San Diego Prosthodontics Blog

Prosthodontics, Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Implant Restoration

Dr. Harold J Gulbransen

[Please see index of other blog topics at the bottom of this page.]

Dental Implants are a Team Effort at SAN DIEGO PROSTHODONTICS, Office of Harold Gulbransen, DDS

Tuesday, 17 January 2012 22:58

Today, dental implants offer patients with permanent tooth loss an excellent alternative to partial or complete dentures. Dental implants can help patients regain natural smiles, increase their comfort and minimize jawbone deterioration that can occur when natural teeth are lost.

Dental implants combine the best of science and technology, often involving the expertise of several different dental disciplines. Successful implant placement involves a coordinated team approach composed of prosthodontic dental specialist Dr. Harold Gulbransen, the oral surgeon or periodontist who surgically places the implants, and the lab technician.

The team of dental specialists work together to draw up a treatment plan that best meets each individual patient's needs. After an initial comprehensive examination, Dr. Gulbransen consults with other team members to determine if implants are the right solution and what, if any underlying dental issues need to be addressed to insure the success of the implants. Communication among team members ensures that every step of the process goes smoothly and the best possible results are achieved. The teamwork continues long after implant placement. Follow-up examinations with Dr. Gulbransen and other team members are very important.

Dr. Gulbransen, as the prosthodontist, is the 'quarterback' of your dental restorative team. Prosthodontists take a whole-mouth approach to your dental care. They supervise your treatmant from your initial consultations to your follow-up care after treatmant. Dr. Gulbransen will interact with other dentists, specialists and technicians to coordinate your dental treatment plan.

While implants have a very high success rate, implants are not always the best solutions for every dental problem. Prosthodontists are also trained in the hands-on technical aspects of laboratory fabrication of complex dental prosthetics and complex restoration of dental and facial esthetics. Harold J. Gulbransen, DDS, has a comprehensive knowledge of dental materials and techniques, insuring both function and esthetics when it comes to your treatment.

Whether your care requires single crowns, fillings, veneers, dental bridges, dentures or complex implant restorations, you can be assured that you are receiving state-of-the-art dentistry from Dr. Harold Gulbransen and his staff, who are dedicated to the highest standards of care in restoration and replacement of teeth.

Sterilization and Disinfection Procedures Used in the Dental Office of Dr. Harold Gulbransen

Wednesday, 20 July 2011 18:08

SAN DIEGO PROSTHODONTICS is proud to offer the latest in modern sterilization and disinfection techniques. Vigorous safeguards, exacting cleaning procedures and controlled professional standards are designed to protect the health and welfare of both patients and practitioners.

Some of our patients have questions regarding the protocol followed during disinfection and sterilization of instruments, hand pieces and treatment rooms. You will find that our office follows the "universal precautions" as outlined by the American Dental Association and the Center for Disease Control.

All instruments are thoroughly pre-cleaned ultrasonically before they are put into a steam autoclave. The steam autoclave uses heated, pressure and vaporized water to sterilize instruments in a closed chamber. Each instrument is then hand dried.

Dental assistants are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in each operatory. We use disinfection procedures on surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization, such as countertops, drawer handles, x-ray unit heads and light handles. A sterile disinfection cleaning solution, Birex, is used to wipe down all counters, suction hoses and hand piece connectors before and after each patient. You will also notice that we use disposable barriers on surfaces such as light handles that are touched during treatment.

The use of a closed dental unit water system which operates independently from municipal water supplies prevents mineral deposits from adhering to our instruments and in our water lines. Our dental units are not connected to municipal water supplies. This prevents contamination of the inside of the water lines used in each treatment operatory. We use distilled water in all of our operatories.

We want you to be assured that we are committed to providing you with a safe and healthy environment when you visit our office for dental treatment. The health and safety of our patients is our number one priority.

E.Max Crowns-All Ceramic Dental Crowns Providing Beauty Without Compromising Strength and Durability

Thursday, 02 June 2011 14:17

Dr. Harold Gulbransen at SAN DIEGO PROSTHODONTICS is proud to offer the latest techniques in the field of Crown and Bridge Dentistry.

Significant new developments in all-ceramic materials have led to the introduction of the e.max dental crown. Previously, dental crowns made from the most natural appearing materials weren't as durable as those made of less esthetic materials like gold or other precious metals.

However, e.max crowns are fabricated with the newest in cosmetic porcelain, a lithium disilicate glass ceramic material that is natural in appearance yet stong enough to withstand the pressures and demands of the human mouth. Researchers at the Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics at the New York University College of Dentistry (NYU) found that the lithium disilicate ceramic material used in e.max dental crowns was far less likely to chip or fracture when compared to veneered zirconia-based crowns.

E.max dental crowns are designed using efficient pressed ceramic technology. They represent the ultimate in metal-free esthetics and durability. Unlike traditional dental crowns, there are no copings or metal substrates. This means that e.max crowns are more natural in appearance and do not have the telltale "black line" of the crown's metal substructure at the gumline like traditional crowns do. In effect, the patient benefits from the best of both worlds--the beauty of all-ceramic dental crowns without compromising strength or durability.

What are the Advantages of Immediate Dentures?

Friday, 13 May 2011 22:40

An immediate denture is a complete or partial denture that is inserted on the same day as teeth are extracted, immediately following removal of natural teeth. There are several advantages that immediate dentures provide for patients. First and foremost, immediate dentures provide an important psychological advantage because patients never have to appear in public without teeth. The immediate or temporary dentures are fabricated before the patient's natural teeth are removed, so they are ready to be inserted at the time of extractions.

Immediate dentures reduce post operative discomfort after extraction of teeth because they cover and protect the surgical site. In effect, the temporary or immediate dentures act as a Band-Aid and protect the extraction sites, reducing pain.

Studies have also shown that patients who wear an immediate denture have broader, fuller gums after healing which ultimately provides better support for all subsequent denture prostheses.

It is important to note that an immediate denture is an approximation of what the mouth will look like post-surgery. As a result, an immediate denture does not fit as precisely as the final denture will fit. Dr. Gulbransen will use a soft liner material to line the immediate denture after surgery to provide better fit and retention.

This will require a few adjustment visits. As the gums heal following the extractions, they will continue to shrink. Changes can continue for several months. Once the gum and bone healing is completed, the patient is ready to have the final dentures made, generally 4-6 months after tooth extractions.

What is an Immediate or Temporary Denture?

Friday, 22 April 2011 20:44

An immediate denture is a complete or partial denture that is inserted on the same day as teeth are extracted, immediately following removal of natural teeth. An immediate denture is actually made prior to extracting natural teeth. When a patient is due to have some teeth extracted, prior to surgery, an appointment is made with Dr. Gulbransen.

At this initial appointment, impressions are made with the teeth to be extracted still present. A model is made from this impression and mounted on an articulator, a mechanical device that replicates the upper and lower jaw relationships. Then, in our in-house dental laboratory, the teeth to be extracted are ground off the stone model and the resulting altered model is used to fabricate the immediate denture. This entire process takes place within our in-house dental laboratory, insuring quality control as well as timely delivery.