Surgery News : Snap on Teeth

To see what I mean, look up "Snap on Teeth" on Fox news search.

Example!

New York Daily News -
You can grin
like a star!
BY TANYANIKA SAMUELS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, March 24th, 2005

For the dentally challenged, flashing a dazzling Julia Roberts or Tom Cruise smile can be a snap, thanks to the latest in tooth technology.

Snap-on teeth - with celebrity-inspired choppers - are fast becoming a popular way to get that coveted smile without waiting out braces or dropping thousands on caps, some dentists say.

"It gives patients an opportunity to see how one could enhance their smile at very little cost," said Larry Addleson, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

The plastic teeth slide over a patient's own teeth like a glove and snap into place.

The wearer simply puts them in or removes them with a gentle push or tug.

New York dentist Jeff Golub-Evans offers his patients a variety of celebrity-inspired looks such as "The Halle" or "The Gwyneth" for women, and the "Denzel" or "George" for men.

"A good smile is now a fashion accessory," he said.

Golub-Evans, who first started making prosthetic teeth for theatrical performances, has been fitting his patients with perfect pearly whites for about two years now.

His says his patients include celebrities as well as brides-to-be and those wanting to test drive a new smile before committing to a more permanent procedure.

Manhattan dentist Marc Liechtung is another of the few dentists nationwide who offer the prosthetics, which cost $1,000 to $1,500 per set. He has been fitting his patients with the snap-on teeth for about three months.

"The whole idea is to give people the confidence to go out and smile," Liechtung said.

He does about 10 consultations per day, but not everyone automatically qualifies. He does not recommend them for people with gum disease or severe tooth decay.

"This is solely cosmetic," Liechtung said. "It's not meant to replace bridgework or the need for a filling."

Dental experts said the prosthetics could last for years with limited usage and careful cleaning.

Wearers can eat with them, but it is recommended that they eat only softer foods, like yogurt or mashed potatoes.

For patients like Jennifer Vasquez, such a restriction is a minor detail.

She wanted a picture-perfect smile for her Aug. 28 wedding but didn't want to drop thousands on pricey dental work.

"They're very comfortable," she said of her new teeth. "It feels just like you're wearing a retainer and no one can tell. They don't look like Halloween teeth."

A totally misrepresented appliance
This appliance works like a bruxism appliance. When the patient first puts it in, assuming that it was constructed at a quality dental lab, it will snap into place and stay in fairly well. However after you use it for a while, it will loosen up and can come out with the apple that you bite into or even brake in half when biting into a piece of bread. To top that off having a yogurt for dinner on your wedding night or have the aforementioned happen can present a embarrassing situation. In addition, since the shell teeth cover the originals they must be larger than what the patient has. This may present a little dilemma when you choose the "Gwyneth or Halle Smile" if your teeth are of the same size or are slightly larger. To complicate the situation even further, this type of appliance will only work for patients that do not have many curvatures on their teeth eliminating the most of us. However the positive feature to this appliance is that it will bring many new patients into the dentist's office that may be talked into more expensive procedures. Since the dentist sends out these resin appliances to be constructed at a dental lab, he must pay the laboratory approximately $100.00 for doing all the work.

A little humor that I thought you may appreciate.

Arvid Saunaitis

Former dental lab owner

630-910-6520 or

tsaunaitis@msn.com<mailto:tsaunaitis@msn.com>

Please look up "Overlay Cosmetic Appliance" published in the September issue 2004 of Dental Products Report.

The Real Story

New dental device that dental industry does not want you to know about

After contacting a number of dental manufacturers, labs and associations for help, I found it frustrating to learn that the industry is not interested to see removable prosthodontics (full and partial denture construction) advance. As the dental technology programs around the country began to close and technicians who construct partials to leave the dental lab industry, dental manufacturers started investing a lot of money in to the fixed sector of dental technology (crown and bridge construction) in hopes to keep it strong. The dental manufacturers even engineered equipment called CAD/CAM that can do the work of a crown and bridge technician. Since no money was invested in partial denture construction, the technicians who make partials continue to work with hazardous materials like monomers and silica and are the lowest paid in the lab industry. If the departure of skilled partial denture craftsman from the industry continues, the damage to the removable sector of dental technology will be irreversible and affect the quality of life of many aging Americans.

Hoping to show the partial technician a sign of hope, I invented a removable dental device that snaps over the existing teeth and covers the worn or discolored dentition giving the patient a perfect smile instantly. The appliance is also durable, does not cover the palate and the patient can wear it all the time removing it only for cleaning. As compared to crowns and veneers that coast approximately $15,000, the new device accomplished the same for only $2,000-3,000 depending on the dentist.

After my breakthrough was published in the Chicago Daily South town, Reporter and Progress papers, Dental Products Report and broadcasted on NBC and MSNBC news, it quickly gained popularity among dentists and the public. However, being unable to find any help and the increased handling of hazardous materials, made me realize that life is to short and I decided to retire from the dental lab industry. After hearing the disappointing news, some people who heard about the appliance through the media became emotional, as they explained to me that this appliance was the only affordable way to restore their smiles.

Arvid Saunaitis

Former dental lab owner

630-910-6520

1921 Wellington Rd.

Woodridge IL 60517

tsaunaitis@msn.com<mailto:tsaunaitis@msn.com>

Doctors acquiring about the real Overlay Cosmetic Appliance
Dear Sir,
I have several patients who are excellent candidates for the Overlay Cosmetic Appliance. However, I would like an estimate of lab fees in order to determine patient costs.
Thank you,
Joseph Albertine, D.D.S.

Dear Arvid:
It was my great pleasure to read your article in DPR Sept-04. I have had bad experience with an overlay partial to fix vertical dimension. Would you please send me the preparation protocol for the clinician and patient guidelines and maitenance instructions? Thanks. Xin Wei DDS

Dear Arvid,
I saw your article in DPR and have a patient who I feel may be a perfect
candidiate. I would be interested in hearing from you with additional
details.
Regards,
Ed Korenman

Please tell me more about your interesting overlay appliance. I am interested in the dentist's technique and lab fees associated.

If you have some kind of brochure or technical paper please respond.

I think you may be on to something of value to a particular section of the public.

Thanks,

Don Ratliff, DDS

donlib@chartertn.net<about:blank>

Hello Mr. Saunaitis,

I am resending this email in case you didn't receive it. I'm very interested in your overlay appliance for myself. I was considering orthodontics and crowns, but this looks like an interesting alternative. I am enclosing photos of myself. I may need to shorten the upper right central incisor prior to taking the impression to make my smile look straighter. I have enclosed photos for you to evaluate. I am looking forward to your reply. Thanks

Dr. Peter Gold
Yorkville Orthodontics
94 Cumberland St. #804
Toronto M5R 1 A3

Arvid, my name is Greg Dent. I practice in Tucson Arizona at 5190 E. Farness #102 85712. I'm very interested on what is required from me in order to provide this service to my patients. Must I work with my current prosthetic lab? Any info would be appreciated. You can call me at 520-323-3241 or at the above address. Fax is 520-881-1806. Than you, Greg

Dear Arvid,
This is my second letter. Are you too busy to respond
Read your article at Dental Products Report. I have a patient that has been
wanting me to do an appliance like that.
Can you send me more info and will you do the lab work for me?
Please include an approximate lab fee for a similar case as the one in your
article.
Thank you.
Frederick Y. Lee, DDS

I am interested in the overlay cosmetic appliance for a patient with missing 6-10 and 14. I have made an acrylic overlay partial as a bite guard to replace the missing teeth and solve the food impaction problems and address his tmj issues as well. Unfortunately it needs to be too bulky anteriorly for strength than is comfortable phonetically. Your appliance looks like it could address those concerns and provide a good esthetic result as well. My only concern would be getting it retentive enough to provide anterior disclusion of the posterior teeth. Also the detail of fitting accurately to all the occlusal surfaces would concern me.

Having said all that, How are these appliances priced?

Thank you

Dana Manchester DMD

DEAR SIR
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST MORE IMFORMATION ABOUT YOUR COSMETIC OVERLAY APPLIANCE.
I HAVE A CASE WHICH I FEEL IS PERFECT FOR THIS APPLIANCE.
SINCERELY
CHARLES R. GIBSON, D.D.S.
7310 N. VILLAGE AVE.
TUCSON, AZ 85704

I recently read article about the cosmetic overlay partial and tore it out of the dental products mag. only to tear out some of the web site info.. I was wondering what lab does this type of appliance and info where to get more information about it. thanks Dr mark Holloway 2818 Ave I Rosenberg TX 7747 DEAR SIR

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST MORE IMFORMATION ABOUT YOUR COSMETIC OVERLAY APPLIANCE.
I HAVE A CASE WHICH I FEEL IS PERFECT FOR THIS APPLIANCE.

SINCERELY
CHARLES R. GIBSON, D.D.S.
7310 N. VILLAGE AVE.
TUCSON, AZ 85704

Arvid;

My name is Edwin Simon and I'm a dentist in the Toronto, Canada area.

I'm very interested in how you made your overdenture which I read about in Dentistry Today magazine.

Have you made many and how durable / successful have they been?

Is the framework a special kind of alloy and how are the teeth attached to the framework?

is it Chemical bond or mechanical bond or both?

Do you use any kind of opaquer over the metal?

Do you think both upper and lower appliances could be worn in the same mouth?

Any information you ca give me would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully:

Edwin Simon

dr.e.simon@rogers.com<about:blank>

Dear Mr. Saunaitis,
I read your very interesting article in Dental Products Report. I want to start making your Cosmetic Overlay Appliances for my patients. Unfortunately, I was not able to open your web site. Please, let me know where I can get more detailed information on your wonderful invention.
Sincerely,
Ellen Kogan DDS

Hello Arvid,
My name is Dr. Alvin Pagan, a prosthodontist in Westlake Village, Ca., and
would like more information regarding the cosmetic overlay appliance. I
read the article in Dental Products Report and I believe I have a case who
may be interested in this form of treatment. I'll need to know if can be
used for distal extensions, mandibular appliances, and the lab to send the
case to and the lab cost.

Sincerely,
Alvin Pagan, D.D.S.

I saw your article in Dental Product Reports and thought that I have several patients that could benefit from that type of treatment. Could you send some information about your product. My fax is 5417735551. My address is John P. Houghton DDS, 1762 E. McAndrews Rd. St.A Medford,OR 97504. I would also like an idea of lab costs. Thanks.

Hello
I read your article in Dental Products Report. I have a pt. with missing and
severely worn teeth. The teeth have excellent bone and attachment but above the
gum the teeth are very worn down.
If you'd be interested I could send you his models and let you take a look.
If you could give a ball-park estimate for the cost of an upper overlay that
would help me to estimate what the pt. would be responsible for.
Thank you, for your time.
P.S. Your overlay would seem to be a practical solution for heavily worn teeth
that have good root support.

My cell is 352-210-0272
office 352-498-7001
Dr Stephen M Henry
Cross City Dental
Cross City, Florida (50mi West of Gainesville, FL.)

Dear Mr. Saunaitis,
I have a patient who is interested in the cosmetic overlay appliance, which he saw on msnbc. From what I have read in Dental Products Report, this sounds like a good treatment for him.
Would you please send me more information about this appliance and how I can get started on this case?
With great appreciation,
Dr. Michelle Zoeteman

Dear Mr. Saunaitis -

The appliance presented in your article of September Dental Products report would fit perfectly into my TMJ/Restorative practice. Do you, by chance, have any experience with the Acculiner articulator, and/or the various bite registrations currently being taken by those crazy enough to treat patient with TMJ problems, such as S-point, hard wax, tens-ed swallow, computer assisted, etc.?? It is a fantastic option for patients who really do need full mouth reconstruction, but can not afford to do them all at the same time. It allows function with esthetics, much more efficiently at the increased vertical then wearing an orthotic 24-7. It also appears to be more hygienic than having temporary crowns with marginal leakage in use during the holding pattern. Please forward your information via email, if possible since my snail mail tends to sit on my desk longer than it should (hense, just getting to read the September journal on my way to my parents for thanksgiving).

Thank you for your response,

Dr. Cynthia Wiggins

Michigan

I read the article on your Overlay Cosmetic Appliance with great interest since it presents a non-invasive, reversible way to deal with a problem that is increasingly present in our aging population. I am very interested in adding your procedure to my practice armamentarium. I tried sending in the Information Request Card in the September 2004 issue of Dental Products Report, but have received no response yet, so I thought it best to try and contact you directly. If you could send me prescribing information for your laboratory services, I would be much obliged. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Robert E. Bain, D.D.S.
1010 Chenango Street
Binghamton, NY 13901
(607) 723-1271
REBain@aol.com

I would love info about the cosmetic overlay appliance. I have a patient who I think could benefit from the appliance. We would like to know time involved and cost.

If you could give me this info and a phone number that would be great. Please e-mail me at

amaranapper@att.net<mailto:amaranapper@att.net>

thank you, Amara

Arvid, I just read the article in dentalproducts. I was not able to access the msnbc broadcast. Would you forward any info you can provide. I currently have a patient with a class three occlusion. Missing 7, 8 root tip, 9 needs endo and 10 is in good condition. The patient is considering extractions and a partial to replace 7 thru 10. We can possibly get him into end to end and improve his lip support. Could this be and option of on overlay partial.

Thanks M.Pippin

Good article! I've Rxed a similar appliance , but it is not as cosmetic...It had metal overlay with bead retention for resin application. I have a patient who could be a candidate for your appliance. Please forward more info, fee, time-frame, etc.

Thanks, JEF, dds

Dr Arvid, we saw your add on your Dental Products report magazine dated September 2004 my doctor is very interested in obtaining more information, can you please mail the information to our practice address: Marisol Lopez-Belio D.D.S.,P.A. 1200 Corporate Center Way Ste. 101 Wellington, FL 33414.

Dear Arvid,
Read your article at Dental Products Report. I have a patient that has been
wanting me to do an appliance like that. Can you send me more info and will you do the lab work for me? Please include an approximate lab fee for a similar case as the one in your
article.

Thank you.
Frederick Y. Lee, DDS

Arvid,

I saw your article in September's DPR regarding the cosmetic overlay appliance and was rather intrigued. very interesting concept. i was wondering if you know of any labs that have experience with this in the northeast? if not, i'd appreciate some information on your lab, how much you charge for an appliance like this, etc.

thanks.

jon ludwig, dmd

Hello. I just read about your overlay appliance in DPR. Congratulations. Would you please forward information?

Thanks. Mark Levy, DDS

303 StoneRidge Lane

Gahanna, Ohio 43230

I read your article in Dental Products Report. I have a patient that I have thought about doing something like this, but was afraid it would not be strong enough. This patient is unable to do crowns due to cost. He is a severe bruxer. His bite is much more severe than your "before" picture. He needs a full upper and full lower appliance. I would like to know the fee and the requirements on the bite that is needed. IE: 2mm for the top and 2mm for the bottom. Also could you please go over any problems that occur with such an appliance. I am very worried about the teeth breaking off. His anteriors are ground down nearly to the pulp and the gingiva. He is not an easy patient to work with as any problem is major to him. If I can prepare him for potential problems, it would be better. If something happens that we did not anticipate might happen, he becomes very difficult. On the other hand if we prepare him for the worst, and it does not happen; he is very easy to get along with.

Also do you think a metal incisal edge would be safer on the anteriors in this case. What are your views on that? At this point this patient is more worried about eating than his appearance. I of course would like to solve both problems, if it would not cause additional problems in the future. If you would like to discuss this on the phone I would be happy to. It is best to catch me at 8:15am or 5:00pm. My Office phone number is 361-729-0595. The back line is 361-729-0596.

My address is:

1508 Hwy 35N

Rockport, TX 78382

Thank You for your time,

Ronald W. Ramey, DDS

RWR/kp

Mr. Saunaitis, i read your article detailing the appliance you
developed and i had a couple questions regarding it. can the appliance
replace missing teeth like a traditional partial, if so can teeth be
added to it if the patient loses a tooth after the appliance has been
made , also what would the lab charge to make this appliance? also ,
have you found that it is difficult to eat with this? for example can
you bite food with your front teeth?

Thank you,

Brian Bursick

Without your help, the new dental device that took me years to develop will soon be no longer available.