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Date: January 24, 2006 Chepachet dentist Dr. George A. Resnevic has recently been certified by the Academy
of Laser Dentistry in the safe and effective use of dental lasers. By participating in a didactic and hands-on course, passing a written examination on laser physics, and by
demonstrating clinical skills with the laser, Dr. Resnevic was awarded the Academy's Standard Proficiency designation, the defining official recognition in laser assisted dentistry.
Dr. Resnevic is now using the first erbium:YAG dental laser in northwestern Rhode Island to make a lot of dental procedures a lot more "patient friendly." Certain types of
fillings, for example can now be placed without the need for drilling or anesthesia. The laser makes possible corrective gum surgery with no bleeding and with enhanced, pain
free healing. It enhances the treatment of periodontitis, the most common reason for tooth loss, with its shorter, more comfortable procedures. Even bothersome cold sores
and cankers can now be laser treated for instantaneous pain relief and markedly faster healing. The laser can do all of these things and more, explains Dr. Resnevic, because of a
remarkable phenomenon that occurs in our bodies called "thermal relaxation." If we hold a hand over a lit candle for very long, we experience pain and eventually damage
(burning) to our flesh. However, if we simply wave the hand quickly right through the flame, no pain and no burning occur because our hand has a relatively long time to cool
between the relatively brief exposures to the heat of the flame. It is the same with the laser's energy. The device directs pulses of very intense but
brief light energy to the tissue the doctor is cutting, and, while ablating the superficial tissue the doctor wishes to remove, little or no heat is transmitted to nerves and other
tissue a few cells distant from the cut. This is because there is plenty of time for heat dissipation between pulses. Dental lasers are tuned so that their energy is absorbed by water. Since tooth decay
contains more water than healthy tooth, the power of the laser can be adjusted so that the laser only removes this high water content decay while leaving healthy tooth
alone. Since we feel pain in our teeth only when healthy tooth is cut, the laser can be used to prepare certain teeth for fillings without drilling or anesthetic, and with the patient absolutely comfortable.
When used for surgery on the gums (a procedure that does require anesthesia) the laser accurately removes undesirable tissue, while allowing Dr. Resnevic to "sculpt" the
tissue to the shape he desires. Because the energy of the laser is confined to the first few layers of cells, virtually no healthy tissue is damaged during the laser surgery. No damaged tissue also means no scarring! Moreover, the laser cauterizes the surgical wound so no bleeding occurs. Finally, because of the extreme heat the laser applies to the surface of the tissue, it instantly
kills any viruses and bacteria that were on the surface of the surgical cut. No scalpel on earth can sterilize as it cuts!
Cold sores and canker sores can be made to stop hurting by applying the laser energy at a reduced power setting that requires no anesthesia. The laser kills the viruses that
cause these sores, and sterilize and cauterize the painful nerve endings in a quick, easy painless procedure. "I am convinced that lasers will be 'the next big thing' in dentistry," says Dr. Resnevic. "The huge benefits to the patient of doing laser assisted dental treatment - greater comfort, less frequent need for shots, and smaller surgeries that heal with fewer complications – cannot be ignored."
For more information about the benefits of laser assisted dentistry, please call Dr. Resnevic's office at (401) 567 0500, or visit his website at Date: September 1, 2003
Dr. George A. Resnevic and Dr. Kerri-Rae Agin announce the availability of the Toothprints® Dental ID For Children program at their Chepachet and Woonsocket offices. Toothprints®
bite impressions are a simple non-frightening way to record the dental characteristics of children for use in identification. The child simply bites into a softened Toothprints®
wafer to record the size and shape of the teeth, tooth position within the arch, and the relationship of the upper and lower jaw. Toothprints® provides a unique record that can give parents greater peace of mind.
CLICK HERE for more information. Date: April 12, 2003
"Almost every patient we talk to is at least a bit intrigued to have whiter teeth," says Dr. Resnevic. But, of course, each patient's situation is different: Some people smile showing all of their teeth, others show only a few. Some have sensitive teeth, some do not. Some want quick results, and others can wait. And, of course, some teeth are naturally whiter than others. Similarly, the patients' budgets vary. "We have developed a system where we can match the whitening power and cost to the needs and wants of the patient," Dr. Resnevic announced. All tooth whitening utilizes a special form of peroxide, which is an "oxidizing agent" for the tooth. Whitened teeth are whitened internally as well as on the surface -- the process actually changes the underlying color of the translucent tooth. The degree of whitening of a particular tooth depends on the original coloration of the tooth as well as the concentration of the peroxide, duration of application, and other factors such as light and heat. However, these factors can also affect tooth sensitivity that a person may experience after whitening. "Fortunately we have the means to desensitize the teeth to the effects of the bleaching agent, so that most root sensitivity is a short term and relatively minor occurrence," reassures Dr. Agin. Also, tooth whitening agents only whiten teeth, and do not affect composite fillings or porcelain or acrylic crowns. These sometimes appear dark after whitening treatment because the surrounding teeth are so much brighter. After the whitening procedure, these restorations can be replaced with new ones that match the newly whitened teeth. Tooth whitening can be used to minimize the appearance of developmental defects in the enamel, white or brown stains called "hypocalcifications, and even help some of the severe discoloration caused by tetracycline staining. All teeth respond to the treatment to some degree; however, people whose original tooth color was brown or orange often see more dramatic results than those with gray teeth. Long term safety has been demonstrated by the fact that whitening techniques have been widely used for over a decade. Outside of the tooth sensitivity mentioned above and the possibility of burning the gums should higher concentrations of peroxide be allowed to contact them, safety and efficacy of these procedures is unchallenged. The longevity of the whitening effect can be anywhere from a year to many years, depending on the eating, drinking and smoking habits of the individual. In most cases, "touch up" treatment after that time can be accomplished for a small fraction of the original cost of the whitening. The types of whitening offered by Drs. Resnevic and Agin include:
Tooth whitening is one of the easiest ways a person can improve his appearance. "And who knows what follows better appearance -- better self-esteem? … more luck in love? … more success at work? … a happier life?" winks Dr. Resnevic. Dr. Resnevic and Dr. Agin can help you decide which method of whitening teeth will be best for you. Ask for your free tooth whitening consultation by calling (401) 567-0500 for the Chepachet office or (401) 769-0500 for the Woonsocket office. |
