Hudson Valley Dentist Services

The purpose of a Smile Analysis is to determine the most attractive smile that’s uniquely yours. This a true art form. Dr. Hamburg and Dr. Rodgers agree this is the most critical difference between good dentistry and great dentistry.

To evaluate your smile, we analyze the color, shape, texture and position of your teeth. We also evaluate your teeth in relation to the shape and size of your face, skin color, eye color, lip position, and how much of your teeth and gums are visible when you smile. We’ll discuss your preferences and the image you’d like to portray to fit you with your perfect new smile.

The actual technique and vision of your new smile, the art of creating the "Smile Design," is where the real value of the doctor’s experience and talents come to fruition.  Making the smile “fit” your desires and your personality in a functional, natural-looking and durable way is the cornerstone to exceeding your expectations and creating your perfect smile.

Unlike almost every other dentist, every step of the design is in the hands of  Dr. Hamburg and Dr. Rodgers. This assures you of not only the best result possible, it guarantees you  a direct line of communication that makes the process quick and efficient.

Hudson Valley Dental Arts uses only the best and most experienced labs in the country (and Dr. Hamburg lectures to other dentists on behalf of these labs), so the potential for an excellent result is increased.

* As voted on by his peers, and published in Hudson Valley Magazine

This is the area of dentistry Drs. Hamburg and Rodgers have  emphasized in their continuing education, and how they spend most of  their “chair-time.” 

A crown becomes necessary when a tooth has lost too much structure for a filling, or when a laminate is simply “not enough” to change the appearance of the tooth. A crown is a restoration that covers, or "caps," a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size, strengthening and improving its appearance.

Our goal is to create crowns that look like, or better than, your natural teeth. To achieve a certain look, we consider the color, bite, shape and length of your teeth. If you have a certain look in mind for your crown, we can discuss this so when the procedure is complete, your teeth will be stronger and more attractive.

We also offer “cosmetic imaging” and/or “diagnostic wax-ups,”, in which we have the lab create your smile in white wax on a model so you can see “where we’re going before we go there.”

If you have a missing tooth or teeth and implants are not an option, crowns can suspend the missing tooth and is termed a bridge. With the proper technique and materials mixed with a little artistry, bridges can look and feel very natural. A bridge is used to replace missing teeth by splinting a “fake tooth” to the adjacent teeth with crowns.

For more information on these techniques, or to view the CASEY patient education DVD video system, please contact our office.

Dr. Hamburg, one of the Hudson Valley’s Top Dentists*, has done thousands (yes, thousands!) of veneers since 1985; his initial interest began at the time his father was on the original research development team for this procedure at NYU College of Dentistry. Dr. Hamburg and his staff have seen so many happy smiles after laminating and consider this to be the finest procedure available to correct somewhat misaligned, broken, discolored or misshapen teeth. Dynamic results can be achieved in only two visits.

Dr. Hamburg has been presenting seminars on this topic for more than 10 years. He considers sharing his veneer experience one of his greatest pleasures, and enjoys learning about the newest techniques and material options.

A veneer can be a very thin (0.2mm) to thick (several mm) covering of  porcelain or composite (termed bonding, see below for description) placed on the tooth. They can be placed on any surface of the tooth for aesthetics or functional changes. When placed on the front surfaces of the front teeth,  they are typically used to change shape, color, close spaces, repair extensive  decay and or regain correct dimensions from wear or trauma. They can  effectively block the stains from tetracycline or other medications that can cause the teeth to be very dark because of malformed tooth enamel.

Veneers are a versatile and predictable way to restore the proper form and function to your teeth and ultimately your smile. Veneers can last decades and require the same basic maintenance of natural teeth, making them a design of choice for those seeking the ultimate the current state of art dentistry can create.

Many companies market a 'no-prep' veneer to the public. These can be a viable and aesthetic choice in the right situations.  In the hands of a skilled dental artisan, these minimally invasive designs can be beneficial and beautiful. When done at the highest level, they are invisibly natural and even another dentist will have difficulty telling “is it real or is it a veneer?”

Bonding is the placement of “space age” plastic over the teeth to enhance their appearance. Although not as strong as applying porcelain, this procedure is more reversible, less expensive and can be done in one visit. Drs. Hamburg and Rodgers have performed hundreds of bonding cases with wonderful results, giving patients glorious smiles.

The process involves placing a composite resin on the surface of the tooth. This process can accomplish many of the same results as porcelain veneers. It is minimally invasive (the least invasive of all the choices), can be easily altered or repaired, is less expensive, and gives an immediate result.

The disadvantages are that the tensile and compressive strengths of the  material are less than porcelain (this means where it’s used is most important), it can pick up stains from food and drink a bit more (with proper oral hygiene it is still excellent) and it takes a very high skill level from the dentist placing the material to get an exceptional result.

Hudson Valley Dental Arts offers a variety of whitening options custom designed for your particular situation, including the Zoom! In office Whitening System and custom take home trays.

Your smile is important. It's one of the first things you notice when you meet  someone. A whiter, brighter smile is beautiful, and can help you feel better about yourself and make a memorable impression.

Lifestyle and the aging process can stain and darken teeth. Many things we do on a regular basis can contribute to stained teeth, including drinking coffee, tea, cola or red wine and smoking.

Whitening can get your smile looking its best. Non-professional procedures and clinically unproven teeth whitening tips can often lead to unsatisfactory results.

You may see results in as little as 45 minutes.

Look for a whitening procedure that is:

• Fast and convenient
• Long-lasting
• Low sensitivity
• Proven to be safe and effective
• Performed by a Dental Professional

What makes our process different is that if your teeth can be whitened, with our experience we can get you the biggest change possible.

Brightening can provide a simple, safe and inexpensive technique to improving discolored teeth. If you are not in a hurry, we can provide an at-home bleaching system.

Our in-office and at-home systems come with a “customer satisfaction warranty.”

Dr. Hamburg has been certified for more than 20 years in this procedure. Both he and Dr. Rodgers work with the finest surgeons and materials and have had great success with their implant procedures. What often surprises patients is the knowledge that, in many cases, the cost of this procedure is the same as that of a bridge.

Dental technology has never been better than it is right now. Osseo-integrated implants have given us the option to replace missing teeth with replacements that are as good as the original equipment.

Missing teeth and loose dentures make too many people sit on the sidelines and let life pass them by. However, today’s modern treatment plans can replace everything from a single missing tooth to a completely missing arch.

Ask Drs. Hamburg or Rodgers about different dental implant options that are available. Don’t let another day go by without taking this important first step to restoring your confidence and your smile!

Traditional treatment options for tooth replacement—Crown & Bridge and full or partial dentures—address the short-term cosmetic problem of missing teeth, but do nothing to stop bone loss. Crown & Bridge also requires that two or more healthy teeth be ground down to serve as abutments (posts) for a bridge, leaving them at greater risk for cavities and possibly the need for endodontic treatment. If the original abutment teeth fail, more healthy teeth must be sacrificed to serve as anchors, while you continue to lose bone beneath the bridge. With implants, however, the healthy teeth are left alone. Dental implants, like natural teeth, also transmit chewing forces to the jawbone, which reduces bone loss. This is why many leading dental organizations and academic institutions now recognize dental implants as the standard of care for tooth replacement.

Similar to a tiny sand-blaster, this instrument can replace the drill, giving patients less discomfort. It is a great option for pediatric cases, where a filling can be completed in less than two minutes!  When appropriate, this latest technology makes your dental visit very comfortable—no drilling, no water build-up, and no need for injections.

Why we believe air abrasion has revolutionized dentistry;

1. Atraumatic: Air abrasion is capable of painless and atraumatic care.
   1. No anesthesia = no injection = no "fat lip" after the appointment.
   2. No vibration, no hideous sound, no smell, no water spray
2. Conservative: Very small preparations which;
   1. Conserve tooth structure
   2. Cavity profiles are structurally more sound than with a traditional drill.
   3. No microfracturing of the enamel surface due to the conventional vibration associated with the traditional drill
3. Early diagnosed decay can be treated with air abrasion so that;
   1. Size of the preparation is very small - conserves tooth structure
   2. Small size means less likelihood of cusp fracture and subsequent endodontic (root canal) treatment plus fixed prosthetics (crowns/bridges).
   3. Restored with bonded composites that enhance the structural integrity of the tooth.

The first day we had an intra-oral camera in the office, a patient presented with a fractured cusp on the forward, cheek side of a first molar.  It was quite evident in the mirror, but when we showed it to the patient with the intra-oral camera, the response was "Now I see it!"
 
We are proud to announce the most recent acquisition to our high-tech arsenal!  As always, we wanted to get the very best so we upgraded our intra-oral camera system. The high-quality images taken by this camera can be transferred to our PC or viewed on a television monitor. The intra-oral digital camera integrates seamlessly with our dental software, which helps in manipulating images and arranging image files while updating patient charts and bio-data.
 
When we purchased the camera, the level of care our patients receive increased tremendously. The microscopic problems on a patient’s teeth and gums which are not visible in normal conditions can be seen through the 60x magnification capability of this camera before they convert into a major problem. The camera adjusts the image accordingly with the ratio of light in the area, giving us clear images, both on the tongue side and cheek side of teeth and gums. The camera is designed so it can be operated by a foot pedal which frees the user’s hands while doing an examination. This pedal allows quick freeze framing of images, and furthermore switches to different modes and settings of the camera.
 
In addition, the use of an intra-oral camera increases our ability to find micro-fractures in the teeth through the transillumination of the enamel...something that could easily be missed by the naked eye can now be seen and photographed for future reference.  Again, if we can see a micro-fracture early enough, we might be able to reduce the chance of a more expensive restoration (versus a simple filling).  
 
Perhaps the greatest benefit of this technology is the ability to take several photographs and print them for you to take home.  Many times a patient wants to explain to their significant other how their visit went, and what the dentist's findings were.  We also enjoy taking a post-op photo for you to bring home so you can show off your beautiful restoration with a close up!

One of the most important things we do for our patients is to identify and fill cavities. Since even the smallest spot of decay can threaten the integrity of the entire tooth, finding and filling cavities is the key to preventing further problems of all kinds. Historically, that's why lengthy poking and prodding sessions have been an acceptable, yet uncomfortable, part of typical dental exams. However, many people don't realize that these methods of decay detection are only 50% to 75% successful. Cavities often hide along fissure lines, or inside biting or occlusal surfaces. Further, these mechanical exploratory methods are limited to finding only those cavities that are equal to or larger than the probe head. For all these reasons, we've invested in DIAGNOdent: a revolutionary new means of detecting cavities so your exam can be fast, easy, and nearly imperceptible.

Laser Reflection Spots Imperfection

DIAGNOdent technology uses a simple laser diode to inspect your teeth, comparing reflection wavelength against a known healthy baseline wavelength to uncover decay. How? First, we aim the laser onto one of your healthy enamel tooth surfaces to give us a benchmark reading. Then, we continue on around your mouth, shining the laser into all suspect areas. As the laser pulses into grooves, fissures and cracks, it reflects fluorescent light of a specific wavelength. This light is measured by receptors, converted to an acoustic signal, evaluated electronically to reveal a value between one and 100, then displayed on a screen. Anytime the laser encounters a surface that reads differently than the healthy baseline value, it stimulates emission of fluorescent light of a different wavelength. A reading of 10-20 indicates some enamel softening, pointing to a potential problem area that merits close monitoring. A reading of 21-100 indicates a definite area of decay requiring a filling.

Early Detection, Precise Correction

Using DIAGNOdent technology allows us to catch more areas of decay sooner and with more precision. Further, it requires no X-rays, and is a relatively comfortable procedure. Not only can it help prevent the spread of decay, catching decay early means fillings required are simpler and shallower, preserving more of the tooth. This allows us to use minimally invasive filling procedures, such as drill-free air abrasion. Finally, we're able to objectively monitor any suspicious areas without repeated X-rays, harm to tissues, or need for protective measures.  We believe an exam without a Diagnodent evaluation is incomplete and unreliable.  As they say...it couldn't (and doesn't) hurt, so why not do it?!

Remember the days of the big ole X-ray machine, the film that you bit down on for that old film X-ray for your teeth, then the waiting for it to be developed. Well with improvements in all other forms of dentistry, the Digital Intr-oral xrays are here too. With a digital X-ray, the old style film is replaced with an electronic pad or sensor. The X-rays hit the pad and it is electronically sent to a computer where the image is displayed on a screen.This can then be enlarged to better vie any problems that might be shown The X-ray can also be printed out to be compared to previous X-rays. This can also be done on the computer screen to see any changes in the tooth from previous exams

Digital Intra-oral X-rays use less radiation than older style X-rays and no wait time for the “film” to be developed. The images are viewable on a screen in moments. If we need to send you to another dental specialist, we can send the images electronically to them for either a consultation, or for them to have a copy for your treatment If your insurance company needs to have copies to confirm your treatment plan, we can send them digital copies as well.

When we take a digital intraoral X-ray, we take an X-ray of one area of your mouth to see what the teeth in that area look like.  With our digital Panorex system, we take a ‘panoramic’ picture of your teeth.  The machine makes an entire half circle motion, to capture an image of the entire oral cavity.  This image is useful in diagnosing medical conditions such as Cancer and infections.  This Digital Panorex technology gives us an anatomically correct geometric picture, eliminating shadows and gives us a constant magnification of what we are viewing. This assists us in your initial visit allowing us to better determine what the best and most comprehensive treatment plan that will fit your dental needs.  Along with the Digital intra-oral X-rays, the digital Panorex reduces the amont of radiation a patient receives by about 90%.

Panoramic X-rays provide a broad view of the jaws, teeth, sinuses, nasal area, and temporomandibular (jaw) joints in one large picture. This type of X-ray reveals problems such as impacted teeth, bone abnormalities, cysts, solid growths (tumors), infections, and fractures.

We are extremely excited about having this diagnostic aid in the office as we are one of the very few who have one in the area. Knowing we may be able to catch certain pathologies early, and potentially save lives is honestly thrilling!