Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

Porcelain veneers are an excellent option to correct a variety of cosmetic imperfections with your smile. Due to their versatility, they are commonly used by cosmetic dentists as part of a smile makeover procedure.

Most people are candidates for porcelain veneers. They may be a good option for you if you are looking to correct the following cosmetic issues:

• Stained teeth
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Crooked or misaligned teeth
• Gapped teeth
• Unevenly spaced teeth
• A twisted or turned tooth
• Unevenly sized teeth

It is important that your teeth and gums be in good health before undergoing porcelain veneers treatment. If you suffer from tooth decay or gum disease, you will need to treat these conditions before getting porcelain veneers.

Keep in mind that porcelain veneers strictly provide cosmetic benefits. They will not correct oral health issues you may have. Your cosmetic dentist can recommend alternative procedures which may address the health of your teeth as well as their appearance.

Please contact an experienced dentist in your area today to find out if porcelain veneers are right for you.

Tooth whitening is no longer a luxury for the Hollywood elite. Today, you have many options to choose from if you would like a dazzling white smile. You can choose to have your teeth whitened professionally at your cosmetic dentist’s office or using a take-home kit provided by your dentist. You can also choose one of the many over-the-counter tooth whitening products available at your local drug store. But with so many options, which one should you choose?

While over-the-counter tooth whitening products will be a little less expensive, you certainly get what you pay for. The bleaching gel in over-the-counter whitening systems is not nearly as potent as the bleaching gel used in professional-grade tooth whitening products found at your cosmetic dentist’s office. This means that your smile will not be able to achieve the same levels of brightness with over-the-counter products.

Over-the-counter tooth whitening systems also use a generic tray to deliver the bleaching gel. Since these trays are not custom-fit to your teeth, they will not fit very well. This can lead to two issues. The bleaching gel may not be applied evenly to all your teeth, resulting in some spots that are brighter than others. The poor fit of these trays may also cause some of the bleaching gel to get on your gums, causing sensitivity and irritation.

When you use professional-grade tooth whitening systems provided by your cosmetic dentist, you eliminate all of these issues. Depending on the whitening system used by your dentist, you can generally expect your teeth to become eight to ten shades brighter following your treatment. Your dentist will deliver the bleaching gel using custom-made trays which ensure that it will be applied evenly and not irritate your gums. You can also complete your treatment in one short office visit.

If you prefer to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, you can ask your cosmetic dentist to provide you with a professional-grade take-home tooth whitening kit. These offer all of the same benefits as in-office tooth whitening treatments, but you will be able to accomplish your whitening goals gradually over several weeks.

If cost is a concern, ask your cosmetic dentist about financing options that can help make your tooth whitening procedure fit into your budget. The improved results from using professional-grade products monitored by your cosmetic dentist are worth the investment.

Please contact an experienced dentist in your area today to find out if tooth whitening is right for you.

Dental implants are the most effective option for replacing missing teeth. Unfortunately, not everyone is an ideal candidate for this procedure. In order to conclusively determine whether you are a candidate for dental implants, you will need to consult an experienced implant dentist.

Generally, ideal candidates for dental implants meet the following criteria:

• Good overall health – As with any surgical procedure, you must be in good overall health. At your consultation, you should discuss your medical history with your implant dentist since certain conditions may rule you out as a candidate.
• Sufficient jaw bone density – You must have sufficient jaw bone density to accommodate the dental implant. In some cases, you may be able to undergo a bone graft if you don’t have enough healthy bone tissue.
• Healthy gum tissue – Your gums must be in good health and be able to heal properly following the placement of your dental implants. If you have gum disease, you may need to undergo periodontal treatment before moving forward with your dental implant procedure.
• Non-smoker – Smoking negatively impacts your body’s ability to heal, and it introduces foreign substances to your mouth when you inhale. Therefore, you will need to quit smoking several weeks before getting dental implants and refrain from smoking during the recovery period.
• Patience – The dental implant procedure takes a long time to complete. Your jawbone will need several months to heal after the implant is placed. During this healing phase, called osseointegration, the implant will fuse to your jawbone, making it a stable replacement root. Once osseointegration is complete, you will need to have the abutment placed, and the dental lab will need time to create your dental crown. This entire process can take approximately three to six months. If you are looking for a quicker solution, you may want to consider other options.

Please contact an experienced dentist in your area today to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants.

Laser dentistry is transforming the way both general and cosmetic dentistry is performed. Treatments that used to require the use of scalpels, drills, and other invasive techniques can now be accomplished through the use of innovative soft tissue and hard tissue lasers.

The advantages of lasers in dental technology are significant. Not only does the laser cauterize your gums and tissues, minimizing the amount of bleeding you will experience, they also allow for a much higher level of accuracy when dentists perform treatments like gum recontouring and removing tooth decay.

Laser dentistry can also be used to:

• Prevent tooth sensitivity – Lasers are able to seal the tubules that transmit pain, decreasing and often eliminating your teeth’s sensitivity to temperature changes.
• Detect tooth decay – A low-intensity laser is capable of identifying the early stages of tooth decay.
• Removing soft tissue folds – If you have folds in your gums or mouth tissue (often created by badly-fitting dentures), dental lasers can eliminate these folds without the need for stitches.
• Whiten teeth – Most modern teeth whitening procedures use lasers to activate the whitening gel, brightening the color of your teeth several shades in a single office visit.

Contact an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area today to find out the full range of procedures they can perform using laser dentistry.