I recently had to have my laptop ’scrubbed’ because of a virus. Now, I am VERY careful about sites I visit, try not to download any suspicious software, and run anti-virus software on a constant basis. So how did I end up with a virus? Near as we can tell, it was from Facebook. I have been contacted by some friends from college, and the added interaction has spelled more time on the site. Here’s a quick read on the subject: Facebook virus
But the final filling worked out well. And the patient has had not trouble at all with the tooth. Due to the size and extent of the original cavity the next step for this tooth will be a crown, in 3-5 years.
Here’s something that we’re seeing more and more of…cavities that are tough to diagnose, but still substantial in size. I really think this is due to the hardness of enamel from fluoride use over the years. Don’t misunderstand…I think fluoride is an excellent means to deter cavities. The problem is when the bacteria finally break through the enamel. Let’s start with this case:
Yes, you can see the dark grooves that indicate a cavity. But wait….there’s more!
I opted for the more conservative route. Instead of a bonded-porcelain restoration I suggested a bonded composite filling. Yes, it might chip or break. Yes, it was going to be more ‘upkeep’ and maintenance. But it was SUCH an easy fix and, when it came time to replace it in 5-10 years, THEN we could look to a crown. Needless to say, the patient was elated! So a few short minutes later, this is what we ended up with:
I’m really a fanatic for backups. With all the photos I take, I can’t risk losing any of them. So I’m excited about this new service. It has unlimited online backup for one low monthly fee. I’m not going to use it for office photos, but will be looking into it for all my personal images. Read more here….Backblaze.
And here’s the final smile (with the ‘before’ below it for comparison). A dramatic change that didn’t require a lot of invasive work like veneers or crowns. Everyone involved was happy!!
Here are the views of each tooth. You’ll notice the first one shows an old, stained filling in the middle of the tooth.
There was also a new room of dental equipment that was put in during the renovations. Everyone has loved the new furnishings!
A few more photos of the office, after our renovations. Look at the post below to see the same image during the construction. Big change!!
When you have some spare time on your hands this is a great article about all kinds of different useful sites on the web. I found a bunch that I’m using now! Check it out here.
