What to expect on your Dental Restoration Vacation in Costa Rica

Many people often ask us how does it work with scheduling and what will I do there. It is very easy to have a great vacation and complete your dental restoration goals on the same trip.

When you come for a new smile restoration you will be in the clinic the first 2 or 3 days. During this time, we complete the Digital Smile Design Analysis, take impressions and complete any oral health issues like fillings, cleanings etc.
Once the final impressions or restoration work is approved it is given to our ceramist/lab. This takes approximately 5 business days to complete the crown or veneer restoration. Once the ceramist has completed the restoration you are back in the clinic for 1 or 2 days for the final restoration placement and final control, bite adjustment appointment the following day.

During the 5 days your restoration is being completed in the lab is the perfect opportunity to travel and explore all the wonders Costa Rica has to offer. Whether you are wanting to spend time on a sun drenched beach or in the cool mountains and rain cloud forests everything is within a mornings drive. There is so much diversity to explore in such a small country you will have a hard time fitting it all into 5 days.

A great way to plan your trip for success is to arrive early on a Monday morning we greet you at the airport and escort you to the clinic to begin the restoration process. Typically, if you are coming for crown or veneer restorations a general plan would be to fly in on a Monday and Fly home the following Wednesday late day, or better yet the following Thursday.

So grab that Calendar and mark your date… Make 2018 the year you complete your Dental Restoration Dream Vacation all in one fabulous trip!

Experience the DaVinci’s Difference!

For more information on how we can help you create your Dental Restoration Vacation Itinerary contact our International Patient Coordinator at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com

Bone Augmentation, or as it is commonly known Bone Grafting, is the process of replacing, or rebuilding bone in the jaw using bone or bone-like materials in order to support dental implants.

Grafts range in complexity from supplementing the bone beside one implant to making significant changes to the shape and size of the dental ridge. Small grafts can be performed by a dentist during implant surgery, while extensive procedures are usually performed by a specialist such as an oral surgeon, prosthodontist or periodontist several months before.

Bone loss can be caused by trauma, an abscess/infection and periodontal disease. The density of bone beneath missing teeth will factor in deterioration of bone over time. Patients who have been missing teeth for months or years often require bone grafts before they can get implants.

What to expect After extraction – When your doctor removes a damaged tooth, it leaves behind a void where the tooth was. Bone loss occurs without the tooth present to stimulate the jaw bone. Placing bone graft material in the void left behind will promote bone growth.

Ridge Augmentation – Bone loss occurs when teeth are no longer present to stimulate the bone. Too much bone loss will require a ridge augmentation procedure to rebuild the lost bone and restore your jaw bone to its natural shape so it can support dental implants.

Material used include:

Your Own Bone – This source is the safest and most effective because it integrates very well and there is no risk of infectious disease, contamination or tissue rejection. The bone is typically harvested from the chin or jaw, but a shin or hip can also be used. Disadvantages of this source are that it requires two surgical sites, is more expensive and if the bone is taken from the hip or shin, requires general anesthesia and hospitalization.

Human Cadaver Bone – Freeze-dried and sterile, cadaver bone obtained from a reputable tissue bank is more affordable and generally quite safe, although it does carry some risk. Using human bone carries a similar level of risk of transmitting infectious disease to receiving blood from the blood bank.

Animal Bone – Cow bone, or Bovine Bone has been commonly used for many years. It is sterilized and processed to minimize infection. This graft material is naturally absorbed by the body and replaced with real bone over time.

Mineral Bone Substitute (Synthetic) – Although less-effective than the other options, these sterile bone-like materials are second only to a patient’s own bone in terms of safety. This material is also absorbed and replaced over time.

When considering a Bone Graft it is necessary for the Dental Team to know the precise location and volume of bone nerves and sinus spaces. This is possible with a Cone Beam CT scan or tomography. Tomography 3D scans are an invaluable diagnostic aid, particularly where multiple implants are considered. They are so accurate that it is possible to have 3D guides constructed that can help determine exact implant positioning.

For more information on Dental surgeries and other procedures contact our International Patient Coordinator at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com

Experience the DaVinci’s Difference!

In the tradition of Minimally-Invasive Dentistry, Vonlays might just be the answer for you.

A combination between Veneer and Onlay this restorative option requires a much less invasive preparation process to the natural tooth structure than a full-coverage crown yet still provides the same structural benefits. Simultaneously enhancing strength with the aesthetics restoration of the remaining tooth. With the availability of newer high-strength materials and processing technologies like CAD/CAM and heat pressing, dental professionals are now able to produce highly aesthetic, high-strength restorations that blend seamlessly with the natural dentition while also withstanding posterior occlusal forces. This has resulted in innovative methods of providing minimally invasive dentistry.

For patients presenting with wear, decay, color, or occlusal problems in posterior teeth, this treatment option will be less invasive, more readily repairable, less technique-sensitive to attain bonding, and leaves a sounder tooth structure remaining for the patient.

For more information on how Dr. Delfin Barquero can help you restore and create your smile makeover dreams contact our International Patient Coordination at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com

Experience the DaVinci’s Difference!

 Excerpts from Article and Credit to: Edward A. McLaren, DDS

Dentists chose teeth colors from the Standard Vita guide (shown above)

Usually an A1 or B1 would be the most highly chosen for white teeth, however today we are seeing more and more celebrities and others choosing a whiter shade of white… but is it natural looking, and is it right for you.

How to get the right color shade for you; Depending on your natural color shade, you may want to complete a Lucerna laser whitening session prior to choosing your new crown or veneer shade. This will help with the color transition

For example; if your teeth are naturally an A4 color and you want to restore them to an A1 shade we need to bridge the gap, so to speak, with a whitening session. This is so the natural tooth color underneath the restoration will more closely match the new crown shade being place on the tooth.

There are some general guidelines for choosing a natural looking shade of white, which can be based on hair color and complexion. If you have a fair complexion with light colored eyes and hair then you should choose a brighter shade of white and stay well away from any yellow hues as the yellow will look even more yellow without the contrast of dark skin. The same rules apply if you have a dark complexion, as the darker your skin tone the brighter your smile will appear and a super white color will look even whiter on you.   If you have gray hair you can treat it the same as blonde, so a white shade is best if your hair is gray. Hair with a reddish hue should also stay away from any yellow shades and should opt for a brighter white. You want a shade that is not unnaturally white, and is of course age appropriate.

The best way to determine the right shade for you is to have your dentist fabricate a set of temporaries in the shade you selected and see how they look. At DaVinci’s Dental Care we do this with a Digital Smile Design Analysis and complete a Mock up that you can wear to test shade, shape and size of your new smile restoration prior to completing your final crown or Veneer restoration with the ceramist.

Experience the DaVinci’s Difference!

For more information on the right shade for you contact our International Patient coordinator at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com

Excerpts taken from the book Billion Dollar Smile – a complete guide to your Extreme Smile Makeover,  by Dr. Bill Dorfman

Whether you celebrate Halloween or not there are always temptations out there for everyone…
Here are 10 ways to a healthier mouth this Halloween and year-round!

Eat Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.

Always avoid hard candy of any type and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time; length of time a sugary food product stays in your mouth plays a huge role in tooth decay.

Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Drink more water….Daily, nothing beats clean clear water

Maintain a healthy diet. Your body is like a complex machine, and the foods you choose are fuel. Be mindful of how often you “fill up” with bad diet choices! This will affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.

Avoid beverages with added sugars such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters…Everybody knows they just aren’t good for you.

Avoid or limit your use of Alcohol, and avoid any mouthwash containing alcohol, studies have shown there are links between Alcohol and Oral Cancers.

Brush your teeth for 2 minutes after every meal always

Floss your teeth daily, make it a habit to do it each night before bed. Decay-causing bacteria get between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach, flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.

And don’t forget to visit your ADA-member dentist…. Regular visits to the DaVinci’s Dental Care Team for a cleaning can help prevent problems from occurring, and help catch those that do when they are easier on your pocket book to TREAT!

Experience the DaVinci’s Difference!

Did you know that biting your nails is not only bad for your fingers, it can actually hurt your teeth!

While some of these dental health “don’ts” can do immediate damage to your teeth (by cracking or breaking them), the effects of others may add up over time, harming your dental health in the long run. Here are the top habits to quit — for your teeth’s sake.

Chewing ice. This seems harmless enough because it’s sugar-free and all natural, but the cold and hardness of the cubes can actually do damage to your teeth by chipping or cracking them.

Using your teeth as a tool. Have you ever used your teeth to open a bag or a bottle? Then, you’re guilty of this habit. Leave the teeth out of these activities and you’ll keep them in your mouth longer.

Drinking soda. Soda is full of sugary and acidic, even sugar-free soda is acidic and harmful to teeth.

Daily consumption of one or more soda products can bathe your teeth in decay-causing fluid. Juice and alcohol aren’t much better. Drink water instead it’s healthiest for your teeth.

Nail biting is bad for your teeth, not only does it endanger your health by introducing germs and viruses into your system, it can also cause your teeth to move out of place and, in rare instances, the tooth enamel can splinter. Clip your nails properly and keep them out of your mouth.

Tongue piercings may be trendy but they’re not teeth-friendly. Biting down on a metal stud can crack a tooth. Lip piercings pose similar risks. The metal rubbing against the gums can cause gum damage that can lead to tooth loss. Lots of bacteria live in the mouth so piercings can increase the risk of infection…so think twice before getting that tongue or lip pierced.

Snacking on starchy junk foods. Snacking produces less saliva than eating a full meal leaving the residue from the food in your mouth longer. Starchy snacks, like chips, pretzels and crackers, can produce a buildup of partially chewed food in your teeth. Minimizing junk foods helps improve your oral and physical health.

Chewing on pens or pencils. Just like with chewing on ice, this habit can cause teeth to crack or chip. Go for the sugarless gum if you feel the urge to chew on something. It will trigger saliva flow which makes teeth stronger and protects against enamel-eating acids.

Smoking cigarettes. Tobacco wreaks havoc on teeth. It stains them and can cause them to fall out as a result of gum disease. Tobacco is also a cause of cancer to the mouth, lips and tongue.

For more information on Oral Health contact our International Patient Coordinator at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com              or call us at 305 280 2272

Implant Supported Overdentures

In cases where all of the teeth have been lost or need to be replaced, an over-denture or full arch bridge may be a more practical and economical solution to individual implants. They can be supported by a varying number of implants, depending on the condition of the bone and gum and other factors determined by a 3D Dental Tomography … So let’s take a look at the options

There are three main types of overdentures:

Implant-Retained, Gum Supported

With this treatment, the over-denture rests directly on your gums and is attached to implants placed into your upper and/or lower jaw. The over-denture, which is removable, is secured to your implants through attachments fixed into the denture.

Bar-Retained, Implant Supported

With this treatment, the overdenture is connected to attachments on a metal bar that is in turn connected to implants surgically placed into your upper and/or lower jaw. The overdenture, which is removable, is secured to the bar through attachments fixed into the denture.

Fixed, Implant Supported

With this treatment, the over-denture is secured directly to implants placed into your upper and/or lower jaw. The over-denture is only removable by a dentist. This option gives the closest resemblance to natural teeth and gums

X-MIND® TRIUM is a key tool for treatment planning and post-procedure follow-up.

3D technology that facilitates osseointegration with instant volume measurement and bone density assessment. X-MIND® TRIUM is equipped with an acquisition and reconstruction algorithm which ensures a perfectly uniform and high-quality image on all visual axes.

By displaying highly accurate 3D images of the anatomy of the patient in one scan, X-MIND TRIUM provides a fully comprehensive view of the patient’s arch and facilitates accurate evaluation of bone density and the positioning of the anatomic structures to be able to place implants more confidently.

In addition to this, 3D imaging enables the size and shape of the implants to be made in proportion to the morphology of the patient, and provides very clear and accurate images for transverse sections, the volume calculation of bio material needed for sinus elevation surgery and guided surgery with Acteon imaging Suite software.

Minimally invasive dentistry is the modern approach to dental care and is a growing trend. Its main goal is to treat the bacterial infection — before you ever need tooth repair  removing the bacteria so that cavities don’t occur,  not only is It safer, it’s less painful too!

You might have heard your dentist or TV ads talk about dental plaque. It’s why you’re told to brush and floss to avoid cavities. But did you know these facts about plaque?

It’s a village of bacteria living on your teeth.

Bacteria can spread.

Filling cavities doesn’t cure the disease.

With minimally invasive dentistry’s technology, we can treat bacteria from the start. Surgery — drilling and filling cavities — doesn’t have to be a way of life. If your teeth do need repair, we offer treatment without the dental drill.

Minimally invasive dentistry’s most advanced technology includes:

Air abrasion to remove decay without the drill

Onlays and Inlays

Intra-Oral camera and Micro Dentistry

Oral cancer detection

Dental ozone

Sealants to protect teeth from bacteria

Modern Implants

Digital low radiation imagery

Digital Smile Design technology

All of these techniques and technologies are non-invasive, faster, and healthy options for tooth repair and restorations.

Experience the DaVinci’s Difference!

If you would like to find out more information about Non-Invasive Dentistry or would like to book a consultation with us contact our International Patient Coordinator at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com

or call us at 305 280 2272