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With recent advances in dental care, you can have an attractive
smile. You don’t have to settle for stained, unsightly teeth.
Rather, you have choices that can help you smile with
confidence.
A subtle change in your smile can make a big difference in the
way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to your dentist about
the options most suitable for you, what your expectations are
and the dental fees involved.
Tooth Whitening Treatments
Dental Porcelain Veneers and Porcelain Crowns
Tooth Whitening Treatments
Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of
products and procedures available to help you improve the look
of yours.
Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from
brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste,
cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular
cleanings at the dentist’s office. However, if you decide you
would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter,
you should investigate all of your options.
You can whiten your smile in one appointment or you can use an
at home bleaching system (store-bought or from a dental office)
or whitening toothpaste.
What should you ask your dentist?
You may want to start by speaking with your dentist. He or she
can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for
you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For
example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well,
brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued
teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, bleaching may not
enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings placed
in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of
these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened
smile. In these cases, you may want to investigate other
options, like porcelain veneers.
What are at-home procedures and products?
There are several types of products available for use at home,
which can either be dispensed by your dentist or purchased
over-the-counter.
Bleaching solutions. These products contain peroxide(s), which
actually bleach the tooth enamel. These products typically rely
on percent carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent; carbamide
peroxide comes in several different concentrations (10%, 16%,
22%).
Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are
placed in custom teeth trays. Usage regimens vary. Some products
are used twice a day for 2 weeks, and others are intended for
overnight use for 1-2 weeks. If you obtain the bleaching
solution from your dentist, he or she can make custom-fitted
teeth trays for you that will fit your teeth precisely.
Currently, only dentist-dispensed home-use 10% carbamide
peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.
You also may want to speak with the dentist should any side
effects become bothersome. For example, teeth can become
sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching
solution. In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary and
should lessen once the treatment is finished. For sensitivity,
especially to cold, a fluoride session will calm this down. Some
people also experience soft tissue irritation—either from a tray
that doesn’t fit properly or from solution that may come in
contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side
effects, you should discuss them with your dentist.
Toothpastes. All toothpastes help remove surface stain through
the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA
Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing
agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness.
Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the
intrinsic color of teeth.
How should I choose a whitening product?
When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look
for the ADA Seal of Acceptance—your assurance that they have met
ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
Orthodontics
We do orthodontics in our office and also offer referrals.
Dental Porcelain Veneers and Porcelain Crowns
There's no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or with
teeth that are stained, badly shaped or crooked. Today a veneer
placed on top of your teeth can correct nature's mistake or the
results of an injury and help you have a beautiful smile.
Removable esthetic veneers are available for the 6 upper front
teeth if you do not want something permanently affixed to your
teeth. These are great for photo ops and social events. No or
very little modification is done to your teeth in most cases.
The cost is less than for full reconstruction, and it is a great
way to see if you want a more permanent fix.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored
materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Typically a
dental technician makes them in a dental lab, working from a
model provided by your dentist.
You should know that this is usually an irreversible process,
because it's necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from
your teeth to accommodate the shell.
Your dentist may recommend that you avoid some foods and
beverages that may stain or discolor your veneers such as
coffee, tea or red wine. Sometimes a veneer might chip or
fracture. But for many people the results are more than worth
it.
If you have any questions about veneers, feel free to discuss
them with your dentist.
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