LVI

If you've ever watched one of the TV makeover shows, you're probably familiar with LVI; you may even be looking for an LVI dentist for cosmetic or restorative work. LVI stands for Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. It has become synonymous with advanced cosmetic training and a symbol of excellence for those dentists who have studied there. While most people know LVI for its advanced cosmetic training, it is also known as a key center for neuromuscular dentistry as well. (Links to TMJ section)

Consider that there are more than 200,000 dentists in the U.S. and Canada; only 7,000 dentists worldwide have taken one or more classes at LVI. This gives you an idea of how rare this new breed of dentist is.

At Trillium Dental, we are fortunate to have four LVI dentists. - Dr. Mark Northcott (Westgate), Dr. David Bartos (Kakulu, Westgate), Dr. Demetrius Dalios (Bayshore), Dr. Yolande Dmytrowski (Kakulu). They have studied advanced cosmetic and restorative dentistry, as well as neuromuscular (TMJ) diagnosis and treatment.

Tooth Whitening

Patients at any of the Trillium Dental locations can have their teeth whitened up to nine shades with Zoom!® in-office whitening treatments. The Zoom! process takes about an hour, during which a special gel is applied to your teeth in three 15-minute sessions. During these sessions, the special Zoom! light is focused onto your teeth, breaking up stains and discoloration. The entire process takes approximately an hour, after which you go home with a beautiful white smile.

Patients can also opt for take-home kits. These are also very effective for whitening your teeth, although it will take a period of several weeks to achieve the desired results.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are the crown jewel in the cosmetic dentist's repertoire. They are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to your teeth and can turn the most damaged smiles into dazzling ones! Veneers can effectively cover teeth that are yellow, stained from tobacco, beverages or medications, or have chips, cracks or other minor imperfections. Even minor orthodontic problems can be resolved with veneers. The result? A Hollywood smile that's sure to get you noticed!

Inlays/Onlays

The days of unattractive metal fillings are over. We prefer a healthier alternative - the use of tooth-colored ceramic or composite materials for dental restorations. Porcelain fillings are hard, aesthetic, long lasting and reinforce the tooth as compared to conventional metal fillings. Some restorations cover the top of the tooth, inside the cusp, the ridge or curve at the top of the tooth. These are inlays. If one or more sides of the tooth need coverage, then the material extends over the cusp. This is known as an onlay. Ceramic inlays and onlays are known to have a lifespan of up to thirty years!

Smile Makeovers

A smile makeover is a total transformation. For some smile makeover cases, we work on every single tooth in our patient's mouth! A smile makeover can involve several processes that may include whitening, orthodontics, restorations, bridges or crowns, and veneers. The results are dramatic and life-changing.

Bridges/Crowns

A tooth that requires a significant restoration over most of its surface often will require a crown. A crown is a cap that covers a tooth and allows the bite to be more evenly distributed over the remaining tooth structure. This effectively reduces the risk of fracture in the future. We generally place ceramic crowns, but in some cases, a gold crown is used where special durability is required.

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap, and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

Metal-Free Dentistry

We practice only metal-free dentistry at Trillium Dental. We fill cavities with tooth-colored fillings that are made of porcelain or composite materials. Porcelain and composite fillings don't expand and contract to allow bacteria underneath them the way metal fillings do. Overall on top of being more aesthetically appealing, the porcelain and composite fillings are safer and healthier for you. While silver fillings can weaken the natural tooth, white fillings bond to the tooth thereby strengthening the remaining natural structure.

Bonding

Bonding is the application of ceramic or plastic material to your teeth. It can be used to fill cavities, cover a stained tooth, or fill in minor gaps between your teeth. It is a technique that allows us to adhere veneers, inlays/onlays, or plastic fillings to the tooth to reinforce it.

Gum Contouring

With a dental laser we can reveal more of the tooth to cure a "gummy" smile. The procedure is non-surgical and there's very little swelling or bleeding.