Doctors' Blog

 

 

There are different treatments for a "gummy smile" depending on the etiology or reason for the gummy smile. The two basic causes for a gummy smile are excessive vertical growth of the upper jaw (maxilla) or short dental crowns caused by excessive gum tissue. These two problems are treated very differently.

 

The treatment for excessive vertical growth of the upper jaw is to surgically move the maxilla up. This provides a much more natural lip to tooth ratio. The planning of the vertical position is based on the amount of tooth shown in relation to the relaxed lip position. For women, we plan on 3 to 5 mm of tooth to be shown at rest. For men, we plan on 2 to 4 mm of tooth to be shown at rest. Showing some teeth at rest is associated with youth and beauty. As we age, the upper lip gets longer. If the upper lip is moved too far up, it will give a toothless and aged appearance.

 

If the cause of the "gummy smile" is short clinical crowns of the teeth, the treatment is removal of the excessive gum tissue done by a procedure called crown lengthening. Crown lengthening involves removal of a little bone around the neck of a tooth to allow restoration of a natural crown length. Not all gummy smiles are treated the same. If you remove gum tissue on a tooth with a normal crown length, the result will look unnatural.

 

There are other factors such as muscle hyperactivity of the upper lip, but the two major causes are excessive gum tissue and excessive vertical growth of the upper jaw. If you have any questions about this feel free to email me or come and see me in the office for a consultation.

 

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-Benjamin Walline, DDS, MD

 

Posted by Steven B. Kupferman, DMD, MD/Benjamin W. Walline, DDS, MD at 2:42 PM 

 

 

Many of you may have seen dental implants advertised for under $1,000. For those who have not realized it yet, this is simply a ploy to get you in the door. Just like car ads, there is always a catch for the advertised price. Let me unravel for you the ways in which a dentist can charge $1,000 for a dental implant.

 

There are many different dental implants on the market; some are made by reputable companies and some are made by dental companies with poor quality control and faulty components. In general, the average cost of a dental implant is $300. There are approximately 50 dental implant companies approved to sell products in the United States. Only about 8-10 of them are reputable companies that offer products you would want permanently placed in your mouth. The remainders, although approved for use, have poor quality control and will likely fail or need to be removed.

 

The other components that make up a dental implant include the abutment and crown. Together, the abutment and crown cost an average of $700 – $800. As you can see, the cost to the dentist for a reputable implant and its components is at least $1,100. This does not include the costs for sundries such as stitches, gauze, Novocain, etc.

 

So how then can an office advertise for dental implants at $899? Well, the simple answer is, this is America! Doctors can advertise for anything they want; again, that's how they get you in the door. Once you're there, you will likely be given the option for an off-brand, poor component dental implant for $899 or a reputable dental implant for regular price. Another tactic often used is charging additional fees for the abutments.

 

Therefore, when choosing an office for your dental implant surgery, it is important to consider the type of implant you are having permanently placed in your jaw bone and whether you are really saving any money.

 

Posted by Steven B. Kupferman, DMD, MD/Benjamin W. Walline, DDS, MD at 11:04 AM 

 

 

Only a few surgeons in Los Angeles can treat TMJ and lock jaw. TMJ is an all-inclusive categorical name for jaw joint and lower jaw problems. Lock jaw is a specific type of TMJ problem where one can no longer open their jaw normally. As you can imagine, this can be quite debilitating. The jaw joint, or the TMJ (temporomandibular joint), is the most used joint in our bodies. Unlike many other joints, the TMJ has a loose piece of cartilage inside of it. This piece of cartilage can easily be displaced, thereby preventing the jaw from opening normally. This is known as lock jaw. The technical term is anteriorly displaced disc. Fortunately, with minimally invasive procedures performed in our office, lock jaw can be fixed!

 

 

 

 

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 Thursday, March 4, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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