Biomimetic Dentistry
Unlike other parts of our body, our teeth do not mend on their own. Therefore, it is important to protect and conserve as much of the patient’s natural tooth and gum structure as possible. The most successful dentistry involves procedures that are the least invasive, thus avoiding further damage to the patient’s teeth and gums. When restoring damaged, broken, and decayed teeth, the goal is to return the tooth to its original strength, function, and esthetics. This is the philosophy and primary emphasis behind the origin of minimally invasive Biomimetic Dentistry and holistic approaches for keeping the patient’s teeth and gums healthy and beautiful.
Traditional approaches to treating damaged and decayed teeth require more aggressive preparations to place a "strong", stiff restoration. The emphasis is on the strength of the restoration, but no attention is placed into the function and biomechanics of the final restored tooth. By ignoring this critical aspect, it is no surprise that complications such as crowns and root canals occur more frequently and future treatment becomes progressively more aggressive and invasive. So begins the restorative dental cycle until the teeth are ultimately lost from successive treatments. With Biomimetic dentistry, only the damage and decay is removed from the teeth, and the final restoration is bonded to the remaining healthy natural tooth structure. These bonded restorations break the restorative dental cycle.
The advantages of Biomimetic Dentistry over a conventional approach include:
· More conservative tooth preparation design (less tooth structure removed)
· Innovative dental procedures and proprietary adhesive bonding processes
· Using research supported bonding and sealing techniques for a tighter seal
· Using advanced dental materials that have physical properties similar to teeth
· Using Kevlar fibers within the filling to strengthen the tooth and reduce crack formation
· Using air abrasion to roughen and clean tooth structure before bonding
· Using ozone to disinfect deep decay and reduce the need for root canals.
Today, only a few dental schools are teaching biomimetic concepts. Conventional dental procedures still taught in most dental schools and used to do even a simple filling commonly weaken the tooth and, especially if a bite problem exists. These more invasive procedures eventually result in cracks in the tooth. These cracks then allow bacteria to invade the tooth and start new tooth decay or result in tooth fractures both of which can destroy the tooth and lead to crowns and root canals. Because the teeth are now severely weakened, crowns and root canals eventually fail and result in the loss of teeth. Then, implants or bridges are required. However, up to 90% of these expensive dental services can be avoided by restoring the original strength of the tooth using the reparative procedures utilized in Biomimetic Dentistry. This approach has an extremely high success rate in breaking the Root Canal Cycle. Biomimetic fillings rarely result in a root canal procedure.
Biomimetics is a scientifically proven set of techniques and methodologies that focus on preserving teeth and improving bonding and sealing of cracked, broken or decayed teeth in ways that mimic the natural form and strength of teeth. This unique approach involves the use dental materials that move, flex and function like actual teeth. This is in stark contrast to the large porcelain crowns currently used in traditional dentistry. Porcelain crowns require a 70 to 80% reduction of the tooth to a stump, restrict movement and simply do not allow teeth to function normally. Biomimetic Dentistry strives to remove 0% of a patient's healthy tooth keeping it to help preserve the health of the tooth and allow normal function.
The superior materials and adhesive bonding processes used in Biomimetic Dentistry literally lock out bacteria, providing safer and more durable dental restorations. Each protective layer, using the most advanced dental materials, incorporating layered Kevlar fibers, is applied in a similar manner to the original enamel and dentin materials that comprise teeth. Aesthetic procedures and computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) can be utilized to provide beautiful white uniform teeth. Biomimetic dentistry means to copy what is life-like. Nature has provided the most successful and ideal properties to our natural teeth.
Who invented Biomimetic dentistry? The principles were developed by researchers from prestigious universities in Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, United States and other countries.
Do Biomimetic Procedures Take More Time? Yes, the Biomimetic restoration is more time intensive than a standard filling. Because the Biomimetic filling is placed in very thin layers, layer by layer, using the most advanced materials and adhesives the process results in a longer treatment time for the restoration and a slightly greater fee (but much less than a crown). This creates stronger teeth that are less prone to breaking or cracking and will require less work down the road, saving you time and money.
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