BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
YOUR DENTAL HEALTH
Smile On
SPONSORED CONTENT
with Dr. Paulin
Dr. Paulette Paulin loves to see you smile. She
has the distinct honor of being a past President
of the American College of Prosthodontists
and a former professor at the University
of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine,
Department of Prosthodontics. You know that
your smile is in good hands when you walk into
her office.
Dr. Paulin is a specialist in prosthodontics
which requires three or more additional years
of postgraduate training after finishing dental
school. Prosthodontists have extensive training
in the restoration and replacement of teeth as
well as TMJ dysfunction and bite problems.
“Some of the dental services we provide in
our office encompass the smallest fillings to
complete oral reconstruction,” Dr. Paulin said.
“We provide comprehensive dental services
from cleanings and x-rays, to crowns and
bridges, to dentures and partials, to TMJ and
tr eatment for bite problems. But our most
common procedures that we do are cosmetic
and implant dentistry, where we strive to
preserve the remaining natural teeth
and bone in a healthy state for as long
as possible, and to provide alternatives for
replacement that the patient is happy with
esthetically, functionally and comfortably.”
To do that, Dr. Paulin utilizes state-of-the-
art dental implants to replace missing teeth, a
process that not only restores the area where
the missing tooth was, but also outlasts any
other replacement options.
“Dental implants are titanium tooth roots
shaped like the root of a natural tooth. For
patients missing one tooth, a single implant
and crown can be used for replacement. If a
patient is missing multiple teeth, a bridge can
be constructed on top of the implants. For
patients who are missing all of their teeth in
either the upper or lower arch, we can attach a
denture to the implants to provide retention,
support and stability. Even people missing only
one tooth can be set up for a cascade of events
that compromise the neighboring teeth. The
remaining teeth want to shift into the space,
predisposing them to an increased risk for
periodontal disease and tooth decay, which
leads to further tooth loss.
“In our office we use the Nobel Biocare
Dental Implant System, which is the world’s
most used implant system and has the most
scientific documentation, with more than
40 years of publications on their safety,
predictability, clinical success and longevity.”
Dr. Paulin said that many times, if the missing
tooth is not one visible by smiling, people tend
to ignore its replacement, which is a bad choice.
“The back (posterior) teeth are so very
important for proper diet, nutrition and overall
quality of life,” she said. “When one or more
teeth are missing and not replaced, there are
unhealthy additional forces placed on the
remaining teeth that could result in fracture
and faster deterioration. It can also cause bite
problems, shifting of the surrounding teeth,
TMJ dysfunction, as well as physical facial soft
tissue changes that make the face appear
sunken and aged.”
Dr. Paulin said missing teeth will also lead
to bone loss and further tooth drift, as teeth
surrounding the missing space shift. It’s a
common problem, as it’s estimated that 69
percent of adults between the ages of 35 and
44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. The
American Dental Association estimates that
the number of people missing all of their teeth
at more than 20 million, and those missing
between 11 and 15 teeth at 100 million.
Dental implants are a relatively minor
surgical procedure typically performed with
just local anesthetic to numb the area. Dr.
Paulin cites patients who have resumed their
schedule soon after they received their implant,
highlighting the ease of the procedure. What’s
more, implants can be anchors for crowns,
bridges and dentures, securing dentures
firmly so they don’t “move around and float,” a
common complaint among denture wearers.
For more information, contact Paulette
P. Paulin, D.M.D., dental specialist in
prosthodontics and implant dentistry, at
412.823.4948.
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