by Betha Merit
Dr. Farid Noie, DDS, DICOI, FAGD
Unicare Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry
The Unicare Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry offers comprehensive services that reflect the excellence and thoroughness of Dr. Farid Noie, who lives his life with a passion for learning and providing state of the art procedures that are proven safe and effective.
Services offered begin with a personalized treatment plan when you visit their spa-like offices. “First and foremost, we see the individual,” says Dr. Noie. A leading cosmetic dentistry in the greater Houston area, Dr. Noie and the Unicare Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry provide a full range of general and cosmetic dental treatment. Some of their services include:
- , including Sinus Lift and autogenous block graft procedure and laser assistant soft tissue regeneration and repair
- Cosmetic Dentistry (Lumineers, porcelain veneers, all-ceramic crowns, smile makeovers, orthodontic, and Invisalign)
- Dental Implants (single tooth or full mouth implants). And now, Teeth in a day
- Sedation Dentistry (IV sedation and Nitrous Oxide)
- Preventative Dentistry (routine checkups, cleanings, and oral hygiene measures)
- CAT Scan and digital smile makeover at no extra charge.
Dr. Noie and The Unicare Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry have strong roots in the Bay Area Houston neighborhood, with over 18 years in the same location. Their satisfied patient list totals over 20,000. Dr. Noie has a huge breadth of education. He is a Diplomate, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry; Associate Fellow, American Academy of Implant Dentistry; Member, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry; Pankey Trained and more.
We asked Dr. Noie to update us on his current status and also his future vision.
Q: What is new at Unicare Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry this year?
Dr. Noie: The field of dental implantology is continuing its rapid growth. Recently the “Teeth in the Same Day” style of implant supported teeth has become much more predictable. This process is beginning to reach the reliability of the “two to three month integration time” method. For years I have been monitoring the long-term predictability of “Teeth in the Same Day” technique closely. I am now confident enough about their long-term prognosis to offer it to my patients.
Almost every American will experience loss of a natural tooth at least once in his or her lifetime. How to replace lost natural teeth with something adequately compatible has been the 800-pound gorilla in our field. With the introduction of titanium implants, for the first time we had a formidable challenger to reverse the cascade effects of tooth loss. We no longer need to grind two or more healthy teeth to make room for fixed bridge, or over time lose the teeth that were formerly used to anchor removable partial dentures.
Q: Please highlight a few memorable patients and what procedures you performed.
Dr. Noie: There are too many stories and each of them is special and memorable in a unique way. One of the commonly recurring themes in our office is when a patient feels and bites with implanted teeth after suffering with dentures and ingesting high quantities of denture paste over many years. The experience is so emotional and usually involves lots of tears and hugs. We are all overcome with so much joy and happiness, every single time.
Q: Your education resume is astonishing. Is there any other area of study that you will pursue, formally or informally?
Dr. Noie: There is so much more to be done. Even though dental science has found many ways to repair damaged teeth, there comes a point where we can’t save a tooth. To further complicate the problem, loss of a natural tooth is followed by loss of jaw bone volume and porosity due to lack of physical stimulation of that segment of jaw bone. Such significant loss greatly compromises one’s ability to chew and break down food properly. Most people adopt a softer diet, which can lead to more gastrointestinal malfunction. In addition, strokes, cardiac conditions, diabetes, stomach ulcers, and pneumonia have all been shown to be more prevalent or worsen in those suffering from gum disease and uncontrolled oral bacterial population. While dental implants have managed to become a suitable replacement for natural teeth, they can’t prevent them. The destruction of tooth and gum structure by harmful bacteria remains an unsolved puzzle. I don’t consider my role as an oral healthcare provider complete until we find a way to eliminate this serious disease from its microbiological origin and make tooth decay and gum disease a thing of the past.
Q: On a personal note, will you update us on your involvement with “Relief Network Ministries” (www.reliefnetworks.org)
Dr. Noie: Yes. That medical mission trip was extremely fulfilling. I was able to give back in some of the most deprived parts of the world. It was the toughest job I ever loved. I also appreciated how difficult it is to provide medical care in a place where the most basic hygiene protocols such as washing hands with soap before eating or drinking and clean running water, are non-existent. Currently, I am in communications with “Mercy Ship” and “Care for Life.” They both conduct humanitarian missions in Africa in different forms.
Mercy Ship, in my opinion, is the safest way to provide medical relief in a region where infectious diseases such as HIV, Hep B and C, malaria and typhoid are prevalent, and adequate infection control for any invasive procedure is a real challenge. I also like “Care for Life” and their approach to aid in Africa. They are a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering small villages in remote parts of Mozambique. They coach villagers to help themselves by adopting better social structures and teaching them new abilities, as opposed to just giving them financial aid without improving their infrastructure.
Q: And how are your wonderful daughters?
Dr. Noie: They are absolutely the love of my life, and I feel very blessed to be such a big part of their lives. There are, however, some troubling signs on the horizon. They are getting to an age where their social life is more time consuming. Hanna (9) is really getting into gymnastics, drama and dance. Nikki (12) is going through a serious growth spurt. She is already 5’3” and is drawn to volleyball, swimming and piano. I am seat-belting myself in dreadful anticipation of teenage-hood mania, which is just around the corner.
Q: What else would you like our readers to know about you or Unicare Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry?
Dr. Noie: My team and I consider ourselves fortunate to be able to make a difference in the lives of so many Houstonians, as well as many out of town patients who find us either through referral from our existing patients or word of mouth.
As a young child I was exposed to the devastating effects of tooth loss by watching my dad suffer at the dinner table. Eating supper is supposed to be a joyous event, but for my dad it was more of a necessary chore and agony. Unfortunately, my dad passed away before I could complete my training. However, his pain made me realize the daily misery endured by a denture wearer. I wouldn’t have been able to feel that deep sympathy any other way at such a young age (eight or nine). While I could not improve the quality of his life, I am determined to do so for as many other denture wearers and teeth sufferers as possible.
Unicare Center for Cosmestic and Implant Dentistry is located at 20814 Gulf Freeway, Suite 40, Webster, TX 75598; 281-332-4700; www.drnoie.com.
