The time when the tourist, came to Costa Rica with only a suitcase and a sight seeing itinerary is far behind. Most of them now arrive with the intention of going in for medical treatment or for some cosmetic work. According to statistics across the country, the number of tourists who plan cosmetic procedures while on holiday has risen exponentially, because of highly qualified doctors who offer treatments at unbelievably low prices, performing the procedures at well equipped hospitals that offer world class medical care. To read more go to: www.arrivacostarica.com
Archive for the ‘Tooth Bonding’ Category
New era for tourism….
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010Veneers
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010Dental veneers are custom-designed shells of a tooth like ceramic material that, when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing, and chips or cracks. Those fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry because they create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shaped teeth. Porcelain veneers are stain resistant, and the color of a porcelain veneer can be selected, so that it makes darker teeth appear whiter. Getting dental veneers usually requires three dental visits. For more info: www.arrivacostarica.com
Dental crown
Friday, June 25th, 2010CEREC technology eliminates the need for all of the return visits by milling a new crown in about 30 seconds. Using digital and wireless technology, the physician takes a digital photograph of the tooth and the computer instantly renders a model that becomes the pattern for the crown. The milling machine is in the office and when the dentist sends the information to the machine, it chisels your crown from strong, color matched porcelain material and in only seconds.
Once the crown is made, the dentist simply cements it to the tooth and uses a blue laser light to cure the cement so it hardens right away…. find out more at: www.arrivacostarica.com
TMJ Disorder
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010TMJ syndrome, or temporomandibular joint disorder. It can affect either of the muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, tissues and bones in the jaw and skull. It can obviously have impacts on one’s teeth as well. One may find it difficult to bite and chew and experience an aching pain in some parts of the face. Earaches and headaches are also some of the few things that cannot be avoided because of this condition… more info at: www.arrivacostarica.com
Solving Dental Care Concerns For Anxious Patients
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009Are you afraid of going to the dentist? If so, you are not alone. An estimated one-third of Americans do not go to the dentist because they are afraid of the potential pain and discomfort. This can lead to many problems because cavities, gum disease, and more go undetected and untreated. This can lead to root canals and tooth loss down the road once the pain becomes more than they can bear.
While many dentists claim to “cater to cowards,” even the nicest of dentists can still leave their patients nervous wrecks. Sedation dentistry is a completely different approach to treating patients and their teeth.
Sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing and calming experience for the patient. This is achieved by using varying levels of treatment depending on the patient and the procedure. The most common form is nitrous oxide which is administered throughout the procedure through a nasal mask or hood. The patient still knows what is going on around him, but is much calmer and more relaxed. It also serves to numb the gums, which can make injections easier.
Another option is IV sedation, which delivers the medication intravenously for an immediate result. Unlike nitrous oxide, it induces more of a sleep-like consciousness. It is best used when patients are extremely anxious or scared.
For those who do not like needles, a third option is oral conscious sedation. One benefit of this treatment is that patients do not remember the experience, although they are able to move and respond to the dentist throughout.
Because of the serious nature of the medication, people who use any of these treatments during their dental procedure will need to be driven home. The medication does not wear off quickly enough for the patient to have recovered sufficiently to drive.
If you are afraid of the dentist, that is not reason to put off the treatment that you desperately need for proper dental health. Talk to your dentist about whether he or she performs sedation dentistry. If not, you should look into finding someone else in your area that does.
ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com
Never Too Late To Achieve A Straight Smile
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009Orthodontics was once reserved for teens and preteens, but today over one third of orthodontic patients are adults. Today there are many options available to adults if they want to improve their smile, and the appearance of their teeth. The options available for adults include: invisible braces, porcelain veneers, and crowns. These options address specific issues, but all have adult lifestyle and needs in mind.
When the straightening of the teeth is the main concern then braces, invisible braces, or porcelain veneers may be suitable for adults. Making a determination on which of these approaches will be the best choice depends on the severity of the problem. For slight misalignments invisible braces or porcelain veneers may be the best choice.
If the misalignment of teeth is severe, then fixed braces, including invisible or porcelain types, may be more effective to address the correction of misaligned teeth. If fixed braces are needed they will have to be worn anywhere from one to three years to straighten teeth properly. These braces will need to be in place every day for the first year, and then a retainer can be used at night for the remaining amount of time.
Teeth that are only slightly misaligned can be corrected using invisible braces that are either tooth colored, or clear and removable. This helps to avoid situations where adults may be embarrassed by a mouth full of braces, and somewhat hides the fixtures. The degree of misalignment for teeth that can be effective treated with these braces is slight to moderate.
Adults that did not have an opportunity to straighten their teeth when they were young now have the opportunity as an adult. There are many options for the adult wishing to straighten out their teeth, and improve their smile. Their choice of treatment will depend on their personal needs, and the severity of the misalignment. A good first step is to schedule a visit with an orthodontist for an examination and recommendation of treatment.
ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com
HOW LONG WILL THE TOOTH BONDING LAST?
Monday, November 30th, 2009The technology of composite tooth bonding materials is wonderful as far as the beauty that it can bring to your teeth. Still, with all that has been done, there are some limitations as to how long it lasts. It is susceptible to staining and loss of gloss. This deterioration doesn’t seem to be too noticeable if it is used in limited areas. But when it is used for an entire smile, it is more noticeable.
And its longevity is directly related to its post-operative care. Many people can go for ten or fifteen years and have the bonding look as good as the day it was put in. On the other hand, some people will get staining on the margins of the bonding after only one or two years and will need some touch-up work. If you take care of it well, you could avoid having to replace it. And an expert cosmetic dentist, with touch-up work or resurfacing of the composite, could bring back the life of dull, old bonding.
Under normal mouth conditions, tooth bonding work that is done by a qualified cosmetic dentist will not darken or discolor. If it is not damaged by improper professional cleaning by a hygienist or by overly abrasive toothpastes, it ordinarily will not stain any more than your natural teeth. In most cases, it is also durable enough to withstand the stresses of ordinary mouth function.
SENSITIVITY TO AIR AND TOUCH
When composite is applied, there is often some roughening of the enamel to help the composite bond to the tooth. It also may be necessary to re-shape the tooth a little in order to achieve the desired esthetic effect. When this is done, it isn’t unusual to have some areas of sensitivity on the teeth that are treated. This sensitivity to air and touch may persist for a few of weeks, but should gradually diminish. If it doesn’t diminish, or if it is particularly annoying, I would advise that you contact the dentist. There are desensitizing agents that can be applied to alleviate this sensitivity.
TAKING CARE OF THE TOOTH BONDING
- Brushing and flossing faithfully is fundamental. Also, avoid sweets or starchy foods between meals. Bonding holds up much better when it is clean.
- With extensive bonding work, maintenance becomes a much more important issue. I recommend frequent professional maintenance to help it keep its luster and stain resistance. But you need a dental hygienist who is skilled in bonding maintenance. A dental hygienist in the office of an expert cosmetic dentist usually has special training to be able to do this. Ordinary tooth cleaning techniques can easily damage your bonding by making it rougher. Special polishing pastes however, will restore the shine and help protect your bonding and make it look better and last longer.
- Harsh toothpastes will dull the shine on bonding and make it more susceptible to stain. There are two toothpastes that are known to be safe for bonded teeth: Because of its unmatched gentle stain-removing power, Supersmile is the one we recommend. Supersmile is available from cosmetic dental offices but not from stores. We make it available from our web site for a discount along with free shipping. (See our web page about Supersmile toothpaste.) Rembrandt Toothpaste is also safe for bonding and is available from stores, but it isn’t quite as effective at stain removal. Hard toothbrushes can also damage bonding. For small areas of tooth bonding, this degree of care is not necessary. But if you have large sections of a tooth or teeth that are bonded, the extra care would be recommended. We also have some information about whitening toothpaste.
- When bonding is done on the biting edges of the front teeth, it can be quite susceptible to breaking. Be careful not to subject it to unnecessary stresses. Carrots, popcorn, and other hard foods should be bitten off to the side, away from areas that have been bonded. And never bite pins, fingernails, or other hard objects with bonded teeth.
- Be careful of the dental office you go to. Do not let your bonded teeth be cleaned with pumice-containing prophylaxis pastes, ultrasonic cleaning devices, or air-polishing instruments. These will damage the surface of the bonding and make it more susceptible to stain. There are special polishing pastes and techniques for bonded teeth that not all hygienists or dentists are aware of.
- If you develop any areas that snag floss or feel rough, report this to your dentist. Areas like this can be smoothed easily if they are caught early.
- Alcoholic beverages can cause the bonding to deteriorate prematurely. Also, smoking and frequent drinking of coffee or tea tend to stain both your teeth and the bonding. Occasional use of alcohol doesn’t seem to hurt it. But we have seen frequent, heavy alcohol consumption practically destroy beautiful tooth bonding in a year.
ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com
HOW IS COSMETIC TEETH BONDING DONE?
Monday, November 30th, 2009Composite tooth bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that can do beautiful things for your smile. Dental composite is made of particles such as silicon dioxide or quartz, bound with a tough synthetic resin. It is blended so that it comes in different shades, toughness, and translucencies and so that, with the proper artistic eye on the part of the dentist, it can match your teeth. It is then used to close tooth gaps fill cavities, or eliminate spots, chips, and discolorations. It’s also great for an instant repair of a broken front tooth.
HOW IS COSMETIC TEETH BONDING DONE?
Unlike porcelain veneers, that are made of porcelain that has to be baked in an oven by a dental laboratory, teeth bonding is applied directly to the tooth and cured to its final hardness, usually with a light. In order to help the composite bond to the tooth, the tooth is prepared by lightly roughening the area to be repaired, which usually doesn’t require anesthetic. Then the surface of the tooth is etched, a thin, clear bonding agent is applied, and then the composite is applied. Dental
composites are made of acrylic resins impregnated with inorganic fillers, as mentioned above. They are made to a paste-like consistency so that they can be sculpted to the proper shape. They contain different pigments that can be matched to your tooth color, and they also come in varying degrees of translucency and are usually made so that they can be polished to a high gloss. This composite is applied to your tooth. Often several layers of different shades and translucencies need to be used in order to duplicate the depth of color and the color gradations that occur in natural teeth. Composites also contain photoinitiators so that they will harden under a high-intensity curing light.
With careful artistry, composite can be used to faithfully mimic the color details and translucency of your tooth, and polished to a beautiful shine. But a strong caution is in order here for the dental patient: While any general dentist can legally announce that he or she is a “cosmetic dentist,” and many dentists do white fillings, we recommend that any patient who wants cosmetic teeth bonding only go to a dentist with a strong artistic inclination and extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. The teeth bonding techniques required to do composite bonding well are not required training of general dentists.
ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com
Affordable Healthcare and Costa Rica!
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Happy with your health insurance? Its probably because you’re healthy and don’t really need it. But when you do get sick, you may discover your insurance doesn’t cover as much as what you thought.
Just when you have the least physical and emotional ability to cope, you find yourself dealing with a financial and bureaucratic nightmare of claims that are refused, and procedures and medications that are denied by an anonymous insurance administrator telling their doctor what they can and cannot prescribe.
Saying the U.S. has the best health care in the world doesn’t make it so.
The World Health Organization ranks the U.S. health-care system 37th, between Costa Rica and Slovenia, behind three South American countries and well behind the much-maligned UK and Canadian systems.
While it’s true we have some of the best technology, research and training for doctors and nurses, if Americans can’t access them, it doesn’t make much difference how great it is. French cuisine is arguably the best in the world, but try telling that to the starving 18th century French peasants who because of their hunger and other sufferings, started the French revolution.
While false fears run rampant about “pulling the plug on Grandma” and government funds for abortion, there seems to be little regard for people between the age of 0 and 65 who are dying, suffering or going bankrupt because they just can’t afford the health care they need.
In this, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, every child, every person, should have access to health care. No parent should have to wait until their child gets so sick that the emergency room is the only option. No one should have to divorce an ailing spouse in order to avoid bankruptcy or poverty. No one should die because they can’t afford to be treated. Access to affordable health care, like freedom and democracy, is a moral issue.
Many insurers and employers, meanwhile, are discovering Costa Rica for exceptional medical and dental care. For more information, please go to www.arrivacostarica.com
Costa Rican hospitals earn an intern… accreditation
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Many Costa Rican hospitals and clinics have received certification that puts them on par with U.S. medical centers, a move that national competitiveness authorities know will boost this country’s profile as a prime destination for medical tourism.
Following a six-month review process, the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities (AAAASF) has certified several private surgical and ambulatory centers, such as UNIBE hospital, And top JCI accredited hospitals, or soon to be accredited, include CIMA Hospital, Hospital Clinica Biblica, and La Catolica Hospital.
“The international accreditation of health services allows us to position ourselves among countries such as the United States, where patients are looking for certified qualified,” said Dr. Jorge Cortés, president of the Council for the International Promotion of Costa Rican Medicine (PROMED).
The vast majority of Costa Rica’s medical tourists come from the United States, whose population in many cases lacks affordable health care. Many procedures here are as little as one-third the cost, or less.
Nearly 13 percent of the medical tourists who visit Costa Rica seek cosmetic surgery procedures, while another 35 percent come for dental work, according to a study by the Competitiveness Ministry. In the U.S., insurance companies are beginning to catch on, offering to chip in for travel packages to this Central American country. For more information, go to www.arrivacostarica.com