Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

Porcelain inlays and onlays are an excellent option to fix teeth that have mild to moderate levels of decay. They are the ideal solution when your tooth damage is too large for a dental filling. Inlays and onlays are made out of dental porcelain, ensuring beautiful aesthetics for your final restoration. Your cosmetic dentist can match the color of your porcelain inlays and onlays to the shade of your natural teeth so that others will not even be able to notice the restoration when you smile.

This versatile restoration can correct a number of oral health issues, including:

• Tooth fractures
• Damage caused by tooth decay
• Large fillings which need to be covered
• Cavities between teeth
• Old metal fillings which need to be replaced

Porcelain inlays are used to correct decay found within the cusps of your teeth. The procedure can be completed in two visits to your cosmetic dentist. At your first visit, the decay will be cleaned and removed from your tooth. Your cosmetic dentist will take an impression of your tooth and send it to the lab, where it will be used to create your porcelain inlay. You will receive a temporary inlay at this time as well. When your permanent inlay is completed, you will return to your dentist’s office to have it placed in your tooth.

Porcelain onlays are used to correct decay that is found on one or more cusps of your teeth. The procedure is carried out in the same manner as the procedure for porcelain inlays.

Please contact an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area today to schedule an initial consultation.

In the past, dentists commonly used metal amalgam material to fill cavities. While these fillings accomplished their purpose, they were less than ideal for a number of reasons:

• Amalgam fillings expand and contract with temperature changes, making the tooth prone to fracture
• Amalgam fillings contain mercury, which can present health risks due to its toxicity
• Amalgam fillings are unsightly and can mar an otherwise beautiful smile with large blotches of metal

Fortunately, advances in dental technology now provide you with alternatives to amalgam fillings which achieve better results. White fillings, also called tooth-colored fillings, are made of a composite material. They can be matched to the exact shade of your natural teeth, giving you a much more natural looking result that will not detract from your smile.

White fillings also offer several other important advantages over amalgam fillings. They can restore the strength of your natural tooth. Since they do not expand and contract with temperature changes, your tooth will not be prone to fracture. Less tooth structure must be removed with white fillings, and you are not exposed to the same health risks associated with amalgam fillings.

Many cosmetic dentists will replace old metal fillings with white fillings. The procedure is safe, and it will provide your teeth with the many benefits listed above for years to come. Ask your cosmetic dentist about replacing old amalgam fillings with white fillings. Your teeth and your smile will be improved immensely.

Please contact an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area today to schedule your initial consultation

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a condition that occurs when your jaw becomes misaligned. Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. It is one of the most complex joints in your body, and is responsible for many routine jaw functions such as chewing, talking, and yawning. When your jaw joint falls out of alignment, it can lead to a variety of painful, debilitating conditions which can adversely impact many areas of your life.

Medical professionals are currently unclear as to the exact cause of TMD. However, some potential causes may be:

• Injury to the jaw or TMJ from a heavy blow or whiplash
• Grinding your teeth
• Dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket of your TMJ
• Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ
• Stress

There are many potential symptoms of TMD, including:

• Pain in the jaw
• Clicking or popping sounds from the jaw joint
• Limited mobility of the jaw
• Uncomfortable bite
• Headaches
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Back pain
• Ringing in the ears
• Teeth grinding
• Difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Locking of the jaw in an open or closed position
• Facial aching
• Facial swelling

TMD can be effectively treated by the principles of neuromuscular dentistry, which seek to restore the jaw to its ideal resting place. Most dentists will cater their TMD treatment recommendations to the specific issues you are experiencing.

Please contact an experienced neuromuscular dentist in your area today to schedule a TMD evaluation.

In the 1800s, Guillaume Duchenne made tremendous contributions to the burgeoning field of neurology. He spent many years researching and analyzing the ways that electric current traveled through the human body and how it impacted various muscle groups. In particular, Duchenne was most interested in determining how people created a “genuine” smile. In other words, what went into the formation of a smile that was genuine and sincere compared with a phony smile being flashed based on the social needs of a particular situation?

Duchenne eventually used electrodes to send an electric current into the facial muscles of his research subjects in an attempt to isolate the factors which predict when a smile is truly genuine. He photographed the results of his electric shock experiments and compiled a comprehensive gallery of facial expressions. This work led to what has become known as the “Duchenne smile.”

The Duchenne smile is a genuine smile giving off a sense of happiness and warmth. It is created when two muscle groups work in conjunction with each other. Cheek muscles act on the lips to turn them upwards, while the muscles under your eyes contract to crinkle the skin along the sides of the eyes. When these two movements occur together, a truly genuine smile is generated. This smile is considered genuine because while the movement of the lips by your cheek muscles can be performed voluntarily, the crinkling of your eyes is an involuntary motion. Therefore, a smile that simply moves the lips while failing to engage the eyes can be faked, while one that results in a crinkling of your eyes can only be generated out of sincerity.

So how happy are you with your Duchenne smile? If you are hesitant to flash your Duchenne smile due to self consciousness over your teeth and gums, then you might want to consider a smile makeover. A smile makeover consists of a series of cosmetic dentistry procedures which will correct any aesthetic flaws with your smile. This life changing procedure can help you achieve a Duchenne smile that is truly radiant and beautiful.

Please contact an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area today to schedule your smile makeover consultation.