Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Maintaining Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are extremely thin casings of ceramic that are bonded to the front of a patients’ tooth to create a new smile. Porcelain veneers are placed over the front of teeth that appear too small or large, slightly discolored, or simply are not cosmetically pleasing to the patient. If you do decide to get this procedure the next step is to make a consultation appointment with an experienced dentist in New York. The will be able to determine whether or not porcelain veneers are the best process to make the changes you want in your smile.

During your consultation you will want to make sure you clearly tell the dentist what changes you are looking for. The cosmetic dentist in New York will then let you know if all these changes are possible and the extent of work it will take.

During your appointment they may need to take photographs or x-ray, or sometimes both to gain all the information to reach a decision. Dental impressions are also sometimes necessary, which will help the dentist make a plaster cast of your mouth. At the end of this consultation the dentist may find that another treatment option would be most beneficial to complete the changes you want.

Dental veneers will last numerous years, but they will not endure forever. Some maintenance and repairs will be necessary, but with good care porcelain veneers could last up to or exceed 10 years. To increase their lifespan you should always practice good oral home care. Try to avoid excessive forces like clenching and grinding your teeth. Lastly, minimizing staining influences will help them to sustain a bright and beautiful look giving you a gorgeous smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Many people do not know much about porcelain veneers and what they can do to improve your smile. This is because porcelain veneers are one of cosmetic dentistry’s more recent developments. So what exactly are they? Basically porcelain veneers are extremely thin shells of porcelain that can be bonded onto the front side of teeth.

The reason a patient might get these is to improve stained or discolored teeth, worn or chipped teeth, or to correct misaligned teeth. Porcelain veneers create a durable bond to tooth enamel so the thin sheet of porcelain will securely attach to your teeth. Once the porcelain is attached to the solid form of your tooth it becomes extremely strong and durable.

Not only are porcelain veneers a durable substance they are also easy to apply to your teeth. They help to create a very natural and healthy looking smile. One of the reason’s they look natural is because the porcelain reflects light similarly to the way your tooth’s enamel does. Teeth’s enamel covering is translucent so when the light strikes a tooth’s surface it is not immediately reflected off. Instead the light penetrates into the thickness of the enamel giving teeth this characteristic appearance of translucency. Porcelain veneers are glass-like so they are translucent as well and mimic the light like a normal tooth would.

While other cosmetic dental bonding materials give brilliant smiles as well, porcelain veneers are one of the more life-like materials cosmetic dentists’ use, which is why they have become so popular. They also easily resist staining because porcelain has a smooth ceramic surface. If you do decide to get veneers make sure to thoroughly research a qualified dental practice in New York before selecting them.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Correcting Cosmetic Imperfections with Dental Bonding

There are many different minor imperfections teeth acquire over the years that can be fixed with dental bonding Lincolndale. Some teeth acquire shape irregularity, surface pitting, or isolated areas of stained tooth structure. Also, if there are several teeth with a minor alignment inconsistency, teeth bonding can fix this as well.

This process can be surprisingly easy if there is no tooth decay present. Sometimes the solution is as simple as adding a bulk of dental composite to the tooth, and does not include drilling. If a patients teeth do not require drilling then it is very likely that no dental anesthetic or shot will be necessary for the dental bonding procedure.

Each patient’s situation is extremely different though and should be discussed thoroughly with a professional dentist. There are many variations of this technique so you will have to make an individual appointment with a dental service in Lincolndale to find out the extent of work needed for the treatment.

Teeth Bonding for Gaps

Many people can become embarrassed by the gaps in their teeth. Instead of smiling proudly they tend to grin and hid their teeth from the world. Although a gap may not cause any problems with the functionality and dental health of your teeth it can become a drag in your confidence. Many patients, in regards to cosmetic appearance, find gaps unappealing. The solution cosmetic dentists many times use is teeth bonding Croton Falls.

Teeth bonding is a way a dentist can close or fill in the gap between two teeth. The way this works is a dental bonding is placed on the two teeth that lie on either side of the gap. This dental bonding will decrease the gap’s overall width either partially or completely depending on what the patient decides and how far apart the gap is. Not all tooth gaps should be closed completely, so this should be discussed fully with a qualified dentist.

A dentist will begin by sculpting the dental composite so that the region underneath the bonding can still be cleaned with dental floss. A dentist may feel that a gap should not be fully closed if it will affect a patient’s ability to completely clean between their teeth. When a tooth cannot be cleaned adequately it will be at risk for gum disease, gum recession, and decay. Luckily, a tooth bonding is also reversible, so if closing the gap does start to cause health problems the tooth bonding can be buffed off with no resulting damage to a patient’s teeth.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Restoring a Child’s Tooth

It is important for children to take care of their teeth and for parents and family dentists in Lincolndale to show them how. Most parents have this covered by showing their children how to use a toothbrush, floss, and sometimes even mouthwash. What if a harder decision comes up regarding your child’s teeth like what to do to restore a cavity or broken tooth?

Sometimes children play hard or accidents happen and a tooth can loose its original shape and function, needing to be restored. Most often the solution is fillings and crowns. There are various reasons that restoration might be needed including tooth decay, trauma (broken or cracked tooth), poor development, endodontic therapy, or maybe just a change in color.

It can be hard to find a good family dentist in Lincolndale, but making the decision of how to go out restoring your child’s tooth can sometimes be even harder. Some parents think that since their child is going to loose their baby teeth anyways that there is no need to put in a filling. Primary teeth are extremely important though so that your child can chew their food well, continue to develop their speech normally, maintain space for when their permanent teeth come in, and for guiding their permanent teeth into position.

Another problem that can occur is when a cavity or tooth decay affects your child’s health. Tooth decay is an infection and can cause problems for your child’s overall heath. If there is a lot of decay your child will probably need a crown. If the majority of the primary tooth is still healthy then a filling can be used, but fillings tend to not last as long as crowns. When it is time for a permanent tooth to come in the filling from the primary tooth will usually fall out. Make sure to find a greatd dental practice in Lincolndale that will help you make the right decision in protecting your children’s teeth.

Cosmetic Dentistry Smile Makeover

Have you ever wanted a complete smile makeover, but don’t really know how to go about it our what procedures dentists perform to do this? Cosmetic dentists in Katonah use various techniques to give you a brilliant smile. These include porcelain veneers, teeth whitening treatments, and dental crowns. Change the appearance of your smile with some of these techniques.

Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer can greatly improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth. It is a thin porcelain shell that is wrapped or bonded onto the front surface of a tooth to create a more perfect and natural look. They also resist staining extremely well.

Teeth Whitening

This process can be very inexpensive, simple, and improve your smile right away. You can do this by getting professional teeth whitening treatments in Katonah, teeth whitening strips, paint-on teeth whiteners, or try tray-based teeth whitening. These different techniques create a substantial and noticeable improvement with your smile. Teeth whitening can generate a color change by lightening the shade of your teeth.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns tend to me stronger and more durable than porcelain veneers since they encase the entire tooth that lies above the gum line. This procedure also requires trimming away a large part of a tooth before they can be placed on. They are usually suggested for cosmetic change if the patient can also benefit from the non-cosmetic advantages crowns can provide.