Porcelain Veneers: Do They Correct All Types of Staining?

Porcelain veneers are a versatile and simple way to correct many aesthetic problems with your teeth. Compared to procedures such as extensive orthodontic work for minor gaps between the teeth, veneers are much more affordable and convenient. For stains or discoloration, though, veneers are not always the best choice.

Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Staining

Two types of staining can affect your teeth—extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining. Common causes of extrinsic staining include:

- Beverages such as coffee or tea

- Smoking

- Deeply colored foods

This type of staining only affects the outside surface of the teeth. In general, extrinsic staining is most effectively treated with tooth whitening, but if it is extreme or does not respond to tooth whitening treatment, veneers might be the best solution.

Intrinsic staining occurs when the material that makes up the entire tooth is discolored. The most common causes of intrinsic staining are:

- Excessive fluoride intake while teeth are developing

- Use of certain antibiotics

- Injury to the teeth

Intrinsic staining usually does not respond successfully to surface tooth whitening. In these cases, porcelain veneers are the best treatment to restore teeth to their original color.

Are Porcelain Veneers a Permanent Solution?

If your cosmetic dentist has recommended porcelain veneers for your stained teeth, you might wonder how long the veneers will keep your teeth white. The longevity of your veneers depends largely upon how well you take care of them.

Although veneers can correct extrinsic staining, they are not immune to additional staining. Porcelain is a porous material, just like natural tooth enamel, so if you continue to drink large quantities of tea or coffee, or continue to smoke regularly, the veneers can become stained in the same way as the enamel of your natural teeth. Veneers can also become stained if they are not cleaned properly.

To find out more about porcelain veneers, how they work, and how to care for them, please contact a cosmetic dentist in Dallas.

by admin on December 22, 2010

filed in cosmetc dentist

tagged cosmetic dentist Dallas, porcelain veneers Dallas

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

If your jaw makes a clicking or popping sound that is accompanied by facial pain, you may have a disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Your temporomandibular joints connect your jaw to the rest of your skull on both sides of your face. They are complicated structures, allowing for a wide range of movement, from opening and closing to sliding back and forth. The joints are also part of a larger system that involves muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Because the joints are so complex, there’s a lot of room for error in their fit and function.

When something goes wrong with the joint, you may develop TMJ disorder. The causes of TMJ disorder range from malocclusion, or a misaligned bite, to stress, to arthritis in the joint. TMJ disorder can develop gradually over time or suddenly in the aftermath of a jaw injury. In addition to the facial pain and clicking noises, the condition also may present with chewing difficulties, or a tendency for the jaw to lock.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder can show up in areas other than the jaw, too. Other indicators include repeated earaches and headaches. The pain can even radiate into the neck and the chest in some cases.

Your dentist can provide treatment for TMJ disorder right in the dental office. The treatment will vary with the condition’s underlying cause. Your dentist may teach you jaw exercises that will help to rectify the problem, recommend a correction of the bite, suggest dietary changes or prescribe a mouthguard to be worn at night. Rare cases that don’t respond to other treatments may require surgery.

If you are experiencing persistent jaw pain, visit a dentist in Dallas, TX for diagnosis and treatment.

by admin on November 26, 2010

filed in Dentist

tagged dentist Dallas TX, plano dentist

Does Invisalign Work for Adults?

Many teenagers and young adults have been through the experience of traditional braces. The mainstay of orthodontics, braces can help alleviate the discomfort and embarrassment of crooked and misaligned teeth and allow a younger person to grow into adulthood with a proper bite and an attractive smile.

Adults with misaligned teeth can benefit from orthodontic correction as much as younger patients can. For adults, though, braces can be unattractive, uncomfortable and impractical. Invisalign provides an alternative for adults that is easier to manage even in the context of the most demanding lifestyles.

How Invisalign Works

Traditional braces use wires attached to metal braces that are cemented to the teeth. The wires are gradually tightened, moving the teeth a small amount at a time until they are properly aligned. Invisalign employs a similar method of gradual changes, but the mechanism is different.

For Invisalign, the dentist will make detailed molds of your teeth. From these molds, he or she will create three dimensional digital images of your teeth as they should be with proper alignment. From these images, models are made for a series of trays called aligners. Each aligner is slightly different from the one before it. Wearing these aligners regularly and changing to the next aligner in the sequence according to your dentist’s instructions will gradually move your teeth into the proper position.

Advantages of Invisalign

One major advantage of Invisalign is that they are, as the name implies, virtually invisible. Most people don’t even notice the clear plastic aligners when they are worn in the mouth, so they do not create the self-consciousness that often results from traditional braces.

Although they must be worn for at least 22 hours every day, Invisalign aligners can be removed for meals, cleaning and for special occasions. This flexibility also makes Invisalign a preferred choice for many adults who require orthodontic treatment.

To find out more about Invisalign in the Plano area, contact a cosmetic dentist to schedule a consultation and find out what Invisalign can do for you.

by admin on October 26, 2010

filed in Invisalign

tagged Invisalign Plano TX

Teeth whitening – what are my options?

Many patients opt for teeth whitening as an easy way to improve the appearance of their smiles. If you want to brighten and whiten your smile, you have a number of options for treatment in the Dallas area.

Laser treatments offer the quickest way to whiten your teeth, often working their magic in as little as an hour. After your teeth are cleaned, the dentist will apply a thin layer of peroxide-based gel to them. The laser or another special light is then used to activate the gel, resulting in dramatic changes in a short amount of time.

Another option for teeth whitening is with trays and gels that you wear at home over the course of a few weeks. The dentist will take impressions of your teeth, which will then be used in designing the tray. Because the tray is custom-made to fit your mouth, it is more effective than one you would buy in a drugstore, which is designed to accommodate a wide variety of mouth and teeth structures. The gel provided by the dentist is also stronger than the gel contained in over-the-counter kits. Teeth whitening trays and gels are generally less expensive than laser treatments, but they also take longer to achieve the desired effect.

Consult with your dentist to determine which teeth whitening method will fit best within your lifestyle. You’ll also want to choose a technique that will brighten your smile within your desired timeframe. If a special occasion is on your calendar within the next few weeks, for example, you should opt for laser whitening, as it is a quicker process.

by admin on September 27, 2010

filed in Teeth Whitening

tagged Dallas TX dentist, Plano Cosmetic Dentist

How Do Porcelain Veneers Improve Your Smile?

Porcelain veneers can improve anyone’s smile with a few simple steps and visits to a cosmetic dentist. Porcelain veneers can provide a complete smile makeover by covering your teeth with perfectly shaped and colored porcelain veneers. They can fill gaps in your teeth, cover crooked or stained teeth and provide a beautiful, natural looking smile.

They are a good alternative to a crown since very little of your tooth needs to be removed for installation. They are about as thick as a fingernail. When light is transmitted through the veneer, it gives the veneer a very natural and beautiful look.

The porcelain that the veneers are made from is very resistant to stains. This allows you to keep a bright, white smile even if you’re a coffee lover. Veneers might be the right choice for you if you have minor dental problems that you need to correct or just want that Hollywood smile. Visit a Plano cosmetic dentist for further information on porcelain dental veneers.

No Comments by admin on August 31, 2010

filed in Cosmetic Dentistry

tagged dentist plano, porcelain veneers plano

Sedation Dentistry in Plano: Spa on a Dentist’s Chair

Brushing is never enough, as a mouthwash advertisement says. However, gargling mouthwash is still not enough to achieve a perfect and healthy smile. When it comes to oral care, nothing can beat regular dental visits. If a trip to a dentist is something that you dread, sedation dentistry in Plano will definitely change how you perceive dental checkups.

The field of dentistry has changed a lot over the years. For example, composite fillings that match your teeth’s color replaced the dark-colored amalgam fillings of before. Root canal treatment can save problematic teeth from extraction. Now, sedation dentistry can make any dental procedure much more comfortable.

Sedation dentistry uses a new technique in oral care. A patient is given an oral anesthesia 30 minutes before a treatment or procedure. The oral anesthesia calms the mind and places the patient in a relaxed state. In some patients, the oral anesthesia induces sleep.

Patients who are more nervous about the dentist might opt for a sedation that allows them to sleep throughout the procedure. When they wake up, it seems as though they were just having a deep, restful nap. They feel soothed, and well cared for.

No Comments by admin on June 9, 2010

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What is tissue re-sculpting?

Tissue re-sculpting is also known as surgical crown lengthening or as a gum-lift procedure. If your gum line is uneven or you feel that you have an excessively gummy smile, you should consider a gum lift.

The length of the crown of the tooth is increased by removing a thin section of the gums. Sometimes misaligned teeth can cause the gum line to become irregular. In such cases, tissue re-sculpting can help produce an even gum line and greatly improve your smile. Sometimes a tooth that needs a crown or a filling may not have sufficient tooth structure above the gums for a restoration, or decay may extend deep beneath the gum line. In such cases, a gum lift is advised to enable a proper restoration.

The procedure commonly starts with numbing of the gums. The amount of time it takes varies depending on the number of teeth that require treatment. Incisions are placed on the gums to remove the excess gum tissue. These incisions further help in relocating the gums from their original position. Following this, your cosmetic dentist or periodontist in Plano will surgically reshape the remaining tissue so that it achieves an even, symmetrical gum line.

Bone beneath the gums may need to be reshaped if there is bone loss following severe gum disease. Normally some bone needs to be removed to achieve sufficient length to the tooth. The bone is removed using a combination of hand instruments and rotary instruments. Bone removal allows more of the tooth structure to be exposed.

If only soft tissue is removed, the procedure will take less time than if both soft tissue and bone are removed. Your teeth will look longer because your gums are now sitting at a lower level than they used to. Sutures are normally placed for at least 7-10 days after the procedure. Antibiotics and painkillers are prescribed. Dentists sometimes use a periodontal dressing to cover the surgical site.

Antiseptic mouth washes and proper oral hygiene using soft bristles must be observed to prevent inflammation to the area. Inflammation can delay healing and cause pain and swelling. Slight tenderness and pain in the area can be expected. Soft diet is usually advised for at least a couple of days after the surgery.

The gums can be removed using traditional scalpels, electrodes, or lasers. Dioxide lasers are used to perform soft tissue surgery in the oral cavity.

Tissue re-sculpting is also done along with veneers to provide symmetry to the gum line. This eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming orthodontic treatment when there is misalignment of only one tooth. Ask your cosmetic dentist in Plano for more details

No Comments by admin on May 24, 2010

filed in Uncategorized

tagged cosmetic dentist plano, Plano Cosmetic Dentist, tissue re-sculpting

Laser Teeth Whitening

People like their teeth whitening done just like their fast food, their dry cleaning or their car wash—they want it fast and effective. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the demand for teeth whitening has increased 300 percent over the past 5 years. The increased demand and latest technologies have ensured that teeth-whitening is accessible to anyone.

Laser teeth whitening is a completely safe, FDA-approved procedure that has been performed on thousands of patients to date. Laser whitening is more effective and faster than normal whitening procedures. This procedure is done in the dental office and completed in less than one hour in most cases.

“Laser whitening” is a universal term used to describe whitening procedures that employs a light activated gel. This gel contains an ‘activator’ that becomes excited when light is applied. Halogen or LED lamps are most commonly used as curing lights to accelerate the whitening process.

The whitening gel normally contains hydrogen peroxide and the activator, in varying concentrations, depending on the product. When this gel is applied to the teeth and exposed to the light, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into hydroxyl free radicals, which helps remove stains deep within the enamel and dentine. The toughest stains caused by tobacco, cigarettes, coffee are removed in no time.

Laser whitening is not permanent. It can last for years, but some patients may need to get the procedure redone every year to maintain the desired level of whitening. Dentists normally prescribe home whitening gels to touch up areas between appointments.

Visit your local Plano teeth whitening center and turn your teeth into the pearly whites you’ve always wanted.

No Comments by admin on May 3, 2010

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How to Floss Properly

Flossing is one of the most important steps in daily oral hygiene measures, along with brushing the teeth. Even the most attentive brushing technique can only remove 60 percent of the plaque in the mouth. The areas in between teeth, called ‘interdental’ areas, are not accessible to normal brushes, including powered ones.

The main reason most people don’t floss regularly is because it can be difficult to pass the floss in the tight spaces between the teeth. Proper technique can help reduce damage to the gums and prevent tearing and shredding of the floss and help achieve proper hygiene.

The Proper Technique–

To prepare for flossing, wind one end of a 60 cm (or 2 foot) length of ribbon or Teflon floss around the ring finger of your dominant hand, anchoring this end with a second loop overlapping the first. The remaining length of floss should be wound around the ring finger of the other hand to serve as a spool of clean floss. The section of floss remaining between the two should be approximately 15 cm (6 inches) long.The middle 2-3 cm is held taut between the tips of the thumbs and the first fingers.

The first finger of your non-dominant hand should be used to brace the floss against the tooth. The floss is passed through the space between teeth. A sliding motion helps introduce the floss beneath the space without any uncontrolled motion, which helps prevent damage to the gums.

Once through the space, the floss should be wrapped around the surface of one tooth and should be moved up and down to remove the plaque. The adjacent surface of the adjoining tooth is also cleaned this way. Care should be taken to pass the floss over the gum tissue in between the teeth while changing surfaces.

The floss can be removed from the space by simultaneously pulling both ends of the floss towards the cheeks or by releasing one end and pulling the entire length from between the teeth. Each contact can be cleaned with a fresh section of floss by unwinding the floss from the spool finger and taking up the increased length by winding onto the other ring finger.

With enough practice, the entire mouth can be flossed in less than 3 minutes. Bleeding from the gums can occur even with proper flossing technique. Readers should note that bleeding is a sign of inflammation of the gums, and not the result of damage caused by flossing or brushing. The purpose of flossing is not to remove pieces of food stuck in between teeth, but rather, to remove plaque from adhering to tooth surfaces. Ask your Plano dentist for more tips regarding flossing.