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March 28, 2013

Dental veneers are wafer thin shells used to cover a multitude of dental imperfections.

  1. Stained teeth – Genetics, age, medication, and lifestyle habits can result in stubborn stains that are not successfully treated with a hygienic cleaning or whitening products.
  2. Misshapen teeth – For those teeth that appear like they don’t belong, veneers can alter the appearance of one or several teeth.
  3. Chipped teeth – Can appear whole again.
  4. Gaps between teeth – One or several gaps can be treated making those spaces disappear.

Your cosmetic dentist can review the many ways veneers can produce a brilliant smile in a couple of short visits, and explain which material is best suited for you.

Porcelain is the perfect material for veneers because of its translucent properties that make these covers appear as natural as your teeth. 

Veneers provide an answer that is more permanent than whitening or bonding, while providing a minimally invasive cosmetic correction.

Porcelain provides added strength to treated teeth.

Porcelain resists staining.

Porcelain can be made into any shape and color matched perfectly to surrounding teeth.

Veneers provide an answer that is more permanent than whitening or bonding, while providing a minimally invasive cosmetic correction. A very small amount of the natural enamel is removed from the front of teeth that are to be treated. The amount removed is close to the thickness of the veneer. This makes treated teeth appear very natural and virtually undetectable from surrounding teeth.

The teeth are coated with a substance designed to aid in bonding the veneer to the tooth. However, before being permanently cemented, the dentist will “try-in” the veneers to guarantee the fit and shading are a perfect match. Adjustments can be made as needed.

Once satisfied, the veneers are cemented into place. Those dental imperfections are erased, and a brilliant smile has been created.

Caring for dental veneers is as easy as caring for your own natural teeth with one small exception. The protective enamel on teeth is very hard and can withstand more pressure than the porcelain veneer. Avoid biting hard objects like ice or hard candy; do not bite fingernails or use the teeth to open packages. If a veneer is broken, it must be replaced as the enamel under the veneer has been previously removed.

Daily flossing and brushing along with those twice yearly visits to the dentist round out the rules of caring for your porcelain veneers which will provide many years of brilliant smiles.

March 18, 2013

What can possibly happen to teeth if I fail to keep my six month checkup, and don’t see the dentist or hygienist for a whole year?

  1. Plaque build-up – You don’t really notice it at first because it starts at the gum line. But all of a sudden you can start to feel that little ridge of calculus that is starting to form. That is bacteria piling up on your teeth that can progress into dental decay or gum disease.
  2. Yellowing – At each visit when you get your teeth professionally cleaned, plaque is removed along with the build-up of grime that has allowed your teeth to take on a dull appearance. Once the teeth are cleaned, they will be polished to look their best.
  3. Decay – Small caries too little to detect at one appointment can grow to a full blown cavity if not checked on a regular basis. This can translate to a huge filling, or worse.
  4. Gum disease – Your dentist or hygienist will perform a periodontal charting to make sure the pocket depths between teeth and gum tissue are not reaching a serious depth, which could result in gum disease.
  5. Malocclusion – Regular visits with your dentist will monitor any changes in the dental bite. An over bite, under bite or cross bite can cause grinding and clenching, dental decay, TMJ, or concerns about the appearance of your teeth.
  6. Tooth loss – Potentially serious problems are monitored, and needed corrections can be initiated to prevent costly and time consuming treatment.

Many patients mistakenly believe they can substitute their dental visits for their own personal daily hygiene regimen, but this is not the case. However, adopting a few simple daily habits will help keep teeth and gum tissue at its best between dental visits:

  • Floss daily – This is critical for optimum gum tissue health.
  • Brush daily – At least twice per day with a tooth paste or gel.
  • Rinse – Use fluoridated or anti-bacterial rinses as recommended by your dental provider.

Lifestyle habits such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sugary snacks/beverages, insufficient sleep, and stress can impact your dental health.

Follow your dentist’s recommendations, keep dental appointments, and enjoy a lifetime of smiles. If it is time for your six-month checkup, contact our team at The Dental Place today. Call 972-264-5795 to schedule your visit.

March 5, 2013

If dental imperfections have you concerned, you can easily transform any dental deficiency into an aesthetically pleasing result. A consultation with our cosmetic dentist will explain how you can treat:

Stained or yellowing teeth – Genetics, medications, aging, or lifestyle habits can result in teeth becoming dull or stained. Our Opalescence teeth whitening system offers many advantages over other whitening products such as:

  • Powerful peroxide bleaching agents coupled with chemicals will strengthen your enamel
  • Flavored gels make whitening more pleasant
  • Custom fitted trays make whitening as comfortable as possible while maximizing the effectiveness of the whitening gel

Chipped, broken or misshapen teeth – Veneers have proven to be the least invasive treatment in which wafer thin shells are permanently affixed to teeth to cover up many dental problems. You can change a tooth’s shape, close gaps between teeth or “repair” chipped teeth. When stubborn intrinsic stains do not respond to teeth whitening, veneers offer a solution that is permanent and effective. 

Veneers have proven to be the least invasive treatment in which wafer thin shells are permanently affixed to teeth to cover up many dental problems.

Dental decay – Cavities can occur on any tooth, but we no longer have to rely on silver amalgam to make needed repairs. Tooth colored composite resin is the ideal way to repair dental decay, cover exposed roots due to enamel recession, or perform any number of cosmetic enhancements with bonding.

Missing teeth – Trauma, decay, or disease can claim one or more teeth. Not only do missing teeth create a self-conscious patient, but dental health is at risk after the loss of one or more teeth. When a tooth is lost, the remaining teeth will start to drift toward the open space creating a malocclusion, which is when the top teeth do not align properly with the bottom teeth.

Bone loss in gum tissue and the jaw can give your mouth a shriveled appearance once a tooth has been lost. This can affect your outward appearance as well.

Your cosmetic dentist can provide dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth. The implant is made from titanium, which is surgically placed in the gum tissue in the area where tooth loss has occurred, and allowed to heal over a four to six month period. During this time, the implant is fusing to existing bone, while regenerating additional bone, eventually providing strength and support to the final restoration that will be placed over the implant.

An aesthetic dental transformation is achievable providing the patient with self-confidence and a brilliant smile. Contact our skilled team of dental professionals today to learn more about your options.