Peter D. Gold, DDS

 Dental bonding refers to the process used to make various materials adhere to the teeth. Another term used to describe it is adhesive dentistry. Bonding can be used for many different applications and is required for many others. Some of the common services in which bonding is used include porcelain veneers, composite veneers, tooth colored (and even silver amalgam) fillings, tooth colored inlays and onlays, crowns and bridges. Bonding can also be used to treat exposed, warn and sensitive root surfaces as well as to make orthodontic brackets adhere to the teeth. Even implant crowns and bridges might be considered for bonding in certain situations. The cost of bonding procedures can be comparatively low relative to other ways of restoring some teeth and the expected longevity is good in most cases but does vary with the type of restoration. When you think of beautifying your smile chances are that some kind of bonding procedure will be one of the options to consider.

 Porcelain veneers have been used for decades now to enhance the smiles of millions of people. They can be used to change the color, shape,size and alignment of teeth. They can also be used to close spaces and even change functional relationships (how your bite works) in some situations  When done properly and in appropriate situations they can last for many years with minimal maintenance other than routine brushing and flossing. But veneers are not appropriate for every cosmetic problem. Cost is only one of many factors to consider when chosing to have veneers placed and your dentist is the person who will guide you through the process. Improved esthetics, self confidence, self esteem and quality of life are all worth the investment of time and money to have porcelain veneers made for you..

 There are many benefits of dental implants. These include improved appearance, comfort, speech and perhaps most importantly improved function and self esteem. Implants are now even used routinely for certain orthodontic treatments. Some of these may seem more or less obvious to the average patient so some elaboration in plain language is in order.

 While dental implants today can be put into use for almost any situation where a tooth or teeth are missing the original research and premise for dental implants were for fully edentulous jaws. That is to replace all of the teeth in an upper or lower jaw where none remain. This is still the most compelling use for dental implants as without them these patients would be doomed to wearing complete dentures which for many people severely limits their ability to function comfortably or even to enjoy the foods that they would like to eat. Cost can be a limiting concern but today there are so many options to consider that there is almost always something that can be done to dramatically improve a denture wearer's ability to function comfortably and without concern for the dentures coming loose.

 Two of the most common types of situations requiring additional treatment involving dental implants are discussed and costs considered. Bone and soft tissue grafting have become an integral part of dental implant therapy and can have a big impact on the total cost of treatment. These procedures greatly enhance the predictability of success both functionally and cosmetically.

Determining the cost of having dental implants placed and restored is not as simple a question as it might seem. There are many different scenarios that must be considered when treatment planning for dental implant therapy. What I will do is address different circumstances in increasing complexity so that a reasonable understanding of cost can be determined. I will give ranges of fees based on my 32 years of experience in the Capital District of upstate New York. Fees in major metropolitan and other  areas of the country may be considerably higher.

A November 20,2010 article in the New York Times is at odds with the American Dental Association view of the use of cone beam technology primarily by orthodontists.

Tooth decay and often periodontal disease are entirely preventable. You just have to know what to do and follow through with it consistently.

A commonly used family of drugs called bisphosphonates can have implications on your dental health and treatment. If you are taking any of these drugs you should have a conversation with your dentist regarding their potentially adverse side affects. Below is a brief review of the important things you should know. For a detailed discussion regarding these medications you should research the internet and speak with your prescribing physician as well as your dentist.

New technology can be helpful but you can't leave your brain at the door once you have it.