Dentist Dr Matt Wright believes in breaking the cycle of death. The death of your teeth that is.
Sounds morbid but this is how he explains Biomimetic Dentistry, a sensitive restorative approach which reduces the need for root canal therapy and full coverage crowns, minimises damage to the already compromised tooth and allows more chance of a tooth lasting you a life time.
For years, techniques used to fix broken teeth have generally involved removing large amounts of healthy tooth structure to allow fillings and crowns to be attached.
However Biomimetic Dentistry takes the “fence on the top of the cliff rather than an ambulance at bottom of the cliff” approach.
It’s probably an understatement to suggest Matt from Lumino InCity Dental Rotorua is one of Biomimetic Dentistry’s biggest cheerleaders.
“From my earliest training I had the motto of ‘pursuit of excellence’ drummed into me and in my career I have always endeavoured to follow this,” he says.
Matt found a passion for minimally invasive dentistry, was mentored by Dr Graeme Milicich ( a driving force in Biomimetic Dentistry in New Zealand) and studied under the founder of Biomimetic Dentistry, Dr Dave Alleman.
The ‘less is more’ technique is used and welcomed by patients in the Rotorua practice in which Matt is lead dentist.
“I cannot think of any patient who said they would rather butcher their tooth to end up with an implant in 10 years,” he says.
He says his patients love the fact that the technique saves them time, money and their teeth in the long term!
Good bye root canal, hello worthwhile investment
The number of root canals are dropping by 90% in Dr Wright’s practice, a remarkable statistic.
“In 2012 we did an average of 30 root canals a month, in the following years we have carried out less than 30 root canals a year and in some months we virtually have none,” says Matt.
“We all know that a root canal tooth is an extraction waiting to happen, even the best endodontist will agree with that. “
“If we can keep a tooth alive and break the cycle of death that traditional dentistry results in, then we truly are doing no harm and the patient will hopefully realize that the additional time and cost they invested in our Biomimetic Techniques has been in the long run a worthwhile investment,” he says.
The future’s looking bright
Matt has spent a great number of hours mentoring “open-minded, enthusiastic associates… all of whom came to me with no knowledge of Biomimetic concepts.”
“I am proud to say that all of these practitioners have adopted and continue to practice the ideas of Biomimetic Dentistry,” he says.
Matt believes that in 20 years’ time Biomimetic Dentistry will be practiced in all surgeries much in the same away keyhole surgery has replaced operative techniques used in the 1970s in general medicine.
“I think the future of Biomimetic Dentistry will depend on practitioners wanting to do the best possible for their patients,” he says.
A short note from Matt
If I could offer one single paper which changed my 25-year career overnight it would be:
A systematic approach to deep caries removal end points: The peripheral seal concept in adhesive dentistry. By David Alleman and Pascal Magne. March 2012. Quintessence Int.
This paper is the keystone to what Biomimetic Dentistry is.
Matt is a member of the Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry and the International Association of Adhesive dentistry. He is also a member of IADR (International Association of Dental Research).
Lumino InCity Rotorua fully embrace the principles of Biomimetic Dentistry and have put in place the knowledge and equipment required to provide this treatment option to their patients.