Ventura Prosthodontists Fix Smiles Damaged by Bulimia
OXNARD, CA (PRWEB) April 11, 2014 -- Dr. Saj Jivraj and Dr. Mamaly Reshad of the Anacapa Dental Art Institute in Woodland Hills and Oxnard, Calif., are using National Prosthodontics Awareness Week (April 6-12) to warn the public of the dental dangers of bulimia.
The statistics are staggering. Per the National Eating Disorders Association, 20 million women and 10 million men in the United States suffer at some time in their life from a clinically significant eating disorder, including bulimia, binge eating disorder and anorexia.
“Both bulimia and anorexia affect overall health and well-being, with a secret sign of bulimics being filed‐down, sharp-looking teeth due the acid erosion from chronic purging after one eats,” said Dr. Reshad, one of Ventura’s best cosmetic dentists. “As a prosthodontist, I am a specialized dentist with advanced training in diagnosing and treating complicated oral health issues. Patients come to me after treatment to fix a damaged smile from years of bulimia.”
Severely worn, “sharp” teeth due to an eating disorder affect the look and function of your mouth, bite, jaw and teeth. Prosthodontists specialize in providing personalized solutions such as implants, crowns and veneers to beautify smiles in complex cases, such as eating disorders.
Prosthodontists apply advanced training and the latest technology to restore beauty, form and function to teeth for optimal oral health.
What dental procedures does a prosthodontist perform?
Prosthodontists are experts in dental rehabilitation and have mastered many procedures including bridges, crowns, caps, veneers, removable partial dentures, dentures and dental implants. In addition to restoring dental implants with restorations, many prosthodontists like Dr. Jivraj and Dr. Reshad surgically place implants.
Procedures include:
Bridges
Traditional methods to replace a missing tooth or teeth include the fabrication of a bridge. To replace a missing tooth with a bridge, at least one tooth on either side of the space created by the missing tooth must be prepared for a crown. Then a false tooth is joined to the crowns, and the entire structure is cemented to the prepared teeth. The patient cannot remove the bridge, and special aids are available to keep it clean.
Cleft Palate/Obturator
Many cleft lip and palate patients’ exhibit missing teeth in the area of the cleft and would benefit from a prosthodontists’ care in the management of these areas. Although most cleft palates are now successfully closed surgically, there are patients who require an obturator to close the palatal defect, whether it is congenital or acquired. A prosthodontist possesses the skills necessary to fabricate an obturator that will improve the patient's speech and swallowing.
Congenital and Developmental Mouth Defects
Many patients are missing certain teeth because the teeth never developed or may be misshapen. A prosthodontist can determine the best way to replace and/or restore these teeth. Other patients exhibit teeth with poorly developed tooth structure throughout the mouth and require a prosthodontist’s expertise in restoring these teeth to proper form and function.
Crowns/Caps
Crowns cover or "cap" a tooth to restore the normal function and appearance of the tooth. Crowns may be made as all metal, porcelain fused to metal or all‐ceramic (porcelain). Crowns are indicated for teeth with very large fillings, teeth that have had a root canal, fractured teeth and misshapen and/or discolored teeth.
Dental Implants
Today’s dental implants are typically made of titanium and may be parallel‐sided or tapered and may or may not have threads. These fixtures are placed into the jawbone and allowed to heal until they are "integrated" into the bone. Dental implants may be used to replace one, many or all of a patient’s teeth.
Dentures
When a patient no longer has any natural teeth, complete dentures are the traditional method to restore function and appearance. Many patients experience difficulty wearing conventional dentures because of poor stability and decreased chewing function. The use of dental implants to improve the stability and retention of dentures is becoming quite popular.
Esthetic/Cosmetic Dentistry
Many patients are interested in improving the appearance of their smile. Prosthodontists are the dental specialists who long ago determined what constitutes a pleasing smile. Teeth whitening, reshaping natural teeth, bonding of tooth‐colored material to teeth and porcelain veneers are procedures commonly used to modify a smile.
Removable Partial Dentures
When there are multiple missing teeth, weak anchor teeth or no posterior teeth to anchor on, a removable partial denture is used to replace teeth. These restorations typically are made of a metal framework and a plastic base with teeth. They must be removed for daily cleaning and at night.
Teeth Grinding/Night Guards
Often patients who grind their teeth at night are unaware of their habit, but the forces exerted on both the teeth and the Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ) can be quite destructive. A custom‐made night guard can protect the teeth and relieve pressure on the TMJ.
Teeth Whitening Methods
Many products are now available for patients to whiten their teeth. These products include commercially available strips; custom fabricated trays with a bleaching gel; or dental bleaching in an office using UV light or laser as the catalyst.
TMJ
Many patients use this acronym to refer to the painful symptoms related to Tempromandibular Joint dysfunction. Symptoms may include pain in the joint itself, pain in the muscles of mastication and limited movement of the lower jaw.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea refers to a temporary cessation of breathing while sleeping. Many times the airway is obstructed by the patient’s anatomy, and the placement of a specially designed night guard that repositions the lower jaw can improve the airflow.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers are used to modify the shape and color of teeth. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are etched and then bonded to the enamel of the teeth. Tooth preparation is necessary to avoid over bulking of the tooth, but it is limited to the enamel and usually involves only a few surfaces of the tooth.
Prosthodontists’ training is earned through a two- or three-year hospital or university‐based program accredited by the American Dental Association. The training includes reviewing literature, lectures, treatment of patients and laboratory experience in fabricating restorations.
Prosthodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.
Graduate programs in prosthodontics include classroom lectures and seminars, laboratory and clinical training in esthetic dentistry, crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, complete and removable partial dentures, dental implants, TMD‐jaw joint problems, traumatic injuries to the mouth’s structures, congenital or birth anomalies to teeth, snoring, sleep disorders, and oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care. Prosthodontists are masters of oral rehabilitation.
Dr. Reshad and Dr. Jivraj completed three years of Advanced Prosthodontic training at the University of Southern California.
These “smile makers” perform advanced and complicated procedures outside the means and expertise of general dentists. They have the intense training and 20 years’ experience to diagnose and treat problems as part of an overall dental treatment program
National Prosthodontics Awareness Week raises awareness of prosthodontists’ place as quarterback of a patient’s dental health team.
A prosthodontist may work with a team of dental professionals to create a comprehensive treatment plan for patients. Prosthodontists are dedicated to the highest standards of care in the restoration and replacement of teeth including bridges, crowns/caps, teeth whitening methods and veneers.
Dr. Jivraj and Dr. Reshad specialize in implant, cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry. They are former chairmen of the University of Southern California School of Dentistry’s Fixed Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry section.
Dr. Jivraj is an international lecturer and has written more than two dozen articles on implant and restorative dentistry for the British Dental Association.
Dr. Reshad has been published in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks on topics related to prosthodontics, aesthetics and implant dentistry. He is on the editorial board for the Journal of Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. He is an honorary clinical teacher at the Eastman Dental Institute and a member of the faculty of the Global Institute for Dental Education.
The Anacapa Dental Art Institute has specialized in prosthodontic, implant, cosmetic and restorative dentistry since 1996. Anacapa also offers gentle dental care treatments for patients aged 50 and above.
The Anacapa Dental Art Institute opened two new state-of-the-art dental offices and training centers in Oxnard and Woodland Hills, Calif., this year.
The Oxnard dentist office, 2821 North Ventura Road, Bldg H, has 3,600 square feet encompassing six treatment rooms, a fully in-house dental lab and a state-of-the-art teaching center. The Woodland Hills dental office, 6325 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, No. 513, is 1,500 square feet and it features an in-house dental lab catering to patients in and around Los Angeles.
The Anacapa Dental Art Institute has an 11-person staff, including Dr. Jivraj and Dr. Reshad, a root canal specialist, a general dentist, two hygienists, three dental assistants and two receptionists.
The Anacapa Dental Art Institute provides the following procedures:
● All-on-Four (All on 4) dental implants
● All-on-Six (All on 6) dental implants
● Mini dental implants
● Teeth in a Day
● Teeth in an Hour
● Professional teeth bleaching
● Sedation dentistry
● Cosmetic dentures (“facelift”)
Anyone looking for a Ventura contemporary dental implant center or who wants to find a cosmetic dentist can get more information about Dr. Jivraj and Dr. Reshad at Dentalimplantsventura.com.
Saj Jivraj, Anacapa Dental Art Institute, http://www.DentalImplantsVentura.com, +1 (805) 604-5811, [email protected]
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