November 2015 - The Dental Place

November 23, 2015

The way that a person’s smile looks has a great impact on self-confidence and appearance. In today’s modern culture, it is obvious that straight, white smiles are highly coveted. Some folks may believe that a person with a beautiful smile is just lucky but the truth is that most good-looking smiles have little to do with luck at all. Behind countless beautiful smiles is the work of a cosmetic dentist. Our practice offers a number of cosmetic services to help member of our community look and feel their best. From professional teeth whitening and white restorations to porcelain veneers, we can improve the appearance of any imperfect smile.

Tooth-Colored Fillings and Crowns

Almost everyone will need some dental work in his or her lifetime. In the past, restorations like dental crowns and fillings were made from dark metal materials. Today, however, our cosmetic dentist offers much more natural looking options. For fillings, we offer composite resin. This compound is durable and tooth colored, which means that a simple filling will not give away that one has had a cavity or two. More extensive restorations such as crowns can appear natural looking, too. Porcelain and porcelain fused to metal crowns are incredibly popular among patients who desire discreet, tooth-colored dental work.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Since store bought products fall short on whitening permanent tooth stains, our practice provides professional whitening systems that penetrate the enamel surface of teeth where deep stains form. Opalesence, the whitening system we use, offers prescription-grade bleaching agents that safely whiten teeth about eight to ten shades brighter.

Porcelain Veneers

For those in need of a complete smile makeover, porcelain veneers are a great option for achieving a white, straight, and uniformly proportionate smile. Veneers are razor-thin pieces of porcelain that are custom made to fit over teeth. They are permanently bonded to the outer surfaces of teeth to conceal flaws and imperfections.

If you would like to improve your appearance with cosmetic procedures, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our caring cosmetic dentist. At your appointment, we will guide you through your different options to help you determine which procedure is best for you.

Call us today to schedule your visit.

November 9, 2015

Sometimes teeth must be removed when they become a danger to oral health. When teeth are badly diseased by decay or broken beyond repair, a surgical procedure called a tooth extraction is necessary to prevent oral health complications, restore oral function, and improve a patient’s quality of life. Our dentist may recommend a tooth extraction when wisdom teeth are stuck in the gums or if teeth are failing due to disease or injury. Following is some helpful information about how removing teeth can improve one’s health and level of comfort.

What can be done to prevent a tooth extraction?

In some cases, the need for extraction can be prevented with root canal therapy and by placing restorations. Root canal therapy cleans and seals the inside of an infected tooth, preventing the nerve endings from dying and the infection from forming an abscess. Restorations can help protect against future damage by covering a portion or the entire surface of an affected tooth. While these options are often successful, an extraction cannot always be avoided.

Will I be comfortable during oral surgery?

When extracting a tooth, our team takes great strides to ensure that our guests are comfortable during and after their procedures. During treatment, we will administer anesthetic medication and possibly a sedative to promote a relaxing experience. After the tooth is removed and a patient is ready to go home, we will provide a post-operative information packet that contains everything one needs to know about caring for their mouth after a procedure including tips for minimizing discomfort and which foods are best to consume.

What are my tooth replacement options?

After a tooth is removed, patients will need to evaluate their tooth replacement options. A bridge is a common method for addressing tooth loss. Custom made in dental laboratories, bridges are a series of crowns that bridge the gap between biological teeth and empty tooth sockets. Another option for tooth replacement is a dental implant, which consists of receiving a titanium post in the jawbone to replace a tooth’s root and a permanent dental crown to fill in the gaps of a smile.

Call our friendly team at The Dental Place today to reserve an appointment.