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Introduction
Are you afraid to smile? Would you rather take the picture
instead of be in it, because you are too self-conscious of the
color, shape, or positioning of your teeth? Are you afraid to
yawn for fear of revealing all of those silver fillings?
Many of our
patients think that their teeth are too dark, too crooked,
overcrowded, chipped, or just misshapen. They want that
"Hollywood" smile, and they often bring a magazine to
my office, point to the cover and say, "I want a smile just
like that!"
There are a wide
range of cosmetic dental enhancements available that can help
you achieve the look you want. Though these enhancements are
only "skin deep", they can bring you pleasure, and
perhaps give your self-confidence a little boost.
Below is a
general introduction to some of the latest cosmetic techniques.
Bleaching and
Whitening
Extrinsic stains, or stains on outer surfaces of the teeth, can
usually be removed during a thorough professional dental
cleaning. However, intrinsic stains, which are stains within the
tooth itself, must be removed through bleaching. This can be
accomplished either at home when overseen by your dentist, or in
the dental office with a carbamide-peroxide or hydrogen-peroxide
solution. It is usually two to three years before it is
necessary to repeat the bleaching process. We caution you to
avoid any whitening procedure without supervision by your
dentist for several reasons that include:
- Not everyone
is a candidate for bleaching, so you should be evaluated
first by a dentist. One reason to check with your dentist is
to ensure that you will not be sensitive to the procedure.
It may be necessary to replace some older fillings with new
fillings prior to the process, to avoid sensitivity. Also,
because porcelain and tooth-colored fillings tend not to
bleach, you may want to replace them after bleaching in
order to improve aesthetics.
- Not all
over-the-counter bleaching solutions are pH-balanced. Some
may cause irritation of the gums.
- Bleaching can
sometimes lead to sensitive teeth, which your dentist can
help by changing the concentration of the solutions or
administering fluoride.
- It is
important to have a custom-fitted mouth guard so that the
bleaching gel remains on your teeth, rather than on your
gums. The combination in-office/take-home whitening
procedure In this procedure, models are taken of your mouth,
and a custom-fitted bleaching tray is made for you. we
instruct my patients to wear the tray for a period of two
weeks for four hours each day, or they may wear it
overnight. Results vary depending upon the original color
and shade of your teeth (i.e., some teeth are naturally
yellow, reddish-brown, or gray.)
In-office
whitening
As a matter of convenience, many of our patients choose
in-office whitening. A special external light source (laser,
halogen or gas plasma) is used to activate the bleaching gel
solution. The process is safe, easy, and fast. Results are
accomplished in just one appointment. Sometimes it may be
necessary to use a combination of in-office and at-home
bleaching in order to achieve the patient's desired results.
Whitening
toothpastes
Although whitening toothpastes may remove stains, we only
recommend them for maintenance after the bleaching process has
been completed.
Bonding
Bonding is actually a process by which we affix a tooth-colored
material (hard plastic) to your teeth, creating a bond. We can
use bonding to change tooth color, shape and size, or to repair
fractured teeth. We can also use bonding to give the appearance
of straight teeth. However, we caution our patients to avoid
hard foods, as this may cause the bonded restoration to chip or
fracture. A bonded restoration can be polished to look the same
as your natural teeth and may also stain in a similar manner as
your own teeth. Stains are removed during the patient's regular
cleaning appointments by polishing these restorations.
Porcelain
veneers
If our patients want something that is more stain-resistant and
less likely to chip than bonding, we recommend porcelain
veneers. Like bonding, porcelain veneers are also used to change
tooth color, shape, and size. We can also use porcelain veneers
to give teeth a straighter appearance and to close spaces.
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells that are fabricated
in a dental laboratory. we often liken porcelain veneers to fake
fingernails. We bond the porcelain veneers to the teeth using a
special cement. Porcelain veneers are more expensive than
bonding, since there is a laboratory process involved. we prefer
porcelain veneers to bonding when there are several teeth
involved because we can achieve a more consistent cosmetic
result.
Tooth-colored
fillings
Due to recent technological advances and improved materials,
there are now alternatives to silver fillings. We have
never had a patient thank us for a silver filling because
they like the way it looks. We get more gratification and many
more thanks from patients when we use tooth-colored fillings.
When teeth require smaller restorations or fills, we can fill
these holes in the office with a tooth-colored material (hard
plastic) that is bonded to the tooth. If the filling is large,
we prefer to use a tooth-colored inlay or onlay, which is
custom-made in the laboratory to fit the tooth and is
permanently cemented in place. If there is a considerable amount
of tooth structure missing, we must crown the tooth.
Porcelain
crowns (caps)
In our practice, we use both all-porcelain crowns and
porcelain-fused-to-gold crowns (a gold crown that is covered by
porcelain). We use porcelain to match the shade of a
natural tooth. Since more light is reflected in the front of the
mouth, We feel that all-porcelain crowns look more natural
when restoring front teeth. Crowns are custom-made in a
laboratory and are cemented in place.
Orthodontics
We work with orthodontists in our practice to straighten teeth,
reduce crowding, and close spaces in order to achieve the best
possible smiles. Although it often requires a much longer time
frame, We often prefer orthodontics over porcelain veneers or
bonding. Orthodontics may take at least two to three years to
achieve the desired results. Sometimes it is necessary to use
both orthodontics and bonding or veneers to achieve the best
results.
Periodontics
Sometimes it is necessary to work with a periodontist (gum
specialist) to alter gum tissue to enhance a patient's smile.
You may have seen at one time or another a person who will show
a lot of gum when they smile.. If a person is uncomfortable with
the amount of gum that shows, a periodontist can help to reduce
this either by laser surgery or by traditional surgical
technique.
Conclusion
If you have a hankering for a smile overhaul, rest easy. There
are many options available to you, and the best way to begin is
to speak with us. And remember, everyone is entitled to a
beautiful smile. 
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