Tag Archives: cosmetic dentist indianapolis

What are Teeth? | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

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186932212Your teeth outside of your oral care routine are probably not something you think about in depth. Teeth are actually complicated structures.

So we all know the proper care for our teeth, but what IS a tooth? Most of us have 32 teeth – hard, calcified white objects we use to chew, cut, crush, and swallow food.

The visible surface of the tooth is known as enamel. A hard, mineral surface, the enamel is typically light yellow to white in color, but is semi translucent, so the actual color of your tooth is determined by both the enamel and the underlying dentin. Made of a crystalized calcium phosphate known as hydroxyapatite, the enamel is both incredibly strong and incredibly brittle.

While enamel covers to outside of the tooth above the gum line, below the gum line the surface of the tooth is covered in a substance known as cementum. A yellowish substance, it contains less than half of the mineral content as enamel, making it much softer. The primary purpose of cementum is to provide a surface to allow the periodontal ligaments in the gums to hold onto the tooth.

Below the enamel and cementum lies the dentin. Dentin is a combination of mineralized hydroxyapatite, organic material and water, and is both much softer than enamel and much less brittle. However, it’s also more prone to decay, and severe cavities can cause significant dental problems if not treated rapidly.

Finally, within the dentin lies the tooth pulp. The pulp is soft tissue, filled with blood vessels and nerves that provide the tooth with oxygen, nutrients, and also the ability to transmit ‘senses’ such as temperature, pain, and pressure. The pulp also helps to form and repair dentin from within the tooth.

While most people will only see the enamel surface of their teeth, proper dental care will focus on maintaining each layer healthy. By protecting the enamel with proper brushing, and treating cavities formed by decay before they damage the dentin or pulp, dental care will focus on providing a patient with healthy teeth – from pulp to enamel – well into old age.

For more information and to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website smilesbygeorge.com

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beech Grove and Warren Park

Dental Crowns & Bridges | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

Bridges, Cosmetic Dentistry, Crowns, , , , , , ,

teeth whiteningAre you in need of dental work and wonder what types of options you will have when planning dental procedures. If a tooth has a very large area of decay, can it be saved? What happens if the tooth is cracked through the middle? If the pulp of the tooth can be felt prior to going to the dentist, does that mean the entire tooth needs to be removed?

While the best answer to these questions will come from your dentist, two likely options that will be presented are crowns and bridges.

Dental crowns are often chosen when the original tooth is compromised – either weakened from decay, broken, or otherwise unable to maintain itself without assistance. Dental crowns are custom-made – molded to match your existing tooth and fit your normal bite – out of a variety of strong materials such as steel, resin, and porcelain. Like the name suggests, a crown is a shell that goes on top of the rest of the tooth – like a hat on a head, the crown fits snugly atop the base of the tooth, providing an artificial bite surface that is stronger and harder than the natural tooth.

Unlike dental crowns, dental bridges are used in cases where the underlying tooth can not be saved. Where a crown is affixed to a single tooth to provide strength, a dental bridge is used when the tooth in question must be fully removed. Like a crown, it will be designed by your dentist to match your existing teeth and bite, and then constructed in a lab. Unlike a crown, it will not sit atop a single tooth, but is generally attached to neighboring teeth (usually one tooth on each side of the removed tooth), providing a fake tooth surface where the missing tooth would have been.

While crowns and bridges are typically only presented as options for patients with significant damage to one or more teeth, they are fairly common. Bridges and crowns are typically recommended as necessities, and as such, insurance will likely cover a portion of the cost. With proper care, bridges and crowns can last 5-15 years, or more, and will allow the patient to chew, drink and speak normally for many years.

For more information and to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website smilesbygeorge.com

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beech Grove and Warren Park

 

Dental Implants | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

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Many patients put off going to the dentist. Whether they’re afraid of the pain, the noise of the procedures, or the monetary cost of dental work, putting off dental visits can cause small problems to turn into larger problems, and left long enough, entire teeth can be lost due to decay, infection, or physical problems such as cracking.

For the most severe dental problems, one of the common treatments is the dental implant. Where fillings remove small areas of decay with a synthetic substance and crowns place a cap over an existing tooth root, implants replace the entire tooth – root and all. The process is involved, but done properly, a tooth implant can last many decades, potentially even a lifetime.

The procedure starts by removing the existing tooth and root, and placing a titanium implant post into the patient’s jawbone. This metal post is the foundation for the entire implant, and it should be allowed to heal for 6-12 weeks, as the bone forms a permanent bond with the metal post. Once firmly bonded, the dentist will attach a second metal connector – known as an abutment – to the post, which provides a connecting surface for the replacement tooth. The dentist will then make impressions, modeling the entire mouth so that the replacement crown perfectly matches your existing bite. Finally, the crown will be attached permanently to the abutment, providing a solid, permanent tooth

The overall process typically involves very little pain – while there may be some pain in the initial extraction, the rest of the procedure can typically be done under local anesthesia (such as Novocain). The procedure does take a few months to allow the post to properly bond to the jawbone, but once complete, the patient will have a natural looking, durable, convenient replacement for even the most severely damaged teeth.

For more information and to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website smilesbygeorge.com

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beech Grove and Warren Park

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

General Health, Oral Cancer, , , ,

While some think this is a rare cancer, mouth cancers will be newly diagnosed in about 115 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. If you add the sub category of laryngeal throat cancers, the rates of occurrence (about 12,000 additional new cases per year) and death are significantly higher. When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 % survival rate. Unfortunately at this time, the majority are found as late stage cancers, and this accounts for the very high death rate of about 43% at five years from diagnosis (for all stages and etiologies combined at time of diagnosis), and high treatment related morbidity in survivors. Late stage diagnosis is not occurring because most of these cancers are hard to discover, it is because of a lack of public awareness coupled with the lack of a national program for opportunistic screenings which would yield early discovery by medical and dental professionals. Worldwide the problem is far greater, with new cases annually exceeding 450,000.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Oral cancer refers to cancer that develops in any of the parts that make up the mouth. Oral cancer is one of several types of cancer grouped in a category called head and neck cancers. Mouth cancer and other head and neck cancers are often treated similarly.

If you notice any of the below changes, contact your dentist or health care professional immediately.

What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:

  • Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth
  • The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth
  • Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
  • Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
  • Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks
  • A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
  • Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice
  • Ear pain
  • A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together
  • Dramatic weight loss

How Is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

As part of your routine dental exam, your dentist will conduct an oral cancer screening exam. More specifically, your dentist will feel for any lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and oral cavity. When examining your mouth, your dentist will look for any sores or discolored tissue as well as check for any signs and symptoms mentioned above.Your dentist may perform an oral brush biopsy if he or she sees tissue in your mouth that looks suspicious. This test is painless and involves taking a small sample of the tissue and analyzing it for abnormal cells. Alternatively, if the tissue looks more suspicious, your dentist may recommend a scalpel biopsy. This procedure usually requires local anesthesia and may be performed by your dentist or a specialist. These tests are necessary to detect oral cancer early, before it has had a chance to progress and spread.

 

See your dentist on a regular schedule. Even though you may be conducting frequent self exams, sometimes dangerous spots or sores in the mouth can be very tiny and difficult to see on your own.

The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screening exams every 3 years for persons over age 20 and annually for those over age 40.

During your next dental appointment, ask your dentist to perform an oral exam. Early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment.

For more information and to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website smilesbygeorge.com

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beech Grove and Warren Park

Change your Smile with Veneers! | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic Dentistry, porcelain veneers, porcelain veneers, , , ,

One of the most common techniques your dentists can use to correct the appearance of teeth is veneers. Veneers are thin, custom made shells that are placed on top of existing teeth, fixing discolorations, gaps, chips, and broken teeth. While veneers and bonding are cosmetic procedures used to treat similar problems, veneers may be a better alternative in cases where the patient wants to adjust the size or shape of the tooth.

A normal procedure typically requires multiple visits – on the first visit, the dentist will inspect the tooth (or teeth) to make sure the patient is a good candidate and verify that veneers will properly fix the problem at hand. During this first visit, the dentist will remove a thin layer of tooth enamel, so that the veneer surface rests even with the rest of the teeth. Once the enamel is removed, the dentist will make a detailed impression of the tooth, and send the impression off to a laboratory for a custom veneer designed to fit the tooth precisely. The dental laboratory can make the veneer using either porcelain or resin, with porcelain veneers providing a more natural shine, and resin veneers requiring less enamel removal.

Once the veneer is created, the patient will return for a second visit. The dentist will continue shaping the veneer, and once the veneer is the right size and shape, the newly crafted veneer will be bonded to the tooth surface with permanent cement. Finally, the dentist will remove excess cement and ensure that the patient’s bite is correct. In many cases, the patient will be asked to return in a few weeks to evaluate the gums and make sure the patients’ gums are reacting well to the new veneer surface. Modern porcelain veneers tend to last many years, are easy to care for (normal brushing and flossing is fine, no special care is required), provide a very natural appearance, and offer a stronger alternative to other cosmetic options.

Change your smile, change your life!

Contact Dr. George Kirtley today about veneers at 317-841-1111 or visit his website smilesbygeorge.com

Dr. Kirtley welcomes patients from Wynnedale, Spring Hill, Speedway and Rocky Ripple.

Easy Steps to Preventing Gum Disease | Indianapolis, IN

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If you are a coffee drinker, you need to be extra careful. Coffee can contribute to the buildup of plaque and tartar and accelerate the progression of gum disease.

There are two forms of gum disease: gingivitis, an inflammation of your gums caused by plaque, and periodontitis, a more advanced version of gingivitis that results in a gap between your teeth and your gums. Gum disease, when caught in the gingivitis stage, can be treated and, in the future, prevented. Periodontitis, on the other hand, is more difficult to treat and, due to the gap between the teeth and gums, may cause your teeth to become loose and fall out.

Coffee affects your mouth in two ways. First, it lowers the temperature of your mouth and gums. Second, it reduces the blood flow to your gums. The combination of lowered temperature and restricted blood flow means your gums do not get all of the necessary oxygen they need to continue functioning properly.

Saliva contains oxygen and specialized enzymes which help prevent gum disease by killing the unnecessary bacteria in your mouth. However, drinking coffee can cause dehydration and reduce the amount of saliva you produce, thus increasing your chances of developing gum disease.

For more information on the prevention of dental disease, contact Dr. George Kirtley DDS at 317-841-1111 or visit his website www.smilesbygeorge.com.

 

 

Yellow, stained teeth ruining your smile? Tooth whitening is the answer! | Indianapolis, IN

Cosmetic Dentistry, , , , ,

Are you tired of having yellow, stained teeth, despite your strict daily dental hygiene? You are not alone. There are millions of people suffering from the same problem. So if you brush, floss and visit your dentist regularly then why are your teeth still discolored? This happens because the outer layers of your teeth get stained over the years by consumption of  beverages with caffeine, soda, wine and smoking. When these outside sources of staining are left to sit on the teeth all day until your next brushing, the dentin on your teeth becomes yellowish or darkened. The best way to help your stained discolored teeth is professional tooth whitening.

Contributing factors to yellowing, stained teeth:

  • Tetracycline based antibiotics used before the age of 8 years old
  • Excessive exposure to fluoride as a child
  • Internal  bleeding due to trauma
  • Discoloration due to a health condition
  • Natural aging- as time goes by enamel gets thinner and thinner and will get a yellowish hue
  • Soda
  • Wine
  • Smoking
  • Caffeine

Simple rules to live by to try and stop the yellowing process:

  • Visit your dentist regularly for teeth cleanings
  • Rinse your mouth out with water several times throughout the day
  • Use toothpaste with whitening agents

One of the best ways to whiten your teeth is to visit your dentist for professional tooth whitening. You deserve a beautiful white smile. Contact Dr. George Kirtley for more information on tooth whitening and keeping your teeth white and healthy, 317-841-1111 or visit his website www.smilesbygeorge.com.

 

 

The Artistic Side of Cosmetic Dentistry – Dr. George Kirtley

For Doctors, ,

Are you a mechanic, an artist or a doctor? Or are you all or part of these? Comprehensive aesthetic dentistry is the fusion of art, physical science and psychology. The beautiful smiles and successful treatment created are created not by chance, but by an understanding of these concepts.. It is recognition that aesthetic dentistry and the synergy of our individual senses is what defines completeness in our cases. It is the difference between cosmetic and aesthetic.

First, let us attempt to understand the dif­ference between aesthetics and cosmetics. In other words, aesthetic dentistry is an integral part in establishing a synergy, a contribution to beauty of the total face when considered with­in the context of the face rather than the en­hancement of one part. How does dentistry ac­complish that? Would not just bleaching teeth that are misaligned result in the enhancement of the total face? From the artistic viewpoint and true to the meaning of aesthetic, the an­swer would be no. You would now have only shade enhanced (whiter) teeth that could draw closer attention to the compromised alignment and proportions. In the cases shown, each patient first stated they wanted their teeth to be whiter. Their question was, ‘Doctor can you bleach my teeth to make them whiter?’. Although this would at times be argued by the inexpert patient and sometimes dentist as an improvement it would not be totally worthy of being labeled comprehensively aesthetic. Aesthetics has been defined as restitution of form and function in harmony with a biologic environment. It considers the whole scene not just the individual parts within it. Aesthetic dentistry is an effort to imitate nature and if properly orchestrated, it yields a result that is harmonious with what surrounds it. It is truly an art form.

Cosmetic, by its own definition is: something superficial, to cover a defect. Nowhere does it allude to consideration of what exists around it or what is artistically beautiful.

Art has the ability to elicit sensory respons­es. Dental art when combined aesthetically with that which surrounds it can elicit sensory response. The sense of touch or feel and the visual sense are all stimulated by the presence of a func­tionally aesthetic smile. Perhaps the most no­table sense, which in art is sometimes known as the sixth sense, is the sense of emotion. This manifests in a tremendous way when we see the aesthetically compromised patient come to tears when they receive their new smile. We see it when the patient no longer covers their mouth when they speak or when they laugh. We see it in the response of others who view the aesthetic transformation of their friend or loved one. The sense of emotion is released and it is because of what is physically viewed and felt.

Comprehensive dentistry is a cliché touted and overused in our profession. Although the in­tent of its use is admirable, the understanding of its meaning I believe is sometimes ambigu­ous. To enter into the realm of aesthetics, of facial aesthetics in particular, one must realize the unchallengeable psychological influence on the success or failure of treatment planned or rendered. Addressing this entity must be in­cluded in the definition of comprehensive if it is truly to be so. How many times have those of us in our aesthetic dental careers placed what we have thought to be an amazing aes­thetic result only to have the patient respond in an unenthusiastic or negative manner.

First and most important, you must be able to deliver the goods promised. In other words, are you capable? Have you commit­ted yourself to the highest level of learning to provide the mechanical/functional and artistic skills that you have declared yourself capable of? And, perhaps, most importantly what ef­forts have been made preoperatively to involve the patient in the choices of their treatment outcome?

The patient who brings in the picture of their favorite movie star/celebrity and says, ‘I want a smile just like theirs’, can set the stage for failure if you say OK and cannot deliver no matter how nice the outcome you perceive. If the smile request by the patient is impos­sible to attain, then we must convey to them in some way what can be attained within the context of their inherited facial form. No other method of communication to accomplish this is better than accurately produced computer generated imaging.

If we are to claim ourselves as ‘Cosmetic Dentists’ then maybe, whitening of teeth in some fashion need be our only tool and more correct to the title bestowed. But, if we claim ourselves to be artists of the smile and truly concerned with optimum aesthetic, functional and psychological results within the context of the entire face and being of the patient, then the title of ‘Comprehensive Aesthetic/Restorative Dentist’ would be more appropri­ate and fair to those who are committed to this level of education.

Article source: Aesthetic dentistry today January 2007

Aesthetic Dentistry’s Leading Star

Cosmetic Dentistry, ,

Dr. Kirtley graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry. Feeling he wanted to add more education to his newfound knowledge of dentistry, he attended three years of training in Implant Surgery and restoration, Aesthetic Training at the Rosenthal Institute in New York, Palm Beach and Indianapolis; Occlusion with Pete Dawson and much more spanning most of my profes­sional career from the mid 1980s.

He briefly worked as an associate after graduating from dental school and knew then he wanted to have his own practice. The “Aesthetic Revolution” as he calls it, started after he opened his own practice. The artist aspect of aesthetics intrigued and challenged him. It’s a profession that allows creativity with each new patient every day.

Later, Dr. Kirtley went on to educate other dentists with his vast knowledge of dentistry. As he states “there is nothing more gratifying than helping someone else to succeed and to then see them do the same for yet an­other, never allowing the bond to be broken. That is how professions become great and how humanity improves… as long as we are teaching the right things.

How does he maintain a highly successful aesthetic practice? A well trained staff, good management systems, and an excellent marketing plan. Most important is the ability to give the care you say you can and high end continuing education.

Dr. Kirtley is the only dentist worldwide who has the distinction of being Accredited by both the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

 

 

Digital Imaging in the field of Cosmetic Dentistry

For Doctors, ,

Computer digital imaging is nothing new, however it’s use has been limited due to software that is not user friendly.  Simplicity, predictability and accuracy are the key components defining successful computer imaging, technology and it’s use. Software systems in the past have been known to be difficult and time consuming. The end result of those images is left to the ability of the person doing the imaging and the software used. As a result, dentists actually using digital imaging are quite low.

So what is the solution to this dilemma? Pictures! Why do we have pictures? Because, to quote an old adage, ‘pictures are worth a thousand words!’.  Is a patient more apt to accept aesthetic treatment when they can visualise themselves with an end result before they commit to it? The answer is yes. ‘Outside of the credentials of the doctor and staff and the comfort you felt with them, what was the most significant fac­tor in deciding to have your smile makeover done?’ The response was resounding. Their comment was, ‘being able to see myself with a new smile before it was ever done’.

In addition, the digital imaging can be used as a communication tool to the surgeon, with the use of a visual aid.

Evaluating a patients smile to determine dis­crepancies in length to width ratios, buccal corridor deficiencies, gingival height and bal­ance all affect the realism of a computer gen­erated image but also the end clinical result. Computer digital imaging is an intragul part of a successful cosmetic dental practice. It is the most visually important method of communication to our patients in establishing the aesthetic possibilities for them.

If you have any questions regarding com­puter dental imaging or any of the products mentioned in this article, you can communi­cate with Dr. Kirtley at www.smilesbygeorge