Digital VS Traditional Impressions

In the 21st century with so many new advancements in dental technology, we can truly say that digitally taken impressions have made the biggest difference for many dentists and dental practices. This gives patients a more relaxed and less time consuming treatment at the dentist.

 

The traditional approach

For many patients having dental impressions done can be very unpleasant. Patients with a strong gag reflex struggle with the entire procedure. There’s nothing worse than those three to six painful minutes waiting for the “alginate rubber material” (gooey substances) to set. For many decades traditional impressions were needed for crowns, bridges, veneers, bleaching trays, and not forgetting night guards.traditional impression

Digital impressions using an IOS scanner

Digital impressions are taken with an intraoral scanner (IOS) using optical light technology as its source to scan the soft and hard tissue within the mouth.  The IOS scanner digitally captures clear and highly accurate impressions within seconds. With a digital scanner, patients will not feel uncomfortable and have a gagging reflex or throw up when impressions are being taken.

digital impressions

Benefits of digital impressions

  • Digital impressions avoid the discomfort these traditional impression materials can cause patients, such has gagging or even throwing up.
  • No more awful taste left in your mouth after having impressions taken.
  • Patients save time in chair with their dentist as they do not need to wait for the alginate substance to take form or set.
  • While scanning we can immediately find errors or missed areas.
  • Digital impressions can be stored electronically which contributes to our recordkeeping and the POPI act.
  • Much more accurate than conventional impressions
  • Easy to send to dentists (Specialists around the world)
  • Forms part of a fully digitally integrated dental clinic such as Silver Oaks Dental
  • Integrates fully and immediately into the DSD protocol.

Chipped, broken, stained and misaligned teeth?

Chipped, broken, stained and misaligned teeth?

Dental veneers might be the answer….

Most of us suffer from imperfections on our teeth such as chipped, cracked, stained, and crooked teeth. At one-point dental veneers were only for movie stars. Now it is available to all.

Dental veneers are the same as natural teeth in form and function. Porcelain veneers try to replicate the look and feel of our natural teeth. You can bite and chew your food as normal and they won’t ever fall out. Porcelain veneers can last a lifetime if you brush and floss regularly (2x a day).

Chipped, broken, stained and misaligned teeth

What are dental veneers?

Veneers are thin layers of composite or porcelain that are placed over the tooth’s surface. Porcelain veneers is the best option of the two as they look natural like your real teeth.

what are dental veneers

What can dental veneers fix?

If your natural tooth or teeth are not severely decayed or missing, then dental veneers or crowns can be a good long-term option. Dental veneers are the only treatment available that can physically change the shape, size and colour of your teeth.

The following are common conditions that can benefit from dental veneers:

  • Broken teeth
  • Chipped teeth
  • Cracked teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Small gaps between teeth
  • Discoloured teeth
  • Undesirably large or small teeth for example, correcting a gummy smile

The veneer process takes just 2-3 visits and can be completed in about 2 weeks or less. This is a much shorter time frame than some other dental treatments like orthodontics which could take up to 2 years.

Chipped, broken, stained and misaligned teeth

The above patient Charmaine visited Silver Oaks Dental Clinic for a full smile makeover. She had previously decayed teeth, tooth loss, teeth protrusion and some of her teeth had the old amalgam fillings. Her heart health was at risk due to the state of her teeth.

Dr Huson’s solution for Charmaine’s teeth included dental crowns and dental veneers. Digital Smile Design and the latest technology was used to craft Charmaine’s smile and simulations offered to her to show her what her potential teeth could look like.

Charmaine was extremely happy with the outcome. She was amazed by her new smile and could not stop smiling from ear to ear!

It was such a pleasure to work with Charmaine – she was a delightful lady who enjoyed telling us a new joke at every visit ! This kept us in stitches as we tried to concentrate on our work..

Call us on to book your appointment today or learn more about our dental veneers procedure.

 

Porcelain Crowns in South Africa

Porcelain Crowns – A Case Study

Our case study focuses on our sweet patient Diane who chose porcelain crowns at our practice in South Africa as her treatment option.

When Diane came in to see Dr Richard Huson she felt terribly embarrassed to smile and to talk.

She did not like the gaps and discolouration in her front teeth on her top jaw.

porcelain crowns in south africa

Due to her very busy work schedule and travel she could not afford to come back and forth for her treatment.

She was also not sure of what the end result will look like. In order to communicate better and make sure Diane was happy with the end result, we turned to our latest technology called Digital Smile Design.

Diane was able to see the before and after pictures of her smile before any work was started. This enabled her too see what the end result would look like before committing to the treatment.

Our solution was then a same day smile makeover which consisted of dental crowns.

A big advantage of Diane having her work done at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic was that it was done in a day with digitally scanned dental crowns.

With our in-house lab it was easy to make the necessary adjustments so that Diane left here extremely happy with the end result.

Porcelain Crown Procedure

Her two front teeth were crowned, re-positioned and lengthened.

We also enhanced the colour of her teeth. Her dental crown procedure took about 2 hours.

 We have an excellent dental laboratory on-site with specialist technicians who work closely with us to make sure that your smile is perfect.

Porcelain Crowns In South Africa Is Much Cheaper

Porcelain crowns in South Africa are much cheaper than porcelain crowns done in many first world countries.

It is usually half the price if you compare an equally high end dental practice in the USA and UK.

Dr Richard Huson has spent several years in the UK working under world renowned dentist Dr Joe Oliver.  All our products are of the highest quality and we use the best manufacturers in the world that are world renowned and internationally recognised.

Digital Smile Design as a treatment Modality

Using specialised software programs and together with our highly skilled dentist Dr Richard Huson, we are able to manipulate a photograph of your teeth into different possibilities of what certain cosmetic treatments may be able to achieve for you even before the treatment begins.

This gives you a simulation of what your porcelain dental crowns may look like after treatment. Cosmetic Imaging is useful if you would want to know  “what it may look like” – or for those who struggle to picture the end result. In this picture we have shown the end result of Diane’s dental crowns and what it could potentially look like.

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Click here to learn more about our dental crown procedure 

 

Dental Veneers Before and After – Case Study

dental veneers before and after

The picture above shows a before and after pic of Lynn’s smile makeover. Our case study focuses on Lynn’s smile makeover

Worn Down Teeth

Lynn’s teeth had worn down over the years causing them to fracture very badly and break. She was struggling to chew and felt very self-conscious about her teeth.

When Dr Roy Richard-Huson analysed her teeth he saw that her bite had over closed which gave her the appearance of having no teeth when she smiled.

Treatment Plan included Braces, Dental Crowns/Veneers

Her treatment plan included braces, crowns and veneers to perfect her smile. Lynn’s bite was opened using orthodontics (Braces). This moved her teeth into a better position. Crowns and Veneers were placed to improve the function and aesthetics of her smile.

Dental veneers are thin porcelain shells placed over the teeth to get rid of stains, crooked, misaligned teeth or a gummy smile. It had also improved her lip and cheek support (to stop them from sagging). This killed two birds with one stone as it decreased the wrinkles around Lynn’s lip area.

She was given temporary dental crowns to test the new positions and function of her teeth. This was also to give her a chance to approve the new look before the final ones were made.

Lynn is amazed by her new smile. Her confidence is at an all time high. Click here to see Lynn talk more about her smile makeover.

Dr Huson has placed in excess 2000 veneers – all with excellent results. He has worked under celebrity dentist Dr Joe Oliver in the Harley Street region of London. You are guaranteed work that is of the highest quality and we offer a money-back guarantee.

Prices start from R12 605. Price depends on the number of dental veneers that you want and the manufacturer that you choose. We only use manufacturers that are world renowned so that it looks natural and lasts a long time.  All are made of porcelain and  should last a lifetime should you brush your teeth twice a day.

Call us now or click here to learn more about Cosmetic Dentistry.

Best Country for Dental Tourism

The concept of dental tourism is fairly new, but gaining momentum. With benefits that go beyond just affordability, it really is something to consider. The premise of dental tourism is travelling to a country where you are able to undergo dentistry at a far more affordable rate than you would be able to do so in your home country.

best country for dental tourism 3

Affordable dental treatment

Many of your conservative dental treatments are covered as per most health plans. Some of your more detailed treatments may require additional payment from you. Then there are some dental treatments which are not covered by dental plans at all. These are your cosmetic treatments. They are the main reason for people seeking out the best country for dental tourism.

Cosmetic treatments are not covered  per dental plans, requiring for out of pocket payments. Treatments such as veneers can really add up, since they are charged per tooth. A brighter and straighter smile does equate to youth. The social value of popping out a friendly, full on smile is countless. If the full or added expense is not closely within reach, or means that you would go into debt, then dental tourism may be your cloud with a silver lining.

If you live in the UK, USA or Australia for instance, you can save majorly on your dental cost when you seek out alternative countries. You do get more for your money, due to the economic exchange rates and then that the cost of living is cheaper in countries such as South Africa. In certain cases, it is up to 90 percent cheaper to have your dental treatments done here than in your own country. This cost saving route does factor in the travel costs as well when looking at the best country for dental tourism.

It is a double bargain, because now you can get in a holiday as well. South Africa is a top tourism destination even when you do not factor in the dental element. Activities are endless from wildlife to cultural or even cosmopolitan. Many people, all over the world have already experienced the value of South Africa being the best country for dental tourism.

best country for dental tourism 2

The best country for dental tourism

Many countries around the globe fit the bill for the requirements of dental tourism, mainly cheapness and a booming tourism sector. The challenge would be finding the best country for dental tourism. The best country for dental tourism will not only depend on cost. You must also take the quality of work into account. The results of cosmetic dentistry will be the look you wear for years to come.

The dentist needs to be able to have more than just a dentistry knowledge but to be able to offer an individualized treatment plan for each patient. The final look of a smile should not be generic but one which naturally fits into the person’s facial structure.

For this reason, the best country for dental tourism is one that has a good worldwide reputation for quality dental work. The calibre of medical professionals in a country such as South Africa, makes this destination one of the premier spots for medical surgeries. Now dentistry is taking shape among foreign visitors who are deeming it the best country for dental tourism.

For a fraction of the price at other countries, you have access to the same state of the art facilities as well as dentist standards. On top of South Africa being a steady competitor as the best country for dental tourism, you are able to enjoy a nice little holiday in one of the most vibrant and diverse places on the planet.

Treatment time and recovery

Majority of dental treatments can be carried out within a single dental session. Added visits may be needed. The first would be for a consultation where information can be relayed between the dentist and patient or the teeth can be immediately prepped for the dental procedure.

Cosmetic imaging (Digital Smile Design)  is available at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic, one of the few dental clinics in South Africa to offer this treatment that is usually only offered at high end practices in the US and UK. The best country for dental tourism is one where the dentists offer a wide range of services such as this.

With dental imagery, patients are able to know what the outcome of their cosmetic dentistry is going to look like even before a step is taken into the treatment. It also allows for patients to be able to add their opinion allowing the dentist to then tweak results. The second reason why added visits may be needed would be for check-ups. This is just for the dentist to be able to check that the treatment has gone well and that the intended results have been achieved.

For the dental procedure, dentists in South Africa offer many anaesthetic options. The most basic and common is a localized injection which causes a numbness so that no pain is felt by the patient. For surgical intervention or for nervous patients, then something such as nitrous oxide is used. Most dentistry treatments do not require for a lengthy recovery process. Healing is done pretty quickly.

If you are using South Africa as your choice of best country for dental tourism, then you are in for a treat. The sunny disposition of this warm and friendly country is an invite into relaxation mode. Being in this sort of environment only speeds up any healing process. It is not just that. Not having to worry about everyday life is also a contributing factor to be able to heal quickly while on holiday. These factors also make it possible for business travellers to South Africa to be able to take advantage of their time in the country to get in a quick fix to their smile.

Note, that for most cosmetic procedures, the only downtime is for the numbness to wear down, which happens just a few hours later. It is a small price to pay, to be able to walk away a short while later, with a fantastic looking smile.

best country for dental tourism

Dr Roy Richard Huson is a cosmetic dental surgeon that has over 20 years of experience and has worked in the Harley Street Region of London under celebrity dentist Dr Joe Oliver. He has placed in excess 500 dental implants – all with excellent results.  We offer the highest quality in dentistry at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic and all our products and services meet high end practice standards in Europe.

Call us now or click here to learn more about our cosmetic dental procedures.

Dentist in Kloof

Just 20 minutes away from Kloof lies a world class dental office. The Silver Oaks Dental Clinic truly offers the best in dentistry today, along with outstanding patient service. This option for a dentist in Kloof offers everything from basic dental fillings to advanced cosmetic dentistry options such as Dental Implants and Veneers. The following details are what you can expect from the Silver Oaks as an option for a dentist in Kloof. Dr Richard Huson spent over 20 years in the Harley Street Region of London and has become the go to dentist when it comes to dental implants and dental veneers. He has placed in excess 500 implants and 1000 veneers all with excellent results. Click here to view our smile gallery

General Dentistry

Choosing Silver Oaks for your choice as a dentist in Kloof will provide you access to the highest quality in dentistry using only the best materials that are of European standards. You won’t have any reworking on your teeth in the long term. Furthermore, we endeavour to make our patient’s experience as seamless, comfortable and painless as possible. To do this, we offer a choice of anesthetic options from nitrous oxide happy gas to conscious sedation or full-out general anesthesia. We will discuss during your consult, which option would best suit you.

Cosmetic Dentistry – changing the look of your teeth

If you have generally healthy teeth and just need to perfect your teeth and improve your confidence then our option for a dentist in Kloof is just the right fit for you. Payment plans can be arranged for various cosmetic dentistry treatments. It must be noted that cosmetic improvements to the teeth are not covered by dental plans. The most basic lift you can do for your smile would be to whiten your teeth. This gives the added bonus of youth and good hygiene. Our approach to teeth whitening is a blend of at home bleaching with an in office laser treatment. During the treatment, patients will be given custom fit trays which can be used later on to maintain this newly found brightness.

Dental Veneers

Veneers are another way to change up the look of your teeth. It allows you to straighten and whiten your teeth in one go. Unlike braces that take over 2 years. Veneers can straighten and whiten your teeth in just 2 or 3 appointments over a two week period. Essentially, veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are attached to the front of your tooth. They improve the appearance because they can be shaped and coloured to give the desired outcome. With dental veneers, gaps and discoloured teeth among other issues can be instantly solved. Porcelain veneers do not stain, so with regard to discoloured teeth, the colouring will remain for its lifespan. It takes just 2 visits to the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Kloof to fit the veneers, with a follow up visit for a check-up. Click here to learn more about veneers

Clear Aligners & Adult Orthodontics

The first solution for fixing problematic teeth at our dentist in Kloof would be the Inman Aligner braces. They are clear when worn and removable so that you can attend that important event or meeting without anything on your teeth.  They are used for cases where teeth are not overly in need of orthodontic intervention. The Inman Aligner/Clear Aligner is patented and has a case history of straightening teeth between 10 to 16 weeks depending on the severity of the case. The second solution for fixing problematic teeth from the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Kloof are dental crowns.

Now whereas veneers are placed over the front of the tooth, crowns are placed around the tooth. Dental Crowns are turned to when a patient has lost much of their tooth. This could be due to decay or trauma. The role of the dental crown is to fill up this space and give structure back to the tooth. They do add an aesthetic improvement but they do serve a functional value as well. Dental crowns are milled in-office at Silver Oaks. This means that you could leave with your newly fitted crown in a single visit. Overseas visitors taking advantage of the affordable dental rates at our practice are well suited to our one-day cosmetic dentistry services. The third solution does not relate to problematic teeth but when there is no tooth or teeth at all. If you have lost one or all teeth, then all hope is not lost.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are your saviour at the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Kloof. Dr Richard Huson is a specialist when it comes to Implantology. Besides his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch, he has a certificate in Implantology from the University of Cambridge. Dental implants give you back a permanent tooth, negating the need for ill-fitting dentures, but also serves to keep your facial features intact. The earlier they are fitted once the loss of teeth has occurred results in lesser loss of bone since the implant helps with the jaw bone not shrinking further. Dental implants are the most extreme dental treatment one can have done. Not everybody will qualify and our dentist will have to do a thorough evaluation to ensure that you meet the criteria. If the go ahead has been given, then your treatment plan and quote will be laid out to you. Implants take the course of several months to complete. A damaged tooth may have to be removed and the area healed before the implant can be inserted. The dental implant is surgically inserted into the jaw bone. It takes a couple of months for the implant to become a firm fixture in the bone. Since the implant is well into the bone, an abutment (which is just an extender piece to the implant), will then be attached. The replacement ‘tooth’ is then attached to the abutment. The replacement is simply a dental crown that is manufactured according to detailed instructions at our clinic. It is a long process to get implants but much of the time is for healing. As with all cosmetic dental procedures, but more especially with the permanence of this treatment, you must ensure to choose a dentist with the relevant training and experience for the best possible outcome which is what you should expect to receive at the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Kloof.

Click here to view more details about dental implants

Protecting your teeth

Using the Silver Oaks option for dentists in Kloof allows you access to getting Max mouth guards. We sponsor the South African Rugby team and the Sharks Rugby team with Mouth Guards. Mouthguards are essential in any contact sport to protect your teeth along with lessening facial trauma. Unfortunately, this is only achieved with a guard that has a proper fit over the teeth. This is what the Max mouth guard serves to do. Silver Oaks is one of the few dentists that offer fitting for the Max mouthguard. The design allows for a custom fit and layers of protection with virtually no interference to your breathing or speech.

Dentist in Hillcrest

Silver Oaks Dental Clinic offers the highest quality in dentistry with the latest technology in order to perfect your smile.

We are based in Musgrave, Durban, with offerings of general and well as cosmetic dentistry. We are a 20 minute drive from Hillcrest. The Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Hillcrest serves to cater to the entire family. Let’s take a further look at the services provided by Silver Oaks as an option for a dentist in Hillcrest.

General Dentistry Information – all of the materials used at our practice are sourced and imported according to the highest quality and meet European standards.

Dr Richard Huson has over 20 years of experience and worked in the UK in the Harley Street Region of London. He currently lives in Hillcrest. Our dentist in Hillcrest is always on par with the latest advancements in dental technology.
We have many options for nervous patients and patients who want a pain free, relaxing procedure. This includes Nitrous Oxide Sedation (happy gas), Intravenous Sedation, or General Anaesthetic. We use the “Wand” (pain-free injections) and have a host of other techniques which will make your experience as pleasant as possible. We are not contracted to medical aid but we do give you a code so that you can claim back from your medical aid.dental veneers pros and cons

Digital Dentistry – has revolutionized dentistry and in particular, the cosmetic side. Digital x-rays are offered at Silver Oaks, with the benefit of much less radiation exposure than from traditional x-ray machines. Digital dentistry also encompasses cosmetic imaging which allows our dentist to show you the various outcomes of our services before it can be performed on you. You can have a say on which you like best and the course of action can then be plotted.

Dental Implants – permanent loss of teeth is no longer something that can only be fixed with those nasty dentures. They are not very comfortable to wear and only worsen with time as the jaw bone shrinks due to lack of support. Dental implants provide permanent relief from this along with a host of other issues. Essentially, they are little pieces of titanium screws that are surgically inserted into the jaw bone. This can be done under conscious sedation or general anaesthesia. Majority of people are candidates for implants but if a case such as weak bone density presents itself, then implants are not an option. Our option for a dentist in Hillcrest, will fully assess the situation during a consult and let you know of a treatment plan should you qualify. At this juncture, we should note that dental implants are the longest and most expensive dentistry procedure. It takes over 3 months for the implant to become bonded into the bone. Once this has happened, the dentist will attach an abutment device to it. This is what the dental crown will then be attached to, and voila, you have a brand new tooth.

Dental Veneers – as far as dental treatments go for cosmetic options, veneers are among the more conservative. It is not too hectic of a process to have them fitted, not much tooth structure is removed and they are cheaper than many other options. These super thin pieces of porcelain material can do wonders once they are placed on the tooth. The shape, size and colour of a tooth can be changed with a veneer. Problems such as stained, crooked or gapped teeth can therefore be fixed with veneers at the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Hillcrest.

Dental Crowns – are used to fix up a tooth that has lost much of its structure. Cases in which they help include decay which has made its way deep into a tooth. In such an instance when removal of the decayed portion leaves a huge deduction of tooth material, crowns serves to bring back this lost structure. At the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Hillcrest we are able to do this restoration within a day. Our onsite laboratory allows us to work closely to ensure that measurements are precise and perfectly in line with our design. With dental crowns as well as veneers, the dentist needs to be an artist of sorts. You want that perfect smile but it also needs to look natural and complement the rest of your facial features. It is a pretty bold move putting all this into the hands of a dentist. At the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Hillcrest, in addition to having a professional who has worked at the famed Harley Street in London, there is also the security of liaising with him and having input in the design of your dental crown through digital imaging. This is software that allows the dentist to show you the various outcomes of what crowns or even veneers can achieve for your smile. This will then be relayed into your treatment plan.

Teeth WhiteningTeeth whitening is the most basic cosmetic improvement one can do for their smile. In addition to looking physically pleasant, they also bring the advantage of looking younger (since teeth do discolour as one ages) and having good hygiene. Teeth whitening is achieved over 3 visits to the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Hillcrest. These include a combination of bleaching trays to use at home and a laser at the clinic. The combination is done for the ongoing maintenance of the attained colour for a longer time.

Clear  Aligners and Orthodontics – for the milder cases of teeth straightening, the Silver Oaks option for a dentist in Hillcrest, offers the Inman Aligner. Straighter teeth is just 10 to 14 weeks away with this patented teeth straightening system. The length of time would depend on each patient’s circumstance. The course has proven very effective and safe within the short span of time in which it takes to work, offering great value for money. It is not a permanent attachment and can be removed if need be.

Mouthguards – are a service provided by your friendly Silver Oaks dentist in Hillcrest option. Custom made guards from the Max brand are available here. They are custom fitted so they fit perfectly over the teeth and offer better protection all while allowing for speech and breathing.Oral Hygienist in Durban