Why We're Different - The Bioesthetic Difference

Bioesthetic dentistry is a method of using science and nature to understand how the jaw/teeth relationship functions as a unique and extraordinary biological system.

To give you an example, let’s say you notice a small chip on one of your front teeth that seems to worsen over several months. You visit your dentist and he suggests repairing it with bonding or smoothing down the affected area. A simple solution and the appearance of the tooth can be easily corrected. Your dentist performs the procedure, and you go on your way thinking everything is fine. Unfortunately, several weeks later the chip reappears in the same place. What is happening? The real question though is, how was the chip caused in the first place? Did the dentist take the time to diagnose the cause?

And therein lies the Bioesthetic difference.

The Bioesthetic approach searches for the underlying causes to many dental problems that are generally not diagnosed. As with most biological systems there are subtle warning signs that occur when the system is breaking down. If these signs are recognized and the correct treatment is performed then the system can return to ideal function.

This scientific approach has made a great impact on the treatment of our patients and we are excited and proud to offer this knowledge and expertise.

It’s really all about integrity.

And the kind of integrity that stands the test of time. Referring doctors are well aware of the years of dedication, training, and experience that is required for Dr. Andros to offer such advanced and sophisticated procedures.

They also know they can trust the results.

For many years, doctors and their families have come to Dr. Andros for treatments that demand a higher level of care. Having earned his reputation for excellence in the medical and dental community, the doctor is regarded by his peers as one of the best in his field.

Yet the qualifications of Dr. Andros are only part of the appeal to other doctors. Like all of the doctor’s patients, they recognize immediately his passion for his work and genuine interest in being able to help them. Listening to, and caring for his patients are not attributes acquired from training and education. Instead, they are a testament to the kind of individual David Andros D.D.S is, and ultimately, the kind of doctor all patients appreciate and benefit from.

Absolutely not, yet it is one the bigger misconceptions among many that the quality of veneers and crowns, (in fact any dental applications requiring lab work), is generally uniform. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Just as all dentists are not equal in their skill level and qualifications, the products produced in dental labs vary widely as well. Using a simple comparison, let’s look at automobiles as an example. As you know, automobiles come in many styles and designs. The quality varies from the sophistication of the engineering to the materials used in creating the interiors, and the costs range from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand. This variety is dictated by consumer demand. When shopping for a car there are obvious differences in the choices and for the most part, we know which vehicles are considered the best quality because of who the manufacturer is. For the typical dental patient, recognizing the difference in quality with veneers and crowns is difficult at best. The average patient has no idea how to judge the quality.

Ninety-nine percent of the dentists in our country subcontract to an outside dental lab that employs technicians who manufacture the veneers and crowns. And the fact is, these dental labs are like any other business; there are good ones, and there are bad ones. There are technicians that are excellent and have a true passion for creating dental art and there are technicians that produce mediocre to average products. As an example in this disparity let’s consider the materials used in creating crowns, veneers, and other dental applications. Large corporations manufacture the materials for the dental industry. One of the name brand materials produced is marketed as Empress Porcelain®. Using the same material, two different labs contracted to create the same dental application can end up with extremely different results.

Therefore, since all veneers and crowns are custom made to fit your teeth, the esthetic quality is completely dependant on the technicians themselves. At some point, you’ve probably seen someone with what you considered bad dental work. The reason for this is the dentist who is responsible for the final results, most likely used a low quality lab with average ceramic technicians. So unless your dentist chooses to seek and find the best labs and technicians possible, your teeth and smile will not look as good as they should. Even the choices of materials make a huge difference to the final outcomes. Again, there are high quality materials and low quality materials. Quite frankly, I’m surprised that some of these materials are permitted for use. But unfortunately, they are and that is why some dentists can charge lower fees. They pay a lot less to have your veneers and crowns made.

So you can see that there are many factors involved in how the quality and esthetic results of porcelain veneers and crowns are manufactured. I personally take great pride in working with the best known dental labs and ceramic technicians in the country. As with anything that is of value, you can expect to invest a little more to have better dental work, but the results we produce speak for themselves.

To answer this question, we need to define exactly what they are. A fixed bridge is a non-removable, cemented restoration that replaces a missing tooth or teeth. The fixed bridge connects to natural teeth that are adjacent to the space, in front of and in back of where the missing tooth or teeth are. This procedure requires removal of natural tooth structure to reduce the size of the tooth to allow for the fixed bridge to cap or crown over the natural tooth. A dental implant is a man made, replacement tooth root form made of a biocompatible material (titanium) that cannot be rejected by your body like a transplanted organ. The dental implant is used to replace one or several missing teeth and requires a minimally invasive surgery usually less difficult than removing a tooth. The dental implant supports a porcelain or gold crown that replaces themissing tooth or teeth.

So let’s look at the pros and cons of a fixed bridge vs. a dental implant. At the end of this comparison I will give you my personal opinion on this subject. The first and most important role in dentistry is to maintain a healthy mouth. Whenever possible it is best to avoid changing a natural tooth that is healthy and doesn’t require any type of dental restoration. Conservation of natural teeth is ideal for long term health. A disadvantage of a fixed bridge is the removal of healthy tooth structure. This puts the teeth involved at risk for nerve problems that could cause the tooth/ teeth to be sensitive to chewing, or hot and cold temperatures and lead to root canal treatment. A fixed bridge has an approximate failure rate of 20% in the first ten years due to decay or loss of one of the connecting teeth. Another disadvantage of a fixed bridge is that it requires extra time and special cleaning to get under the artificial tooth that rests on the gum. Food can often be trapped under the bridge and cause discomfort as well. Fixed bridges will usually need to be replaced every 5-20 years depending on various factors. A major shortcoming with bridges is that if one of the connecting teeth is lost then the entire bridge is lost. Expanding the bridge may or may not be an option if there are no other teeth to connect to or the space is now so big that the new bridge would not be supported well enough by the natural teeth. The investment of a fixed bridge is usually more than or equal to a dental implant. Insurance may cover a portion of the fee. The one advantage of a bridge is that it requires no surgery.

The first major advantage of a dental implant is that it requires no involvement of natural teeth. Unlike the fixed bridge a dental implant is independent and supports a replacement tooth on its own. The benefit is that you don’t have to drill, grind or remove enamel and sacrifice good healthy teeth to replace a missing tooth. This eliminates the risk of root canals and nerve problems. The second major advantage of a dental implant is that since dental implants are man-made, they cannot decay. Tooth decay is the leading cause of crown or bridge failure. And unlike the fixed bridge, the feel of a dental implant is similar to a natural tooth. You can also floss and clean the implant like a natural tooth since it’s not connected to other teeth. The comfort of a dental implant is generally far superior to a fixed bridge and has a greater potential to last for twenty or thirty years, or even a lifetime. The investment for a dental implant is similar and often times less than fees for fixed bridges. Dental insurance may or may not cover the procedures. The dental implant process may take several months to complete due to the healing time for the implant to secure itself. Minimally invasive surgery is required to place a dental implant. As with all surgical procedures there are risks to consider that should be reviewed with your doctor.

As to my thoughts on this comparison, I have practiced and seen a lot of dentistry since my start in 1983 and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a dental implant done right offers the best long term, cost effective, comfortable, and healthy way to replace a missing tooth. Yes it takes longer, requires a surgical procedure, and may not be covered by insurance, but the end result clearly out performs the fixed bridge. It is my opinion that fixed bridges should be considered only when a patient is medically disqualified as a candidate for a dental implant. Even patients that were told they may not have enough jaw bone to support an implant should seek a second opinion due to the many advances that have been made in rebuilding the jaw bone today.

The keys to eliminating the fear factor are communication and trust.

Fear is one of the strongest and most crippling emotions we have to deal with as humans. It can manifest in many forms and affects all ages. In fact, fear is such a powerful emotion that it can prevent us from making rational decisions that would otherwise prevent an outcome that inflicts harm or damage to our body and mind. Simply put, it can corrupt our thought process and inhibit our relationships with others.

Yet in spite of the potentially negative and adverse effects of fear, Dr. Andros and his staff recognize that it is 100% normal, and almost always encounter it with patients in varying degrees as well.

So how can we help? It starts with you: communication.

Let us know how you feel! From your very first contact with us on the phone to the moment you are face to face with Dr. Andros, we want to know what concerns you may have. We realize that in order to understand your needs, we must listen to you first.

And by listening to you, we hope to earn your trust.

With over 23 years of patient care experience, Dr. Andros has treated patients ranging from the mildly fearful, to those with extreme anxiety and has done so with excellent results. In many cases, eliminating the fear factor entailed rebuilding the confidence of patients with past unfortunate dental experiences and returning them to a low fear, low stress comfort level. We are very proud of our ability to establish this kind of trust with our patients.

With each patient an evaluation is made to assess what method of anxiety control is best suited for them. Dr. Andros reviews several methods from very conservative approaches to more advanced anxiety control techniques, such as IV sedation/twilight sleep. For many procedures, we encourage patients to bring their own sunglasses, favorite music and headsets to aid in their relaxation. For those who seek additional comfort, we provide several comfort aids such as aroma therapy, foam neck supports, spinal and back vibration massage, blankets and more.

To speak plainly, no one looks forward to visiting the dentist’s office, but when it becomes necessary, you can trust Dr. Andros and his staff to do everything possible to eliminate the “fear factor”.

When we first look at someone we naturally have an emotional response to that person’s appearance. Certain combinations of qualities and characteristics determine whether we find them attractive to us. It is true that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, but are there some absolute values and characteristics that make us beautiful as well?

Yes, a common characteristic is the universal recognition of pleasant proportions. We can easily agree if a face looks too long, a nose too large, or lips too thin or possibly out of proportion. This phenomenon related to beauty is referred to as the Golden Proportion. And like the face, our teeth have ideal proportions, sizes and forms. Consequently, one of the keys to achieving outstanding cosmetic dentistry is the understanding of the Golden Proportion of teeth and how it relates to the Golden proportion of the face.

For example, a person with a small chin and shorter than normal lower jaw line, may have a profile that appears to have protruded upper teeth and a larger nose due to the position of the lower jaw. Thus, if the lower jaw was repositioned forward the upper teeth and nose would have the appearance of proper proportions with the rest of the face.

Therefore, when we look at a patient’s smile we must consider several factors:

• The size, shape, and form of the teeth
• The appearance of the gum tissue and proportion to the lip lines
• The teeth and gums proportion to the overall structure of the face

The closer we bring these areas into proportion with each other, the better the cosmetic result. And a word of advice to those considering plastic surgery such as a face lift; if you are not considering the appearance of your teeth and smiles as well, the end result you desire will be left incomplete and unfulfilled.