Month: June 2015

Visit a Cosmetic Dentist to Improve the Appearance of Teeth

dental cosmetics How a Gorgeous Smile Improves Your Outlook
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, then visit Plano Smile Studio located in Plano, Texas. Dr. John Hucklebridge is an expert in dental cosmetics that focuses on improving the appearance of a patient’s bite, gums or teeth. Having a gorgeous smile with white teeth can change your mental attitude. You might avoid social occasions due to embarrassment concerning the way your teeth look when talking or smiling, but there are modern dental techniques that can improve a smile. The first thing to do to learn about your options is scheduling an appointment for a complete evaluation of your gums and teeth.

Undergo Teeth Whitening with One Office Visit
One of the fastest and most popular ways to change your teeth is with bleaching or whitening to remove discolorations caused by stains from food, beverages and tobacco. When your gums are healthy, a dentist can perform a whitening procedure right away with a fast office procedure that does not require anesthesia. Before the whitening process begins, a dentist covers the gums with a protective substance. A dental assistant may place devices in your mouth to collect saliva. A strong hydrogen peroxide solution is applied to your teeth by the dentist before water is added. The combination of water and hydrogen peroxide seeps into dental enamel to lift away stains, creating whiter teeth in just an hour.

How Dentists Apply Veneers to Damaged Teeth 
When you have teeth with permanent discolorations or chips, it is possible to cover the damage with thin porcelain or composite veneers. Veneers are custom-made by a dental laboratory using computer imaging equipment. A veneer is made of durable material to last for many years despite chewing food. The thin dental restorations are applied to the front surface of teeth with water-resistant resins. Not only can a veneer hide stains or damage, but the devices can reduce the appearance of spaces between teeth.

Bonding and Reshaping Teeth to Improve Your Appearance
Your teeth usually have a lot of extra enamel, allowing a dentist to reshape a tooth carefully to make it more attractive. A knowledgeable dentist can reshape teeth that are crooked or overlapping to make a smile line look beautiful. A tooth with a small chip is simple to reshape rather than using a filling or crown. A dentist may combine this procedure with bonding that applies a liquid composite material to a tooth to make it look better. Bonding material is made to match the enamel on teeth, and the substance hardens quickly.

Dental Restorations 
An additional procedure that improves your smile is a gum lift that involves raising and sculpting the tissue around the teeth. This can help to make teeth look longer and more youthful. If you have missing teeth, then consider having a dentist make restorations such as removable or fixed dental bridges. A tooth that has extensive damage from a large cavity or injury is repairable with a dental crown.

Whiter Teeth for a Healthier Smile

cosmetic dentistIt is an unfortunate reality that people are judged by how they look. Though everyone is intellectually aware that it is impossible to glean insight into one’s health by assessing his or her physical appearance, it is all but impossible to prevent those assessments from occurring. People go to great lengths to alter their looks so they can be perceived as younger, fitter and more aspirational overall. Teeth play a major role in how young and healthy an individual looks. Teeth naturally grow yellow and brittle with age, and tooth damage is a somewhat accurate reflection of physical health. Anyone who is interested in looking dramatically younger should seek out a cosmetic dentist and explore his or her options for attaining a whiter, healthier smile.

The least invasive cosmetic procedure is basic whitening. Most people are familiar with at-home whitening methods involving toothpastes, strips or gels. It can take several months for the results to become apparent, and stubborn stains and discoloration may never budge at all. These products are good for mild brightening, but they contain harsh bleaching agents that can make the teeth sensitive. They can also erode enamel over time, permanently weakening the teeth and making them susceptible to future damage and intense staining.

Professional whitening involves lasers and is completed in one short treatment. The lasers penetrate far more deeply than topical treatments are able to. They treat the deepest layers of enamel for a uniformly white glow, and the procedure is completed before any damage can occur. Patients are often sent home with lightening gel to help them maintain their results in between treatments. It is recommended that people schedule professional whitening appointments on a regular schedule of once or twice a year. This enables the dentist to use a lighter hand with the laser because there is not enough time between treatments for new stains to fully set into the teeth.

If the structure of the teeth have been damaged, the patient may want to consider veneers. Veneers sit on top of the surface of the teeth, providing a new, fresh finish. Getting veneers is a great way to prevent further damage, since any weak spots are protected. It is sometimes better to opt for veneers instead of trying to whiten teeth that are already weak.

Crowns are the most extreme type of cosmetic dentistry and should only be considered if the patient’s real teeth are deemed to be beyond repair. Crowns can only be placed into the mouth after the real teeth have been filed down to points, so the procedure can never be undone. Many famous actors have gotten crowns to get straighter teeth very quickly, but this is not a good reason to get dental implants. Crowns are not meant to be orthodontic solutions. Traditional braces are still the best tool for straightening the teeth.

Maintaining a clean, strong smile is a key component of general health. The judicious use of cosmetic procedures in conjunction with good hygiene will keep the teeth looking young and vibrant.

Is It Time to See a Cosmetic Dentist?

cosmetic dentistDental checkups help patients avoid common problems such as dental caries and periodontal disease, but what happens when our smile is no longer as bright, straight, or aesthetically pleasing as we would like it to be? For these patients, it may be time to consider the many benefits of an experienced cosmetic dentist. Here is a look at some of the most common aesthetic issues that patients deal with and what their treatment options are for each.

Dingy and Discolored Teeth
Daily oral hygiene habits including brushing and flossing will help delay discoloration, but it is often an uphill battle. Luckily, professional teeth whitening services are more effective than ever and will often leave patients with a smile that is multiple shades brighter in just a single appointment. Unlike home whitening kits that are uncomfortable and can even damage the outer enamel of the teeth, professional whitening is both safe and effective with comfortable mouth guards, peroxide-based whiteners, and a UV light to activate the mixture.

Missing One or More Teeth
Tooth loss is an aesthetic issues, but it will also affect how a patient speaks and eats. Removable dentures are a good option in some situations, but those that want a permanent fix should consider dental implants. Implants are comprised of two parts including a titanium rod and a crown. The rod is anchored into the jaw where it will form a powerful bond in a process known as osseointegration. Once it has healed, the crown is attached to the rod to restore the form and function of the patient’s smile. The crowns can often last for 15 years or longer while the rod will last a lifetime when cared for properly.

Cracks and Chipping
Teeth will crack or chip for a wide variety of reasons over the years. This is another problem that is not only aesthetic in nature, but it could also lead to some serious medical issues when left untreated. Depending on the severity of the cracks and chips, there are a wide variety of treatments that can be used to preserve the health of the tooth and renovate its appearance. Some patients may benefit from options such as porcelain veneers that will allow them to recreate their smile completely. These custom-made strips of porcelain are exceptionally durable and will last for upwards of 15 years.

Tooth Decay
Tooth decay takes place when bacteria in a patient’s mouth begins to attack the outer layers of the teeth. Also referred to as dental caries or cavities, this is one of the most common oral health problems in the world. For many years, metal fillings were one of the only options for minor tooth decay, but many patients want to avoid the appearance of these fillings. As an alternative, “invisible” fillings can be used to restore the structure of the tooth with a resin that perfectly matches the natural color of the tooth.

Get a Great Smile Today!

cosmetic dentistHave you been unhappy with your teeth for sometime? Would you like to have a brighter, straighter smile? Would you like to experience new confidence and improve your overall appearance? There is nothing like a gorgeous smile to boost your self-image and to put your very best face forward. In today’s competitive world, looks matter – and why not have the first thing people notice about you be your great smile?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you may be looking for a cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentistry is key for improving your smile – whether you chipped a tooth as a child and have a bonded front tooth to having crooked teeth. This specialized dentistry field has many solutions for creating a perfect smile. When you have your consultation, your dentist will go over the options for your specific condition. Some patients choose to get braces while others decide the best fix for their teeth is to get bright, white veneers. There are many options for creating a great smile – but it all starts with a dentist in this specialized field.

What You Can Expect
Upon your initial visit, you can expect a full consultation with your dentist, who will listen to the problems you see with your teeth. Your dentist then will inspect your teeth and recommend a treatment plan. There are many ways to fix problem areas in your mouth including:

–Whitening your teeth
–Using composite fillings to reshape your problematic teeth. They will be matched to the current shade of your teeth
–Inserting crowns and bridges
–Fitting your teeth for traditional or transparent braces

Treatment plans and the resulting effects will vary based upon the issues your teeth present. However, you can be sure that you will get the smile you want if you follow through with your treatment plan and you have patience. Some fixes can happen nearly immediately — such as in the case of in-office tooth whitening — while other treatments will take time over the course of months — such as with root canals and bridges. The key to getting that perfect smile on your part is to stay with it for the duration of the timeline. You’ll be happier and it will cost you less money in the long run because your dentist will not have to backtrack and charge you for extra services. This is a common problem with patients who have braces. As soon as they get their braces off, they do not wear their retainers. Without enough time for the new tooth alignment to settle, the teeth move into their familiar spots and are crooked again in no time. This comes at a great cost to the patient, who may have to purchase new imprints for retainers and even may have to put braces on again — depending on the extent of the damage. The bottom line is that your dentist will get the results you want if you follow the plan!

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