June 2013 - The Dental Place

June 24, 2013

Dental veneers are extremely thin, tooth colored shells that are permanently affixed to the front of teeth that are in need of cosmetic repair or improvement.

Porcelain is the material often used for its translucent appearance, and when cemented to the front of teeth, provides added strength and stability to treated teeth.

What are some of the dental imperfections suitable for treatment with veneers?

Correct stubborn stain – Teeth discolored from medications, fluorosis, or intrinsic stains not removable with cleaning or teeth whitening will benefit from veneers.
Chipped, broken or misshapen teeth – Veneers offer a minimally invasive procedure that can visually enhance the appearance of teeth without extensive cosmetic repair.
Gaps between teeth – Spaces are OK for some, but if they bother you, veneers are the perfect option that appears to close those unwelcome spaces.

Composite resin veneers are fabricated and placed by your cosmetic dentist in one visit.

Porcelain veneers are sent to the dental lab for fabrication. Dental impressions coupled with the instructions of your dental provider will provide the mold for the porcelain veneers. In about two weeks, a return visit to the dentist will allow the completion of your veneer makeover.

Porcelain provides multiple benefits. It is stain resistant, and gum tissue tolerates porcelain very well. For teeth suffering from chips or cracks, the added strength of the porcelain permanently cemented to the teeth makes them stronger. And though porcelain is not indestructible, it is very durable. Veneers are permanently cemented into place, and may only need to be replaced every ten years or so.

On delivery day, your cosmetic dentist will place the veneers to guarantee a perfect color and contour match to surrounding teeth. If adjustments are needed, they can be completed on the spot.

The treated teeth have had a very small amount of dental enamel removed about the thickness of the veneer. Teeth are treated with a product that will aid in setting the veneers. The cement can be tinted to enhance the color match, if needed. Once the veneers are placed on the teeth, a curing light or laser is used to speed up the hardening process.

Caring for veneers is no different than the regimen you should follow for your natural teeth. Daily flossing and brushing along with twice yearly visits to the dentist for cleaning and exam should suffice.

Contact our experienced dentist in grand prairie at 972-264-5795 to schedule a cosmetic consultation today.

June 13, 2013

Many patients opt to pull a tooth that is still viable, but they don’t want to deal with the treatment needed to keep it. After all, it is important to keep our permanent teeth as long as we can. Unfortunately, there are circumstances that will require tooth extraction.

When a tooth has suffered trauma, extreme dental decay or excessive disease, it may be time to have the damaged tooth extracted.

When a tooth has suffered trauma, extreme dental decay or excessive disease, it may be time to have the damaged tooth extracted. As much as we want to keep our natural teeth, when there is no hope in saving the tooth, it is best to follow the advice of your dentist.

A tooth might need to be removed for several reasons:

Broken tooth – If a tooth has broken off near the gum line, extraction is the best option when there is not enough of the tooth left to save.
Decay – When a tooth has been repaired repeatedly, another repair could break the tooth leading to further problems such as the need for a root canal. This does not necessarily mean the tooth can’t be saved … your dentist’s assessment provides the best course of action.
Gum disease – Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss. Ineffective dental hygiene, poor physical health, medication (such as cancer fighting drugs), tobacco use … any or all of these factors can contribute to the need to have teeth extracted.
Trauma – Accidents contribute frequently to needing damaged teeth extracted.
Third molars – More commonly known as wisdom teeth, these last teeth to come in quite often present problems such as being impacted or forcing overcrowding.

Is there a problem in waiting to see if the situation will improve on its own? Depending on the basis of the problem, a “wait and see” approach is usually going to create more angst and discomfort for the patient. A visit to the dentist will help to diagnose the problem and provide the best course of action.

If removing a damaged tooth is recommended, you may have the tooth extracted by your dentist. If there are concerns surrounding the extraction, a referral to an oral surgeon may be provided.

Once the decision has been made for tooth extraction, following the instructions given will help avoid complications; a discussion with your dentist will help determine the different procedures available that will enable the patient to restore function and aesthetics following tooth extraction.

Our team at the Dental Place can help you determine if you can save your tooth or need to have an extraction. Contact us today for a consultation.

June 4, 2013

Is the Dental Implant Prone to Cavities or Gum Disease

The dental implant procedure includes a small piece of titanium inserted into gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred. This serves as the base for a cosmetic restoration. The patient will go from tooth loss to a fully functional tooth that is so close to natural, no one will be able to tell the dental implants from biological teeth.

Implant dentistry is a process that can take about one year to complete. Tooth loss can have occurred from trauma, decay or infection, but the cause should not impact the result.

The implant process is initiated by surgically embedding a titanium post into the gum tissue where one or more teeth have been lost. A healing period of four to six months follows this surgery. During this time, the implant will be grafting to bone tissue. The beauty of titanium is that extensive research has proven this metal has unique properties that not only promote metal and bone to merge, but also encourages bone growth in the area of tooth loss.

Once healed, the process is completed by permanently cementing a final restoration that has been fabricated to be a perfect match to surrounding teeth.

Since this restoration is likely made from porcelain, there is no concern about dental decay. A cavity occurs when there is a breach in the enamel of a live tooth. But since the biological tooth is being replaced with porcelain, concern for dental decay is eliminated in the implanted tooth.

However, gum disease remains a factor. Throughout the implant process, consideration must be given to the condition of gum tissue. It is critical that gum tissue remain free from bacteria, not only for overall dental health, but to guarantee that the implant process does not fail.

Porcelain provides an ideal material for the final restoration as gum tissue responds well to porcelain. The critical point for the patient is the need for a daily hygiene regimen that includes brushing and flossing. If the patient neglects these daily steps, the concern for gum disease will exist, especially if periodontal disease has been a previous factor.

Personal dental hygiene is critically important, but a professional cleaning every six months along with an exam by your dentist is the best protection available to maintain outstanding dental health for your dental implants as well as the surrounding natural teeth.

Learn more about your dental implant options by calling our team at 972-264-5795 today.