Dental Diagnostics – Why see a Specialist Dentist?

Let’s get to know each other - Diagnosis & Patient centred treatment planning

Once we have determined your needs and expectations and when you are ready, I begin to restore your teeth to optimal function and aesthetics. This can be done all at once or over a period of time, whichever is suitable to you. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of many treatments, every aspect is coordinated with the referring dentist and other dental specialists. The prosthodontic reconstruction involves fillings, veneers, crowns, bridgework, dentures and dental implants, to ensure optimal aesthetics and function. I consider the use of magnification reconstructive dentistry and implant surgery as leading-edge technology, essential to the delivery of high-quality service.

“One of the most dangerous diseases is diagnosis” George Bernard Shaw.

The question is “Can we deliver?”. And this is why we need a diagnosis. Diagnosis involves:

• Consultation and examination
• Special tests: x-rays, CBCT, study models, Intraoral scanning, images, direct composite or diagnostic wax up, provisional restorations
• Referral to other specialist colleagues

Which Cosmetic Dental Procedure Is for You?

There is only one diagnosis and many forms of treatment. Incorrect diagnosis will lead to incorrect treatment. Let me help you achieve your desired dentofacial aesthetics, tooth replacement even a simple dental filling! Diagnosis takes time, expertise and patient involvement for that special gift: your oral health and your smile!

When it comes to aesthetics or complex oral rehabilitation, we need to visualise the treatment outcome. The consenting process is not signing on a piece of paper or digital manipulation. It takes time. Therefore we want you to understand the following:

• The need/rational for treatment
• The nature of treatment
• The effects, risks & benefits
• The likelihood of success
• Length of treatment
• Any alternative treatment
• Cost of the treatment
• The consequence of no treatment
• Specifically tailored for you the patient

This is to help you to understand the limitations, risks and modalities of treatments. The level of tooth display, arch form, gum line, lip line, hickness and outline, dynamics of smile and speech and level of tooth exposure on both arches.

Diagnostic mock up

There is a difference between locking and seeing, one must visualise. What am I looking here? What am I thinking? What the eye cannot see the mind cannot recognise.

I ask for your help for that important decision-making process during diagnostics

Understanding form, function and aesthetics and sharing clinical findings with you. Building rapport with you is an integral part of my practice.

Diagnostics: Do you see what I see?

In poetry, which I enjoy, one paints a picture in the mind. However, aesthetic dentistry is poetry in motion. The dynamics of a smile, facial expression, teeth display, lip frame, the eyes, the cheekbone. All these features combine to form aconcerto and this is music to the eyes! As a specialist, I see the whole picture and this is where science merges with art.

I see beauty and elegance, don’t you?

Facial Proportions & Symmetry

This patient with ideal facial proportions presents with dental asymmetry that was corrected initially using composite mock up to visualise the treatment possibilities. The lower arch crowding was not a concern.

In an ideal world we would consider orthodontics and surgical correction on both jaws to:

• Reposition maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) followed by restorative correction.
• However surgical correction and orthodontics in this case would have affected the” cuteness “of the lip thickness, outline, symmetry & support that is an integral part of facial aesthetics.
• Patient had consulted numerous surgeons who also confirmed my clinical findings.

Note the canted maxilla, that also creates a canted gummy smile. An excessive gummy smile is possibly due to delayed passive eruption or vertical maxillary excess.

The case is easily solved with small gum lift on teeth 12, 11 (marked in black) and composite veneers. In the future porcelain veneers can be considered.

10 years post op note how elegant the lips are formed. The fullness of lower face & pleasant aesthetics. Orthodontic and surgical intervention would have destroyed that delicate balance that existed for an optimal facial aesthetics in this case.

In this case the composite veneers after few years appear slightly discoloured, however it can be replaced with another composite and porcelain veneers, since the lip support and that “cuteness” of the lips are maintained over 13 years and more with minimal intervention aesthetic dentistry.

When patients ask me why do we have to pay for diagnostics?

Some things to think about:

• Art & Speed Do Not Mix
• You Must Think in 3D and Visualise
• 4th Dimension – TIME: affects people with all ages. All we want is a youthful and fresher look

In summary, prosthodontics requires training and qualification to deal with complex dental health problems. I have attended an internationally recognised and formally structured university program to give me the extra skill and knowledge required to plan and manage complex dental problems. The qualification takes several years of training and practice. This has been over 7 years of post-graduate University training, multiple examinations etc.

Correct diagnostics is more important than treatment. That’s why you are seeing a specialist. As a specialist prosthodontist, I also coordinate complex multidisciplinary treatments involving an orthodontist, periodontist, paediatric dentist and oral-Maxillofacial surgeons. Diagnostics are vital to coordinating treatments and to providing you with the treatment that is best suited to your desired outcome, maintaining the biology of your existing tooth structure and ensuring the correct function when you eat and speak. You don’t want to find any problems with your new teeth after the treatment.

On this page are some examples from hundreds of patients that have been treated. You will find more detailed case studies under the “Real Patient Stories” in the menu above. I sincerely believe that we have achieved the desired functional and aesthetic reconstructions to complement our beautiful patients. All the procedures were performed by myself, Dr Sarkis Nalbandian, a specialist in Reconstructive Aesthetic and Implant Dentistry. Education and Experience are everything.

For instance, rather than simply providing cosmetic solutions, which after all, only focus on “how things look”, I am trained to correctly diagnose and treat any underlying problems beforehand.

This concept is carried over into all aspects of reconstructing or improving smiles and appearances, including fixed or removable teeth, giving you a long-term result rather than a “quick fix” which might break down early or even damage your teeth.

Implant surgery involves additional skills obtained for surgical planning and placement of dental implants as an overall diagnosis and treatment for our patients. To gain any formal postgraduate qualification, one must have their relevant knowledge tested in any examination or pass any professional critical review process at world-class universities. In other words, doing 2-day course does not make a dentist an implantologist or an expert in reconstructive dentistry.

I am a Specialist Prosthodontist and an Implant Surgeon. This dual qualification helps you have both implant placement and reconstructions completed in one venue, reducing overall cost.

Our diagnostic centre is unique and you can have all the relevant diagnostic information in one centre at Cremorne. Our referring dental colleagues like this because their patients, like you, are looked after in one centre and by a specialist who cares about his patients just like his own family.

Use of Magnification

The uses of operating microscopes for prevention and maintenance in reconstructive dentistry are:

• Following insertion of restorations, there is the advantage of being able to track any problems by periodic video examinations utilizing the intraoral camera. Visible and sometimes invisible potential marginal problems can be greatly enlarged. Certainly, the ability to diagnose and treat a defective margin as early as possible can prolong both the aesthetic and functional life of restorations.
• Patients cannot see for themselves what we can see; thus, highly enlarged views made available by operating microscopes enhance patient compliance in home care. Typically, patients wait until something is sensitive before seeking treatment. Periodic examinations utilizing the intraoral camera can play a significant role in prevention of inevitable aesthetic failure due to marginal pathology.
• Operating microscopes can and should also be used to show patients areas of their mouths that lack proper hygiene maintenance. For example, enlarged lingual views give patients the opportunity to see the inside of their mouths like never before.
• One of the most frequent causes of restoration failure is lack of gingival hygiene, with both flossing and brushing. When images of the mouth are magnified while the explorer is used to remove plaque from the sulcus, patients become visually aware of the importance of ongoing maintenance. Restoration longevity is normally expressed in averages. For instance, full crowns is 5 to 15 years. However, a patient should be aware that not even the normal range of life expectancy will be achieved unless these gingival areas are maintained on a daily basis.
• Operating microscopes are also highly useful in showing patients existing micro cracks. These micro cracks (in teeth and restorations or crowns with less than ideal marginal integrity) can stain and cause other aesthetic problems for patients. Photographs and permanent records of these micro cracks can be of tremendous benefit to the patient in accident cases. Documentation of micro cracks also provides a baseline for assessing subsequent staining or changes. Link to cracked teeth
• The intraoral camera can be used to magnify and photograph areas of obvious bruxism. Identify problems at subclinical stages before it is recognised clinically by the patient who has persistent discomfort.

I use special Leica® operating microscopes due to the delicate nature of my work. Magnifications at 10 times and more improve accuracy and comfort to you saving a multitude of problems later on.

Children also visit our practice as we also cater for the whole family. Dental visits are fun and educational and children’s curiosity is amazing. Our staff are highly trained in today’s multifaceted and sophisticated dental care.

Experience and post graduate training is mandatory for thorough diagnosis and treatment planning to deliver high quality care to our patients.

Diagnostic Services

Our practice provides a full range of diagnostic services including digital x-rays, OPG’s and CT (CAT SCAN). It is a one stop shop for all dental needs from simple to full mouth rehabilitation using tooth or implant supported restorations.

Diagnostics:

• Benefits the patient
• Immediate diagnostic information for the patient and the dentist
• Saves crucial time in your busy life
• We can also diagnose other dental concerns at the same time as the scan sees all the structures around the teeth, jaws and face

Integrating Cone Beam CT in my practice over 10 years

Cone Beam CT has provided my practice with the convenience of having diagnostic information at my fingertips and I have been very happy with this system. Patients are happy to not be referred elsewhere for radiography.

Today time is an issue, not only for the patient but also for the dentist. The CBCT available today has a much reduced radiation level and produces images which are clear and software friendly to use. Patients appreciate seeing their CT images on the screen immediately and are thrilled to be involved in their diagnosis and treatment planning. This has become a standard of care in the diagnosis and consenting process today.

Our diagnostic information not only requires simple assessment in 2D, especially in my practice of Implant Surgery and Prosthodontics, but in 3D where immediate diagnosis is required. This information is crucial to patient treatment especially those travelling long distances, and even internationally, to come to our practice.

Having 3D images and the ability to reformat in different sections is immensely valuable to diagnosis and aids in all disciplines of dentistry. In my practice I need information NOW! And can get this NOW!

The new Scanora 3D helps me taking CBCT (cone beam CT) and sending the copies of the CD to my referring dentists for continual care of their patients. It is also very valuable when referring to colleagues such as ENT surgeons, OMF surgeons and orthodontics.