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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 treatment 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.
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“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.
Fox Chapel Area | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 79