Replacing one front tooth is a nightmare with most crowns.

This case was completed in one appointment. The crown was constructed using CEREC 3D cad-cam. The crown was stained, glazed and fired in a porcelain oven.

Cement. Clean up. Your done! A Wow!

Before treatment, a very large white filling doesn't match.

After one front crown is placed. Looks great!!

Doug Larson, DDS 42 West Campbell Avenue Campbell, CA 95008 408.374.6160

About the author

Doug Larson, DDS leads the team at The Smile Specialists in Campbell, California. The dental practice is a progressive cosmetic, restorative and preventative family dental practice. We provide our patients with the most comprehensive dentistry available in a comfortable state-of-the art facility, the planet can be proud of. Our services are designed to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth, improve their overall oral wellness and provide beautiful smiles. Our team works to empower patients with the knowledge necessary to make educated choices about their dental treatment options. We also understand that for many, a trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety. We want to help you reduce that anxiety. Call and allow us to help.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

In our office every patient with a new baby gets an impression of the babies hand. We make a cast model from it. Add some gloss and give Mom & Dad a terrific remembrance.

Mom holds the babie's cast hand

Big brother has his and his brother's hand.

Both hands are about the same size. Nice detail in the cast.

Doug Larson, DDS 42 West Campbell Avenue Campbell, CA 95008 408.374.6160

About the author

Doug Larson, DDS leads the team at The Smile Specialists in Campbell, California. The dental practice is a progressive cosmetic, restorative and preventative family dental practice. We provide our patients with the most comprehensive dentistry available in a comfortable state-of-the art facility, the planet can be proud of. Our services are designed to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth, improve their overall oral wellness and provide beautiful smiles. Our team works to empower patients with the knowledge necessary to make educated choices about their dental treatment options. We also understand that for many, a trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety. We want to help you reduce that anxiety. Call and allow us to help.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

The letters are raised off of the card!

She is as sweet as her name.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

Skull with all teeth.

Ever wonder why dentures don’t work so well a few years after they are placed?

Take a look at the tipical bone changes over time and the answer becomes obvious. Notice the Skull with a complete dentition. The bone is 30 0r 35 millimeters tall on the lower jaw.

Lose the teeth

Now look at the jaw with out the teeth. The bone here is maybe 10 or 12 millimeters tall.

No Bone Means an Ill Fitting Denture.

Skull with out any teeth.

You’re in big trouble in this case. Your lower denture has nothing to support its position in the mouth. The denture just floats around. Ugh.

The best course of action, don’t let yourself go there. Keep your teeth!

Implants Maintain The Bone

Some times that’s not an option or your teeth are already gone, then place some implants to hold the bone tissue and the denture. Your body will not maintain bone that isn’t being used. Implants act like the roots of your teeth and exercise the bone. Your body says build up the bone.

Just what we want.

About the author

Doug Larson, DDS leads the team at The Smile Specialists in Campbell, California. The dental practice is a progressive cosmetic, restorative and preventative family dental practice. We provide our patients with the most comprehensive dentistry available in a comfortable state-of-the art facility, the planet can be proud of. Our services are designed to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth, improve their overall oral wellness and provide beautiful smiles. Our team works to empower patients with the knowledge necessary to make educated choices about their dental treatment options. We also understand that for many, a trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety. We want to help you reduce that anxiety. Call and allow us to help.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

Isn’t there a huge gap where my tooth was removed?

How do I smile while the implant is healing?

What are my options

For years dentists used a partial denture, or flipper to cover the area where the implant was being placed. Although this device covered the affected area there were some large liabilities.  
•    It is very difficult to eat with it.
•    The shade of your teeth is difficult or impossible to match with the acrylic teeth on the partial.
•    The flipper often puts pressure on the tissue over the implant causing micro-movement of the implant (a big no, no).

A better temporary tooth replacement

One tooth is missing. That looks bad.

We now have a tooth replacement that fixes all these problems, plus some additional benefits.  This is constructed by a company in the eastern US.  The device covers your teeth. So its easy to chew with it. The shade matches. No pressure is placed on the tissue.
Plus the shape and contour of the teeth can be made to match your original teeth or have a more ideal shape. It doesn’t cost any more than the traditional flipper.

Looks great. No one knows you're missing a tooth!

The new device is not perfect. It takes a few days longer for the original construction. But with such large benefits its worth the time.

About the author

Doug Larson, DDS leads the team at The Smile Specialists in Campbell, California. The dental practice is a progressive cosmetic, restorative and preventative family dental practice. We provide our patients with the most comprehensive dentistry available in a comfortable state-of-the art facility, the planet can be proud of. Our services are designed to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth, improve their overall oral wellness and provide beautiful smiles. Our team works to empower patients with the knowledge necessary to make educated choices about their dental treatment options. We also understand that for many, a trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety. We want to help you reduce that anxiety. Call and allow us to help.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

Upper tooth that needs a crown.

Sometimes fillings are unsuitable to restore the broken or decayed tooth to its original size, shape, and strength. In this case a dental crown is used to replace and maintain the structural integrity of the tooth. Such “capping” restorations seal cracked teeth to prevent further damage, protect weak teeth, and conceal misshapen or discolored teeth.

The first photo shows all the problem areas.  The second photo shows the same tooth marked up with the visual problems I see. The good silver filling doesn’t have the dark shadows around the filling. Also I can see cracks or fractures on the tooth. And the filling is broken, a super highway for the bacteria to invade the tooth. The x-ray shows a dark area in between the teeth. This case hasn’t been completed yet. I’ll update the post when its done.

The arrows point to problems.

To ensure optimal crown placement, the dentist will reduce the width and height of the original tooth. An extremely accurate impression is then taken for use in constructing a mouth model upon which the crown or bridge is fabricated. In most dental offices the patient wears a temporary crown or bridge for several weeks (not in our office).  We use CEREC, a computer aided design software and the attached milling machine. Our crowns are completed (99% of the time) in one visit.

The permanent crown may be fashioned from one of three materials: porcelain, gold, or porcelain fused to gold. While gold is employed only upon the patient’s request, porcelain provides the best aesthetic result. In a porcelain device fused to gold, the gold provides strength while the porcelain confers a more natural appearance. Unfortunately, the underlying gold increases the opacity and gray hue of the tooth. At Dr. Larson’s office we use all porcelain crowns the majority of the time.

Regardless of the material utilized, Dr. Larson considers the patient’s original tooth color, shape, length, and bite to create the most natural final appearance. The permanent crown confers strength and beauty to the patient’s original smile.

How long do crowns last?

The longevity of a crown requires flossing and brushing twice a day. Plaque removal under a bridge and where the gum meets a crown is essential to prevent gum disease and dental decay. A floss threader may facilitate this process. With the appropriate oral hygiene and regular dental appointments, a crown or bridge will last longer than the projected eight to eleven years.

A patient with a crown  should avoid chewing ice, hard foods, and fingernails to prevent damage or fracture. Grinding or clenching will eventually destroy either crowns or bridges.

About the author

Doug Larson, DDS leads the team at The Smile Specialists in Campbell, California half way between Los Gatos and San Jose. The dental practice is a progressive cosmetic, restorative and preventative family dental practice. We provide our patients with the most comprehensive dentistry available in a comfortable state-of-the art facility, the planet can be proud of. Our services are designed to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth, improve their overall oral wellness and provide beautiful smiles. Our team works to empower patients with the knowledge necessary to make educated choices about their dental treatment options. We also understand that for many, a trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety. We want to help you reduce that anxiety. Call and allow us to help.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

Unable to move tongue forward

I wrote a post about being tongue tied a few weeks ago.  Here’s a link to the previous post on ankyloglossia. And this week a patient came in that need to have the lingual frenum “clipped” or more accurately “lasered.” This post contains the photos of the case.

Photo’s of the Patient

The tongue position was similar, just a little worse compared to the last case but the patients speech wasn’t developing as it should. So this procedure removes one obstacle to improving the speech.

Deep V-shape in the top of the tongue.

The before photos show the in-ablilty to move the forward. Additionally the second photo show’s the patient lifting his tongue as high as possible. Notice the deep V-shape created by the frenum holding the bottom of the tongue down.

Using laser on the tongue

Notice the area under the tongue that was lasered.

Start with a few drops of anesthetic. Literally, I didn’t us more than 6 drops. Lift the tongue up with a piece of gauze. Use the laser to cut the tissue. Laser’s are wonderful. Quicker healing, less post op discomfort. Photo three shows the tip of the laser being used to preform the procedure.

Much more freedom to move the tongue.

Moving the tongue forward is very much improved. The tip is not being held back.

Now he should be able to stick his tongue out along with everyone else.

About the author

Doug Larson, DDS leads the team at The Smile Specialists in Campbell, California. The dental practice is a progressive cosmetic, restorative and preventative family dental practice. We provide our patients with the most comprehensive dentistry available in a comfortable state-of-the art facility, the planet can be proud of. Our services are designed to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth, improve their overall oral wellness and provide beautiful smiles. Our team works to empower patients with the knowledge necessary to make educated choices about their dental treatment options. We also understand that for many, a trip to the dentist can be a source of anxiety. We want to help you reduce that anxiety. Call and allow us to help.

Dentistry has transformed in recent years. We’ll give you an experience that will change your mind about going to the dentist and even make you feel good about coming back.

1. Clean your aligners prior to each insertion. Use  a soft bristle toothbrush using water do not use toothpaste. Recent research shows toothpaste weakens and scratches the trays.
2. Rinse each aligner thoroughly with water after each cleaning.
3. DO NOT use denture cleaners to clean aligners or soak them in mouthwash. These products damage the surface of the aligner, causing it to become dull and stain more easily.

Proper Oral Hygiene

1. Remove your aligners for eating and drinking, except when drinking water (only).
2. Brush and floss your teeth after each meal or snack prior to re-inserting your aligners. If you have any questions regarding your hygiene techniques, consult your doctor.
3. Regular dental checkups and cleaning are mandatory for the continued health of your teeth and gums.

Clean Aligners are Clear Aligners

Storing your lnvisalign Aligners

We recommend that you store your lnvisalign aligners in a case when not in your mouth. This will help protect them from loss and damage.  If your current aligner is lost or broken, your doctor may recommend that you temporarily go back one stage wearing the prior tray until a new tray comes in.

Note: Keep past aligners in a clean plastic bag in the freezer. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Dogs love, love, love to eat aligners — consider yourself warned! Replacement aligners cost between $100 – $150.