Minimally Invasive or Traditional Porcelain Veneers

If you have been considering Porcelain Veneers, talk to your dentist about minimally invasive Dental Veneers.

Colgate explains that having a less than appealing smile not only affects the way you act around people, but can also have a dramatic affect on your self-esteem. However, sometimes you can be unsure about what cosmetic dental procedures are best for you.

Thankfully, there are several options when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, including minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers.

Talk to your dentist about minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers if you would like to leave as much of your tooth structure as possible. Minimally invasive Porcelain veneers have been designed to cover just the surface of your teeth and are very thin.

One of the biggest advantages of minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers is that you are able to conserve or keep the enamel on the tooth or teeth that are being prepared. In fact, that is one of the biggest reasons that people opt for these types of Porcelain Veneers.

Traditional Porcelain Veneers require anesthetic to remove about ½ mm of the tooth’s enamel. Because not everyone is suitable for minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers, it is important that you discuss possible treatments with your dentist, especially if you are considering traditional Dental Veneers, as traditional veneers are permanent and not reversible.

Your dentist will tell you that because of all of the different cosmetic and restorative dental procedures available, it is vital that you schedule a comprehensive clinical examination, including an esthetic evaluation to determine what types of cosmetic dental procedures, including minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers, are best for you.

Porcelain Veneers are used to mask tooth discolorations, minor misalignment issues, and tooth reshaping; however, there are some misconceptions when it comes to minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers.

Those misconceptions include: 

• Minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers will make your teeth appear too long or too big. In most patients, some tooth reshaping is needed to allow your smile to look better than the one you started with.
• Minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers can cause gum disease. A good cosmetic dentist will make sure to finish and polish the edges of your teeth in order to avoid ledges.
• Your teeth will be sensitive after minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers. Because the tooth enamel is retained, tooth sensitivity is rare. 

If you would like more information regarding minimally invasive Porcelain Veneers, call or click and schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

What You Should Avoid at the Holiday Table

As you get ready to throw your diet to the wind during the holidays, you may want to consider your choices at the holiday party table. Some of the foods you munch on could cause some serious damage to your teeth and gums, and let’s face it; the last thing you want to deal with in January is never ending trips to the dentist’s office.

Although you may be tempted to tuck into the Christmas caramels, your dentist advises against it. Caramels are one of the worst things that you can do to your teeth and are right up there with candy canes and gummy bears. Caramels and other sticky sweets will get caught between your teeth and the fissures and crevices on your molars. Once that happens, the sugar will quickly convert to acid, eroding the enamel on your teeth. If you must enjoy make sure that you brush and floss as quickly as you can, or rinse with water.

You may think you are doing yourself a favor by drinking white wine instead of red, but you would be wrong. According to the American Dental Association, white wine has large amounts of acid and sugar. Coupled together, that glass of wine could cause problems for the enamel on your teeth. Although red wine can stain, it is a much better choice than a glass of white wine. Make sure that you brush afterwards or try one of those new wine wipe ups that are available online or at your local pharmacy.

Dried fruit may seem like a great choice when it comes to the holiday buffet, but be careful. Those dried apricots, figs, dates, mangos, and pineapples are a diabetic’s nightmare and full of sugar. If that isn’t bad enough dried fruit, just like caramel, will stick to your teeth.

Not everything is bad for your teeth when it comes to the holiday buffet table. Instead of sweets or starchy goodies, which could cause more damage, sample cheese as it is loaded with calcium. Veggies are another great choice as carrots and broccoli can help give your saliva a boost while celery is known as nature’s dental floss.

This Christmas remember to watch what you eat, and don’t forget to schedule your annual checkup with your dentist before the New Year.

Like your Reflection Again

If you are tired of your reflection in the mirror because of your smile, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist. Scheduling a complimentary cosmetic dentistry evaluation will help your dentist determine what dental cosmetic procedures would be best for your particular needs whether you require a simple in office tooth whitening treatment, or something more permanent such as dental veneers or invisible braces.

When you schedule a comprehensive dental examination with your dentist your past and present medical history will be discussed before your dentist conducts a thorough checkup that will include an oral cancer screening, gum evaluation and a cleaning. If you have any cavities, your dentist may decide to fill them during your checkup or schedule an additional appointment to take care of the decay if a large filling and root canal therapy is required.

After your oral examination and dental checkup your dentist will discuss what types of cosmetic dental procedures would be best for your situation while asking you questions regarding your perception of the perfect smile. Dental veneers, dental implants, dental bonding, inlays, onlays, invisible braces, bridges, or crowns may be recommended to improve your smile. Sometimes all that may be needed is a simple tooth whitening procedure, which can take place chair side or at home with custom made home bleaching trays and whitening gel.

If your dentist recommends dental bonding, you will only need one appointment per tooth as this cosmetic and restorative dental procedure is done completely in house and on site in just one visit per tooth or area. 

If more than one dental procedure is required, you and your dentist will discuss payment plans and options along with a treatment schedule. Some procedures may be best before others, while sometimes you can have two or more procedures during the same appointment.

If you would like more information regarding restorative and cosmetic dental procedures, call or click and schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help you determine what treatments would be best for your particular needs. Call or click now.

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.

A Healthier Smile in 2015

Another year has passed and if you are planning to live a healthier lifestyle, better oral health should be on your New Year’s resolution list. Healthy teeth and gums are essential, as your mouth truly is the gateway to the rest of your body.

Web MD explains that poor oral hygiene can cause all kinds of issues with your body. Recent research has linked gum disease with heart problems, diabetes, and even autoimmune disease. In fact, some scientists believe that Alzheimer’s could be related to poor oral health. Brushing, flossing, regular trips to your dentist and a healthy diet are all part of a good oral hygiene routine. 

Of course, if you have been given a clean bill of health from your dentist, but are still unhappy with your smile, ask your dentist about cosmetic dentistry.

Dental veneers, dental implants, tooth colored fillings, bridges, crowns and tooth bleaching are just some of the procedures that your dentist may recommend if you have chips or cracks, or simply want to improve your smile and fill in that gap between your front teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can even lengthen or shorten your teeth. If your teeth are crooked or stained your dentist can help with cosmetic procedures that will make you grin from ear to ear. You can even have your teeth straightened without having to resort to uncomfortable metal brackets and wires with Invisalign. 

Bonding is the affordable alternative to porcelain veneers and can fix stained teeth that cannot be helped with ordinary tooth bleaching. Dental bonding can also fix chips and cracks and can be used to fill gaps and replace silver amalgam fillings. Dental bonding is especially useful for fillings in and behind your front teeth.

If your dentist has determined that you are a good candidate for bonding, the simple and cost effective procedure can be done in as little as one dental appointment. Using a special tooth-colored composite material that is applied and shaped before being cured, smoothed and polished; dental bonding can even be used to protect exposed roots that are sensitive.

This year do something for your mind, body, and spirit and schedule an appointment with your dentist for cosmetic dentistry. A healthy smile really can improve your entire outlook on life. Call now.