Dental Implants

Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth.  They are better than other alternatives such as bridges, since no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth. We still use many kinds of restorations at the office of Dr. Richard M. Leiman, but it’s undeniable that the ability to replace individual teeth with implants has revolutionized the dental field. There was a time when older patients were commonly fitted with dentures if they experienced periodontal breakdown and were treated for most of their lives as if their teeth would inevitably be extracted, but that’s no longer the case. While dentures may be the best solution for some patients, the advancement of dental implants means that dentists no longer have to remove healthy teeth to make room for a denture, sparing the patient’s jawbone and facial structure along with the teeth.

There’s much more to teeth than the crown, which is the part you see above the gum line. The root of the tooth is anchored in the jawbone, but it also provides the jawbone with stability. Think of how trees hold soil in place, and you’ll have an idea of what teeth do for the skull. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone dissolves, and for a tooth to be replaced there must be enough bone for the root to fuse to. Sometimes, when there isn’t enough bone structure left for an implant, new material can be grafted onto the jawbone in a separate procedure which takes place 3 to 6 months before the implant can be inserted.

The actual implant is a titanium screw or post, which requires an incision into the gum to place. It will take several months for the implant to fuse with the jawbone. During this time, the patient will sometimes wear a temporary crown to fill the gap between the teeth and protect the surgical site. At the return visit, Dr. Leiman will screw an abutment to the implant, and make a mold of the patient’s mouth which will be used to manufacture an artificial crown. The porcelain construction material complements the titanium base to make a very strong and aesthetically pleasing restoration.

Placing the crown is probably the easiest part of the restoration for the patient. Usually, no local anesthetic is required. Implants have a very high success rate and can last for more than ten years with the same care used for natural teeth. Patients are able to regain the full use of their mouths, and best of all, the implants can help restore the bone structure around the mouth, as well.

For more information or to make an appointment call us at 914.271.2011 or visit www.leimandental.com.

ZOOM! Whitening

Habits like smoking, drinking coffee, and even eating dark fruits can stain teeth over time. While keeping a good dental hygiene routine can help avoid a darkened smile, it can still sometimes seem unavoidable. Here at our Croton on Hudson, NY dental practice, Dr. Richard M Leiman offers his patients ZOOM! Whitening to give them a bright and white smile.

ZOOM! Whitening is a professional whitening system only accessible by dentists. It has many advantages over using store-bought whitening strips including the fact that ZOOM! gives patients dramatic results. ZOOM! Whitening works by applying whitening gel onto teeth and exposing it to a special light. The light activates and accelerates the whitening gel. The whole process takes place here in our office in about one hour. The gel is applied to the teeth three times and is exposed to the light for about twenty minutes each time. ZOOM! Whitening may work differently for everyone depending on the level of staining their teeth have; however, it is able to whiten your smile by eight shades.

Because ZOOM! Whitening is administered by a dentist, you not only know it will work but also know that it is safe. While some store-bought whitening strips are approved by the American Dental Association, there is still room for error. Your dentist, the tooth expert, will know how to apply whitening safely. In addition, dentists know the correct way to apply whitening so that it works the best. Being professional-strength, ZOOM! Whitening goes below the enamel’s surface to break up carbon bonds that hold in yellow or dark staining.
ZOOM! Whitening gets you dramatic whitening results fast. It takes one hour in our office instead of weeks of store-bought whitening strips. To set up an appointment with Dr. Richard M Leiman for ZOOM! Whitening, call our Croton on Hudson, NY office at (914) 271-2011 or visit our website, www.leimandental.com. 

No Shots! No Drilling! No Pain! Dr. Richard M. Leiman, DDS Utilizes WaterLase Technology at His Dental Practice

Richard M. Leiman, DDS
(914) 271-2011
www.leimandental.com

In Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Dr. Richard M. Leiman utilizes laser technology to provide his patients with high-quality general and cosmetic dental care. If visiting the dentist gives you anxiety and the sound of a dental drill makes it worse, Dr. Leiman is here to make you feel as comfortable as possible with WaterLase technology. WaterLase is a revolutionary device that is used instead of the dental drill and brings fearful patients back to the dental chair.

WaterLase is a laser that uses hydrokinetic technology to cut teeth. The device itself produces a laser beam that energizes an exact stream of water that, when directed at a tooth, removes dentin, tooth decay, and cavities. Not only does the laser replace the sound of a dental drill, but it also has the added benefit of eliminating the needle altogether. Additionally, WaterLase has the ability to cut the hardest tissue in the human body – enamel – without heat, vibration or the risk of cross contamination.

High-speed drills can cause hairline cracks and fractures in the teeth that eventually lead to future dental problems. Since WaterLase does not generate heat, vibration or pressure, many dental procedures can be performed nearly pain-free with fewer shots and less need for anesthesia. Furthermore, WaterLase technology reduces trauma and damage to healthy portions of the tooth. Because WaterLase conserves more of your natural tooth structure, it helps you to maintain the natural teeth you were born with.

If you have questions about Waterlase technology or think you may benefit from the procedure, please give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visitwww.leimandental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard M. Leiman, DDS in Croton-on-Hudson, NY call 914-271-2011.

Croton-on-Hudson, NY Dentist, Richard M. Leiman, DDS Provides One-Appointment Crowns with CEREC Omnicam

Richard M. Leiman, DDS

(914) 271-2011

www.leimandental.com

Croton-on-Hudson, NY Dentist, Richard M. Leiman, DDS Provides One-Appointment Crowns with CEREC Omnicam

Our office provides one-appointment crowns with CEREC Omnicam, the most advanced intraoral scanning device in dentistry.

The old standard for creating a crown for a tooth restoration involves uncomfortable impressions and waiting weeks for a dental laboratory to create the crown; in our dental practice, this is no longer the case. Dr. Leiman uses CEREC Omnicam, advanced technology that allows the creation of crowns during your appointment time.

CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic, is an in-office set of equipment that scans your tooth and creates a ceramic crown within fifteen minutes. This allows patients to walk out of our office with a brand-new crown in about an hour. There are no messy and uncomfortable impressions that need to be taken; the CEREC Omnicam takes a 3D photo of the area. After the tooth is reshaped for the crown, a high resolution camera captures the image.

This information is sent wirelessly to the CEREC mill which shapes the crown from a solid piece of ceramic. CEREC technology mills a completely customized crown that is strong and will look just like your natural teeth. Patients no longer have to wait weeks for a laboratory to create the crown. This also means that patients will no longer need to wear temporary crowns.

When the milling process is complete, Dr. Leiman will place the brand-new crown. It is cemented in permanently for a strong and durable tooth restoration. Crowns can last for up to fifteen years with good care. They need to be taken care of just like a normal tooth, but do not require any special treatment. With a good oral hygiene routine and regular visit to your dentist, the crown should stay strong and healthy for a long time.

If you have a decayed or weakened tooth, it needs to be rebuilt again so it can continue a long life. Our office provides patients with a newly restored tooth in one appointment. To schedule an appointment with Richard M. Leiman, DDS in his Croton-on-Hudson, NY dental practice, call his office at (914) 271-2011 or visit his website www.leimandental.com.