Thanks to the giant strides that have been accomplished in the cosmetic dentistry field, great smiles are not just for models and movies stars anymore. One great example of this is the availability of porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers (or laminates) are extremely thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded onto your teeth, creating a huge cosmetic improvement for your teeth. If you are thinking that porcelain is basically a delicate and brittle substance you are right. However, when it is bonded to a sturdy substructure (such as your tooth) it becomes very strong and durable.

Porcelain veneers may be used to make cosmetic changes to teeth that are worn, chipped, discolored or even misaligned. However, there are some cases where porcelain veneers may not be the best choice or even an option. For example, there are some procedures where porcelain veneers may be used as an alternative to orthodontic treatment, such as correcting small gaps in your teeth or slight misalignment. But if the space is too large or the misalignment is severe then veneers may not be a viable option. If the tooth that is being considered for porcelain veneers is badly broken or has a serious decay problem, there may not be enough of the tooth left to ensure that it will bond effectively with the veneers.

So, what dental problems may be good candidates for porcelain veneers? Old fillings that have become stained, small imperfections of the teeth and misshapen problems are all good candidates for porcelain veneers.

They have several advantages over other procedures including a much more “life-like” appearance that helps ensure your smile will be as natural as possible. While other bonding materials are susceptible to staining and discoloring, porcelain veneers are very stain resistant, allowing for many years of worry free smiling.

If you feel that you might be a candidate for porcelain veneers schedule an appointment with your dentist so that a thorough examination can be done. Once the exam is completed you and your dentist will be able to make an informed decision.

Labels: bad-breath, dental, dental-plans, dentist, invisalign, oral-care, orthodontist, veneers, whitening

Are you one of those people that have a great smile, but are afraid to show it because you have a chipped or missing tooth? Or, perhaps you have a partial denture and are embarrassed about the way it looks with the metal clasps showing. Well, now there is something you can do about it.

For the longest time removable partial dentures were thought to be effective only if they were rigid. Fortunately people are always looking for ways to improve upon existing products and developing new ideas. The dental industry is no different as is evident with new products and procedures being developed all the time. One example of this is Valplast’s flexible, removable partial dentures.

Valplast’s partial dentures combine flexibility and strength but still manage to make them light weight, resulting in total comfort. They are virtually invisible, with no metal clasps and the material is a great match to tissue in your mouth so that all people will notice is your smile.

Preparation for this type of procedure is pretty simple because your teeth themselves do not need to be altered or changed in any way so the completion is also usually quicker than other methods. This procedure is non-invasive and most people become accustomed to the partial almost immediately. Sometimes there may be a little irritation and a short adjustment period, especially if you have never worn a dental appliance before. These partials are virtually unbreakable are more durable than acrylic partials and will not absorb odors or stains.

There are some conditions that may result in Valplast not being an option for you or possibly not the best option. Some examples are the quality of your existing teeth is too poor to support Valplast. You may have too few teeth left or you may have poor soft tissue support resulting in the need for a more rigid appliance.

If you feel that you would like to try Valplast, make an appointment with your dentist so that a thorough exam may be completed and the two of you can decide if Valplast is a viable option for you.

Labels: bad-breath, dental, dentist, oral-care, orthodontist

Have you considered having your teeth whitened? Or have friends had this done and they look great, but you are still a little apprehensive about the different procedures that may be used? With a little research, as well as talking to people that have had it done, you can base your decision on facts.

There are a few things that you may want to be aware of and consider before making a decision on teeth whitening. If you have dental insurance check it carefully as most will not cover this type of procedure. If you have crowns, tooth colored fillings, bridges or veneers they will not lighten when you have your teeth whitened (bleached).

Teeth whitening done by a dentist usually produces more effective and quicker results because they usually have a stronger bleaching agent than kits you buy over the counter. Most dentists recommend that if you have any cavities they should be filled prior to having your teeth whitened. Touch ups are usually needed to keep your shade. The frequency of touch ups depends on your habits, such as drinking coffee, tea, cola, red wine and smoking. Blueberries can stain your teeth so try to brush them as soon as possible after you eat.

Some people experience tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, which are common side effects of having your teeth whitened. It is also recommended that you have a dental cleaning prior to having your teeth whitened to help remove surface stains.

You should also keep in mind that the whitening of teeth does not have the same results on every sort of discolored tooth. For instance, someone with teeth that appear to have a gray tint might not be happy with the results because they do not bleach as well. A person with yellow tinted teeth might have better results.

Of course as with any health related issue or decision you should make an appointment with your dentist in order to discuss the best procedure available to you.

Labels: dental, dental-plans, dentist, oral-care, whitening

Many people put off finding a dentist, usually until they need one on an emergency basis. Although finding a qualified dentist on an emergency basis is not difficult it is normally a better idea to find one before you have a dental emergency.

Having a dentist prior to an emergency can be helpful for a number of reasons. The first being that you will already know a dentist to contact if one is needed quickly and the dentist will already be familiar with your history or any special needs or complications that you may have. Even if your dentist is not available there is normally an on-call dentist covering for them and their patients. If you have a situation where you would need additional services not performed by your regular dentist, they can normally recommend someone and give you a referral, explaining the situation.

If you are looking for a dentist there are a few things you can do to make it a little easier on yourself. For instance, asking family members for their opinions or suggestions is a great way to get information from people that you know and trust. Likewise, co-workers and friends are another source to consider when looking for a dentist. You may also want to consider asking your physician and/or pharmacist for recommendations.

Naturally there are several questions you will want to ask when looking for a dentist. Are they accepting new patients? How long have they been in practice and how long they have been at their current location, If you or a family member has special needs (Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Autism, etc.) you will want to make sure that the dentist is equipped to handle these needs. Do they see both children and adults? Is the location convenient and are the office hours something you can work with?

Of course you may have different or more questions that you want to ask and the dentist should be willing to discuss these things with you. Already having a dentist that you know and trust makes those emergency situations a little easier to handle.

Labels: bad-breath, dental, dental-plans, dentist, oral-care, orthodontist, veneers, waterlase, whitening

What are wisdom teeth and why are they called that? Wisdom teeth are actually third molars and are normally the last teeth to develop and appear in your mouth. The reason they are called wisdom teeth is because they normally appear during your late teens or early twenties, an age often referred to as the “age of wisdom”.

Most people are under the assumption that wisdom teeth always need to be extracted. However that is not necessarily the case. There are times when a jaw is not large enough to accommodate the size of your wisdom teeth and that may cause one or all of them to fail to erupt. Meaning they become impacted (trapped) in the jaw bone and for nine out of ten people at least one of their wisdom teeth remains underneath the gum due to lack of space.

Not all dentists feel that it is necessary to remove wisdom teeth. Sometimes opting to leave them in allowing time to elapse to see if the teeth will erupt. Some feel that the age of 16 is too young to extract the molars but waiting until the root is completely formed (around the age of 21) makes it more difficult with a greater risk of complications. Therefore, some feel the optimal age to extract third molars is 18 to 19 years of age.

Some other reasons for extracting wisdom teeth are the possible destruction of the next tooth. Meaning if it erupts into a second molar there is a possibility that it will cause destruction of the molar which can cause decay to develop. Sometimes the force of a molar erupting causes teeth to shift resulting in crowding and overlapping of your other teeth. This also means that a break in the gum caused by the teeth erupting can cause an infection.

There are many factors to consider when deciding on a course of action for your wisdom teeth. Therefore it is most beneficial to allow your dentist to do a check up, assess the situation and help you make an informed decision about your teeth and if it's wise to have your wisdom teeth removed at this time.

Labels: dental, dentist, oral-care

If you have tried everything to get rid of bad breath (also known as halitosis) from brushing several times a day, trying every mouthwash on the market and going through packs of mints at an alarming rate, you may want to visit a dentist.

While it is true that not brushing often enough as well as several types of food can result in bad breath, which may not be the problem or may not be the only problem. Smoking and other tobacco products tend to make your mouth dry and that dryness combined with the stale smell of tobacco can result in very unpleasant odors. Even having chronic dry mouth can produce bad breath so you want to be sure to drink plenty of water. There are also some over the counter products that your dentist can recommend that may help reduce dry mouth.

Poor oral hygiene is also one cause for persistent bad breath and as such a regular, thorough teeth cleaning by a professional is probably the best way to start improving your habits. After the cleaning you can reduce the chance of further problems by following the advice of your dentist and brushing your teeth at least twice a day as well as flossing to remove food debris in between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Brushing or scraping your tongue will also help to remove bacteria that cause unpleasant odors. Using a mouth rinse or mouthwash along with these other vital oral hygiene steps greatly reduces the chance of bad breath.

Due to the fact that there can be specific dental conditions, such as gum disease, cavities and oral cancer that cause bad breath visiting a dentist is the best way to determine what is causing the problem and see what options may be available to you.

Labels: bad-breath, dental, dental-plans, dentist, invisalign, oral-care, orthodontist, veneers, waterlase, whitening

In route to the orthodontist. I find the practice after driving around the block a few times. The office is on a what appears to be a residential street and my GPS system is telling me I am in the right place. I pick up my cell and call the front desk and tell the young lady where I am and she says to me You are in the right place and our address is this and you can see us very easily if you just come back up the street. I do it again. Turn around and head back up the street. I cannot see a single business anywhere. After a few more turnarounds and another phone call I am in front of the office. It was right in front of me and I still couldn't find it Oh well, now I am a little nervous. It looks like this orthodontist is working out of his home office!! I park my car and walk in. Boy was I impressed. A flat screen monitor that asked me to sign in and the place looked great on the inside. Beautiful waiting room and lots of eager patients waiting to get their next torque or better, get their braces taken off!

An office manager/dental assistant comes out and says hello, let me show you around. She proceeds to give me a detailed tour of the facility and shows me where I will be treated. Because I am an adult, I get access to a private room with one dental chair. The younger generations are in the bull pen room with several chairs and a central command center, complete with sinks and supplies for the patients, dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants. After the tour I am sat down and we talk about my needs and concerns. After that I am asked to watch a video. The video was an infomercial for Invisalign. I am very familiar with Invisalign and was hopeful that I would be a strong candidate for the clear appliances. I was also pretty certain that I Invisalign would not move my teeth enough and would need to get traditional braces in order to get the best results. After the Invisalign video I was taken into an Xray room where I had to stand in the middle of a machine that scanned my jaw by moving around my head from back to front. After that they took a few more Xrays using those things that have to get wedged in your mouth. They don't hurt but its always strange. Ok all done with the Xrays. Now we are headed into the photo studio. Time for some sexy head shots. I mean teeth shots. Nothing like openening your mouth as wide as possible so that some dental assistant can photograph your teeth.

Okay, I am glad the photo shoot is over.

So you are thinking about braces. Or maybe you need braces and you have no choice. Well the good news is.. they have gotten a little better over the years!! For starters you have the infamous Invisalign teeth fixing magic that nobody knows you have on. You may also have the option of clear braces if they are in your budget and your orthodontist offers them to you as an option. Because I will be documenting my experience with braces, you should know that I have chosen clear braces. I will be fitted with full braces on both upper and lower teeth.

So where do you begin. How do you get braces. How do you know if you will need braces. Do you want perfectly straight teeth and decide on your own. If you do, now what should you do?

For me its not a cosmetic concern, for the most part. I would personally prefer not to wear braces for two years, however I need to get a bridge repaired and I do not want to have another Maryland bridge installed. If you do not know what a Maryland bridge is I will explain. I have a tooth missing and a very simple and easy way to fill the gap is to create a fake tooth and give it metal wings. These metal wings are then bonded to neighboring teeth. The problem with Maryland bridges is that have a short shelf life. The tend to loosen and brake off in a short period of time. Most of the dentists I have went to give them a shelf life of 3 years. I had he first bridge fall off once while chewing gum.

Ok so when am I going to get to the braces. Well because I don't want to get another Maryland bridge and I have some missing bone in my jaw, I need to get my teeth straight so that a cosmetic dentist can work his or her magic using another type of bridge, sort of.

So here I am at the dentist. I tell him what I want to do after he offers a few solutions and I tell him that I would like to see an orthodontist and which one would he recommend. He tells me the name of the Doctor and provides me with a little bit of history about the orthodontist and gives me his honest opinion of his work and relationship with this particular orthodontist. I respect my Dentists opinion so I have his office manager book me an appointment for an initial consultation. A few days later I am on my way to see my orthodontist and his supportive staff.