When tetracycline was first used, the effect it would have on permanent teeth that were not yet erupted was unknown. The drug was widely dispersed amongst young children and pregnant women. Tetracycline has been around for over 50 years and treats a lot of symptoms, without side effects, in adults. But when children who have not yet formed enamel on their permanent teeth are subjected to this antibiotic, mild, moderate and severe discoloration with dark stain banding can occur. Let our office walk you through the many options available to you so you, the patient, can make choose the option that meets you needs.
Can Tetracycline Staining Be Removed?
In some cases, tetracycline staining can be removed with ultra professional power bleaching like Aquabrite – KoR. However, often times, the staining is too deep or the bleaching only works for a short time. When staining is too dark or too severe for bleaching, more conventional methods are used.
Can Veneers Be Used?
Veneers, because of their reputation, are often sought after to correct tetracycline staining. However, Dr. Koeppel does not always use veneers to correct this type of stain because of the width of the porcelain on a veneer. Because the veneer is so thin, extremely dark stain might show through. When the stain is that dark, slightly more tooth structure must be removed to give enough room for the porcelain to block out the stain.
Laser Dentistry
Lasers have really become important in our daily lives, from medicine to computers to household items; they are everywhere! Now, this innovative technology is used in important dental technology too.
In the United States, the FDA approved the use of lasers on gum tissue in 1990. Soon after, in 1996, the FDA approved it for hard tissue as well (teeth or bone). The use of lasers has really revolutionized the way dentistry is performed.
Lasers are used to accelerate whitening processes, remove diseased tissue, and sometimes remove cavities from teeth! Dr. Koeppel, director of Koeppel Dental Group – A Dental365 Company, can perform many services using laser dentistry that saves his patients time and money. The procedures are in many cases more comfortable than traditional surgery.
What is A Dental Laser?
A laser is an instrument that amplifies light energy, and uses it to remove diseased tissue or decayed tooth. There are several different kinds of lasers, the most common being diode, carbon dioxide, and yttrium aluminum garnet.
Drill Less Dentistry
Many people fear the dentist for one common reason, the drill. Suffolk County Drill Less Dentist, Dr. Koeppel all but eliminates this problem for his patients. Our office stays on the cutting edge of dental technology to give our patients the best dental experience.
Teeth Whitening Comparison Chart
Ultra Teeth Whitening KoR
Whitening is the least invasive procedure that can dramatically change the appearance of your smile. Toothpastes and at home kits are now sold at supermarkets and convenience stores promising whiter teeth. Most people are aware of the promises, but have realized by now they don’t work like they expect. Nothing compares to professional whitening at a dental office. There are many whitening products on the market, and it is not a one size fits all application. Long Island Teeth Bleaching specialist Dr. Koeppel personally helps each patient decide which whitening product would best fit his or her needs.
Enhance your smile, whiten your teeth, enhance your life!
Am I A Candidate?
Although most are candidates for whitening, there are about 7 percent of people who are not. Whitening candidates have stained teeth from coffee, tea, or smoking, or darkened teeth from old age to a yellow, brown, or orange color. Colors like gray and beige caused by fluorosis or tetracycline are also lightened. Those who have extreme periodontal disease, worn enamel, or extremely sensitive teeth may be discouraged from bleaching.
At Home Teeth Whitening Treatment
Impressions are taken, and customized trays are fabricated. The patient takes the trays home and applies whitening gel, dispensed at the office, into each tooth in the tray. They trays are worn for an hour each night until the maximum result is achieved. Most at home bleach gels are Carbamide peroxide ranging in percentages from 10-20 percent. Koeppel Dental Group – A Dental365 Company recommends bleaching gel which Carbamide peroxide, one of the strongest on the market. The downside to this method is that you do not get an instant result, discouraging some to continue with at home maintenance, but with compliance and persistence you can get optimal results as well.
KoR Teeth Whitening With Aquabrite
Dr. Koeppel has had a lot of success with this new innovative system. The KoR whitening system is a three-part process. Patients come into the office for a two-hour power bleach, followed by take home bleaching for 2-6 weeks, The patient then comes back into the office for another two-hour power bleach.
Zoom Teeth Whitening Procedure
A tooth can become discolored or stained for multiple reasons that could be related to age, dark drinks such as coffee or cola, smoking, and more. When teeth become stained it is because dark pigments are able to seep through the enamel to a layer called the dentin. This makes stains difficult to fully remove using traditional methods such as brushing or at home teeth whitening treatments. Zoom Teeth whitening provides an in-office whitening solution that bleaches the teeth to remove surface stains and help achieve a brighter smile.
Zoom is the most well known “in office” whitening system. It combines a 25 percent hydrogen peroxide light activated gel and a full-mouth bleaching light to lighten teeth 7 to 10 shades in an hour. Discuss Dental, the creators of the original Zoom, have now created Zoom 2 which produces great results with less sensitivity.
Compared to at home teeth whitening treatments, Zoom can provide better results much faster.
How long does teeth whitening take?
Teeth whitening does not always have to take a long time. With Zoom, patients can improve the color of their teeth in one simple in-office visit! This is the perfect option if you want to spruce up your smile at the last minute before a big event. The Zoom light activated gel is applied directly to the teeth, and the high beam light is placed right above your smile. You are provided light resistant goggles, and mouth retractors to achieve the best result. A paint-on dental dam is used to insure your gums do not get hot from the light. After an hour passes, you see your results instantly: a new, dramatically brighter, much whiter smile. It is important that you realize that you must also continue with home maintenance to obtain and keep a good result.
The procedure is designed to be a spa like experience where you are free to relax and listen to music during the session.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Many dentists consider Zoom teeth whitening to be one of the safest procedures. Some patients experience tooth sensitivity after undergoing teeth whitening, however modern whitening procedures such as Zoom 2 work to lessen sensitivity after the procedure.
Failed Crowns
If you are on this page, chances are that you have realized that quality matters in dentistry! Dental crowns are not all created equal. Most of the dental crown failures that occur are due to technical dentist errors. Our doctors believe that continued education and research on the best products for our patients leads to treatments that almost always surpass the lifespan of the average dental crown.
Causes of Crown Failure
Crown failure happens for many reasons, but product failure is almost never the true cause. For the most part crowns fail because of two technical errors. The first technical error relates to the fit, cementation and bonding of the post, buildup, or crown itself. The second technical error is caused by the wrong type of crown selected for the patient’s occlusion or bite. The proper selection of a crown is imperative because biting forces can exceed the properties of some kinds of crowns. Also, tooth preparation that subjects the crown to over excessive biting forces can in turn cause the need for a root canal on that tooth. Different types of crowns and locations require different preparation, bonding and cementation techniques. This is why Dr. Koeppel has a vast array of cementation and bonding agents, to fit each case specifically.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are used for many reasons. Sometimes all porcelain crowns are used for smile line makeovers and other cosmetic issues or concerns. Other times, crowns are used in single applications to improve a tooth structure that has been decayed away, chipped, broken, cracked, or is naturally undersized. Dental crowns, in some cases, replace the crown of a tooth when an implant is placed. The crown gets cemented on or screwed into the implant for unparalleled tooth replacement.
Why Choose Koeppel Dental Group?
An experienced and seasoned restorative dentist can be expected to have the specific product knowledge and skills required to create a perfect match for esthetics and function, depending on the location, using modern crown technology. Dr. Koeppel, director of Koeppel Dental Group – A Dental365 Company, has participated in advanced postgraduate training provided by advanced dental training institutes such as LVI, AACD, AGD, and PAC-Live. These courses have allowed him to stay on the cutting edge of dental crown advanced technology.
How to Choose A Dental Crown Material
As a Long Island cosmetic dental crown expert, Dr. Koeppel works with a vast selection of material choices for crowns, allowing him to achieve any function based or esthetic result wanted. Depending on the patient’s specifications and needs, products from 3M-Lava, DaVinchi, Ivoclar Vivadent (IPS Empress), Ivoclar Emax, Bruxzir, Zirconia, Feldspathic Porcelain, P2Z, and Nobel Biocare Procera may be used. With his keen eye for perfection and knowledge of the best materials, Long Island cosmetic dental crown specialist, Dr. Koeppel is able to avoid common mistakes such as placing crowns that cause unsightly black lines at the top and that cause sensitivity.
Failed Veneers
Veneers can fail for many reasons. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Ira Koeppel, Director of Koeppel Dental Group – A Dental365 Company, has come across many patients that are hoping to fix dentistry that was poorly completed in the past. Whether it was a procedural error by a former dentist, poor material choice, or poor cementation, our doctors are equipped to address your every need successfully and compassionately. You will never again have to worry about your veneers falling off or looking less than perfect. We obsess so you don’t have to.
What Causes Veneers to Fail?
With proper care porcelain veneers can last as long as 10 years. However, there are times when veneers may need to be replaced. There are many reasons why veneers can potentially fail, some reasons may be due to the dentist who placed them such as poor construction or improper tooth preparation. Other reasons can be due to the patient such as poor oral care or habits such as forgetting to brush or bruxism.
Porcelain Veneers
A veneer is an artistic thin porcelain jacket that is custom made to go over your tooth seamlessly. Veneers are placed on the incisor (front) or bicuspid (side) teeth to cover imperfections, crooked teeth, esthetically change a tooth’s appearance, or protect the tooth structure underneath. Veneers are placed on the teeth you see when you smile.
Why Would I Need Veneers?
Veneers are a very versatile way to cure many problem areas. For example, veneers are a more durable way to hide discolorations in front teeth, instead of fillings and are much less invasive than crowns. Veneers are resistant to staining caused by coffee, tea, wine, or cigarettes, unlike composite fillings. With veneers we can fix one single tooth due to a chip or reconstruct a whole smile. People who have diastema, large spaces in between teeth, can use veneers to hide this as well. Veneers can be manipulated any way we decide, so the dream smile in your head can easily become a reality. Minimal anesthesia is used with veneers compared to other procedures and the results are unmatched by anything else.
Another use for veneers is a process called instant orthodontics. This is used on someone who is unhappy with the way his or her teeth are aligned, and does not want to wear braces. Instead of going through orthodontics, we can fix this with veneers in as little as two – three visits. This gives the illusion of perfectly straight teeth, with absolutely no orthodontics used!
