April 2019 - Elivad

Put a Little Spring in Your Smile with a Smile Makeover Featuring Porcelain Veneers

It seems like everyone wants the smile of their dreams nowadays. Reality TV “celebrities” and dazzling red carpet smiles prove anyone can look as though they’re born with those perfect chompers. Of course, few people outside of the Hollywood spotlight have the opportunity to hire round-the-clock beauty teams to achieve that dream. The good news is that you can still have your cake and eat it too with porcelain veneers and your New York City Cosmetic Dentist can serve it to you on a silver platter. But why should you consider putting a little spring in your smile with porcelain veneers as the star of your smile makeover?

Porcelain Veneers Are Quick and Customizable

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that fit over existing teeth to create a seamless and perfect smile. Each veneer or set of veneers is carefully crafted by your professional dentist, taking your needs, desires, and mouth shape into consideration. They’re molded to fit each patient perfectly and dyed carefully to match surrounding teeth so they look like you were born with perfect teeth. After the consultation, porcelain veneers can be completed in as little as two appointments so there’s no reason to wait for a brand new you.

Porcelain Veneers Are Minimally Invasive

Depending on the patient’s sensitivity, a local anesthesia may be needed during the treatment. In most cases, porcelain veneers require a minimal amount of enamel to be removed from the teeth they’re being affixed to in order for the shells to adhere. Some patients may feel some sensitivity or discomfort during the treatment, but most patients are so impressed with the final results that the minimal invasiveness of the procedure is immaterial.

Porcelain Veneers Are Durable

Porcelain veneers are not the same as natural tooth enamel, but the materials used are strong enough to handle normal life demands. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), porcelain veneers may not last a lifetime without repair or replacement needs. But with the right care, your porcelain veneers can last between 10 and 20 years. Fortunately, maintaining your porcelain veneers is an easy process. Simply brush and floss your teeth daily, limit stain-inducing food and drinks, and visit your New York City Cosmetic Dentist annually and/or as needed to keep your smile healthy and brilliant year after year.

Porcelain Veneers Can Improve Your Life

Almost 25% of Americans feel enough embarrassment from their dental issues to avoid smiling altogether. Approximately 20% of adults feel consistent anxiety due to their teeth, and almost 30% of millennials report their dental concerns affect their ability to achieve professional success. Studies have proven, however, that the right dental treatments can improve social, romantic, and career opportunities as well as significantly improve personal confidence. Porcelain veneers can provide an almost instant aesthetic solution to multiple dental issues including stains, cracks, chips, gaps, and even missing or jagged teeth. Contact your Manhattan Cosmetic Dentist when you’re ready to see if porcelain veneers are the right solution for you.

Ditch the Silver! Benefits to Tooth-colored Composite Fillings

Dental amalgam fillings certainly aren’t new, but they may not be as old as some people think. Although silver fillings are the most common restorative option nowadays, they were invented in 1815. They made their way across Europe and finally into America in 1830. And almost immediately, there were reported problems and health concerns. Amalgams are made from several types of metal. And while the combination and consistency haven’t changed, human tolerance to the toxins certainly has. Fortunately, non-mercury tooth fillings can help you avoid amalgams permanently. But what are the benefits of these metal-free fillings?

Non-Mercury Tooth Fillings Are Aesthetically Pleasing

Amalgams are also known as silver fillings due to their uniform gray metallic coloring. While they’re strong and do the intended job, as soon as you smile, laugh, eat, or open your mouth for any reason, there’s no doubt they’re there. Over time, the metal can corrode and stain the teeth they’re protecting as well as surrounding enamel. In many cases, these stains end up being black or blue and they’re often permanent. That’s not the case with composite fillings. The resin alternative is customized to the patient’s needs and dyed to match surrounding teeth. So all anyone can see is your beautiful smile.

Composite Fillings Are Quick and Durable

Tooth-colored resin sets quickly and is easy to work with, so the procedure is relatively fast. In fact, a tooth or two can be filled within an hour. Composite resin isn’t quite as strong as amalgam but it’s not meant to be. It’s customized to match surrounding teeth and then molded into position before being cured. When properly cared for and maintained, composite fillings can last a decade or longer. But bad habits or behaviors such as chewing on ice, hard candy, inedible items, or even fingernails can cause the fillings to loosen and pop out.

Tooth-Colored Fillings Are Biocompatible

Non-mercury tooth fillings are biocompatible which means they provide a non-toxic solution for the body while preserving more of the tooth structure. Unlike amalgams which simply fill the decayed gap in the tooth, composite fillings actually bond to the remaining tooth structure. Tooth-colored fillings are therefore a more conservative treatment and your Fort Lauderdale Holistic Dentist will take every precaution to save as much of the healthy natural tooth as possible.

You Won’t Have to Worry About Mercury

Over 90% of Americans have some form of dental decay, and the average American has lost 12 teeth by the time they reach the age of 50. That includes wisdom teeth, so don’t worry that you’ll suddenly become edentulous. Nonetheless, many Americans eventually need to consider fillings to preserve at least some of their natural teeth. Amalgams may be the most common type of filling material, but it’s important to realize they contain up to 50% elemental mercury. Over time the vapors can leak and absorb into the bloodstream causing the body to break down as a result. While some people seem immune to the effects, serious health consequences can occur for others. Is it really worth the risk? Give your Fort Lauderdale Holistic Dentist when you’re ready for non-mercury tooth fillings.

How to Choose the Right Color for Your Porcelain Veneers

Approximately one-third of Americans admit to being unhappy with their smile, and many more long for the perfect set of chompers they believe to be little more than a pipe dream. The right cosmetic dentistry procedure can turn any dental dream into a reality. And those Hollywood smiles are far from unachievable. Often, it’s as simple as opting for porcelain veneers. These wafer-thin porcelain shells fit directly over your existing teeth and can create a seamless smile worthy of any red carpet A-lister. Of course, while easily customized prior to the final fitting, the shade and shape can’t be changed after the procedure is completed. The last thing anyone wants is to be disappointed in their final outcome, but how do you choose the right color for your porcelain veneers.

Be Realistic and Determine the Type of Change You Want

Most people automatically associate a beautiful smile with the whitest possible shade. But there is such a thing as your teeth being too white. The goal here is to attract the eye, not blind it or scare it away. That doesn’t mean your porcelain veneers can’t be several shades whiter than your natural teeth. In fact, they should be. But they should also look natural. Unless you’re in front of the camera for your career or rely on a flawless smile to make a living, you can probably avoid the whitest shades and opt for something a bit more realistic. After all, you probably still want people to think you were born with a perfect smile.

Consider Your Age, Facial Characteristics, and Lifestyle

Gender and age play a big part in the right shape and coloring of your teeth. Hair coloring, skin tone, and even the whites of your eyes work together to influence the right shade choice. Your porcelain veneers should enhance your beauty, not detract from it or clash with other equally impressive traits. Also be sure to consider your diet, habits, and vices such as coffee addiction, nicotine or alcohol intake. Those won’t stain veneers like they do natural enamel, but they can weaken the bonding agents and dull the edges of the porcelain over time.

Understand How Translucency Factors In

Porcelain veneers are about the width of a contact lens. So while they cover existing dental problems they are also thin enough to allow existing stains or the natural color of your enamel and even light to come through. This translucency factor is often overlooked by patients expecting gleaming white teeth off the bat. Professional tooth whitening can be implemented prior to the veneer treatment to whiten existing enamel, but some staining or dullness may remain. A soft white porcelain color may mute out yellowing enamel while a darker shade may be needed for deeper or permanent stains.

Listen to Your Johns Creek Dentist

Your dentist will show you a shade guide, ask for your preferences, and make suggestions based on those. The patient has the final decision, of course, but your Johns Creek Dentist should be listened to for the best possible outcome. They’ll explain how the translucency of your chosen shades will react with your natural coloring and provide suggestions and options for the most natural solution for your needs and desires. Whitening of the teeth and veneers can be done prior to shell placement. Once that’s completed, the treatment is permanent, and the color can’t be changed. But by following the above steps, you can have a natural looking beautiful smile with your new porcelain veneers.

Spring Into a New Smile with Invisalign Clear Aligners

Achieving the perfect smile is an American dream nowadays, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, historical evidence proves our ancestors as far back to the cavemen days had what so many of us would consider a practically flawless set of chompers. The main reason for the natural dental imperfection is because the jaw becomes smaller as humanity evolves. An easy and effective modern solution to that problem is to straighten your teeth with Invisalign. But what’s the big deal with crooked teeth and how can your Red Bank New Jersey Dentist help you spring into a new smile?

Crooked Teeth Rarely Straighten on Their Own

Almost all kids have some form of dental issue whether it’s malocclusion (crooked teeth) or a diastema (gap). The jaw and teeth strengthen, adjust, and set as we age and some people are fortunate enough to grow out of those issues. However, most dental concerns increase or get worse with time. Almost 5 million Americans at any given time wear braces and 80% of those are kids between the ages of 6 and 18. Up to 70% of adolescents will wear metal braces before they reach adulthood. Of course, braces aren’t right for everyone and Invisalign offers a clear alternative to the traditional rite of passage.

Crooked Teeth Can Lead to Bite Issues

Crooked teeth cause the jaw to shift and can lead to abnormal wear of the mandible. A weakened jawbone can create bite issues and lead to internal stress which can result in bruxism or TMJ. Invisalign can easily treat even serious bite issues and the aligners can work as mouth guards to protect your teeth from further damage due to habitual stress-related grinding. As the treatment progresses, your jaw can repair itself and realign as you straighten your teeth with Invisalign.

Crooked Teeth Encourage Bacteria and Decay

Tooth decay doesn’t care about age, gender, race, or creed. In fact, it’s so prevalent that over 90% of Americans have cavities and that number soars to 96% in adults over the age of 65. However, bacteria doesn’t just eat away at the teeth. It can attack any surface inside the mouth, including the gums. Poor oral health care and the resulting build-up of bacteria is the primary cause of gum disease. And that’s nothing to smile about. Gum disease begins as gingivitis which involves sore, red, and inflamed gums. That stage is easily treatable if caught early enough. But crooked teeth encourage the bacteria by providing it with extra living spaces. Invisalign can straighten your teeth and help reduce the risks for bacteria-related oral health problems.

Crooked Teeth Can Improve Your Life

According to a national survey, 99.7% of Americans admit to believing a good smile is a necessary social asset while 96% of adults said an attractive smile increases that individual’s romantic potential. Continuing on that vein, around 75% of Americans believe a person’s smile can improve or impede their career success. In fact, when it came to what they first noticed in another person’s smile, straightness of their teeth was mentioned more often than the shade or cleanliness of their teeth, the sincerity of their smile, or even the presence of missing teeth. Give your Red Bank New Jersey Dentist a call to see how springing into a new smile with Invisalign can help improve your life.

Get a Smile Makeover FAST with Snap-on Smile

In a recent national survey, approximately 85% of Americans agree that oral health needs to be prioritized. But fewer than 60% of those surveyed visit their dentist annually, and only a quarter of Americans are satisfied with their overall oral health or smile. Lack of regular dental care can be due to a number of reasons including fear of the dentist chair and financial concerns. But the perfect smile makeover doesn’t have to hurt, nor does it necessarily require a second mortgage. In fact, you can get a smile makeover fast with a Snap-On Smile. But why should you consider this alternative smile makeover treatment?

Snap-On Smile Is Aesthetically Pleasing

A Snap-On Smile is essentially a set of false teeth that are customized to fit over your existing teeth. They provide a seamless and perfect smile and cover several issues simultaneously. They work as a quick, painless, and reasonable alternative to porcelain veneers. And just like veneers, they can provide an almost instant improvement in your overall appearance and significantly lift your confidence levels. So you can be ready for your career, social, and romantic closeups after about two visits to your New York City Cosmetic Dentist.

Snap-On Smile Is Removable

Wait. Is that really a benefit? Well, it definitely can be one. A Snap-On Smile is completely different from permanent procedures such as dentures, dental implants, or even veneers. There are absolutely no surgical or invasive concerns. The Snap-On-tray is custom-created to fit your mouth, but it fits around your teeth. Therefore, it’s not a corrective device, but it is a cosmetic appliance. The snap-on tray is made of dental-grade resin to be strong enough for daily life requirements. But it can be removed at any time to regain full function from your existing teeth or to have other treatments performed later on.

Snap-On Smile Is Affordable

If you’ve ever looked into potential cosmetic or restorative dental solutions such as porcelain veneers or dental implants, the cost factor alone may have bolted that door shut before you could even crack it open. Diving deeper, the irreversibility, potential pain or discomfort, and healing time involved can give even the most determined dental warrior second thoughts. A Snap-On Smile is nowhere near as expensive as implants and is only a fraction of the cost of porcelain veneers. They’re not a permanent option but with proper maintenance, your Snap-On Smile can last years without repair or replacement concerns.

Snap-On Smiles Work for Just About Everyone

A Snap-On Smile is simply an aesthetic solution, but it can work for almost anyone. A Snap-On Smile can hide crooked teeth or gaps, help improve bite issues, completely cover missing teeth, and give you the smile makeover of your dreams… at least during the day. Your Snap-On Smile should be removed at night just like removable dentures, and they need to be maintained and cared for properly just like natural teeth. Give your New York City Cosmetic Dentist a call today to discuss how easy it is to improve your life in a snap.

Play It Safe with a Mouthguard for Spring Sports

Whether organized or free-play sports are a rite of passage for most American adolescents. After all, over 100 million children play some type of team or recreational sports activity annually. But according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), approximately 84% of kids don’t wear mouth protection while playing unorganized sports. Other equipment such as pads, helmets, and activity-related gear are too often prioritized as they ignore the need or forget to protect teeth from injury. As such, athletes have a 10% chance of experiencing a serious dental or facial injury in a single season of playing their favorite sport. But what are some of the most common injuries that can be avoided by simply wearing a mouthguard for spring sports?

Chipped or Cracked Teeth

Teeth are strong enough to withstand most life requirements, but blunt trauma from sports is another matter altogether. Sometimes the enamel gets craze lines which are small cracks that are little more than a cosmetic issue. But actual cracks that start at the root and spread downward or spiderweb across the tooth can be a severe concern and even lead to chipped teeth or worse. Symptoms usually involve some form of sharp pain which can be felt when biting down or while eating or drinking. The pain may be constant or fade in and out but if any pain is present, you need to schedule an emergency dental appointment with your Moorestown Dentist. Cracked teeth aren’t always visible to the naked eye, but they can still lead to far more serious dental concerns if not diagnosed and treated quickly.

Root Fractures

It’s easy to recognize a dental injury when it occurs in or on the crown of the tooth. But that isn’t always the origin. Sometimes the trauma causes a fracture beneath the gum line and within the root of the tooth. Fractures at this level are often invisible and result in a hairline crack that begins in the root and travels upward to the crown. Moderate to severe pain may be present, but the athlete may not be able to pinpoint exactly where it hurts. In the event of root fractures, it may not even show or present issues until an infection occurs. But because the fracture begins in the root, pulp damage may occur and lead to either a root canal or necrosis which can result in losing the tooth entirely.

Tooth Intrusion

Tooth loss or tooth avulsion is synonymous with sports play, and that can be easily handled by a professional dentist as long as time isn’t wasted in retrieving the tooth and visiting the dentist. However, sometimes the opposite occurs and that can be far more serious and painful. Tooth intrusion occurs when the mouth trauma causes the tooth to be driving back into the jawbone instead of falling out. This injury occurs mostly in boys between the ages of 6 to 12. The intrusion is usually not accompanied by a fracture or further tooth damage. However, root resorption (shortening of the roots) occurs in 70% of the injured teeth. And root necrosis is also possible in this type of injury. Fortunately, a simple mouthguard can protect teeth from injury before the pain, worry, and financial strain become an issue. Visit your Moorestown Dentist to get the right mouthguard for your loved ones so they can play it safe during their spring sports.