Dental Excellence

Our goal is excellence in dentistry!

Perfection in dentistry does not come from a filling, the placement of porcelain on teeth or just from white and straight teeth. Perfection is the result of the cooperation of an entire clinical team, with the scientific experience, skills and academic knowledge required.

It all starts by ensuring the health of the supporting tissues of teeth, on which perfect final restorations are made by specialists using the latest technology materials and techniques. Our goal is to offer our medical skills and knowledge to all of you who have the need and the will for a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile.

Success for us means more than leaving our patient satisfied from the doctor’s office. It is our challenge to apply the utmost advanced and modern scientific techniques, having the academic knowledge and the right way to apply them, in order to offer you the best possible treatment and to take care of the health of your teeth.

We provide the full arch of dental services such as:

State of the art Diagnostic systems in radiology, periodontology, endodontics, children Dentistry and Orthodontics
Specialists in
- Periodontolody -implantology
- Endodontics
- Aesthetic Dentistry through restorative specialist,
- Prosthetic Dentistry on severe cases, using fully digital protocols and Cad-Cam Technology,
- Oral Surgery,
- Oral Pathology
- Orthodontics,
- Children’s Dentistry

Dental work is provided in 7 operatories, through dental microscopes of the latest technology

Welcome to Dental Excellence

Dental Implants. All you need to know.

Part I

When is an implant not a suitable treatment?
Implant therapy may not be possible if the jaw bone is not sufficiently thick to accommodate implants and bone grafting is not possible. Also, implants are not suitable for patients with untreated periodontitis or uncontrolled diabetes, because of the risk of failure through infection or poor healing.

Other medical conditions that rule out the use of implants include blood clotting disorders; certain bone diseases, deficiencies in the immune system, severe systemic illnesses and drug abuse. Smoking is also an important consideration, because smokers heal less efficiently than non-smokers and are more likely to experience loosening of their implants. Quitting smoking will significantly increase your chances of successful implant therapy.

What does implant treatment involve?
Examination
After discussing the potential courses of treatment open to you, your dentist or periodontist will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth. He/she will then take radiographs of your jaws to assess the shape and condition of your bone tissue and locate the positions of any important structures, such as nerves and sinuses, which may be close to the intended implant site. This allows the dentist to plan exactly how the implants will be placed. Rarely, if X-rays are not adequate, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be used to provide three-dimensional images, but this is an expensive procedure and exposes you to more radiation than standard radiographs.

Insertion of the implant/s
Implant surgery can be carried out using either a one-stage or two-stage procedure, depending on your particular clinical circumstances. In either case, the surgery involves making a small incision in the gum to expose the bone and using a special drill to shape the implant site.

In the one-stage procedure, the implant is fitted into the prepared bone and then an attachment called a healing cap, which protrudes through the gum, is placed over it. This healing cap is removed after a 3-6 month period and replaced with a permanent attachment called the abutment, which takes the form of a post and core. The replacement tooth, or crown, is cemented in place over the abutment.

In the two-stage procedure, a cover screw is placed flush over the top of the implant and the gum is sewn up over it for the period of healing. A second procedure is needed to uncover the implant via a small incision in the gum and attach the healing cap. Then, after the gums have healed, the healing cap is removed and replaced by the abutment, in readiness for the new crown.

Two-stage surgery may be necessary if there is a need to increase the quantity of bone at the site with a bone graft or a bone regenerative technique. There are a number of reasons why there might be a lack of bone at the implant site, including long-term missing teeth, denture wear, and bone loss from periodontal disease, ageing or injury. When teeth are missing, the surrounding gum and underlying bone shrink away over time. This is because, in health, the presence of our teeth stimulates the natural turnover, or renewal process, within the bone.

Preparation of teeth and impression When your gums have fully healed (after about 6 weeks), your dentist will take a new impression of your mouth. This will be used to make a model of your teeth on which the dental technician will construct your crown or bridge, paying special attention to achieve a natural finish that matches the rest of your teeth.

Dental Implants. All you need to know.

Part II

Dental Implants. All you need to know.

Part III

When your new crowns and bridges have been prepared, your dentist will cement them on to the abutments over the dental implants, assess the appearance and fit, and check that your upper and lower teeth work together comfortably when you bite. You will usually need to return for several review appointments to make sure that the implants are stable and functioning well, and that you are completely happy with the finished result.

What is bone grafting and bone regeneration?
Bone grafts
Bone grafts are carried out to increase the width and height of the jawbone at the implant site. The best results are seen when bone from another part of your own body is used and this is known as autogenous grafting. Typically, bone is harvested from the hip, as it is a good source of marrow which contains many bone cells. Allografts are grafts that use donated human bone taken from a ‘bone bank’ and work in the same way as autogenous grafts. Xenografts are procedures that use bone from an animal donor, with cows acting as the main source (bovine bone). The bovine bone in the graft is replaced by your own bone tissue over time. Alloplasts are grafts that use synthetic bone substitutes that are chemically similar to human bone. These grafts act as a sort of framework for new natural bone formation and may be replaced by natural bone (resorbable alloplast) or retained (non-resorbable alloplast).

An autogenous graft is the preferred option because there is no risk of your body rejecting it. After the procedure, you will need to wait for at least 3 months before having implants placed, so that healing can take place. The exact waiting time will depend how much bone has been grafted.

Bone regeneration using barrier membranes (guided tissue regeneration)
This is a special technique that helps to give bone cells an advantage over other types of cell to multiply and fill an area where bone loss has occurred. Usually, cells from the gum surface and the connective tissues are much faster at filling the gaps created by periodontal destruction compared with the bone cells and so bone may not have an opportunity to regenerate even when inflammation has been eliminated. In this procedure, the barrier membrane covers the area of bone loss and blocks access to it for the other cell types, giving the bone cells a chance to fill in the defect. The barrier may disintegrate and disappear over time (resorbable) or may need to be removed in a later procedure (non-resorbable).

How long will my implant last?
Dental implants have been used successfully for many decades and we know that, with careful maintenance, they will function for many years. In studies, 95% of implants last for at least 5 years, but most are likely to have a much longer life. To maximize the lifespan of your implant, you are strongly advised to avoid smoking. It is also extremely important to continue with a very thorough oral hygiene programme at home and to attend regular recall visits at your dentist for careful inspection of your implant, teeth and gums. This will allow you to have your implant and teeth professionally cleaned and enable any problems to be dealt with promptly before they threaten the stability of your implant.
With very good oral hygiene, regular recall appointments and avoidance of smoking, your dental implant has every chance of lasting for many years.

What might cause an implant to fail?
Assuming there have been no problems with the healing process after implant placement, the most likely cause of failure is inadequate oral hygiene. If tooth cleaning is poor, bacteria will build up on the implant surface and cause inflammation of the mucous membrane surrounding the implant – mucositis. If left untreated, this can progress to a more dangerous condition called peri-implantitis, in which there is inflammation and bone loss around the implant. Eventually, the implant loses its anchorage in the bone and becomes loose.

How are mucositis and peri-implantitis detected and treated?
It is not easy for you to detect when mucositis or peri-implantitis is present. Often, the only warning sign is an increased tendency for the gums to bleed during brushing and interdental cleaning. Some bleeding is expected during the healing phase after implant placement, but when bleeding occurs many months or years after implant placement, it is a sure sign of inflammatory changes. Other changes that you might notice are local swellings, bad breath or a bad taste, and loosening of the implant, bridge or dentures.

Regular recall appointments with your dentist will help ensure that any suspicious changes are picked up early so that peri-implantitis can be prevented. It is vital that you make an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any signs of inflammation around your implant between scheduled visits.

Treatment of mucositis and peri-implantitis involves professional cleaning of the implant surface to remove bacterial deposits. In addition, you may be asked to use an antibacterial mouthwash or gel or, in some cases, prescribed an antibiotic to eliminate the infection. If the peri-implantitis is more advanced, your dentist might consider a surgical procedure to gain better access for cleaning. However, if the condition cannot be controlled, the implant may have to be removed.

The earlier the detection of mucositis and peri-implantitis, the better are the chances of successful treatment.

5 Ways Straight Teeth Will Improve Your Life

The Benefits of Straight Teeth

Aside from cosmetic factors, there are so many reasons as to why a person should opt to aim for straightened teeth. We have compiled a list of these benefits. Read on to discover some of the amazing effects of having straight teeth!

Boost that Self Esteem

This is one of the main reasons that any person strives for straight teeth – the boosted levels of self-esteem that come with a perfect smile! Scientific studies have actually proven that smiling is intensely beneficial for both our physical and our mental health. Fixing your teeth gives you the confidence you need in order to flash that smile all day long.

Better Brushing

Dental malocclusions can cause a host of problems. For example, crowded teeth or overlapping teeth can trap food particles between them, making it more difficult for patients to maintain optimal dental hygiene and health. Straight teeth are far easier to brush and floss than are their crooked counterparts; straight teeth makes a healthy mouth more easy to achieve than ever before!

Better Health for the Whole Body

Straightened teeth do not only increase your dental health. In fact, straight teeth contribute to an overall better health. That’s because straight teeth are easier to take care of with flossing and brushing; better oral hygiene prevents tooth decay; tooth decay and gum disease contribute to heart disease and high blood sugar. Therefore, your straight teeth are helping to fight against heart disease and high blood sugar. Talk about a reason to smile!

Eat with Ease

Crooked, crowded, and misaligned teeth can cause a patient to experience difficulties with chewing and eating. These dental malocclusions might render a patient unable to properly chew their food into smaller pieces; this, in turn, can lead to digestive problems. Straight, aligned teeth allow a patient to properly chew and digest food.

Speak with Clarity

Crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and other tooth problems can sometimes cause a person to experience speech difficulty. Dental malocclusions are one of the reasons that a person may develop a speech impediment. A speech impediment can lead a person to become self-conscious: a child may refrain from speaking at school, thereby decreasing their academic performance; an adult’s speech impediment may impact their workplace confidence. Straight teeth allow a person to be able to speak with clarity and ease, thereby increasing their confidence and performance. Straightened teeth allow clear speech.

As you can see, straight teeth are hugely beneficial to a person’s confidence, well-being, and overall health.WE in Dental Excellence are so proud to be able to offer our patients top of the line dental technology: Invisalign treatment. Invisalign Aligners are an invisible, plastic alternative to clunky, painful braces. Invisalign Aligners are formatted specially for your teeth, are easy to take care of, and are painless to use. Dr Anna Papadogeorgaki is an Align Technology certified orthodontist and we are thrilled to be able to offer our patients the ability to straighten their teeth, and change their lives!

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