dental Implant section.

Categories : Blog, Dental Implants
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Can TMJ Jaw Pain Be Cured?

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Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Sam, can TMJ jaw pain be cured? My dentist said that at best it can be managed, never cured. This really makes me depressed!

Answer:

There is no reason to be depressed. Your dentist said “that at best it can be managed” and that can mean complete relief of pain and discomfort for very long periods of time. Many past TMJ patients are now quite comfortable and have moved on with their lives because they are functioning normally.

TMJ jaw pain can be a continuing problem because there is permanent damage to the jaw joint but keep in mind, that as you grow older, permanent damage to all of your body parts, from your skin, to your organs and teeth is actually a normal product of aging. Don’t get depressed over it, learn to enjoy the life that your were given.

The TMJ is the only joint in the body with a physiological component. All other body joints are mechanically functional but the TMJ is effected by our moods, anxiety, depression and events. We clench and grind more when we are stressed. This puts more pressure and potential damage to the TMJ.

Some of my best TMJ tips are as follows:

  • Don’t unnecessarily stress the TMJ or jaw joint.
  • Don’t chew gum, eat big thick sandwitches that cause the TMJ to open wide, don’t choose foods that require a lot of chewing as steaks or nuts.
  • If the TMJ is painful, try taking it easy on the jaw joint as you would with any injury. Give it a rest, follow the instructions from your dentist and you may find that the pain disappears.
Categories : TMJ
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No-Pain Non-Invasive Face Lift Dentistry

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Friday, March 5th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Sam, I showed my orthodontist the before-after pictures of your Barbara case study and asked him his thoughts as I have a very similar problem. The way he described your procedure to me was really scary! He said I should know that I will have the equivalent pain of a root canal in every tooth in my mouth for this outcome. He said he would much rather have his jaw surgically lengthened than go through the pain you would inflict. How did Barbara cope with this?

Answer:

Barbara never had any pain because none of her teeth were ground down or drilled. Actually, the non-invasive dentistry utilized to treat Barbara, will help her natural teeth last longer as they now have an additional layer bonded on top of her original teeth. The additional layer is pure biologically compatible porcelain that does not stain and is very durable. The teeth do not decay under the porcelain because they are totally bonded and integrated with her natural tooth structure.

Barbara face No Pain Non Invasive Face Lift Dentistry

Non-Invasive Face Lift Dentistry Miracle

Your Orthodontist is simply not aware of the latest technology. Nobody in their right mind would “rather have his jaw surgically lengthened” when the alternative is much safer. Additionally, jaw surgeries are very invasive and have big potential risks. Jaw surgeries cannot whiten the teeth or protect the teeth and sometimes cannot lift the bite far enough.

Your Orthodontist probably thought that Barbara had to have her natural teeth drilled down to place the porcelain. He or she was incorrect and again unaware of the possibilities of the latest developments. Sometimes specialists and generalists do not progress with the best new advances. Sam Muslin DDS MAGD has developed dental bonding techniques that must be utilized with the matching type of porcelain for each particular patient. The technique is so strong and durable that a patient can have the best bite, best jaw position and clean healthy white teeth with non-invasive dentistry!

Non-Invasive dentistry can improve the bite, relieve headaches or neck pain and give the patient white natural looking teeth that last. Barbara could even change the porcelain if she wanted whiter teeth in the future.

Categories : Facelift Dentistry
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Not All Dentistry Is Created Equally

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Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Pain-free Treatment

Last week, a patient came in to our office complaining about a toothache. She was in the process of switching dentists, and Dr. Muslin had been highly recommended by another patient. She told me that she was dreading the visit since she’s had plenty dental treatment completed over the years and never enjoyed any of it. It turns out she was right in calling in to visit a dentist because the filling that had come out, her roots exposed and infected. Her tooth needed a root canal. An hour and a half later, the root canal was completed, a post and build-up was placed, along with the preparation for the porcelain crown. The patient told me that, this was the best root canal she has ever had!  She was completely shocked that the treatment could be completed so quickly and painlessly.

Dr. Muslin’s Response:

When it comes to dental treatment, some may think that a filling is a filling and a crown is a crown period. The hand that delivers the treatment, however, really makes a difference in the effectiveness of the work. Moreover, saving a few dollars for more inexpensive treatment may end up costing more in the long run. My mom learned this lesson the hard way when she went to her insurance dentist for a root canal and crown. She still felt pain in the tooth even after the root canal was completed, so the dentist retreated the tooth with another root canal. She ended up having to pay an extra thousand dollars for that tooth, on top of the money she lost from missing work hours and experiencing constant pain all due to seeing the wrong dentist.

Categories : Blog, Root Canal and Crowns
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The Best Teeth Whitening Money Can Buy

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Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Question:

Zoom! Teeth Whitening seems so convenient, cost effective and accessible. It seems that every dentist offers Zoom! Teeth whitening. Why should I come to a professional such as yourself for custom teeth whitening? (Dr. Muslin – maybe focus on “every dentist can do it” – i.e. a mass production product where no skill is required.

Answer:

After bleaching teeth for over 15 years, buying the Zoom II whitening system and using it, seeing patients that had Brite Smile whitening and Zoom whitening in other dental offices and trying many different methods, I have come to the conclusion that the best whitening systems are systems that are customized to the patient’s individual needs. The cost is generally not more expensive to whiten teeth using the best teeth whitening methods. Some patients have yellow teeth, some patients have highly mineralized teeth, other patients have tetracycline stained teeth, some patients have very sensitive teeth, while other patients have grey or very translucent teeth.

I have found that the systems that use a high powered light generate a lot of heat that can raise the nerve temperature inside the teeth or burn the gums or lips. I have also found that the teeth bleaching systems that use a light have results that do not last as long and can make the teeth more sensitive to temperature. We have had patients claim it was painful and the results did not last. They said, “a month later and my teeth were yellow again”.

The idea behind the light systems is that any dentist can do it. No thinking required, just follow the directions. The best teeth whitening systems may use one material one week and another complimentary material the next. Rather than just one method, we have several choices available to get the best possible results for our patients. The ability to customize the duration of exposure, strength of material, eliminate the heat from a light is a big advantage over the idea that one system fits everyone.

With increased duration of exposure with a gentle teeth whitening material we get results that last longer and bleaches the teeth to a natural whiter color.

Categories : Blog, Teeth Whitening
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It’s Time to Find a New Dentist!

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Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Question:

My dentist told me that most porcelain veneers are made by the same labs and that talk of different quality is just sales talk. Is this true? Are there labs that are better than other labs?

Answer:

You dentist is so wrong that it is scary. Probably 99% of all cosmetic dentists send their work to a dental lab and never see the porcelain veneers until they are finished and delivered into their office. The problem is the porcelain veneers are made without any customization by the dentist therefore all decisions that could make a world of difference for the patient are made by the lab. The dental lab has never seen the patient and has no idea. The porcelain veneers made without dentist supervision tend to be fake looking, thick, lack surface texture, are poorly proportioned, lack translucency or have too much translucency for the color of the teeth. All of this is normal for most cosmetic dentists as they totally rely on the lab to produce porcelain veneers without any customized guidance by the dentist. The result by the dental lab is limited if the knowledge and skill of the cosmetic dentist is limited.

My opinion is there is a huge difference between dental labs and an even bigger difference between dentists.

I have found over the last 30 years that the dentist must personally work on each porcelain veneer personally in order to maintain quality. I have developed a system of photography that includes over 40 images and diagnostic model measuring that helps me develop customization and create individualized quality that is unsurpassed from multiple facial angles. I personally work on every patient’s porcelain veneers before the final glaze is fired which permits me to insure the best shape, surface texture, size proportioning, veneer angling, surface contour, color and overall quality that is ideal for my patients. Over the years, I have worked with multiple dental labs that are the biggest and best in the industry and still personally work on every single case before the lab finishes their work. The ability of the lab is limited if the cosmetic dentist’s ability is limited. Every patient has different needs and there are so many ways the porcelain veneers could be better if the cosmetic dentist could only recognize it when he or she is looking at the patient.

How to Pick a Cosmetic Dentist?

I am honored that such a large number of my patients have signed model release forms (without payment) that gave me permission to show their entire face on the Hightech Dentistry Gallery. It is the ultimate testimonial. I highly recommend that you compare before and after photos of potential cosmetic dentists work and make sure the expressions and smiles are matched. Also, look at the close-up photos too. Find the best cosmetic dentist possible and make sure they have the photos to prove they are competent.

Categories : Best Cosmetic Dentistry, Blog
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Grey & Dull Porcelain Veneers

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Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Muslin, my family dentist convinced me that porcelain veneers were the best solution to cover my dark teeth. At first it looked OK but now my porcelain veneers look grey and dull. Do I need to have them whitened or bleached? How can this be fixed?

Answer:

Porcelain Veneers can be made with different thickness. The thickness of the porcelain veneer is the critical component in hiding the color of your teeth. The ability of the porcelain veneer to hide dark tooth color is related to the thickness of the porcelain and the bonding technique of the dentist. Sometimes the material or the technique used by the dentist causes the color to turn grey. Sometimes the dentist did not have the lab add enough opacity to hide the color. Other times the dentist did not help the lab understand how much of a color change he or she hopes to achieve. The bonding skill and the cosmetic dentistry skill of the dentist is very important in determining how color stable your porcelain veneers will be. There is a huge difference in the skills of cosmetic dentists. I realize that patients think dentists are all licensed and trained the same but the training and the ability of the cosmetic dentist varies wildly.

Sometimes if the color of the veneers turns grey you can bleach the teeth but this is not permanent. You will have to continue bleaching your teeth for the rest of your life and that may not be a good idea. You also mentioned the porcelain veneers were dull. The material used may not be real porcelain but some hybrid form of porcelain that is cheaper to make and easier for the dentist to bond. There is a large difference in the types of porcelain used for the porcelain veneers. The types of porcelains utalized, the cosmetic skills of the dentist, the technical bonding skills of the dentist and the diagnostic skills are critical to achieve results that look natural and last for many years.

Caution! The dentist you choose makes all of the difference between good and bad porcelain veneers. Ask to see one of the dentists patients, ask to talk to one of their patients but the best way is to see a lot of photographs with clear before and after images of the patients including full face views and close up views. Don’t fall for website gimmicks. Don’t fall for miss matched photos that do not allow you to compare results. Don’t fall for a slick website with bad before and after photos. Choose carefully because you will be wearing the porcelain veneers for a very long time.

Categories : Blog, Porcelain Veneers
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Visible Layer of Dental Bonding on Tooth

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Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Sam, our family dentist talked me into dental bonding to minimize a gap between my front teeth. Now, the gap is still awkward and if you look closely you can see the layer of bonding material on my tooth. I hate it! Can dental bonding be removed?

Answer:

Dental Bonding can easily be replaced. But, now at least you have a better understanding that finding a cosmetic dentist that is highly skilled can produce results that will make you happy rather than “hating it”. Fortunately for you, dental bonding can easily be replaced without damaging your teeth if the dentist works with magnification. It is very important that you go to a “magnification dentist”. With magnification the dentist can remove the bonding without cutting away your natural tooth structure.

You only have one set of teeth so the quality of the care and the minimal amount of tooth lost is very important. The ability of the dentist to match the opacity of your natural tooth structure is critical. It is also very difficult but can be accomplished if the dentist understands his or her bonding material’s characteristics.

Categories : Blog, Dental Bonding
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Cracked and Broken Porcelain Veneers after 6 Months!

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Monday, January 18th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Sam, I’ve had porcelain veneers on my front teeth for 6 months. Last month one of them cracked and had to be replaced. I was a bit shocked that it only lasted for 6 months – but this is not my question. My dentist then replaced the cracked veneer, but the color is different and it seems to be quite a bit thicker than the others. My dentist says this is my imagination and that I should allow some time to get used to it. This sounds wrong to me – what do you think?

Answer:

Without even seeing your teeth the odds greatly favor that you are right. If can be difficult to match the porcelain veneers if the dentist did not write down the shade of the bonding material. Additionally, manufacturers do not keep making the same materials as the word “new” seems to sell products. The dentists can find themselves in a difficult situation, trying to match one tooth to all of the other teeth without the same material available.

The best cosmetic dentists in Los Angeles have a large inventory of different materials and they also have the skills to know which one would be the best. See Josh for a great example of matching only two porcelain veneers to this patient’s natural teeth. It is very difficult to match shade shape and opacity when bonding only two porcelain veneers but it also can done. Josh has had his two porcelain veneers for nearly 8 years and they still match perfectly.

You also mentioned the shape was too thick and you are surely right because the patient has a much better feel inside their mouth and can tell if there are any discrepancies. Considering that one of the porcelain veneers broke in only six months and the dentist could not match the shade nor the shape when trying to replace the veneer, it sounds to me you chose the wrong dentist. Maybe it is time to move up a few levels as you now understand how uncomfortable and irritating bad porcelain veneers can be.

Contact Sam Muslin DDS MAGD, Santa Monica, California at (310) 829-6796

Categories : Botched Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers
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News and Awards

Dr. Sam Muslin received the 2009 "Best Cosmetic Dentist in Los Angeles" award from LAs Best, featured in the Los Angeles TImes.