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Birmingham Laser Dentist offering alternatives to open bite occlusion problems orthognathic surgery treatments complete range of laser technologies reconstructive dental procedures and products for orthodontic alignment, hard and soft tissue removal, porcelain makeovers and implant dentistry |
| Laser Whitening | Canker Sore Treatment | Apthous Ulcer Treatment | Restorative Laser Dentist | Dental Reconstruction |
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Birmingham Cosmetic Laser Dentistry
Failed Orthodontics - Open Anterior BiteTraditional orthodontic treatment typically requires a few years of treatment to produce beautiful straight teeth.The process of constantly and carefully realigning individual and groups of tooth structures can have very dramatic effects for dental function, and of course, dental cosmetics. At first glance, the adjacent photo of our young patient seems to represent a successful orthodontic treatment result for the 2 years she had been treated. Unfortunately, although our patient has a great looking smile, she has an anterior open bite. This type of bite problem is a condition where the front teeth do not close down far enough on the lower (mandibular) jaw. When the patient first came in for a consultation, she expressed frustration with being able to close her mouth. When she smiled broadly, her tongue was always visible. She was very self conscious about smiling and careful about showing her tongue. 
Multiple ConsultationsOur patient had consulted with several cosmetic and reconstructive dentists... as far away as Atlanta. The recommendation was always the same... undergo orthognathic jaw surgery to reposition her lower jaw as needed to create the bite relationships that should exist for her particular jawbone structures.As many as 20 porcelain veneers were also recommended to produce the final cosmetic result of having adult sized teeth on both the upper and lower (maxillary and mandibular) jaws. Invasive jaw surgery and almost a full mouth of veneers, however, didn't appeal to the patient. Seeking Orthognathic Surgery AlternativesDr. Sanderson conducted a thorough examination of the patient's bite relationships and reviewed in detail what cosmetic goals the patient was seeking. Although orthognathic surgery is required in many instances where bite problems are severe, it was determined that the physical size and shape of certain tooth structures could be altered that would establish a normalized anterior bite.Some of the patient's tooth structures had an excess of gingival tissue, creating the appearance of having small teeth. Laser gum recontouring and crown lengthening can be used to reduce the gummy appearance of the patient's smile, producing a much broader and whiter smile. 
Although porcelain veneers are a popular treatment to create larger appearing teeth, for many patients laser treatments can be safely used to expose more of the tooth structures.The adjacent photo shows how Dr. Sanderson treated most of the gum tissue on the upper arch. By looking closely at this photo and comparing it with the preceding photo, it can be seen how more height is created for several teeth. Six of the upper anterior (front) teeth will be fitted with custom veneers. Bite Reconstruction via Custom Veneers
Changing the physical dimensions of individual tooth structures is possible through the use of custom veneers.A premium dental lab can create veneer products that not only enhance the cosmetic outcomes of treatment but can be fabricated with different thicknesses to produce wider tooth structures. Performed on a tooth by tooth basis, with extensive use of an articulator (device for assuring proper bite and occlusal relationships), the custom six veneers created the larger and broader biting surfaces that resulted in a normal alignment with the patient's lower teeth. 
The final cosmetic result exceeded the patient's expectations. Her upper teeth looked and felt very natural. In terms of functional dentistry, the patient reported having a more comfortable bite. The reduction of gum tissue created a very appealing smile.Our last photo shows the impact of the cosmetic and functional changes achieved. Total treatment time was approximately 2 weeks... in contrast to what could have taken (with orthognathic surgery) up to 2-3 years to complete. Non Invasive - No Prep VeneersOutside of the laser gum contouring, invasive procedures were practically non-existant. Dr. Sanderson and his preferred dental lab used thin shell feldspathic porcelain to alter the physical characteristics of each tooth that was treated.No excessive and/or unnecessary tooth preparation was performed. Contact Dr. Sanderson and our office staff today. Call us at 205-979-6005 to learn more about the advancements in reconstructive dentistry and how Dr. Sanderson can put these technologies to work for you within a variety of reconstructive, restorative, cosmetic and implant dentistry procedures. Visit Dr. Sanderson elsewhere on the internet at: www.AlabamaTeethInAnHour.com www.Sandentistry.com Birmingham Extreme Makeovers BirminghamCosmetic-ImplantDentistry.com to learn more about his dental practice features. Dr. Sanderson is a regional and international consultant for the Dental Health Directory and Library and routinely participates in the Ask The Dentist forum, providing answers and suggestions to perplexing dental needs. Dental Laser Training is also provided by Dr. Sanderson to individual dentists and group practices, both nationally and internationally. |
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Birmingham Laser Dentistry 1633 Montgomery Highway, Suite 5 Birmingham, AL 35216 (205)-979-6005 Fax: (419) 831-8542 Reconstructive and Restorative Laser Dentistry in Alabama Powered by DentMedHost All rights reserved Copyright ©2004 |