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Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

Cosmetic Dentistry Directory

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Determining the Nationality of Olympians Based on their Smiles

The Olympics have arrived, and the entire world will be caught up in the frenzy of the Summer Games for the next two weeks. While some sports such as basketball make it easy to tell what country the athletes are from (it is printed clearly on their jerseys), it is not as easy for others – particularly swimming, where it is tough to tell an American from a Brit from an Aussie based on the color of their Speedo.

But it appears there is one way to figure out where some of these athletes come from – look at their smile. Researchers have found that facial expressions, much like speaking patterns, have accents. These “facial accents” may help you figure out which athlete to cheer for when there is no other clearly defining marker.

In 2003, Georgetown University psychologist Abigail Marsh conducted a study including a sample of 79 adults raised in Canada and the United States. She showed these people pictures of facial expressions depicting emotions such as anger, sadness, disgust, and surprise. The expressions were either made by Japanese-Americans or Japanese nationals. The participants in the study were able to determine with a strong degree of accuracy whether the pictures were of a Japanese-American or a Japanese national, indicating a difference in the way people frown in these two nations.

In 2007, Marsh conducted a similar study that evaluated the difference in smiles between Americans and Australians. Once again, the participants in the study were able to determine with a strong degree of accuracy whether they were watching an American smiling or an Australian smiling.

So what exactly are some of these defining characteristics of smiles?

According to Marsh, Australians tend to flash a smile that is more friendly and agreeable, while Americans tend to express a sense of assertiveness and dominance. Additionally, it appears that British people tend to use slightly different muscles when they smile. As a result, they show more of their bottom teeth than Americans or Australians do when they smile.

Keep these traits in mind when watching the Olympics at home over the next few weeks, and see if you can figure out which smile belongs to which nationality.

posted by Andrew at 11:26 AM

Monday, July 30, 2012

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a versatile restoration used to repair a damaged tooth. It consists of a tooth-shaped covering placed on your damaged tooth to restore shape, size, strength, and function. It can also be used in a cosmetic dentistry procedure to improve the appearance of your smile.

Your dentist may recommend a dental crown under the following circumstances:

To protect a weakened tooth from breakage or to hold a cracked tooth together
To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there is only minimal natural tooth structure remaining
To cover a misshapened or discolored tooth
To hold a dental bridge in place
To create a prosthetic tooth for a dental implant

Your dental crown can be completed in two visits to your cosmetic dentist’s office. At your first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your tooth which will be sent to the lab for use in the creation of your dental crown. A temporary crown will be placed on your tooth to protect it while your permanent one is being constructed.

Once your dental crown has been fabricated by the lab, you will return to your cosmetic dentist’s office to have it permanently bonded into place.

Please contact us today to find a qualified cosmetic dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 4:33 PM

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

If you have lost one or more teeth, it is important to get them replaced as soon as possible. There are certainly obvious cosmetic issues impacting your smile when there is a big space between teeth. However, these cosmetic issues, while important, pale in comparison to the oral health issues associated with tooth loss.

Failure to replace missing teeth can lead to the following problems:

Difficulty biting and chewing
Increased risk of jawbone deterioration which may lead to loss of additional teeth
Remaining teeth may shift to fill in the gap, causing bite alignment issues
Recession of gum line which may compromise oral health and lead to the development of gum disease

Dental implants are by far the most effective option to replace missing teeth. They provide you with a permanent replacement for both your tooth and your root. The dental implant procedure must be completed in several stages. In the first stage, the implant is inserted into your jawbone. Over the next three to six months, your jaw will heal and the bone will fuse with the dental implant, allowing it to function as a replacement root. This process is called osseointegration.

Once osseointegration has been completed, your cosmetic dentist will attach a small titanium rod, called an abutment, to your dental implant. In the final stage, a dental crown will be attached to the abutment to provide you with a fully functional prosthetic tooth.

In order to be considered a suitable candidate for dental implants, you must have sufficient jawbone density to accommodate the implant. If you do not have enough bone structure, a bone graft may be an option. However, if your cosmetic dentist determines that you are not a candidate for dental implants, you may want to consider alternatives such as dentures or dental bridges.

Please contact us today to find a qualified cosmetic dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 10:34 AM

Friday, July 13, 2012

Porcelain Inlays and Onlays

Porcelain inlays and onlays are an excellent option to repair teeth with mild to moderate levels of decay. They are an ideal restoration when the damage is too severe to be repaired with a dental filling, but not quite severe enough to warrant a dental crown.

The dental porcelain used for inlays and onlays is highly durable and can be made to match the shade of your natural tooth, ensuring both beautiful and functional results.

Porcelain inlays are used to repair damage to a tooth where the decay remains entirely between the indented top surfaces of your tooth, called the cusp. Your procedure can be completed in two visits to your cosmetic dentist. At the first visit, your cosmetic dentist will take an impression of your tooth which will be sent to the lab for use in the creation of your porcelain inlay. You will be fit with a temporary inlay at this time as well. Once your permanent inlay has been created by the lab, you will return to your cosmetic dentist’s office to have it placed over your tooth.

Porcelain onlays are used in situations where the decay extends beyond one cusp of your tooth. The procedure is completed in the same way that a porcelain inlay is placed.

Please contact us today to find a qualified cosmetic dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 9:10 AM

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