Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist

August 12, 2008 – 7:15 pm

Finding and selecting the best cosmetic dentist for you can be a daunting task, depending on where you live. The important thing to remember when tackling this task is to do your research and follow your gut.

First, the research: go to the office of a cosmetic dentist you are considering. Grab whatever materials and brochures that may be available. You are looking for pictures and testimonials from people who have had these procedures done at this dentist’s office. Look around the waiting room: are there a lot of people? Maybe even ask a few people in the waiting room who have had work done by this dentist. Then, go home and check the dentist’s name on the internet. There may be more information, and you might find some reviews and opinions from people who have had work done. Word-of-mouth and other people’s opinions are very important in selecting the best cosmetic dentist.

Then, follow your gut. Schedule a consultation with the dentist you are considering. Ask a lot of questions and gauge his or her answers. See if they have any more photographic examples of work they’ve done. If you feel good about it, then take it the next step. If, for any reason, something doesn’t feel right about it, walk away.

Doing this seems like a lot of work and hassle, but you need to be able to trust your dentist. Finding the best cosmetic dentist is important because it is a very serious procedure.

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What To Expect When Considering Cosmetic Dental Work

July 30, 2008 – 7:15 pm

When one thinks of a traditional dentist, he or she usually thinks of oral hygiene, or the treatment and prevention of oral diseases. By contrast, cosmetic dentistry and cosmetic dental procedures deal with the appearance: making the mouth, teeth, and smile of the patient look its best. The two can overlap at times, especially in the case of tooth fillings and the variety of options when repairing or replacing a decaying tooth.

Cosmetic dentistry is a blend of both science, employing new medical technologies, and art, attempting to return beauty to a person’s smile.

A cosmetic dentist is able to address many various aesthetic needs of a patient, employing safe and effective procedures:

  • Dental Veneers – Veneers are a form of tooth repair. Bonding a veneer to a tooth can improve its color as well as fill in chips or cracks. Very worn teeth are treated with veneers, as well as severely discolored teeth that teeth whitening has been ineffective in treating.

  • Teeth Whitening – By and large the most common procedure employed by cosmetic dentists, teeth whitening can repair discolorations of teeth due to poor oral hygiene, food, drink, or smoking-related stains. While bleaching your teeth is something handled by a professional, many home teeth whitening products are currently on the market as well.

  • Dental Fillings – As mentioned above, dental fillings fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry when a porcelain tooth or one made of composite materials is used to create the appearance of a full tooth.

  • Dental Implants – When a tooth is lost, it is possible to have a prosthetic tooth implanted to compensate and fill out the smile. This can result in an improved, more youthful appearance – combating the collapse of the face as a result of the missing teeth.

  • Bonding – Using a composite material, the surface of a chipped or cracked tooth is remolded to simulate the proper shape of the tooth.

In the past, severely damaged teeth were pulled and replaced with a set of dentures. While this is still an option for those with extensive damage, new technologies are employed today to broaden the options available to the general public – especially those with only one or two damaged teeth. It is now possible to repair a smile that has been ruined by damaged teeth, and return a beautiful, white, youthful smile to someone looking to enhance their appearance.

The first step in the process is to have a consultation with a reputable cosmetic dentist. He or she will be able to give you all the details necessary for you to make a decision, including the operation itself, how often visits will need to be repeated, the cost, and what results to expect. The dentist will also be able to inform you on how to make to most out of the longevity of the procedure, and the care of your new smile.

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How Long Can a Cosmetic Dental Makeover Last?

July 23, 2008 – 4:18 pm

Having a complete cosmetic dental makeover takes time and money. Between the two, you are investing quite a bit into your appearance. It’s important to understand how long that investment will last, and what steps can be made to prolong the life of your makeover.

No dental work lasts forever. While they can have long-term effects, eventually more work will probably have to be done, at least to maintain the appearance that the cosmetic dental makeover gave you. Some are optional, others are necessary.

For example, teeth whitening is a very common form of procedure. Over time, the whitening fades. But because the whitening is not something that makes permanent changes to the tooth structure, the choice to go through the procedure again is completely optional. Neither choice will cause damage to your teeth – at least from a health standpoint.

However, if you choose to have porcelain veneers or crowns placed, you will always need the veneer or crown on that particular tooth. So if the crown deteriorates, or the veneer breaks off or cracks, you will need to have it replaced with another. Each situation is different, so talk to your dentist about this.

When you approach a dentist about a cosmetic dental makeover, ask questions. Make sure that you are aware of the expected longevity of the makeover, and what options you have to deal with it when it begins to fade or deteriorate.

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The Steps to a Dental Makeover

July 18, 2008 – 12:25 pm

We’ve all seen examples on television. We’ve seen the “before and after” pictures. Many people today are experiencing the benefits of the dental makeover. But it’s not an overnight process usually. Here, we give you a few ideas as to what is involved with getting your teeth “done”:

First, the consultation. This is when you and the dentist sit down and discuss what you are looking for and what procedure(s) will be appropriate for you. These are not “one size fits all” operations: they need to be customized to fit your mouth, your teeth structure, and your needs. This will also include a look at your medical history to see what kinds of protective measures need to be taken.

Photographs and x-rays of your teeth are next to get a comprehensive look at your current situation. Looking at those, you and the dentist will discuss what changes you are looking for in your dental makeover. Then he will do a comprehensive examination of your teeth and mouth, and depending on the nature of the procedure, he may take a mold of your teeth. You may then be able to look at what your teeth will look like after the makeover, via temporary mouth insertion or computer digital imaging.

It may take some time for the dentist to put together the necessary strategies for your dental makeover. However, once he is ready, you can walk into the procedure with confidence that you will be walking out with a bigger, better smile on your face.

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The Dental Veneer Procedure

July 16, 2008 – 1:16 am

Like many other cosmetic dental operations, getting dental veneers placed requires lots of communication between dentist and patient, and while it does take time, it becomes a worthwhile investment when done properly.

First, the planning: you and your dentist need to make an appointment to sit down and discuss the goals that you are looking to achieve. Your dentist will then examine your teeth and mouth to make sure that dental veneers are the appropriate solution for you. This is also the time to ask plenty of questions regarding the procedure itself and what to expect. This appointment can be considered even more important than the actual operation, as this is where the decisions are made.

Your tooth will be prepared by the dentist, who will take off a layer of enamel from the tooth – the layer that will be replaced by the dental veneers. Anesthetic will be applied prior to this procedure, usually just a local anesthetic. A model of the tooth will then be made, which will be sent to a laboratory for veneer construction. It usually takes one to two weeks for this process to be completed. In the meantime, temporary veneers can be placed if necessary.

The tooth will be cleaned and polished prior to bonding. After the bonding is set, you are done! The dentist will schedule an appointment to follow-up on the teeth and make sure that the gums are reacting appropriately to the veneer.

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The Advantages of Porcelain Veneers

July 14, 2008 – 12:19 am

When your teeth are crooked, discolored, or chipped, your dentist may recommend placing porcelain veneers on the teeth to restore and improve their appearance. These are thin cases of porcelain that are bonded to the front of the teeth to cosmetically improve them. Dentists use incredibly strong bonding to affix veneers, and when completed, the tooth and porcelain shell are strong and durable.

There are two great advantages to getting porcelain veneers. The first is that they create an incredibly lifelike appearance of a tooth. Tooth enamel is actually translucent – allowing some light to penetrate through to the inner tooth. In the past, materials for tooth repair were not, which meant a whiter, yet fake-looking appearance. Porcelain is glass-like, which means it is translucent, just like enamel is. When light hits it, it acts remarkable similar to how enamel reacts to light.

The other big advantage to porcelain veneers is its stain resistance. In many cases, combining dental bonding materials with red wine, tobacco, tea, or coffee products meant bad staining and discoloring. Porcelain, being a ceramic, is glass-like, meaning it is not as susceptible to such staining, and holds up rather nicely in color.

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