November 11, 2007

Why should you consider cosmetic dentistry?

A beautiful smile is an important part of our persona and self esteem. With this in mind there are reason to consider cosmetic dentistry. What are you able and willing to pay for the smile you want?

Here are a few things that you should consider when you are thinking about the options for your dental health and cosmetic surgery.

Benefits

Cosmetic dentistry has the benefits of a healthy set of teeth and gums.
The smile you have will be very beautiful.
Your self-confidence will be higher.
Your teeth will be whiter.
You will have the self-confidence that a bright smile will portray.
No more closed mouth smiles.
No more embarrassment for unsightly teeth.
Long lasting

Concerns

Will it hurt?
How long does it take?
Is it expensive?

Cosmetic dentistry is a benefit to the overall health of your mouth. The reason is that in order to improve the condition of your teeth, all cavities, decay and problems need to be cleared up in order to continue with the beautification process.

The smile you will get from cosmetic dentistry will be brighter, and more beautiful than ever before. The dentist will be able to straighten, whiten and create a healthy smile that people will enjoy looking at.

Your self confidence will be higher because smiling is a natural way of handling emotions of embarrassment, happiness, achievement and much more. If you can smile with confidence, you are more likely to smile more and that in it is a confidence booster.

Your teeth will be many shades lighter. The level of whiteness will depend on the work that is completed. Whitening can be done through a couple different methods. The most common is a bleaching process through your dentist office. If it is only a couple shades lighter you are looking for, your dentist may send a whitening treatment home with you. If there is severe damage, there may be a need for tooth replacement, and crowns used.

There are also options for veneers, oral laser surgery and implants to help create the beautiful smile you are looking for. With these options your overall self-confidence will increase because your smile will portray self-confidence in itself.

There will not be any reason not to smile with a full tooth showing smile, this is because the smile will show the perfect teeth you always wanted.

No more embarrassing moments that you smiled to big, and then you see that look of concern or disgust from the person you are talking to, due to damaged and decayed or discolored teeth.

The length of time that these procedures will keep your teeth in good shape is dependant on many things. How you treat your teeth, what your oral hygiene practices are, what your diet is, etc. However most of the time this is a pretty long lasting solution to dental embarrassments.

There is some pain involved, depending on what you have done. However the dentist will do all they can to make sure you feel as little discomfort as possible. The pain will not be as bad and the smile will be good.

It takes a few visits to complete the work done. Again, this is depending on what work needs to be done to create the smile you are looking for.

The main concern and probably the fairest concern is the cost. One tooth for a porcelain inlay can be around $2000. So plan on $20000 for a full mouth of work. However keep in mind that your dentist will work with you, and your insurance may cover part of the price. When you go on to talk to your dentist discuss the conditions that you would need for the financial arrangements to be able to get the teeth you want. We all have a budget, they are used to working with their patients and their insurances.

The cost will be worth the enjoyment of years of healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

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March 26, 2007

Zoom teeth whitening, effects on your teeth?

Although the history of dental hygiene can be dated back for centuries, the process of whitening teeth has really advanced over the past few years.  Many people want to lighten the color of their teeth to look younger, healthier and more attractive.  There are many causes of teeth discoloration, the biggest factors being age and consumption of staining substances such as coffee, tea, colas, tobacco, red wine, berries, etc.  Also, during tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline, certain antibiotics or excessive fluoride may contribute to tooth discoloration

Teeth whitening has become more and more popular over the years as methods have become more affordable for the average American.  There are several different methods used to whiten teeth.  There are dentist dispensed at-home products, laser tooth whitening methods, loaded tray teeth whitening methods and in-office whitening methods.

Zoom tooth whitening is a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of your teeth by combining a tooth whitener and a bleaching light.  The Zoom system uses a hydrogen peroxide-based tooth whitener which is the active ingredient.  It comes prepackaged as two individual components, a hydrogen peroxide gel and a proprietary "activator."  These two components are mixed together at the time of application to form a working gel that the dentist applies to your teeth. 

The Zoom system then uses a mercury metal halide light. The light of somehow activates some aspect of the Zoom tooth whitener to enhance its whitening effect.  As the hydrogen peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin and bleaches the discolored substances.  The Zoom light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth.

The Zoom light has a filter that helps to minimize the amount of heat generated at the surface of the teeth during the whitening treatment.  When the light is in position, it is able to illuminate all of the teeth being treated, both upper and lower simultaneously.  Evaluations have shown that the Zoom bleaching light does not create a significant temperature change in the patient's teeth during the bleaching treatment.  This is a huge bonus for patients because heat is usually what causes the most sensitivity during treatments.

The whole process of Zoom teeth whitening takes less than an hour.  That is, unless you get a cleaning first, which is usually recommended.  The procedure begins with a preparation period followed by 45 minutes of bleaching.  Each whitening session is broken down into three 15 minute applications of whitener, for a cumulative exposure time of 45 minutes. Pre and post treatment preparations and activities round the total treatment time up to a little over an hour.   Post treatment consists of an application of fluoride.  You will then by given teeth whitening treatments with a whitener to take home and continue the process at home.

Side effects may include sensitivity during the treatment due to the minimal heat produced by the light.  However, you can expect to experience sensitivity with any teeth whitening product.  This is because when you whiten your teeth, you open up little "pores" on your tooth's surface which can create sensitivity with intensity that varies from person to person.  On some occasions, tingling sensations or sharp pains are experienced immediately after the procedure, but usually go away within a few hours to a few days.  You can ask your dentist to supply you with anti-sensitivity toothpaste for use prior to and after the treatment to alleviate sensitivity.

The effects that Zoom has on your teeth are that it makes your teeth significantly lighter.  Although you may experience discoloration again after having the procedure done, your teeth should never experience the same level of discoloration that they previously had.

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March 19, 2007

Pros and cons of bleaching your teeth

Dental hygiene has been around for centuries.  Evidence of dental procedures found on mummies all over the world indicate that people have been concerned about taking care of their teeth for a long time.  However, as technology advances have increased, so have dental procedures.  The average person can now experience white teeth easier and cheaper than ever before. 

Tooth whitening, also called bleaching, is a process of lightening and removing stains from a tooth. This process bleaches the enamel and dentin, the principal mass of a tooth, and brightens the discolored teeth. There are pros and cons to bleaching your teeth though.  Here we will cover some of them for you.  The pros are that:
1.    There are so many methods out there that a teeth whitening method can be found to fit every budget and schedule.  No matter what, there is an option out there for you to help you achieve the brighter, whiter smile you want.  Methods range from inexpensive and convenient over the counter whitening strips to pricey dental whitening treatments.  Some of the other methods are dentist dispensed at-home products, laser tooth whitening methods, loaded tray teeth whitening methods and in-office whitening methods.  Spend a little time researching the different options and consult your dentist to find a method that fits your budget and lifestyle.
2.    Having white teeth can build your confidence in your smile which can reflect in other aspects of your life.  You will come across as more confident and self-assured.  In addition, whiter teeth can make you look younger, minimize the appearance of facial wrinkles and improve your overall appearance.  Teeth bleaching can move you out of the realm of average smile to spectacular smile.
3.    Bleaching teeth is considered the safest of all existing cosmetic procedures.  The common methods of peroxide-based teeth whitening cannot damage your teeth because they don't compromise the structure of the tooth itself. 
4.    Dental quality results can be experienced from your own home and are much cheaper than having a professional whitening done by a dentist.  Although surprising to some, whether using an at-home teeth whitening kit or having a whitening procedure done at the dentist office, you will generally end up with the same results.  The reason most people that choose to have their bleaching done at the dentist's office is simply because results are immediate.  At-home kits usually take a couple of weeks to get the results of one or two dental visits.
5.    Any side effects are temporary and treatable.  Although some people may experience side effects such as teeth sensitivity or gum irritation, these problems will remedy themselves within hours or days and treatment can be administered in the form of sensitive toothpaste in most cases.

Some of the cons that you may experience with teeth whitening include:
1.    Side effects can be experienced such as sensitivity and gum irritation as mentioned above.  When bleaching teeth, the chemicals pierce the enamel in order to bleach it.  This can lead to sensitive teeth but this experience should be only temporary and can be alleviated with sensitive toothpaste.  In most cases, gum irritation is caused by an ill-fitting mouth tray rather than the whitening formula itself, so adjusting the tray may remedy that problem.
2.    Bleaching your teeth is a temporary fix.  Generally, a teeth whitening will last for 6 months to a year.  Heavily pigmented foods such as soy sauce, most varieties of berries, and cherries will stain teeth.  Also, drinks such as coffee, colas and other dark soft drinks, teas and cranberry juice can also cause staining.  An expensive, professional whitening will last longer than a cheaper method such as whitening strips. Many people feel that whitening kits with a custom mouth tray are the most cost effective way to keep teeth white because once you have the tray made you can simply purchase more gel at any time.

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February 19, 2007

Cosmetic Dentistry: Dentures Designed for that Natural Looking Smile

If you are looking for a relatively easy solution to replace your missing death, regain your confidence and give you a smile that makes you look and feel good again then tale a look at how cosmetic dentures have moved on in recent years.

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices which are designed to replace all or some of your teeth. Dentures don’t just improve appearance and personal confidence but provide facial support and have a working function in that they restore people’s ability to chew certain foods. It has been said that dentures are the dental industries answer to a face lift!

With an increased interest in cosmetic dentistry, denture technology has significantly moved on in recent years with dentures being designed for comfort and natural appearance. Current technology enables dentists to provide you with dentures that actually blend in with your features taking on the appearance of your natural teeth.

Long gone are the days when dentures are seen as belonging to someone who has passed their sell by date. New and exciting cosmetic dentistry advancements means that your dentist can provide you with natural teeth that everyone will think are your own. Dentures now fulfil their intended function enabling you to enjoy your food, be proud of your smile and remain blissfully unaware that you are sporting false teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry now enables you to design and choose your dentures alongside your dentist, making you feel part of the whole process and helping you to contribute towards your final perfect smile. You can now wear your dentures with pride safe in the knowledge that you look and feel good.

I doubt few people will disagree that despite recent denture advancements dentures still take some getting used to with initial speech issue to overcome (very short term) and the possibility of mouth irritation and sores (normally being as a result of poor denture hygiene).

However, unlike some other cosmetic dentistry procedures, dentures are suitable for most people although there are some instances where your dentist may advise an alternative route with one being if you lack saliva as a result of a dry mouth.

When you first loose your teeth you will be provided with immediate dentures which will help you through those early months when shrinkage and changes in your bone structure and gums will occur. Your main denture plates will be created approximately 9-15 months after your teeth have been extracted and the relatively stable structure of your bone and gums can be used to create the mould.

It can sometimes prove difficult to keep lower jaw dentures in place in which case your dentist may advise the use of mini implants to help keep your denture in place. Mini implants are much less invasive as full tooth implants and can usually be placed into the jaw within an hour allowing you to walk out with your dentures safely snapped into place.

Don’t make the mistake of many and assume that dentures last for life. Even if you have a full plate you will still need dental care. Cosmetic dentures aren’t designed to last for ever and the American Dental Association recommends that you replace your dentures every 4 – 7 years. Dentures wear out and can become loose and ill fitting. Old dentures can cause gum irritation, facial pain, reduced ability to chew, digestive problems and in some instance can cause pre-cancerous mouth and gum lesions. If you have worn the same dentures for a long period of time your denture problems can’t always be completely fixed so always go down the safe route and get your dentures checked on a regular basis.

Unlike some other cosmetic dentistry procedures your new dentures should be covered by your dental insurance. The cost of dentures is significantly less than many other cosmetic dentistry procedures with the prosthetic plates costing as little as $500 with an upper limit of around $2,000 - $3,000. In addition to the cost of the denture you will also have to pay your dental fees which are likely to range between $400 and $1200 per plate.

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February 12, 2007

Cosmetic Dentistry Information & Help Finding a Cosmetic Dentist Near You

A glowing, healthy, and vibrant smile is easier to attain than ever before! Cosmetic dentistry has made extraordinary advances over the last few years that make it possible for virtually everyone to have the smile they have always desired. More and more people are discovering how simple and affordable it is to improve their smile and enhance self-esteem and self-confidence as well.

Brilliant and dazzling white teeth are no longer the exclusive domain of millionaires and movie stars - now anyone can visit a knowledgeable and experienced cosmetic surgeon and can have a brighter smile in just a short visit or two.

The potential of modern cosmetic dentistry is nearly unlimited. The answers to virtually every type of problem including chipped, cracked, or stained teeth, braces and laser dentistry, and even full mouth rehabilitation are well within your reach.

Some of the most amazing advances in cosmetic dentistry involve new procedures that reduce or eliminate the pain and trauma that can be associated with a visit to the dentist. Through the magic of sedation dentistry, anxious patients can sleep or be pleasantly distracted from any potential unpleasant aspect of dental procedures.

Traditional braces are also becoming relics of the past. New composite materials and strong plastics eliminate the need for unsightly metal braces, headgear, and retainers. Those in need of orthodontics can smile with confidence, for clear and nearly invisible plastic mouthpieces provide all the benefits with few of the drawbacks of earlier appliances.

First impressions are one of the most critical parts of any professional or social occasion, and being self-conscious about the appearance of one’s teeth can sabotage even the most experienced and poised individual. One of the most innovative procedures to improve the entire smile is a full mouth makeover, which can address a variety of concerns and create an entirely new look.

If you want to improve your appearance and gain confidence with a beautiful and attractive smile, now is the time to consult a cosmetic dentist. You will be amazed at how many effective options there are for improving the look of your teeth. Visit our websites today for information on state-of-the-art procedures and see for yourself the profound difference that cosmetic dentistry can make.

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