According to Bill Tucker, Dr.Kent Hamilton is far more than a periodontist; he is literally a lifesaver. He told Hamilton, “Not only was the periodontal treatment a success, but during the procedure you and your staff discovered what you believed to be an abnormal EKG. During your follow–up phone call the day after surgery, you recommended I see a cardiologist.” Tucker took Hamilton’s advice and made an appointment and was immediately scheduled for a quadruple bypass. The blockage would not have been discovered without that initial phone call from Hamilton.
“The bottom line,” Tucker concludes,“you and your staff, by being concernedabout your patient’s overall well being have no doubt prolonged my life. Again I thank you.”
Hamilton has a book filled with testimonials just like Tucker’s. Grateful patients are effusive in their praise of this cosmetic and periodontal specialist. He takes it all in stride, and doesn’t allow the praise of men to affect what he does. He treats everyone with the same level of professionalism, courtesy and compassion, regardless of who they are. He is justifiably proud of what his practice has achieved though. “We do more implants here in this office than any other office in San Antonio,” he says with quiet satisfaction.
When Hamilton moved into a periodontal private practice, after asuccessful career as a pilot in the Air Force, he realized he was coming in at a significant time. The specialty had been almost stagnant but technology was finally catching up with the visionaries of the specialty. Aspects of dental health that had been only in the realms of possibility were now a reality. Computer modeling, 3–D imaging, miniaturization and complex implants were now within the reach of doctors and dentists. Hamilton and other forward–thinking periodontists leapt at the chance to be leaders in their field. Hamilton today is also a sought–after speaker at conventions, lecturing on those very same technologies.
Our eyes might be the windows to our soul, but our teeth are generally one of the first things someone sees when they meet us. Yet, statistics show that around 80 percent of people are not happy with their 'pearly whites’. Often it is because those 'pearlies’ are ivory, or tainted yellow; or because they have experienced trauma, or are chipped, or in some way less than perfect. “As Hollywood goes, so goes the world,” is generally something we don’t like to admit, but it is true. Twenty years ago Hollywood actresses got face–lifts and implants – today many 'everyday women,' and some men, are following suit. Hollywood actors flash perfect teeth, and so, subtly, we feel the pressure to do the same. Ben Affleck, Hollywood heartthrob, reportedly had to undergo cosmetic implants, and dental implants in order to star in “Armageddon”. Now the rest of America is following in the path of Hollywood.
Hollywood may turn to dentistry for cosmetic purposes only, but many of us turn to cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, root coverage, crown lengthening, tissue recontouring and gum sculpting for medical reasons. Not being able to enjoy food, or struggling to eat without pain, are very real and valid reasons to visit Hamilton and undergo oral surgery.
Lost teeth due to trauma can cause distress to anyone, and Dr. Hamilton is here to help. Dental implants do more than just replace a lost tooth – they replace the root and the crown, providing a strong foundation. “A dental implant is the only form of tooth replacement that carries its own load and maintains the bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth. The implants are made of pure titanium, and actually fuse with the bone to prevent the loss of the jawbone. The implant does not need to be attached to neighboring teeth to be held in place.”
Best of all, the procedures conducted by Hamilton and his able staff are almost pain free.The conscious sedation helps, as well as the staff’s gentle treatment. Another huge plus is there is no guesswork when it comes to operating on the teeth. Full scans are taken of the patient’s mouth and from that a 3–D image is created and a mock–up of the procedure is completed. Dr. Hamilton says, he actually operates on a patient’s mouth before they even sit in the chair!
Hamilton credits his success to continual education and learning. He is amazed that just in his specialty alone there is so much to learn. “In order to stay current with trends you have to have a mindset of continual learning,” he says. “My specialty has exploded exponentially as have others. But it is exciting to be on the edge of it all, and in many ways to be leading those trends.” He points out one benefit to the new technology is that several years ago getting implants was a long, tedious process, sometimes taking up to 12 months. These days those same implants can be done in a day.
Periodontics has come a long way, from a time when it really only addressed gum disease today where doctors like Hamilton provide treatment to improve the health of the gums and bone, and provide a balanced appearance in a patient’s smile. As one patient gratefully wrote, “I have a complete set of teeth that feel and look just like my own. And they only took a day. The best part is, there was no pain.”
For the best in cosmetic and periodontal care, there is no finer practice than that of Hamilton’s. His goal is to “give back a smile that has been temporarily misplaced, or in some cases, one they have always wanted but never had.”
