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Cosmetic and
restorative
dentistry

What Materials Should I Get for My Dental Implants?

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I am getting a smile makeover, but that will also include a dental implant. I know I’m getting porcelain veneers for most of the teeth, but I need some advice about the implant. Which brand is the best implant? Should I get a porcelain crown or a zirconia crown? What color would look best for someone who is fair skinned and in her 50s?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

An image of metal and zirconia dental implants

I love that you are trying to do research and have some preparation going into your appointment. What I want to do, however, is shift your thinking. There is no way you are going to be able to learn enough about the nuances of both restorative and cosmetic dentistry to get these questions settled yourself. In fact, you could pick the best of all of these materials and still end up with a subpar smile makeover. That is because the success of your dental implant, as well as your smile makeover, will depend on the skill and artistry of the dentist doing it.

Think about it like art. If you gave both Michelangelo and me the same brand of clay and told us to create a sculpture of a woman’s face, I guarantee you that one of them would be better than the other…and it wouldn’t be mine.

What you need is a dentist who has invested in post doctoral training for both smile makeovers and dental implants. Both of these are advanced procedures. I would start by looking for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Once you have a list of those, look for one who also invested in dental implant training. For instance, Dr. Weiss studied at the Dawson Academy. Some other reputable implant training centers are the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the Spear Institute. There are others as well, but these three are a good start.

As for the color and type of crown for your skin tone, a great cosmetic dentist will work with you by first understanding the type of smile you want to portray to the world, then they will know the right coloring and materials to give you the smile of your dreams. So, pick the artist and let them pick the materials they’ll use to create the beauty.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Maryland Bridge on Dental Work

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I am getting some dental work done. First, I need a tooth extracted that is between two teeth that already have dental implants. In addition, I’ve got a chipped front tooth. I am going to have dental bonding done to fix that and feel comfortable with that choice. What is worrying me is the missing tooth. Would a Maryland Bridge be able to bond to dental work?

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

Applying a Maryland Bridge

While the short answer is yes, there are complications in trying this. First, most dentists don’t understand the proper procedure for bonding a Maryland Bridge. They think it is simply a matter of grinding the adjacent teeth and bonding on the metal wings of the bridge to the teeth. This is not enough and will cause the bridge to dislodge too easily. Little grooves need to be added to the teeth to help secure the wings, as pictured above.

A second issue is that the wings of the bridge do not bond to porcelain as securely as they do to natural tooth structure. Bonding to porcelain is completely different than bonding to natural teeth and not many dentists understand this difference. This is an additional risk for your bridge.

The best thing would have been for your dentist, knowing that you’ve already lost the two adjacent teeth, to do some forward planning. Hopefully, your dentist thought ahead and placed your dental implants in a way that would make the abutments parallel and used screw retained crowns. This way when the tooth in the center is lost, he or she could just unscrew the crowns and attach a bridge to it.

If your dentist did not do that and you have enough room, a good solution would be to place a third dental implant between the other two.

The Most Important Decision Regarding Dental Bonding

before and after dental bonding

As for the repair to your front tooth. Dental bonding is a fantastic way to repair a chipped or gapped tooth. One thing to bear in mind is that this is an advanced dental procedure that has to be done freehand. If you want to make certain that you have a beautiful, natural looking result you will want to check that your dentist has advanced cosmetic dentistry training. This is especially important because it is a front tooth.

These are more exposed to the light and all the variations of your teeth are exposed. In your place, I would look for a dentist accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). This is different from a simple membership. AACD accredited dentists passed stringent exams and have proven artistry. They will give you a result that blends both naturally and beautifully.

This blog is brought to you by Jenkinstown, PA Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

An MRI with Dental Implants?

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I am losing a tooth. This has never happened to me since I was a kid! My dentist recommends I get a dental implant. However, I have a pituitary adenoma that they have to keep an eye on. I get an MRI every year. Would it be possible to get an MRI if I have a dental implant?

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

metal-free dental implants

I am sorry to hear about your pituitary adenoma. I know another person who deals with that and it has wreaked havoc on her body.

You are not alone in wondering about whether or not dental implants are safe for an MRI. Another common question has to do with security sensors. The good news is they are safe for both. You may be wondering if there is metal in them, how are they safe?

What Is an MRI?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is a test that creates a strong magnetic field and then uses radio waves and digital software to obtain cross-sectional images of the body, particularly soft tissue. Because of this magnetic field, patients are advised not to go into an MRI scanner with any metal on or about their person. This is due to the danger of migration, heating up, projectiles, or other ill effects. Any ferromagnetic metal is unsafe during an MRI. Some examples of ferromagnetic metals include nickel, iron, and manganese, among others.

What are Dental Implants Made From?

Dental implants are made with either titanium or zirconia. While zirconia is metal-free, so most people don’t worry about those, titanium is metal. The good news is that this type of metal is paramagnetic, which makes it perfectly safe for an MRI.

Your dentist was right to suggest this as the tooth replacement. It will be the closest thing to having a healthy, natural tooth again.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.