FDA Dentist

Dentistry & Wellness

Learn about veneers

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Dental veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry solution for people seeking to improve the appearance of their smile. If you’ve ever wondered how celebrities achieve their picture-perfect teeth, dental veneers are often the secret behind those flawless smiles. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about dental veneers, including what they are, the benefits, the procedure, and how to maintain them.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. They are typically made from porcelain or composite resin materials, which mimic the natural color and texture of teeth. Veneers are bonded to your teeth to enhance their appearance, addressing issues such as discoloration, chips, cracks, gaps, and minor misalignments.

Porcelain veneers are known for their durability and resistance to stains, making them a popular choice. Composite resin veneers are generally more affordable but may not last as long or be as resistant to stains. Your dentist will help you choose the right material based on your specific needs.

Benefits of Dental Veneers

  1. Improved Aesthetics: Veneers offer a solution for those who want to achieve a more symmetrical, brighter, and attractive smile. They are an excellent option for addressing teeth that are discolored, chipped, or misshapen.
  2. Stain Resistance: Porcelain veneers, in particular, are highly resistant to stains, allowing you to maintain a bright smile even if you consume stain-inducing foods and drinks like coffee, tea, or wine.
  3. Minimal Tooth Reduction: Veneers are a more conservative cosmetic solution compared to crowns, which require a greater reduction of the tooth’s natural structure.
  4. Durability: Porcelain veneers can last 10 to 15 years with proper care, making them a long-term investment in your smile.
  5. Customizable: Each veneer is tailored to fit your specific teeth and desired look. This ensures a natural appearance that complements your overall facial structure.

Who Can Benefit from Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are an excellent option for individuals with a range of cosmetic dental concerns. You might be a good candidate for veneers if you have:

  • Discolored Teeth: Veneers can cover teeth that are stained or discolored, especially when traditional whitening treatments are not effective.
  • Chipped or Broken Teeth: Veneers can conceal minor chips or breaks in teeth, restoring their appearance.
  • Gaps Between Teeth: Veneers can close small gaps between teeth without the need for braces or aligners.
  • Misaligned or Irregularly Shaped Teeth: Veneers offer a way to correct slight misalignments or irregularly shaped teeth, creating a more uniform look.

It’s important to note that while veneers can address many aesthetic concerns, they are not always the best option for people with severe dental issues, such as significant decay or gum disease. In such cases, other treatments may be necessary before considering veneers.

The Procedure for Getting Veneers

The process of getting dental veneers typically involves several steps, including:

  1. Consultation: Your dentist will evaluate your oral health and discuss your cosmetic goals to determine if veneers are the right option for you.
  2. Preparation: To prepare your teeth for veneers, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the surface of the tooth (usually less than a millimeter). This creates space for the veneer and ensures a natural fit.
  3. Impressions: After preparation, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth, which are sent to a dental lab where the veneers are custom-made.
  4. Bonding: Once your veneers are ready, your dentist will bond them to your teeth using a special adhesive. The veneers are carefully adjusted and polished for a perfect fit.
  5. Follow-Up: A follow-up visit may be required to ensure the veneers are securely in place and functioning well.

Maintaining Your Dental Veneers

To maximize the lifespan of your dental veneers, proper care and maintenance are essential:

  • Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss your teeth regularly, just as you would with your natural teeth. This helps prevent plaque buildup and gum disease, which can affect the longevity of your veneers.
  • Avoid Hard Foods: Although veneers are durable, they can still chip or crack if subjected to excessive force. Avoid biting on hard objects like ice or using your teeth to open packages.
  • Regular Dental Visits: Continue to see your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings to ensure your veneers and overall oral health remain in top condition.
  • Protect Your Teeth: If you grind your teeth, consider wearing a night guard to protect your veneers from damage.

Conclusion

Dental veneers are an effective and long-lasting solution for enhancing the appearance of your smile. Whether you want to correct discoloration, close gaps, or reshape your teeth, veneers can provide a dramatic improvement with minimal invasiveness. With proper care, veneers can give you a radiant smile for many years to come. If you’re interested in learning more about how veneers can transform your smile, consult with a qualified cosmetic dentist to explore your options over at https://revivemysmile.com

By understanding the benefits and process of getting dental veneers, you can make an informed decision that suits your aesthetic and oral health needs.

Are dental crowns for you

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A dental crown is a type of restoration that covers the tooth and protects its exposed inner surface, which helps to restore the natural appearance of a tooth. Crowns are made from porcelain or metal alloy, and in some cases can be attached to gold or ceramic. The purpose of this article is to give you an overview of dental crowns and how they’re used in dentistry. This includes a brief history on how crowns have been used for centuries, as well as outlining their materials, benefits, and indications for use.

Who is dental crowns for?

Crowns are for patients with serious tooth damage or decay. A crown completely encloses the circumference of a tooth, providing protection from further decay, cracks, and fractures. A crown can also help strengthen a tooth if it has suffered from crack or fracture, and in many cases restore jawbone loss.

Health benefits of dental crowns

Below are various health benefits of having a dental crown as part of your oral health plan.

  1. Crowns can protect teeth from further decay

Dental decay occurs on the outer surfaces of a tooth. By having a crown, this will help prevent any future decay from occurring on these exposed surfaces. Due to the fact that crowns are made of porcelain or metal alloy, it’s often difficult for bacteria to attach themselves onto these surfaces. A dental crown can also protect against cracks and fractures that can be caused by biting forces which are transmitted from the jawbone to the teeth. This is what causes most of the damage to teeth and needs some sort of restoration work if it has been damaged in this way.

  1. Other benefits include tooth repair and relief of jaw pain

Not only does dental crown repair help to strengthen a tooth, but it can also relieve some of the jaw pain that may be present. A crown will help to create an even surface for the tooth and the surrounding jawbone to attach onto, which means that there won’t be any pain or discomfort for you when eating or speaking. A dental crown in this sense is often used as a long-term treatment option to replace a lost tooth.

  1. Crowns can also provide aesthetics restoration

A dental restoration is often used as an aesthetic option by treating teeth in such a way as to make them look more attractive and pleasing. A crown will help to give a natural looking appearance, especially in situations where you have an exposed root or decay that needs to be treated. If a tooth has been chipped or broken, then a dental restoration can also hide these unattractive features by giving the tooth a more harmonious shape as well as color. Often, if other teeth are of similar coloring and shape, crowns can also be used to create symmetry amongst all your teeth for aesthetic reasons.

  1. Crowns help protect against fracture and fracture-causing biting forces

Dental crowns provide teeth protection from fracturing from occurring due to biting forces being transferred from the jawbone to the tooth. A crown will help to provide support to the tooth and allow it to resist chewing forces without breaking or fracturing.

  1. Crowns can also protect teeth from further damage within the mouth

A crown can also be used to protect teeth from further damage and trauma that may occur within the mouth. A tooth can sustain further damage if it has cracked, has a root exposed, or is in some way compromised with decay. The use of a dental restoration can prevent this from occurring and reduce the risk of infection spreading into surrounding tissue.

  1. Crowns can prevent jawbone loss

A crown is often used to help protect outer teeth, or incisors, which are the front teeth. This protects these teeth from cracking and fracturing that can occur if there is a lack of jawbone present on this tooth. This will also prevent a tooth fracture from occurring in the future. If you have lost some of your jawbone due to an accident, or in other cases such as having gum disease, then your dental crowns may need to be replaced.

Conclusion

Although crowns can readily be attached to your teeth, in some cases they will need to be fitted during a dental procedure known as a dental crown repair. This can be carried out at any time after the tooth is first damaged, and before the final restoration is done on the tooth. A Temple Terrace dentist may choose to fit a dental restoration in this way if they feel that it would offer you greater protection against further damage and decay.

Effects of Alcohol On Your Teeth

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When are enjoying yourself with your friends either at barbecue or pool side party, you might want to indulge in drinking alcohol. But when you drink it in moderation, it is fine but after a certain limit, it might cause side effects for your overall body especially your teeth.

Hence when you go ahead with this option, you should know the effects of alcohol on your teeth so you can prevent your urge of drinking too much of the alcoholic beverage. It might be perfectly fine to drink it in moderation but you should not go overboard while drinking because it can be extremely detrimental for your health.

While it is very dangerous for your liver, brain and blood sugar level, this drink can also cause a lot of damage to your mouth including your teeth, mouth tissues and gums. Moreover, excessive drinking can be very harmful for your oral health because it can lead to gum diseases, cavities and periodontal diseases.

The most common and prevalent effects of alcohol on your teeth is that it can dry out your mouth causing bad breath and it also increases the chances of cavities formation. Moreover, it also eliminates the production of saliva that is known to keep your teeth moist and it also helps in removing the bacteria and plaque from the surface of the tooth.

This is the reason why alcoholic beverages should be avoided because it has negative impact on your dental health and teeth. Liquor, beer and mixed drinks are known to have higher acidity level and sugar content that helps to break down teeth enamel. This eventually increases the risks of periodontal diseases, cavities and long term tooth decay can be prevented.

It also accelerates the decaying process of the teeth and you might suffer from great pain, tooth decay and dental abscess. Therefore, it is important that you avoid drinking alcoholic beverages so that you will not have to suffer from adverse effects. Additionally, drinking in excess also increases the chances of oral cancer because heavy drinkers are more prone to getting cancer than the others.

Along with the effects on your health, alcoholic drinks are also known to stain your teeth which might make it look unappealing and you will avoid smiling in public due to your dental problem. Even when you are maintaining good dental health and practicing oral hygiene, you might face the risks of getting these serious dental problems only because you are a heavy drinker.

The acidity level of alcohol can discolor your teeth and it might also affect the enamel adversely because it traps the color of the beverage on the teeth. This is the reason you should intake a large amount of these alcoholic beverage as it will make your teeth look unappealing.

Alcohol consumption is also known to cause a large number of oral diseases while increasing the risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease and oral cancer in extreme cases. It is also known to damage the teeth enamel that takes a lot of time to repair and hence you should make sure that you avoid drinking it in excess so that you will not have to suffer from its side effects.

Drinking is also linked to formation of plaques and hence your teeth will get more prone to getting damaged which can eventually lead to tooth decay. The saliva flow is also reduced considerably due to the drinking of these beverages and it can cause tooth decay and tooth loss. If you are suffering from dry mouth, your teeth will be prone to getting higher level of erosion and tooth decay.

Therefore, it is important that you prevent drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages so that the risk of oral cancer will be reduced considerably. It is the best way of reducing the risk of dental problems as well as damage that are caused from a lot of drinking that will lead to extreme side effects in the long run.

You will be able to minimize the risk of mouth disease and serious tooth decay so that you don’t lose your valuable permanent teeth in the process. The acidic content in these drinks will also eat away the tooth enamel and hence you should make efforts for reducing alcohol abuse.

What is cosmetic dentisty?

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Cosmetic dentistry aims to bring changes to your teeth, and your smile. Most people think that porcelain veneer, whitening is the only tasks of cosmetic dentists, but it’s beyond that. An experienced and skilled cosmetic dentist can improve your overall appearance with just a touch up on your teeth because a beautiful smile can win all the hearts. It will not only make you pretty, but your self-confidence will grow as well.

Today cosmetic dentistry has replaced the traditional damaged teeth restoring task to the more complicated and aesthetic procedure. Nowadays, cosmetic dentistry involves tooth bonding, whitening, color restoration, dental implants, porcelain veneers, fillings, orthodontics and so on You may be surprised to know about the things that are done by cosmetic dentists. Here, you can check out the cosmetic dentistry types, and how it can benefit you.

Veneers

These are custom made covers for the front part of your teeth. It changes the colors, attached to the teeth, the shape or size of the same. Veneers are made of porcelain or resin. It provides a conservative approach to changing the shape and color of the teeth compared to the crowns, but this process cannot be reversed.

Dental Bonding

In this process, tooth-colored resin is applied and it is hardened with a special light. Bonding improves a person’s smile, and this is one of the least expensive and easiest dental procedures. Bonding can repair cracked or chipped teeth, change the shape of the tooth, and close the gaps. Sometimes, silver amalgam is used to fill the gaps.

Enamel Shaping

This is a quick and painless procedure to give a natural shape to the teeth, and it improves the appearances. It normally corrects the small imperfections such as teeth that are overcrowded, or uneven. After the procedure, you can get the result instantly. Also, enamel shaping is combined with bonding, veneers, whitening, and so on.

Crowns

A crown is a cap in the shape of a tooth, and it’s placed over a damaged tooth to improve its size, shape, appearance, or strength. Mostly crown lasts to 15 years, and it can be made of porcelain, metal, ceramic, or resin. Before the crown is implanted the damaged tooth is filed down, then the crown is placed to enclose the tooth.

Gum Reshaping

If you want to improve your gummy smile, you must have shorter teeth to achieve that. In the process, a small amount of gum tissue is removed and added to the teeth to expose a bit more of it. This process can be done to one tooth to the gum line, or to several teeth to broaden the natural smile.

Orthodontics

This is simply braces and it can correct your misaligned teeth, and repair the crooked tooth. It can also improve your health and smile, whether for an adult or a child. Braces apply steady pressure on the teeth and make them come to a line. As the teeth start to move the rickety sockets change its shape.

Teeth whitening

Everyone loves a bright smile, and for that, there are so many teeth whitening assortments available. The cosmetic dentists use strips and trays, over the counter gels, rinses and toothpaste, whitening agents, and so on. But this process isn’t for everyone, because it’s ideal for the ones who are healthy and have unrestored gums or teeth. Individuals who have yellow to the greyish tone they can have this procedure done. You must talk to your dentist about it, and get it done.

Implants

So many people suffer from tooth loss, and this happens with gum disease, the decay of teeth, injury, and so on. Dental implants replace tooth roots, and it’s made of titanium as this is the strongest option out there. Other than individual crowns, some patient gets attachments on the implant that gives support to the removable structure.

Composite Fillings

If you have to fill in your teeth, this needs to be replaced after it wears down by cracking, chipping, and so on. Many people prefer natural, tooth-colored composites rather than amalgam fillings. The reason can be aesthetic, or for the safety of the amalgam filling, which has mercury in it. However, composite fillings wear down faster than the silver amalgam, but they can hold up big to small cavities.

Other things can be done in cosmetic dentistry, like, bridges, dentures, gum grafts, and even smile makeover. You can go for any part if you need them. Talk to your dentist about the procedures, and they will recommend the best procedure.

Learn about dental fillings

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What is a tooth filling?

The harmful effects of caries bacteria destroy tooth substance. The remaining hole in the tooth must then be restored. Otherwise, bacteria could settle in the open areas again in a short time. The same applies to tooth defects caused by mechanical stress or exposed tooth necks. The tooth filling protects the treated tooth, creates a smooth and resistant surface, and enables natural chewing of the food. Different materials and methods are available for the treatment.

When is tooth filling necessary?

A broken tooth, damage from caries, or excessive stress on the tooth surface, for example, through grinding. The affected area must be treated with a tooth filling whenever the protective enamel layer is no longer completely intact. The lining protects against further damage and maintains the healthy function of the bit.

Tooth fillings: types

Different materials are used to fill tooth defects. Longevity and good tolerance are the most important criteria for your selection. With this denture, a distinction is made between inlay fillings and usual fillings based on the application. For the inlay filling or inlay, after an impression of the damaged tooth area, a precisely fitting restoration is made that only needs to be used. Standard fillings, on the other hand, are placed as a plastic mass directly into the opening in the tooth, harden there in a short time and thus give the tooth back its natural function. There are different types of tooth fillings:

Amalgam filling

It is a form of care that has been tried and tested over decades. The name “amalgam” stands for an alloy of different metals. Mostly silver, copper, indium, copper, tin, and zinc combined with mercury. The mercury contained has brought criticism to the amalgam filling in the past because the substance can be harmful to health under certain circumstances. However, this applies mainly to mercury vapors and less so to amalgam fillings, which appear to cause minimal pollution. The high-pressure resistance and extended durability speak for this type of tooth filling. Amalgam is still the standard for restoration in the posterior region. Only the silver-gray coloring of the filling prevents use on the visible incisors and canines for optical reasons.

Ceramic filling

Ceramic is a sturdy material. Such makes the material ideally suited to be used as a durable denture. It is used in the form of inlays, primarily on the posterior teeth, where it has to withstand high pressure. The production is complicated and, accordingly, expensive. To make a custom-fit filling, a tooth impression must first be taken as a negative form. The finished ceramic filling can only be used after a second visit to the dentist. With their porcelain tones, the inlays adapt to the whiteness of the tooth. They also do not accept any discoloration in the long term, are extremely well-tolerated and durable. The statutory health insurance companies only cover the costs of a ceramic filling to a small extent.

Composite filling

One speaks here of “normal” fillings. They consist of a composite material consisting of plastic and several other components that can be worked directly into the tooth. Thanks to the different shades of white in the content, they can be individually adapted to the surrounding tooth shade. The plastic in the filling is first cured using a lamp with blue light. The treated tooth is ready for use again a short time after the filling has hardened. Overall, however, composite is not as resilient as ceramic, gold, and amalgam fillings. That is why they are mainly used for incisors and canines. Recently, however, composite fillings have also become available that are suitable for the treatment of posterior teeth.

Tooth filling with cement

Dental cement or, more precisely, glass ionomer cement is an easy-to-use and well-tolerated filling material. However, it wears out relatively quickly in use. As a result, cement is mostly used for temporary fillings or the treatment of milk teeth. For example, crowns are also attached to the tooth with a dental adhesive at the dental office.

Gold filling

Gold fillings belong to the inlay fillings (inlays) and have proven themselves for use on posterior teeth for many decades. They are made from an alloy of 20-22 carat gold. The precious metal does not react with the body’s substances and, as far as is known, does not trigger allergies. Gold fillings are resilient, and durability is superior to all other filler materials. The only things that speak against tooth gold are the clear visibility in the teeth and the high costs that result from the elaborate processing. The health insurance fund covers only a small proportion of costs. The patient must bear the additional costs unless medical reasons require the use of a gold filling.