What Is Comprehensive Dental Care?
Comprehensive dental care is when a dentist provides a full range of oral health services for diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and rehabilitation of a patients smile. This will include thinking about not only a person’s smile as a singular item. It will include a person’s functional oral health as well as facial esthetics.
“We believe in a comprehensive dental care approach to restorative and cosmetic dentistry, that fully integrates health, comfort, and beauty.” – Marielaina Perrone DDS
The human body acts as a complex group of systems and never acts in isolation. In comprehensive dental care, it is very similar in how we look at the patient and their smile. The teeth may be the focus of our smiles but they do not work in isolation either. In comprehensive care, we look at the soft tissues as well as the hard tissues to create a treatment plan that is personalized for your oral health.
This can and will include the TMJ joint, the muscles of the face, and how the teeth fit together (also called occlusion). Often times, a deeper dental examination will reveal issues with the occlusion or over active muscles. This can show as uneven wear of the teeth which can be due to genetic issues or stress. A comprehensive dental care examination will reveal these deeper functional flaws that can affect the cosmetics of your otherwise healthy smile. A top priority in any comprehensive care is to focus on dental needs in a bigger picture.
The Importance of Patient-Centered Care
Comprehensive dental care is patient-centered, focusing on the unique needs, preferences, and goals of each individual. It involves open communication between patients and Dr. Perrone, ensuring that patients actively participate in their treatment decisions.
Treatment Planning
Patients collaborate with their dentists to develop a personalized treatment plan that aligns with their oral health goals. This may include addressing immediate dental issues and formulating a long-term plan for preventive care.
Education
Dr. Perrone educates patients on the importance of oral health, explaining the potential consequences of neglecting dental care and the benefits of comprehensive dentistry. They empower patients to make informed choices.
Maintenance and Prevention
Comprehensive care involves not only treating existing problems but also implementing strategies for ongoing prevention. This includes regular follow-up visits, hygiene education, and dietary advice.
Comprehensive Dental Care Personalized
A well trained dentist with comprehensive care experience will know to look beyond the issue at hand and ask why did that happen? If we examine the smile in a comprehensive dental care way of looking at things, we realize a tooth extraction is not a singular event. Once that tooth is removed, there will be changes to our occlusion as well as our esthetics. A well planned treatment plan will be needed to give your smile the boost it deserves.
Missing teeth can have long term implications to a person’s overall dental health. Treating “just one tooth” is often not the best interest for a long term healthy smile. Below are some cosmetic dentistry procedures that are included in comprehensive dental care to treat function and cosmetics as one:
Porcelain Crowns.
This type of dental crown combines strength and beauty into one package. Porcelain crowns have the esthetics patients desire for their smile but the strength demanded by patients and dentists for function. When porcelain crowns are used properly, a patient will begin to see an immediate improvement in their occlusion and in the cosmetic appearance in the skin around the face as wrinkles will lessen. The wrinkles will lessen because the occlusion will be “raised” forcing the skin around the mouth to stretch slightly. Using dental crowns for this purpose is called bite reclamation.
Porcelain Veneers.
Smile makeover as part of the Hollywood smile. Porcelain veneers are sometimes referred to as “instant orthodontics” because they have the ability to realign teeth vs wearing orthodontic braces. Porcelain veneers are more conservative than porcelain crowns and are purely cosmetic in nature and cannot be used to reclaim lost occlusion height.
Dental Implants.
Dental implants are highly successful for replacing one or more teeth. These would be an integral part of comprehensive dental care especially for larger scale smile restorations. Dental Implants can restore and enhance your complete smile. Once placed and restored, dental implants should last for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Orthodontic Braces Or Invisalign.
Many people see orthodontics or invisalign as a purely cosmetic treatment for adults. However, in comprehensive dental care your dentist will see that re aligning the bite will result in straighter teeth but it will also bring those teeth into harmony with one another. This will place less stress on the teeth thru their daily functions as well.
Tooth Bonding.
Can be used to repair a tooth damaged by trauma or tooth decay. These tooth colored restorations can make an immediate improvement to your smile.
Facial Asymmetry.
In comprehensive dental care, your well trained dentist will evaluate not just the smile but also the entire face. By looking beyond the smile, they may be able to see certain asymmetry’s in the alignment of your face. The use of botox can be used to balance the facial muscles and bring them into harmony with your smile. An eyebrow lift or a depression of the brow can also be enhanced using botox applications.
Gummy Smile.
This occurs when too much gum tissue is exposed upon smiling. This usually is the result of the lip rising too high when smiling. Injecting Botox into the upper lip weakens the retractor muscles of the upper lip so that it won’t raise as high and your smile will appear better balanced. In comprehensive dental care, your dentist will see this immediately and factor this into your treatment plan.
Crown Lengthening.
This is a comprehensive dental care surgical process whereby your dentist will remove bone around a tooth to expose more of the tooth into the mouth. This is often needed in patients with a severe grinding issues to reclaim lost occlusal height.
Gum and Bone Grafting and Recontouring.
Both gum tissues and bone tissues can be grafted in to replace lost tissues in comprehensive dental care. These have both functional and esthetic concerns. Functionally, adding more bone will aid in support of teeth and adding gingival tissues can cover exposed roots alleviating tooth sensitivity and stop tooth decay from forming on the roots of your teeth. Cosmetically, these grafts can restore your smile to its youthful glory.
Teeth Whitening.
Many of our worn teeth are also dark and discolored. The color you desire to reach may require a dental whitening process, or simply a whiter color bonding restoration or a whiter colored porcelain restoration. Teeth whitening is included in comprehensive dental care because it will be usually a priority for most patients when trying to rejuvenate their smiles.
Juvederm Dermal Fillers.
These fillers can be used to turn back the clock and fill in areas that time has changed. Again bringing about a balance between function and smile is a hallmark of comprehensive dental care.
Comprehensive Dental Care Conclusion
A dentist who is well trained in comprehensive dental care will be able to spot problem areas quite easily. Some areas are hidden but a deeper look during a dental examination and they will be revealed. Some issues will not have longer term implications while others may. It is important to recognize the difference between the two so the proper recommendations can be made to the patient.
If you are ready for a smile makeover, contact Marielaina Perrone DDS at (702) 458-2929 to schedule a no cost cosmetic consultation appointment. We cannot wait to help you with your smile makeover to create the healthy smile of your dreams in Summerlin, Henderson, and Las Vegas, NV.
About Marielaina Perrone, DDS
Dr. Marielaina Perrone is a highly respected and experienced dentist in Henderson, Nevada, with over two decades of expertise in providing quality dental care to her patients. She graduated from Stony Brook University School Of Dental Medicine and has completed advanced training in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry, and orthodontics.
Dr. Perrone is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in dentistry and continuing education to provide the best possible care for her patients.
Dr. Perrone takes a patient-centered approach and believes in personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s unique needs and preferences. Her gentle and compassionate demeanor creates a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for patients during their dental appointments.
Aside from dentistry, Dr. Perrone enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cooking. She also volunteers her time and expertise to various charitable organizations in her community.