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Dental Extractions | Indianapolis, Il Dentist

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skd284147sdcThere’s a classic idiom in the English language that compares unpleasant, difficult tasks to pulling teeth. Known as dental extraction, pulling teeth is recommended in some situations. While it’s certainly true that few people are ever excited about having teeth pulled, dental extractions have come a long way, and the procedure is no longer cause for dread.

Your dentist may recommend extraction for a number of reasons:
– If the tooth is seriously damaged, either due to injury or decay, and can not be saved
– If the tooth to be extracted is a wisdom tooth (third molar), it may cause crowding, alignment problems, pain, or infection
– If the tooth to be extracted is blocking another tooth from coming in
– If the tooth to be extracted is a baby tooth that didn’t fall out in time
– If the tooth to be extracted is causing crowding, a dentist or orthodontist may recommend removing some teeth to allow braces to better adjust the remaining teeth
– If the teeth are infected, or could potentially be an infection source in high risk patients such as those undergoing organ transplants or cancer treatment

Extractions typically fall into one of two classes – simple and surgical. Dentists often perform simple extractions, where oral surgeons often perform surgical extractions. Simple extractions generally involve a single tooth that is visible in the mouth, with clear alignment – after numbing the area with local anesthetic, the tooth will be loosened using an instrument known as an elevator, and then pulled with an instrument known as forceps. For surgical removal, the surgeon may use local anesthetic, moderate sedation, or general anesthesia, and likely use a combination of tools and techniques to remove teeth that may be difficult to see (or still within the gums).

While extractions are very common and generally safe, they do have some risk. The most common complications are dry sockets (where the bone is exposed to air during healing), accidental damage to nearby teeth, and incomplete extractions (where a portion of the tooth remains in the gum). You should talk to your dentist about the risks of these complications.

If your dentist recommends an extraction, it’s likely that you have a potentially serious problem. While it’s unlikely you’ll celebrate the news, you need not fear: there are worse problems to have than pulling teeth.

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

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

Types of Cosmetic Procedures | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

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459899307Are you looking for a perfect smile? Modern dentists have many dental procedures that focus on aesthetics rather than simply oral health. Some cosmetic procedures are superficial, others are significant and involve surgery, but nearly every visible problem is treatable with one or more cosmetic procedures.

Common cosmetic procedures include the following:
– Composite white fillings repair cavities without having silver filling in the mouth. Existing metal fillings can be replaced with modern white resin
– Bonding uses composite resin to help change the size, shape, or color of teeth. Because it attaches to teeth in the same way that composite fillings attach, bonding can be used to fix chips on visible front teeth.
– Teeth that are discolored or stained can be whitened – either in the office or using take-home trays
– Veneers – a thin layer of porcelain on top of the tooth – can be used to change tooth shape, size, or color
– Crowns can be used as a cap on top of teeth damaged by cracks or decay
– Orthodontics – either traditional or Invisalign – can be used to permanently straighten teeth.
– Gum tissue can be surgically altered – either added via grafts to help with recession, or removed to create a more appealing tooth length
– For missing, broken, or severely damaged teeth, full implants can be used to provide a replacement tooth

Because modern dentists have implants as a final catchall, virtually any problem – even major problems involving multiple missing teeth – can be solved given enough time and room in the patient’s budget. However, your dentist will be able to guide you through the process, creating a treatment plan that maps the various procedures and prioritizes them – making sure that the procedures are done in the proper order to maximize their effectiveness. If you have elements of your smile you’d like to change, or if you have questions about particular cosmetic procedures, call your dentist and schedule an appointment – they’ll be happy to explain the procedures, pros, cons, and discuss whether or not you’re a candidate for any various procedure.

Contact Dr. George Kirtley for an appointment today to get the bright white smile you have always wanted at 317-841-1111 or generaldentistryindianapolis.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.

Porcelain Veneers | Indianapolis, Indiana

Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, general dentistry, porcelain veneers, porcelain veneers, , , ,

 

Smiles by George is a cosmetic, restorative, and family dentistry located in Indianapolis. Dr. Kirtley has crafted hundreds of smiles through a series of special techniques in which he has picked up over the years. He has treated individuals from all over the United States and Europe, grazing multiple magazine covers with his work. As the man behind the magic, Dr. Kirtely works hard with patients to help them achieve the award winning smile that they have always dreamed of.

Dental Veneers

Veneers are shells of porcelain that are tailor made to fit over the surfaces of the teeth. With their malleable like material, veneers are made to fit the size and shape of any surrounding teeth, furthermore giving off the most natural appearance any individual would want.

Dr. Kirtley has taken dental veneers one step further by using his software device known as Envision. This allows patients the opportunity to view what their teeth would look like with the procedure before it even occurs! The smile imaging program is a new and innovative device that allows you to make any adjustments or fix any issues you see, ensuring you the most perfect form of the smile that you’ve always wanted.

For more information on porcelain veneers or to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website http://www.porcelainveneersindianapolis.com/

How do I take care of my new Porcelain Veneers? | Bloomington, IN

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Once you achieve that picture perfect smile with porcelain veneers, you need to be sure to take good care of them. According to Dr. George Kirtley of Indianapolis, IN, Dental problems take their toll on veneers, so taking care of your teeth and gums is essential. Veneers are attached to your actual teeth, which means gum and hygiene problems can greatly affect the veneers.

Polishing

One way to keep your porcelain veneers at their best is to polish them. You can have your teeth and veneers polished once every three to four months. Special tools will be used to buff and clean your teeth and veneers thoroughly. In addition, regular brushing and flossing and regular dental visits will keep your veneers looking great for years.

Mind food and Activities

Even though porcelain veneers act like regular teeth, they cannot withstand excessive pressure. Always try to avoid biting on hard bones, holding things between your teeth, or even chewing finger nails. Also, chewing ice can be extremely damaging to your teeth and veneers, chipping or breaking them. If you engage in sports, always be sure to wear a mouth guard.

How Long Do They Last?

Porcelain veneers are made of a bonding material that does not wear down easily. With proper care as noted above. Veneers can possibly last your entire life. One of the many reasons porcelain veneers are one of the most popular options for smile makeovers.

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

 

 

Porcelain Veneers – Beauty and the Teeth

Cosmetic Dentistry,

Barely past seven on a Tuesday morning and courtesy of the Haleyon, she’s just swallowed. Connie is drifting into a fuzzy world somewhere between sleep and consciousness. Reclining in a green dentist’s chair under a soft plaid blanket, she’s listening to a muted jazz CD over headphone. The tips of her black shoes and the hem of her gold corduroy pants peek out from under the blanket.

Wearing a smart black twinset, the fiftyish Connie (not her real name) is thin and pretty in a mildly weathered way, her tanned and freckled face formed with wispy ginger-colored hair. She’s not here to get a cavity filled or to hear a lecture about flossing. Technically, there’s nothing wrong with her teeth at all. Connie is about to get her smiled fixed.

Kirtley, the state’s only dentist accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, estimates that 70 percent of his patients – mostly middle-aged women-come for what he calls “smile design.” Like other dentists, Kirtley offers teeth-whitening, but bleaching stains can do only so much. If you really want to see dramatic results, the biggest gains come from adding material to existing teeth, as in bonding or porcelain crowns, or from deconstructing the teeth and giving them a prettier facade. These were once known as caps, but in today’s parlance, they’re “porcelain veneers.”

The Artistic Side of Cosmetic Dentistry – Dr. George Kirtley

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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

Porcelain Veneers for Chipped or Gapped Front Teeth

Cosmetic Dentistry

Porcelain veneers can change the shape, color, length, or width of your teeth. A veneer is a thin, semi-translucent sheet of porcelain that is custom crafted by an expert ceramist and then permanently bonded to your teeth. While veneers are not suitable for every patient, they are the most aesthetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions involving the front teeth. These conditions include spaces between teeth, broken or chipped teeth, stained or washed-out fillings, permanently stained or discolored teeth that cannot be bleached, or crooked teeth.

One of the great advantages of veneers is that only a small amount of tooth structure is removed during the procedure resulting in a healthy “natural” look with little or no discomfort during the procedure. Another advantage is that the procedure usually takes only two visits. Veneers can last indefinitely when taken care of properly. They are also more resistant to stains and chipping than regular bonding.

Dr. George Kirtley, DDS in Indianapolis, IN uses state-of-the-art techniques to apply your porcelain fillings and maintain a natural appearance for your dental care.