Creating beautiful smiles to last a lifetime.
Happy Halloween from Adler Cosmetic and Family Dentistry
In honor of the approaching holiday we provide this link to some fun facts and information surrounding Halloween. Check it out for the history of Jack O’ Lanterns and some other fun ‘pumpkin facts’.
http://www.albee.org/halloween/jackolantern.htm
Boulder Cosmetic Dentistry | Smile Restoration Case Study
Kelsy's Smile Before
Kelsy is a beautiful young woman whose smile didn’t match her bright and outgoing personality. One of her front teeth was chipped and discolored from a previous injury. Kelsy’s mom wanted to do something special for Kelsy’s 25th birthday and decided that the best present would be a new smile to match the rest of her. Kelsy’s mom only wanted the best for daughter so they came to Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. After an initial consultation and exam to discuss exactly what Kelsy wanted, Dr. Adler recommended doing Zoom Whitening to brighten up her smile and even out the shades and then doing porcelain restorations on her two upper front teeth. He recommended placing restorations on both front teeth even though only one tooth was discolored because it is extremely difficult to restore a single front tooth and have the shape, size, and color match the tooth next to it. In order to keep the teeth looking natural and the smile symmetrical it is usually recommended to restore front teeth in sets of 2, 4, or 8 teeth.
Kelsy's Beautiful New Smile
The first step for Kelsy was preparing her two front teeth for the porcelain crowns. The teeth #8 & 9 were prepped for new the crowns and a stump shade was taken. The stump shade is the underlying color of the tooth after it has been prepared for a restoration. This shade is important because if a tooth has a dark underlying color then the darkness could show through a crown if the color or opaqueness is not adjusted to accommodate this. After the teeth were prepped and the stump shade taken then the temporary crowns were placed and looked almost as good and the final ones would.
Kelsy’s next step of treatment was Zoom Whitening. Cotton barriers that have been specially formulated by Zoom Whitening to block the effects of the light were placed around the gums and tissue. An additional barrier called Liquid dam was also carefully applied to the tissue to fully isolate it from the whitening solution and light. Once everything had been isolated except for the teeth, the whitening gel was then applied to the teeth and placed under a special light that activated the gel to give the dramatic results. The whitening gel and light were reapplied for each of the four 15 minute sessions. The results are typically 2-3 shades lighter then originally but some people have even gotten better results then that. Kelsy’s results were the dramatic white smile we were looking for without looking unnaturally bright. Custom trays were also made for Kelsy so she could continue to do touch up whitening at home. Once Kelsy was satisfied with the whiteness of her teeth – the shade was sent to the lab so they could match the color of her crowns to her existing teeth to make a seamless blend.
Beautiful Smile to Match Her Personality
Aurum Dental Laboratories in Las Vegas are known for their high quality work and attention to detail. Kelsy’s restorations were given the same personalized attention that we have come to expect from Aurum. The crowns were custom fabricated not only to match her existing teeth in color but also given the size and shape to best compliment her face and give her smile an overall aesthetic appeal.
The final step of Kelsy’s treatment was seating the final restorations. Kelsy was very excited for this appointment. The temporary crowns were removed and the teeth were cleaned with an antimicrobial solution and then the final restorations were chemically bonded to the teeth using the best and most advanced products available to make the teeth as strong as before. Now Kelsy’s teeth look and function better then ever and she has the beautiful smile to match her personality.
Denver Avalanche Mascot Bernie Visits Boulder Dentist Dr. Michael Adler
Denver Avalanche mascot Bernie stops by Adler Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Boulder, CO.
Top Dental Professional Attends the 2011 International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics (IACA) Seventh Annual Meeting
Dr. Michael Adler: First Place Winner of the Aesthetic Eye for Full Mouth Reconstruction
August 17, 2011, San Diego, CA – Dr. Michael Adler attended the seventh annual International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics (IACA) conference in San Diego, July 28 – July 30, 2011.
The annual conference provided Dr. Michael Adler with the opportunity to learn and interact with the most progressive leaders in aesthetic dentistry and its related professions. Also, Dr. Michael Adler was introduced to the latest techniques and materials available today.
The Aesthetic Eye of the IACA recognized exceptional dentistry by IACA members. Submitted cases are featured at the IACA Annual Conference and are judged by the Aesthetic Eye Panel. Dr. Michael Adler was honored that his submission for Full Mouth Aesthetics was rewarded with First Place when judged by a group of his peers.
The IACA was established to foster dental education and is steadfast in its commitment to be a progressive, non-political, dynamic organization that is always on the cutting edge of clinical, practice management and technological advances in Aesthetic Dentistry. The organization is inclusive to all philosophies and ideas enabling professionals to determine what is best for their respective practices.
The IACA prides itself on being a scientific academy that affords its members the opportunity to become a leader in the health care community, while providing the best care possible for their patients. No other organization provides such a broad range of educational opportunities in advanced aesthetics.
This is just one of the many important ways Dr. Michael Adler has demonstrated a commitment to provide exceptional patient care.
Please visit www.theIACA.com or call 1-866-669-4222 for more information.
August 17, 2011
For more information contact:
International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics
1401 Hillshire Drive, Suite 130
Las Vegas, NV 89134
1.866. NOW.IACA
www.theIACA.com
Dr. Cherie Brown – Periodontist at Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry Offers Convenience of a Specialist without the Travel
Dr. Michael Adler of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is committed to providing his patients with the best care possible. To give his patients the benefit of a specialist without the hassle of going to a specialist, Dr. Adler has teamed up with periodontist Cherie Brown. Dr. Brown comes to Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry each month to provide the specialized services that only a periodontist can provide without the patients ever having to travel to a different office or deal with a new staff.
Some of the many procedures that Dr. Brown commonly performs at Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry include: bone and tissue grafts, sinus lifts, mucogingival surgery, implant placement, tissue repositioning, and regenerative therapy to name a few. Dr. Brown believes that periodontics are as much about the aesthetics as it is about the function and so uses all of her skill to insure that the patient looks the same or better when she is done. Dr. Adler has said that Dr. Brown is the best periodontist that he has ever seen and her work is second to none. Dr. Brown is known for her attention to detail and her fun and gentle manner with patients.
Cherie Brown, DDS, MS is the owner and practicing periodontist of Front Range Periodontics in Lakewood, Colorado since 2002. In addition to traveling to Dr. Adler’s office in Boulder, she also works with Dr. Ronald Gilligan of Frisco, Colorado. She conveniently comes to each doctor’s office to allow their patients to see a periodontal specialist without having to travel to the specialist. Dr. Brown attended Angelo State University, Baylor College of Dentistry, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center – College of Dentistry.
Dr. Cherie Brown moved to Colorado in 2002 and considers Colorado “the world’s largest playground.” She started jogging in February 2010 and completed 3½ marathons last year. Dr. Brown loves to ski, hike and snowshoe and has recently started training for the STP – Seattle to Portland 200 mile road bite race!
Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with her fiancé Dr. Tony Kardelis and her two wonderful dogs, Dallas – a red-tricolored Australian Shepherd and Houston – an Alaskan Malamute. She also loves good food and drinks, especially Rio’s Margaritas after a hard day.
Dr. Brown is the director of the Mile High Dental Study Club an affiliate of the prestigious Seattle Study Club. She is kicking off the Mile High Hygiene Study Club this fall to give back to the hygiene community.
New Porcelain Bridges Gives Patient’s Smile Back
Sandra was not satisfied with how her smile looked. She was very self conscious about it and tried to avoid smiling which did not go along with her sweet and cheerful personality. Sandra had two old porcelain fused to metal bridges on her front teeth and they made her teeth look dark and small. She could also see the metal in the bridge making a dark line across her gum line. Sandra came to Dr. Adler of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry because she wanted a smile that she could be proud of.
After a complete evaluation, Dr. Adler recommended that both bridges on her upper front teeth be removed and replaced with all porcelain bridges. The all porcelain bridges would give the teeth a more nature look and the color would be more translucent and not flat. This would also eliminate the unattractive dark line near the gum line. When Sandra smiles you can see her teeth all the way to her bicuspids, so Dr. Adler recommended replacing the two bridges but also placing crowns on her first bicuspids so they would match the shape and color of the bridges giving a better over aesthetic look to her smile instead of making her smile look like it stops short or making the difference in color from her natural teeth look too drastic. Sandra wanted a brighter smile so Dr. Adler also recommended Sandra do Zoom whitening to help all the rest of her teeth to match the new crowns and bridges so she could have brighter smile instead of matching the bridges to her current color that was darker then she wanted.
Sandra started with the Zoom whitening after having a thorough cleaning to insure healthy gums and a good result. It is important to have a cleaning within 6 months prior to whitening to insure the best results. Whitening dirty teeth is about as effective as painting a dirty car. During the Zoom whitening, Sandra’s gums and soft tissue are protected by a liquid dam. The whitening solution was then applied to the teeth and the activating light was used. The process was repeated in four consecutive sessions. The whole process took approximately two hours. Customized whitening trays were made during the appointment to allow for any needed touch ups at home. Sandra was at least two shades lighter by the end of the appointment.
Sandra was very excited to have the old ugly bridges removed. The teeth were then prepped for the new porcelain bridges and crowns. Impressions were taken of the prepped teeth and sent to Aurum Ceramic Dental Lab in Las Vegas so the crowns and bridges could be custom fabricated and have a custom shade match done. Temporary crowns and bridges were then placed that looked almost as good as the final crowns would and better then the old ones. Dr. Adler and the lab insured that the restorations were the best shape, length, and size to give her the best looking and most functional smile. Once the restorations were complete, then the temporary crowns and bridges were removed and the final restorations were chemically bonded to the teeth using the highest quality products to insure the strongest bond possible. When everything was done, Sandra had a smile that she could be proud of and she is happy to show off her teeth now.
Boulder Denver Colorado Cosmetic Dentist | Michael Adler DDS
Boulder Denver Colorado cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Adler provides an introduction cosmetic dentistry in this January 2011 video interview.
Boulder Denver Colorado Periodontist | Cherie Brown DDS, MS
Boulder Denver Colorado periodontist Dr. Cherie Brown provides an introduction to periodontics in this February 2011 video interview.
Full Mouth Neuromuscular Dentistry Restores Smile
- Hans’ Smile Before
When Hans first came to Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry he was ready for a change. Hans had had fillings, crowns, root canals, and extractions in the past and he wasn’t happy with how his teeth looked or felt. He had lost most of his back teeth on the lower right side and had trouble chewing because of it. Hans wanted to have his smile completely made over so it was functional first of all but he also wanted his smile to look great. Hans is a very friendly outgoing guy with an active lifestyle and he needed a smile that matched his winning personality.
Dr. Adler saw that there were several different issues to be addressed to give Hans the smile he always wanted. The missing molars on the lower right had affected Hans’ bite and only allowed him to chew on one side. He also had teeth that were fracturing due to large amalgam fillings, teeth that were broken and decayed, and other teeth with fillings that had come out and continued to get cavities. Fixing these problems one tooth at a time would not give Hans the outcome he was looking for and would end up taking longer and costing more in the long run. Dr. Adler recommended that Hans fix all of his teeth at once and correct his bite with neuromuscular dentistry.
Dr. Adler began by addressing the immediate issue of a tooth that was causing Hans pain. The tooth on his upper left had broken a while ago but he had waited to get treatment due to a medical issue at the time. Now the tooth was beginning to cause Hans pain which is what prompted him to come in. A root canal was needed because the tooth had fractured and exposed the pulp chamber which had become infected causing the pain. During the root canal, Dr. Adler created an access opening to the pulp chamber. He then uses very small files to clean the nerve tissue or pulp from the chamber and canals along with the bacteria and any infected material. The chamber and canals are then irrigated and dried to sterilize it before gutta percha is placed to fill the canals and chamber to insure that bacteria can not reinvade the area. A temporary material is then placed to seal the access opening until the final post and crown are done.
With Hans now out of pain, Dr. Adler could focus on finding Hans’ correct bite. A K7 evaluation was performed to determine where Hans’ bite should ideally be positioned. During the K7, a series of tests are run using non-invasive computerized electronic instrumentation. The K7 produces scans that measure how the muscles are firing, how much force they can put out while clenching, test range of motion, and listen to joint noise among other things. EMG or electromyography measures the muscles at rest and during function-clench. CMS (computerized mandibular scan) measures joint function, habitual freeway space, swallowing, and range of motion. Sonography measures joint sounds. TENS or Transcutaneous Neural Stimulation relaxes the muscles in the face and neck to find their true resting state and establish the occlusion at that position. Material is then placed in the patient’s mouth to capture that ideal position, known as the bite registration or myobite.
Based upon the information gathered during the K7 evaluation, it was determined that the best course of treatment would be for Hans to be fitted with a fixed orthotic that would be bonded to his lower teeth would reposition his bite and jaw into its ideal position. Dr. Adler recommended that once Hans’ bite had settled into the proper position to then do a full mouth reconstruction where all of his teeth would be crowned to rebuild his bite into the correct place permanently without the continued use of an orthotic. Impressions of Hans’ teeth and the Myobite were sent to Aurum Ceramic Laboratory in Las Vegas because they specialize in neuromuscular dentistry. The lab fabricates a bite stint or impression of the fixed orthotic. Dr. Adler then fills the bite stint with a material that is temporarily bonded to the lower teeth forming the fixed orthotic. Hans continued to come in to TENS and adjust the fixed orthotic to fine tune exactly where his bite should be. Once his bite had stabilized then he was ready for the next step.
Hans' Great New Smile
In a single appointment, all of Hans’ teeth were prepped for his final restorations. The fixed orthotic was removed and each tooth shaped into the proper form for the final restoration. Impressions of the prepped teeth were sent to the lab and temporary crowns were placed that looked almost as good as the final ones would. Because of the amount of bone lose that had occurred where the missing lower right molars were, implants were not a feasible option. In order to restore teeth on that side so Hans could again chew on either side, the lab would fabricate a partial denture that would lock onto the restorations to insure a secure fit but would still be removable for easy cleaning. Along with the partial, the lab custom fabricated every crown to insure the best possible look and function. This attention to detail was also very important in making sure that Hans’ final bite would be in the correct position.
Hans now has the smile to match his great personality and the transformation has been overwhelming. He not only looks great but he is finally able to chew normally again and his bite feels great.
Jim Harding DDS Video Interview
The following is a video interview with Dr. Jim Harding of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. The interview was conducted in December of 2010.
Creating beautiful smiles to last a lifetime.