Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Porcelain onlays and inlays

New advances in dental porcelain has taken cosmetic dentistry to a new height! Porcelain fillings are a great alternative to traditional silver or resin fillings because of their durability and strength of the material. Porcelain onlays or inlays also remove minimal tooth structure while still being able to provide strength for a weakened tooth. Dr. Keri Do is one of only a few dentists in Hawaii accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the only woman dentist. As a woman, her eye for beauty and esthetics in unmatched.






Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The fate of vanishing jaws

Orthodontics is a great service to correct cosmetic dental problems when done appropriately. However traditional orthodontics has not always been on the positive side of this debate. A publication titled "Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic" has discussed the ramifications of smaller and narrowing jaws and its effects on airway, sleep, and overall decline in health. The extraction of teeth for orthodontic treatment is a perfect example what techniques are used to narrow jaws. Headgear or other restrictive devices are another example of restraint techniques that may work well for straightening teeth, but negatively affect the patient's long-term health. It is an excellent book that is unfortunately not read by enough people.

http://www.dentistrytoday.com/news/todays-dental-news/item/3092-jaws-the-story-of-a-hidden-epidemic


Saturday, January 12, 2019

No-prep Veneers

Lumineers are the perfect option in most cases for patients hoping to improve their smiles. It is a revolutionary product that enables Dr. Keri Do to make an ultra-thin veneer that will cement over your existing tooth. The veneer can hide discolored or misshaped teeth without using shots and anesthesia. Call for a consultation with our cosmetic dentist Dr. Keri Do and see if Lumineers would be great for your smile!


Do you suffer from blocked or clogged ears?

Have you ever had the uncomfortable feeling of a blocked ear such as during an increase in altitude? TMJ disorder could be the cause of your problem. Traditional treatment to straighten teeth with braces usually involved removing teeth and narrowing the upper and lower jaws. This retraction also meant that the upper and lower jaws were pulled back towards the body, which contradicts normal growth which is downward and forward. The lower jaw bone is also pulled back as a result, which can position it closer to the ear canal, and also create the "stuffiness" feeling. At Manoa Dental, Dr. Keri Do can alleviate this condition non-surgically through proven methods. Manoa Dental is always available for a consult if you suffer from this condition.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Can braces affect facial development?

Well, it depends. Historically, braces were used to alleviate teeth crowding. However the space to straighten all the teeth had to be created somehow. The traditional method was to extract teeth that were considered "not as functionally important", most commonly premolars. Although, it resulted in a more narrow arch of teeth on the upper and lower jaws. This is especially significant during a child's facial development which grows down and forward. Restricting this growth has been well documented but never focused on since it is contrary to traditional orthodontic treatment still taught in dental schools.

Friday, January 4, 2019

New Year's Resolutions

Resolutions are a part of everyone's new year and your dental health should be a top priority. Broken, chipped, or missing teeth should be your first concern since they usually indicate a larger problem occurring in the adjacent teeth. A small problem will eventually lead to a large problem, so it's always beneficial to save time and finances by taking care of concerns early. Dr.Do can provide a consultation on any and all problems regarding your oral health, TMJ, or cosmetic dentistry concerns.