Life Changing Dentistry

I recently made another trip, along with my clinical team members, to complete more post-graduate training at LVI.You are probably asking yourself What is LVI?. It is the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in Nevada. It is where top aesthetic dentists from all over the world come together to teach, share, and perform their mastery clinical skills in advanced dental techniques. I specifically completed the Comprehensive Aesthetic Reconstruction Program, which included completing a complex case on a live patient. In addition to the clinical instruction, several other courses were taken during the week by myself and team members to complete the training.

My patient that I chose for the clinical reconstruction was my hygienist, Fran. Over the last year and a half, 1 have been working on improving Fran's bite and improving her jaw and muscle stability. She represented typical symptoms of TMD, temporomandibular disorder, in which she had constant headaches, grinding, and an excessive overbite. Her upper and lower teeth were extremely worn down from the grinding, and the headaches were stemming from her compromised biting relationship. First, we started her wearing a neuromuscular orthosis , which balanced her bite into a correct, relaxed position. Orthodontics was then needed for about 5 months on Fran's top teeth to help align some rotated teeth. Then shortly after the orthodontics were off, we were off to Las Vegas to design her beautiful, fuller, and balanced bite. This was achieved through the fabrication and placement of veneers and crowns on all the teeth. Fran's smile is not only absolutely white and dazzling, but her headaches have disappeared, her face and jaw muscles have relaxed, and her whole smile is in a strong, balanced and comfortable position.

After spending several years in traditional orthodontics as a teen, and being told that my bite position was as good as it could possibly get, I am absolutely beyond thrilled with the neuromuscular and aesthetic dental treatment Dr. Tom was able to do for me! Fran says. I am no longer taking massive doses of headache pain relievers daily, and for the first time in my adult life. 1 am actually able to bring my teeth together in a comfort- able and relaxed resting position. Plus, my husband thinks my teeth look beauti - ful- and that makes me smile!

Making a strong commitment to these types of continuing education experiences is so important to ensuring we are treating our patients with the best restorations and comprehensive care possible. Not only was this type of dentistry not taught in the dental schools when I graduated, but the advanced techniques available were not even options back then. It is truly an exciting time for me as a dentist. I know that not only can I help my patients have healthy, pain-free teeth and gums, but I can help them look beautiful, improve self-confidence, and change their lives with advanced aesthetic dentistry.

Dr. Thomas Meyer, of The Meyer Dental Group in Des Plaines, has earned his Fellowship Membership in the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics, is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the Chicago Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and a graduate of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Cosmetic Dental Studies. He has been involved with and successfully practicing Neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry for 12 years

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Dr. Thomas L. Meyer - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics and neuromuscular dentistry to the areas of Chicago and Des Plaines, Illinois.