Digital VS Traditional Impressions

17 March 2022/0 Comments/in Clear Aligners & Adult Orthodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Crowns, Dental Implants, Dental Veneers, Dentures, Digital Dentistry, Digital Smile Design, Mouth Guards, Teeth Whitening/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

In the 21^st 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.

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.

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.

Same Day Smiles in South Africa

17 February 2022/4 Comments/in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, Digital Dentistry, Digital Smile Design/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

Same day smiles in South Africa are also known as all on 4s or immediate load implants and are completed in a single visit.
Imagine walking into a dental practice in need of major restorative work and walking out a few hours later with a new full set of teeth and a beautiful smile. Sound too good to be true? The good news is, thanks to the ever-evolving digital dental era “teeth in one day “ can now be a reality.

Most patients will have to see their dental specialist in 3 visits.

Once for a consultation
Once for surgery
And final, a follow-up.

The implantation process is completed in a single visit. The dental specialist can achieve a full set of teeth supported by dental implants during this visit.

How does Same Day Smiles work?

At your first consult for your same day smile, your dentist will examine your teeth. A CBCT scan will determine if you have sufficient bone density in your jaw to have an implant placed. Using the Digital Smile Design system, your dentist can show you the before and after the transition of your teeth.

If you are an eligible candidate for dental implants your dentist will plan your treatment and provide you with a detailed quotation. Your implant surgery is done using a digitally guided implant placement technique. Each implant is placed at a precise angle to maximize the use of available bone to support and securely fix the dental bridge.

Same day smiles include 4 – 6 implants are placed on the upper jaw and 4 on the lower jaw. The same-day smile will involve the immediate placement of a temporary prosthesis (Dental bridge) onto the implants. The temporary prosthesis will be replaced with a permanent one in about 4 -5 months from the placement of the temporary ones.

Am I the right candidate?

If you have sufficient bone density along your jawbone and dental arch.
You should have healthy gums and be committed to avoiding tobacco products before treatment.

Silver Oaks is one of the few dental implant clinics in South Africa with the skill and experience to offer same day implants or immediate implants. If you are thinking of having same-day implants call us on 031 202 6584 or email us on silveroaksdentalclinic@gmail.com for assistance.

The Cost of Clear Aligners in South Africa

17 February 2022/1 Comment/in Clear Aligners & Adult Orthodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Digital Dentistry/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

The cost of Clear Aligners is surprisingly affordable in South Africa. There are many adults who are just not keen on wearing traditional wired braces. Clear aligners are a great alternative as it is a clear and comfortable option for realigning your teeth.

Here are a few benefits:

Aligners are practically invisible.
Smooth surfaces (no painful metal brackets and wires)
Can be removed before eating and brushing teeth.
No long or painful dental appointments.
Fast and efficient (usage varies between 2 months to 9 months)
Before and after teeth movements are digitally simulated. This will allow the orthodontist to show you the transitions from the current state of your teeth to the expected outcome results.
The perfect option to “realign” your teeth again if they have gone crooked years after having traditional braces.

Factors that contribute to the price you pay for aligners:

The complexity of your case.
A Single jaw treatment or both jaws.
A refinement stage if you do not wear your aligners correctly.

How much will these clear aligners cost?

The cost of aligners are determined by the complexity of your case. The average cost for clear aligners starts from around R20 000 per jaw and around R45 000 for both jaws. Complex cases are more costly as they may require a refinement phase. Only an orthodontic assessment can determine the cost estimate as well as if you will be eligible for clear aligners.

You can now book an appointment with our experienced team by calling us on 031 202 6584 or emailing us at silveroaksdentalclinic@gmail.com. The Silver Oaks team looks forward to meeting you!

Digitally Guided Implant Surgery

11 August 2021/0 Comments/in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, Digital Dentistry/by Silver Oaks

The Digital And Great Beyond…

Digital dentistry has revolutionized the industry as we know it. From the ability to capture digital intraoral scans to digital smile design and photography we can now develop treatment plans that are accurate and predictable. We at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic have been using digitally guided surgery since the early 2000s.

Digital guided implant surgery is used to correctly position the implant which is vital to the bone, nerve, and other structures within the mouth. Implant placement procedures using a digital guide allow for an extremely accurate placement position of the implant into the bone, compared to a freehand placement. The positioning of an implant is absolutely critical to the success of the treatment. Once an implant has been placed, integration into the bone occurs, for this reason, we have a surgical guide manufactured at our onsite lab which is used to guide the implant into place to reduce the likely hood of an implant failure.

Using a guide means:
*Minimally invasive surgery allows for quicker healing and less downtime.
*Accuracy of placement which means an implant is less likely to fail.
*Reduced procedure time, which means less in chair surgery time.
*Allows us to immediately load a tooth onto the implant if the implant stability (as measured with an ISQ machine) is adequate.

How To Find The Best Cosmetic Dentist?

6 November 2020/0 Comments/in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, Dental Veneers, Dentures, Digital Dentistry/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

How to find the best cosmetic dentist is what this article addresses. Important attributes include reviews, skill set, portfolio of work and the latest in digital technology.

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on helping you improve the appearance of your teeth.

Examples of cosmetic dentistry are teeth whitening, dental veneers/crowns (replace chipped, broken, misshapen and gapped teeth) and dental implants (replace missing teeth permanently and mimic your natural teeth)

Every dentist learns how to do cosmetic procedures at dentistry school, but it takes years of practice to become an expert in the field.

A huge financial commitment in offering the latest digital equipment is also required.

Below are 5 key areas to consider when choosing a cosmetic dentist

Experience of the dentist

Ask for proof of accreditation, licensing, and continuing education. Cosmetic dentistry is a constantly evolving field. The dentist you choose needs to be up to date with new methods and trends. This means going for cosmetic dental courses constantly. World renowned specialists should host these courses.

Dentist’s Skill Set

If the dentist has practiced in high end practices in the USA and UK under world renowned mentors, then it an added advantage. These dentists focus on cosmetic dentistry rather than general dentistry . Their skills are finer tuned toward improving the appearance of your teeth. Whereas the general dentist focuses on fillings, extractions, and root canals as well.

Communicate with your dentist using Digital Smile Design . Digital Smile Design using computer simulations to show what your teeth could look like before the treatment has started. Approve the simulations of what your teeth could potentially look like with your dentist. This will lower your apprehension and you will know exactly what you are getting with the final result.

Positive Testimonials

Get referrals from your dentist’s patients. Look at their reviews online via Google as it is a more objective way to find out if patients are happy. You can also get a referral from a friend as a result you are more likely to get the best cosmetic dentist this way.

Show your dentist what you would like done. Make a wish list and show him examples of how you would like your teeth to look.

The best cosmetic dentist should have good online testimonials.

Previous work Should Be Successful

The cosmetic dentist must show you their portfolio of work and experience. Look at their social media pages . Look at their portfolio of work. A cosmetic dentist with several years of experience should be able to show you a substantial portfolio.

Professionally Affiliated

The cosmetic dentist should be affiliated with local and international associations.

Latest Technology in Digital Dentistry

The cosmetic dentist should have the latest in Digital Dentistry. These include CBCT scans, 3d printing, Digital Smile Design and Digital photography. The latest in digital technology improves the quality of your smile dramatically.

Straighten Teeth Without Braces

3 November 2020/0 Comments/in Clear Aligners & Adult Orthodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Veneers, Digital Dentistry/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

Due to the recent technological advancements, you can now straighten your teeth without braces.

You can now straighten your teeth without braces in less than 4 months on average. It is more cost effective than braces and saves one the hassle and embarrassment of the metal braces showing in your mouth.

We have the latest technology in Cosmetic Dentistry

We use the latest technology called Digital Smile Design.

Dr Huson spends a lot of his time updating his qualifications and going on several courses on Digital Dentistry regularly.

Dr Huson has worked in the Harley Street Region of London in the UK where he dealt with many international clientele and perfected the art of shaping and making teeth look as natural and straight as possible.

We also have an in house lab that helps with designing your teeth so that you can straighten your teeth without braces quickly.

There are three methods in order to straighten your teeth without braces

The first method is Dental veneers

This is the quickest method as it can take less than 3 weeks to get done. So if you have less time on your hands and would like to straighten your teeth quickly then veneers is the way to go.

The second method is clear braces (Inman Aligner or Invisalign)

This might take around 9 to 12 weeks or more for normal procedures and visits every 2 weeks to the dentist to tighten the mouth guard.

This is also a quicker solution to straighten your teeth rather than traditional braces. Although the disadvantage is that it takes longer than dental veneers to get your teeth straightened. It is also more time consuming with additional visits to the dentist.

When the dentist analyses your teeth he needs to see if this procedure can be done on your teeth. This procedure can only straighten your teeth and not correct a strong overbite.

The third method is traditional braces

This method is the most costly method and you will most probably need to wear braces for over 2 years in order to get your teeth straightened. The look with metal braces in your mouth is also NOT aesthetically pleasing. You will need traditional braces if you have a strong overbite. You will need a dentist to analyse your teeth and give you the best recommendation.

The fastest and most cost effective method to straighten your teeth without braces is Dental Veneers.

However, you still need to chat to your dentist and see if this solution will work for you.

Below is a method of both dental veneers and the clear aligner that was used on a recent patient @silveroaksdentalclinic.

When Sinothando came to us she wanted a quick solution to her long term problem . She wanted to reduce the gaps between her teeth and get them straightened without any long procedures such as braces.

She also had peg laterals. In dentistry this refers to an anomaly affecting her lateral teeth (Upper second Incisors) causing her teeth to look abnormally small and cone shaped compared to being rectangular in shape.

The solution for sinothando was simple orthodontics to pull the two front teeth together thereby straightening them without braces.

Veneers were made to reshape the lateral teeth, again it was a solution to straighten teeth without braces.

She also had minimal surgery called a Frenectomy to relax the muscle in her upper lip which causes the formation of the huge gap in the middle of her teeth.

The biggest advantage of Sinothando’s procedure is that she didn’t lose any tooth structure. Sinothando loves her new teeth and loves to take photographs of herself showing of her new look. Her family say it has made her look more sophisticated and neat. We are very happy that we have helped her regain her confidence.

Call us now or click here to learn more about our dental veneers procedure.

Dental Bridges – A Case Study

21 October 2020/0 Comments/in Cosmetic Dentistry, Digital Dentistry/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

Our case study is on a sweet patient Sarah who chose dental bridges as a treatment option. When Sarah came in to see us she felt embarrassed to smile and was not enjoying her food as she struggled to chew. This had a direct impact on her nutrition and overall health.

We Offer The Highest Quality On Dental Bridges

Dr Roy-Richard Huson’s treatment plan for Sarah was dental bridges. We had to replace her old bridges with new ones.

All the material that we use are internationally recognised and meet European standards.

We offer the highest quality saving you time and money with no replacements required for the future.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge literally ‘bridges’ the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap/missing tooth.

Same Day Smiles

A big advantage of Sarah having her work done at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic was that it was done in less than a week. With our in-house lab it was easy to make the necessary adjustments so that Sarah left here extremely happy with the end result.

The other huge advantage is that our laboratory ‘artist’ Costa makes sure that it looks as natural as possible and will adapt the dental bridges to match your face, shape, and age.

We encourage our patients to chat to Costa and Dr Huson about their personal requirements about the aesthetics of their smile.

Advantages of Dental Bridges

The other advantages of having dental bridges done with Silver Oaks Dental Clinic are the following:

It prevents your remaining teeth from shifting which can cause a problem in your bite
It reduces the risk of bone loss thus maintaining the structures of your face.
The bridges are permanently fixed thus preventing them from moving around like dentures.

Bridges are not the treatment option for all patients. Dr Huson will need to analyse your teeth and suggest a treatment plan to your specification

We have an excellent dental laboratory on-site with specialist technicians who work closely with us to make sure that your smile is perfect. Our “Laboratory-Artist” Costa (in the center) will create a treatment that will fit in with the shape of your face and your age. He will always try to make your teeth look as natural as possible. You are welcome to talk to him and Dr Huson about your personal requirements.

Call Us Now or click here to learn more about our dental bridges.

Best Country for Dental Tourism

25 September 2020/0 Comments/in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Crowns, Dental Implants, Dental Safaris, Dental Veneers, Digital Dentistry/by Silver Oaks Dental Clinic

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.

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.

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.

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.