Dental Bonding is the Affordable Alternative to Veneers

If you are afraid to smile because of your teeth, your dentist can assess your situation to determine what cosmetic dental restoration procedures would be best for your needs.

There are all sorts of cosmetic dental restorations procedures that you may want to consider.  These include dental implants, porcelain veneers, Lumineers, Invisalign; tooth colored fillings, or dental bonding that can be done in as little as one dental appointment.

Dental bonding is the affordable alternative to porcelain veneers or Lumineers and can help with teeth that are stained, chipped, cracked, or damaged. If you have always wanted to fill that space between your teeth, dental bonding could be the answer.

According to Web MD, dental bonding is the least expensive and easiest way to repair the imperfections in your teeth. The composite tooth colored resin used by your dentist can be shaped to match your natural teeth improve the appearance of short teeth or change the entire shape of your tooth.  

Unlike porcelain veneers, no preparation is required for dental bonding. Anesthetic is usually not required unless you are having silver amalgam fillings replaced or bonding is being used to fill a cavity.

After your dentist has deemed you as a good candidate for dental bonding a shade will be selected from a guide that matches your natural tooth color.

Once the color has been chosen, the surface of the tooth will be etched to roughen it up. The tooth will then be coated with a conditioning liquid to help the tooth colored bonding material stick or adhere to your natural tooth.

After the tooth has been prepared, your dentist will place the resin over the tooth before molding and smoothing into place. After the desired shape is achieved, a laser or ultraviolet light will be used to harden or cure the tooth colored resin.

Enamel shaping improves the appearance of your teeth by contouring the enamel and is often used with dental bonding.

Dental bonding will not last forever and is not as strong as Lumineers or porcelain veneers; however, it is a great alternative if you are looking for a brighter whiter smile in just a few office visits.

For more information regarding dental bonding or any other cosmetic dental restoration procedure, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

Tooth Whitening can make a Difference in your Life

If tooth whitening has become an obsession, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist. People who constantly try new over the counter whitening products such as gels, toothpastes, strips and other whitening kits could be bordering on Bleachorexia. Dental specialists call people who can’t get enough of tooth whitening, Bleachorexics.

Although you probably won’t have to check into rehab to cure yourself of Bleachorexia, there are some things you can do to help keep your whitened teeth white.

Seeing your dentist for professional whitening is the most effective and quickest way to lighten your teeth. The American Dental Association explains that the products that your dentist uses are a lot stronger than what you will find at your local pharmacy. If you are bleaching at home, make sure you choose a product from the ADA approved list.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist to see if you are a good candidate for professional tooth whitening and what types of tooth whitening procedures are available. Unlike those over the counter whiteners, the custom made bleaching trays and the gel prescribed by your dentist will get your teeth much whiter and will cost you less in the long run. Just ask yourself how much you have paid for tooth-bleaching products in the past and you will quickly realize that professional tooth whitening is more economical.

If your dentist has deemed you a good candidate for tooth whitening, you can either opt for in-house whitening, which takes about an hour with immediate results, or the less expensive procedure, custom made trays that you take home with results in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Chair side whitening will give you dramatically whiter teeth in sixty to ninety minutes. During the procedure, your dentist will apply up to 35% hydrogen peroxide bleach followed by heat or light to speed up the whitening process. Depending on the person, you may need more than one appointment with your dentist for this type of tooth whitening. You may experience some temporary gum irritation or tooth sensitivity after in office tooth whitening.

Home Tooth Whitening in the comfort of your own home, but supervised by your dentist is also available. After your dentist makes custom-made bleaching trays, you will be given a tooth bleaching gel, along with a hydrogen peroxide gel to use at home. It has a lower concentration than what is used for patients having in office tooth whitening, but you will still see better results than you would from strips or gels from the local pharmacy. All you have to do is wear the gel-filled trays at night or a couple of times during the day for white teeth in four to six weeks. You may experience some tooth or gum sensitivity that will cease once you stop whitening.

Keep your teeth white with a white diet meaning cut down on red wine, coffee, tea, and spices such as cumin, curry, and turmeric. Think of your teeth like the whites in your washing machine and treat them as such. If you do enjoy these types of foods, make sure that you brush or at least rinse after eating or drinking.

If you are showing signs of Bleachorexia, schedule an appointment with your dentist for tooth whitening today.