Masterful bonding that achieves the patient’s goal
September 14, 2019
Categories: Uncategorized
This patient had been unhappy with the gap (diastema) between her two front teeth for many years. Other dentists had suggested braces (orthodontics) or veneers. We were able to achieve an excellent result just with bonding – an appointment that took under 2 hours and required no numbing and very little drilling.
Minimally Invasive Dentistry: When Less is More
June 14, 2018
Categories: Uncategorized
Dr. Anne Fabricius, owner of Oak Park Prosthodontics, and Dr. Stephanie Tsai are passionate about providing their patients with conservative, minimally invasive dental treatments.
Dr. Fabricius explains that the practice of minimally invasive dentistry begins with
establishing the correct diagnoses. “Errors in diagnosis can lead to extensive dental work
that may be premature or not even necessary. For example, it is common to see stains
around the edges of old fillings. Often, these fillings do not need to be replaced
immediately. Instead, they can be monitored for changes.”
When a tooth does require treatment, all treatment options should be explored. “As a
prosthodontist, I have an additional three years of training beyond dental school and can
often provide patients with additional treatment options.” Dr. Fabricius further explains,
“For example, a tooth that ‘requires’ a crown may be eligible for an onlay. During
preparation for a crown, the entire outer surface of a tooth is drilled away. Alternatively,
the preparation of an onlay requires that only the unsound diseased tooth structure be
removed, allowing large portions of healthy tooth structure to remain intact. Despite the
benefits, onlays are performed less frequently by dentists because they require more time
to prepare.”
Dr. Fabricius explains that she frequently meets patients that are considering aggressive
cosmetic treatments, such as veneers, that can require a substantial amount of healthy
tooth to be drilled away. “While veneers are sometimes the appropriate treatment, less
invasive treatments, such as whitening and bonding should also be explored. These
treatments are not only less expensive, but they often require no drilling. People are
amazed at the results.”
“When performing any dental treatment, it is important that it be done with the utmost
precision and care so that tooth structure is preserved.” Dr. Fabricius further comments,
“I perform all of my dentistry with magnification of 4.5x, nearly twice as much as most
dentists. Being able to see detail is critical when performing conservative dentistry.”