Initial Condition

After Image

Often times the question comes up whether you can achieve great results using implants to replace missing teeth.  What follows are the before and after photos of a patient in our practice.  The patient was missing two upper front teeth.  The area was treatment planned and implants were placed- then after three months the final crowns were placed.  The result is a beautiful example of Biomimetic Dentistry- where we have replicated nature to the highest degree.

What allows for beautiful results like this is pre-surgical planning.  Taking into account the patient’s bone volume, the amount of soft tissue present and making sure they are ideal should allow us an ideal result.  When nature doesn’t give us an ideal start point we then need to explore other procedures to attempt to idealize the site.

Working with a great laboratory then will allow us to create a porcelain crown which will blend seamlessly with the natural teeth around it.

What is an Accredited Member?

Of the entire member ship of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry of over 5000 dentists there are about 200 Accredited Members world wide. Being accredited means you have passed a written exam, submitted and passed for clinical excellence 5 clinical cases you have completed on your patients, and finally passed an oral exam. The clinical cases involve implants, porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns and resin bondning.  Becoming accredited means you have proven you have the skills to create beautiful functional dentistry.

I received my accredited status two years ago, along with my ceramist (dental lab technician). Still I am one of only a handful of accredited dentists in the Bay Area and the only one in all of San Mateo County.

Above are a few photos from the Euroteknika Annual Symposium was I was invited to speak. The conference was well attended with well over 10 countries represented. Euroteknika the largest French manufacturer of dental implants is located at the foot of Mount Blanc in the French Alps. The attendees enjoyed my presentation and were amzed with the natural results we achieve using our surgical protocols fro dental implants. What follows are a few photos from the trip and conference.

This month we are showcasing porcelain veneers done on a patient. The two front teeth had discolored existing restorations the patient wanted to upgrade. There was also a gap between the front teeth the patient wanted to close. Our goal was to use a “lumineer” style or “prepless technique” which means a very minimal preparation of the teeth to be restored. Attached are the pre work images and then images of our final result.  The patient was very pleased with the new porcelain veneers creating the natural smile she was looking for.

The holidays are almost upon us. I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and may the new year bring you and your family good health!

Finally getting caught up now that my daughter and I are back from the Dominican Republic Humanitarian Trip. It was GREAT! Our group of 26 from the U.S., 6 Dr.’s and their teams were joined by 6 Dominican Dr.’s to privide care for over 125 patients a day. We partnered with Esperanza, a non-profit making micro loans to the very poor to help them see a way out of poverty. Part of Esperanza’s pledge is to help with their clients medical and dental needs thus our group. The patients we met were wonderful people, very friendly and grateful for the work we did. My first clinical day I met a young 18 year old pitcher with a 91mph fastball, he lives in the same poor community Pedro Martinez grew up in. In fact we worked in a facilty built by Pedro for his community. Our next day we toured historic Santo Domingo and saw the first church in the New World. The next four days were spent in differrent communities providing care. Very tough conditions- very hot, very humid had a lot of the team collapsed from over heating. Conditions were very rustic, we provided everything. Our leader Dr. Roy Hammond from Utah did a great job coordinating our trip.  After the four days of care, we started at 7am and finished about 6pm we enjoyed a day at a beautiful beach resort trying to get our energy back fro the 16 hour trip home.  My daughter and I came back different people, very appreciative for what we take for granted here in the United States.