Tooth talk

Zimmermann Dental Aesthetic Studio pioneered the introduction of Grillz in Croatia. But what exactly are Grillz? If you've come across images of renowned singers and actors adorning their teeth with metal and diamond/zircon-encrusted crowns in showbiz articles online and wondered about them, here's the answer. Grillz refer to dental jewellery that can be applied to one or multiple teeth, offering a vast array of design options to choose from.

We can make them for just one tooth, several teeth or for the entire jaw. The design is made according to the wishes of the patient using the classic metal used in the production of metal-ceramic crowns or we can use premium materials such as platinum or gold.

Botox and dermal fillers have gained significant popularity in recent years as effective treatments for wrinkles, facial volume loss, and enhancing facial contours. When considering these treatments, choosing the right professional is very important. While your dentist may not be the first person who comes to mind, dentists are actually an excellent choice among specialists proficient in these procedures.

Dentists are highly qualified medical specialists who, throughout their extensive education, acquire comprehensive knowledge of the facial anatomy spanning from the forehead to the chin (maxillofacial area). Unlike other specialists such as general plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, or dermatologists, dentists possess a more profound understanding of facial anatomy due to their focus on less invasive procedures within the facial region.

While dentists may require additional training to administer Botox injections and apply dermal fillers, they already possess a solid theoretical foundation in facial anatomy. Moreover, dentists are among the most skilled professionals in performing injections since it is a routine procedure they undertake numerous times a day. As a result, the administration of anaesthetics, Botox, or dermal fillers by dental doctors tends to be relatively painless, efficient, and comfortable for patients.

Periodontal disease, if left untreated, can give rise to a range of other health issues. Nonetheless, this condition doesn’t mean the end of a healthy smile. Effective treatments are available to help manage and control periodontitis, reducing the risk of its advancement and subsequent tooth loss. If you have recently received a diagnosis of periodontal disease, you may be worried about its implications for your smile's future. Although we cannot cure periodontitis, it is important to recognise that recovery from this condition is achievable.

What is periodontitis or periodontal disease?
Periodontitis or periodontal disease also known as gum disease, is a severe infection that damages the soft tissue in the mouth. Without treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, cause teeth to move or lead to tooth loss.

When your gums are healthy, they will be firm, fit well with your teeth and be pale pink in colour. How can you assess whether your gums are healthy? Pay attention to the symptoms of periodontitis:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Pink or red toothbrush after brushing
• Blood when brushing or flossing your teeth
• Bright red, dark red or purple gums
• Swollen gums
• Gums that are sensitive to touch
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Teeth chattering
• Pain when chewing
• New spaces appeare between the teeth that cannot be explained in any other way
• Receding gums

How can we keep periodontitis under control?
Fortunately, periodontitis can be treated. And the goal of any periodontal treatment plan is to clean the bacteria from tooth pockets so further bone and tissue destruction can be avoided. The best way to treat periodontitis is good oral hygiene, including brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day. Descaling and cleaning by a dentist are necessary to remove plaque and calculus and restore periodontal health.

Things worth knowing about periodontitis

1. Periodontitis occurs in different forms and each form may require a different approach to treatment. The treatment of periodontitis has a wide spectrum, but the primary goal is to control the infection as quickly and efficiently as possible.
2. The risk of recurrence of periodontitis is higher if you do not practice proper oral hygiene. This will increase pocket depth and bone loss.
3. You can improve the success of your therapy by removing certain risk factors from your lifestyle. To begin with, to improve your oral health, you should stop using any tobacco products. Continuous high temperature in the oral cavity contributes to the multiplication of bacteria that are the main cause of periodontitis.
4. Periodontal therapy requires time and patience, but the results are truly worth it. Following treatment, you will experience a remarkable improvement in your oral health. Your gums will no longer be painful, allowing you to brush, floss, and eat without discomfort or bleeding. Concerns about bad breath will be a thing of the past. The positive transformation in your oral well-being will be noticeable and provide you with renewed confidence.
5. Gingivitis, characterised by mild inflammation of the gums, serves as an initial stage leading towards periodontitis. Unlike periodontitis, gingivitis is a reversible condition. Typical signs include dark red, sensitive, and swollen gums that tend to bleed easily, particularly during brushing. So, how do we treat gingivitis? The treatment involves strict adherence to oral hygiene instructions and professional teeth cleaning to effectively manage and alleviate the symptoms.

How will I know the difference between periodontitis and gingivitis?
Leave it to the experts, and if you've recently noticed bleeding gums, now is the time to contact us.

A solo or individual crown on one dental implant is a fixed prosthetic replacement. It means it stays permanently in patient’s mouth and the patient can’t remove it by himself. Solo or individual crowns on one implant are a great solution when the patient is missing one tooth. Instead of shaping the neighbouring teeth, which we definitely want to preserve, it is enough to place a dental implant in the region where the tooth is missing and place a crown on it. For example, if the patient is missing a first molar, there is no need to shape the adjacent second premolar and second molar, which would be the supports of a 3-element bridge, but it is enough to place an implant in the region of the missing first molar. In this way, we save the enamel of the neighbouring teeth and consequently extend their life.

If you too are missing just one tooth, contact us!

Fixed dental restorations can be placed on either a single implant or multiple implants, depending on the number of missing teeth and the quality and quantity of bone in the targeted region for prosthetic therapy with dental implants. For instance, if there is a gap of three missing teeth in the lateral/back area (typically teeth from second premolar to second molar), and there is adequate bone support, we can position implants at the sites of second premolar and second molar. These two dental implants will then serve as supports for a three-element bridge, effectively replacing the missing lateral/back teeth. If you have been without lateral/back teeth for an extended period and are experiencing difficulties with chewing, it is crucial to reach out to us promptly, while there is still sufficient bone for implant placement and a possibility for a permanent solution. Don't hesitate to contact us and regain your ability to chew effectively!

For patients who have lost all teeth in their jaw and prefer a non-removable prosthetic solution over a removable denture, we can recommend systems like All-on-4 or All-on-6.
The All-on-4 system, as the name suggests, involves the placement of four dental implants to support a fixed prosthetic restoration, typically suggested when all teeth are missing in the lower jaw.
Similarly, the All-on-6 system, as the name implies, employs six dental implants to support a fixed prosthetic restoration, typically recommended when all teeth are missing in the upper jaw.
Both systems are chosen when there is insufficient bone in the lateral/back regions, requiring the placement of implants at specific angles to achieve optimal support.
We suggest the All-on-4 and All-on-6 solutions to patients who strongly desire to avoid a complete denture and lack adequate bone for implant placement in the posterior regions of the jaw.

The concept of "slow" should not carry a negative connotation. Often, what we truly value is worth waiting. Our fast-paced and stressful lifestyles can often take a toll on us, causing us to always be in a rush. However, procedures in the oral cavity demand precision and a steady hand, with protocols that cannot be compromised if we desire high-quality prosthetic work that satisfies both function and aesthetics.

Nobody enjoys waiting in a crowded waiting room, as we are all pressed for time. We often wish for the dentist to finish our appointments as quickly as possible. While some procedures can be performed swiftly, others require time and focused attention that cannot be rushed. Dr. Marko Zimmermann firmly believes in his appointments, dedicating one hour or even more to each patient. Recognising that every patient is unique, with varying levels of fear and trust, the doctor understands that a pleasant and productive experience in the dentist's chair necessitates his full attention, which takes time. Creating a therapy plan for a patient is also a time-consuming process. We are discussing work that will define the aesthetic and functional aspects of someone's smile for many years to come. If someone were to provide you with the offer for dental treatment and therapy, you might expect a brief document with numbers and services that can be completed within 30 minutes. However, if the doctor informs you that they are planning the appearance of your smile for the next 15 years, you would expect them to devote ample time to carefully design a smile that will bring you joy and make others envious.

Therefore, when selecting your new dentist, it is crucial to carefully consider who you entrust with the care of your smile. If you seek a dental professional who will genuinely prioritise the health of your oral cavity and provide thorough care for your smile, choose an office with the right mindset. Large systems and clinics often prioritise productivity, while smaller practices and systems place the patient at the centre of their activities. Doctors in smaller practices tend to invest more in their education and work because they personally bear the responsibility and understand its significance.

What does slow dentistry mean for the dentist?

• it means taking time to welcome the patient
• it means taking the time for a careful, patient-friendly communication and the care that every patient deserves
• it means an uncompromising commitment to excellence and safety
• it means making sure that each procedure is safe, reliable and its results are long-lasting
• it means reducing dental phobia and anxiety in patients
• it means creating a stress-free environment for the entire dental team

What does slow dentistry mean for the patient

• it means an informed consent and agreement, where each procedure, complex or simple, is thoroughly explained step by step before it begins
• it means procedures without trauma, performed in a pleasant environment, with the help of the best techniques and with the use of the best materials
• it means that patients begin to appreciate their oral health better and are motivated to keep the health of their smile under control
• it means safe dental care without stress and without pain

Digitalisation has become an essential requirement for achieving successful prosthetic and implant prosthetic therapies in dentistry. However, it is worth noting that the digital scanner, a vital component of this technology, is not widely available in many dental clinics and offices in Rijeka and its surrounding areas. Nevertheless, Zimmermann Dental Aesthetic Studio has recently incorporated dental scanner technology into its work protocols. Specifically, the premium brand 3shape TRIOS scanner has been carefully selected and implemented, offering proven reliability and exceptional performance.

Traditional physical impressions for temporary and/or fixed/mobile prosthetic work are gradually becoming outdated. The emergence of dental scanners now enables us to scan the entire jaw, eliminating the need for impressions. The obtained digital data can be further processed as required and transmitted to the dental laboratory, which will proceed with the production of crowns, bridges, or prostheses.

The beauty of this advanced technology lies in its precision and significantly reduced margin of error. No longer will patients have to endure repetitive impressions; a simple two-minute scan is sufficient for the technician to create a customised new smile. Moreover, patients can enjoy the added advantage of avoiding the discomfort associated with impression materials during the traditional process. By embracing dental scanners in the practice, your dentist demonstrates a commitment to investing in the latest technologies, ensuring that patients receive a service that truly enhances their smiles.

Navigated surgery may sound scary at first, but it is a very special service that we provide as part of all our implant-prosthetic therapies. Precise planning of implant therapy is more than half the success.

When planning implant-prosthetic therapy, dr. Zimmermann uses CBCT images of the patient's jaw and scans obtained with the help of the 3shape TRIOS intraoral scanner. The obtained diagnostics enable the presentation of teeth, dental structures and soft and bone tissues and facilitate planning of the type, length and inclination of the dental implants that will be the carriers of the planned prosthetic work.

The obtained parameters are sent to the dental laboratory, which, with the help of a 3D printer, creates a template that will be used in order to place the patient's implants as precisely as possible and to provide an optimal fit for future prosthetic work.

Ozone therapy is a complementary dental service offered to treat specific conditions in the oral cavity. This innovative approach utilises ozone to stimulate the body's immune system, enhance oxygen levels, and eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

At Zimmermann Dental Aesthetic Studio, we employ ozone therapy as part of our treatment options. This therapy involves a combination of ozone gas, oxygen, and ultraviolet light to effectively target and eliminate bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Post-operatively, ozone therapy proves beneficial after procedures such as dental implant placement or tooth extraction. It helps to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and promote the healing process in the treated area. Additionally, it serves as an effective treatment for periodontal diseases, reducing oral cavity bacteria and minimising the risk of cavities.

In dental treatment, ozone therapy is also used to eliminate bacteria from root canals, ensuring a thorough and comprehensive approach to oral care.