Jan 25, 2024 | Blog, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Topics 3
There are many things you can do that will improve your look, such as a new hairstyle or diet. But have you thought about the dramatic effects changing your smile might have on your appearance? Cosmetic dentistry was established to make you more beautiful and confident with a winning smile.
Cosmetic dentists offer a wide variety of ways to alter your smile that can affect your whole appearance. It’s amazing what straight, white, fully restored teeth can do for a person. Here are some popular treatments offered through cosmetic dentistry.
Teeth whitening
Things like aging, eating dark foods, and smoking contribute to a dingy smile. Cosmetic dentists can brighten your smile right away using professional whitening techniques. Often in just an hour, you can have a brilliant smile to wow all your friends.
Dental veneers
Thin porcelain shells may be securely adhered to the front surfaces of your teeth. Cracks, misalignments, discolorations, chips and misshapen teeth will all disappear under your dental veneers. They are customized just for you, even down to the exact shade of white you desire, so that you end up with the smile you’ve always wanted.
Bonding
Cosmetic dentists can repair many minor teeth issues with dental bonding. Composite resin material is typically used to fill in chips, spaces, stains, cracks and fractures. Bonding lasts for years with proper oral hygiene.
Crowns
To restore your tooth appearance and function, a crown is placed over a damaged tooth. It may be a tooth that is worn down, discolored, weak or otherwise compromised. Also, crowns are used as part of the process with dental implants, bridges or root canals. These restorations are made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, or resin.
Bridges
Used to replace missing teeth, bridges are also called fixed partial dentures. These are usually made from gold, alloys, or a combination of these materials.
Braces
In addition to orthodontists, many cosmetic dentists can provide braces to straighten your teeth, repair an irregular bite, or reposition your jaw. Options include metals, ceramic, or plastic and some choices are even invisible in your smile.
Are dental issues holding you back? Take control of your oral health by booking an appointment with our experienced team at our Bingham Farms dental office.
Jan 18, 2024 | Blog, Dental Topics 3, Implant Dentistry
Treatment with dental implants has proven to be highly predictable, with success rates in the range of 95%. However, if you are considering the placement of dental implants, you may still want reassurance about the safety of implants and the surgical procedure.
Dental implants are utilized to replace missing or damaged teeth. The implant acts in place of the natural root and supports restorations such as crowns, bridges, or removable dentures. Once implants have been placed, the patient enjoys the benefit of an appliance that looks and feels like natural teeth. Dental implant surgery is performed with the patient under local or IV sedation. The implant takes approximately four to six months to fuse to the jawbone, at which time your permanent restorations can be put into place.
We offer Dental Implants in Bingham Farms
In the past implants have been known to shrink the bone surrounding the implants over the course of time. However, newer implant technology has eliminated this risk almost completely. Implants also do not damage the surrounding teeth during preparation.
Titanium is the most common material for dental implants. This type of metal is known for outstanding resistance to corrosion, as well as being highly compatible with the environment within the mouth. While allergic reactions to titanium are possible, it is known to be extremely rare.
The best insurance you can give yourself regarding implant safety is to take time and care when choosing your oral surgeon. A highly skilled and experienced doctor will be better prepared about how to avoid or treat potential complications. A good oral surgeon will take great care in the planning stages of your implant surgery to avoid the possibility of implant failure.
Once your surgery is complete, it is vitally important to follow all the post-operative and aftercare recommendations your oral surgeon provides. Do not skip or postpone your follow-up visits, and maintain excellent oral hygiene to ensure you will escape any potential risks or complications and enjoy the benefits of dental implants for many years.
Jan 4, 2024 | Blog, Dental Information, Dental Topics 3
White teeth are a sign of beauty and health. Having pearly whites shows that you take pride in your appearance and gives you a confident air. There are many ways to achieve a brighter smile; here are some tips to help you get that shiny glow.
Professional whitening is a sure-fire way to brighten your smile by numerous shades. In only an hour, your smile can go from dull and dingy to white and polished. Your dental professional can guide you in the best ways to enhance your look with tools such as lasers or whitening trays. Professional methods are the quickest route to a dramatic improvement in the shade of your teeth.
If you prefer methods in your own home, drugstores have lots of options. Whitening strips, gels, and toothpastes are only a few of the choices available. These typically require consistent use for an extended period, but they can improve the color of your teeth with proper use. Follow the instructions carefully for the best results.
There are also natural ways to whiten your teeth at home. Rubbing your teeth with the back of a lemon or orange peel can help, and adding a little salt can make it even more effective. Strawberries may be directly rubbed onto your teeth, or made into a paste by mashing them up with a little water and then brushing onto your teeth for five minutes. Each of these methods should be followed by thorough rinsing of the mouth to eliminate residue or acids left behind.
Baking soda is a proven ingredient to help brighten your smile. Mixing baking soda and water to form a paste that can then be brushed onto your teeth is a great tip. Follow up by rinsing with water or hydrogen peroxide, and then brushing normally with toothpaste.
Consult your dentist to make sure you aren’t harming your teeth or mouth when you try any whitening methods yourself. If you experience pain, stop and ask your dentist for advice. Do not use over-the-counter or professional whitening methods during pregnancy without consulting your doctor first.
Are dental issues holding you back? Take control of your oral health by booking an appointment with our experienced team at our Bingham Farms dental office.
Dec 28, 2023 | Blog, Dental Information, Dental Topics 3
Also called onychophagia, nail biting is a common habit for lots of people, usually children, teens, and young adults. Often, nail biting is caused by stress and seems to wane as people get older. Though some would argue that it’s not as bad as smoking or other less desirable habits, there are several reasons to stop nail biting:
It’s unsanitary. Did you know that your mouth and your hands/nails are two of the germiest areas on your body? If you have any open sores on your fingertips and you bite your nails, the germs from your mouth spread to that area. Pretty gross if you think about it.
It’s unattractive. Nobody really wants to watch someone bite their nails. As well, it doesn’t make your nails look very nice either.
It hurts your teeth. When you bite your nails, it strains front teeth and can weaken them, which may contribute to misalignment or crookedness. Nail biting also keeps your teeth in constant chewing motion and may wear them down faster than if you didn’t bite your nails.
It can cost you money. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that nail biting may add $4000 to dental bills over a lifetime.
Stopping any habit can be difficult. To curtail your nail biting, try to:
- Think about it. Sometimes, just be conscious of this habit can help you stop.
- Make your nails look nice. You won’t want to mess them up if they are neatly manicured.
- Create a deterrent. Check at the drug store for colorless, odorless solutions you apply to the
nails. These topicals taste awful, which should make it easier to quit.
Do you live in Bingham Farms or the surrounding area? Our team is ready to help you achieve your smile goals. Schedule your appointment today.
Dec 14, 2023 | Blog, Dental Topics 3, Family Dentistry
Your family dentist can perform all of the services offered by both a pediatric and an adult dentist, only for your whole family. Some of the most popular options are cosmetic or restorative procedures, correcting such issues as discolored teeth, crooked or misaligned teeth, unsightly metal fillings, crowded or rotated teeth, short or small teeth, or missing teeth or spaces between teeth.
Family members who have had their permanent teeth fully descend are eligible candidates for many cosmetic procedures such as whitening. Have your young person consult with your family dentist before trying any at-home products; immature adult teeth can turn splotchy or the gums can become irritated if at-home whitening products are used incorrectly or for too long. Because tooth discoloration can be a sign of a more serious dental issue, it is important to talk to your family dentist before moving forward with any treatment.
Your family dentist can help you with products such as dental veneers. Don’t suffer with tooth gaps, unsightly stained teeth, or crooked or badly shaped teeth. Veneers are thin layers of tooth-colored material that are placed on top of your teeth and that can correct many mistakes in your natural smile. Veneers can be used to change the color or shape of a single tooth or to spruce up an entire smile.
Talk to your family dentist about replacing your unattractive metal fillings with tooth-colored materials. You don’t have to tolerate a silver smile when you can turn to your family dentist for all-white fillings. Your smile will be far more natural and beautiful than before.
If you are missing a tooth, or are in need of a root canal procedure, talk to your dentist about your choice of crowns and bridges. A crown can save a tooth from total decay, protecting it and giving it a longer life. A bridge can keep you able to bite and chew properly, and can help maintain the shape of your face while preventing other teeth from misaligning.
Your family dentistry practice can help you make all of the decisions you need to make regarding your and your family’s dental health and appearance.
Do you live in Bingham Farms or the surrounding area? Our team is ready to help you achieve your smile goals. Schedule your appointment today.
Dec 7, 2023 | Blog, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Topics 3
Most people have things about their smiles they’d like to fix. Maybe the things are minor or perhaps they are major, but most of them can be addressed with some form of cosmetic dentistry. You may have been unhappy for a while with the smile you see in the mirror, but just haven’t felt the necessary impetus to schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist.
To get that jump start toward your dental treatment, look ahead in your life. Maybe you have a class reunion coming up, or maybe a friend’s wedding. Perhaps there’s a job interview, first date or anniversary approaching. These special occasions are all excellent reasons to turn to cosmetic dentistry treatments. Here are some of the most common procedures that could be used to transform your smile.
- Teeth whitening – perhaps the most popular and common cosmetic dentistry procedure, it utilizes light-activated bleaching chemicals that can lighten natural teeth and remove stains and discoloration.
- Dental veneers – very thin, wafer-shaped shells crafted out of porcelain or another material that are bonded onto the natural surface of the tooth. Sometimes a thin layer of the natural tooth enamel must be removed in order to accommodate the application of the veneer.
- Dental bonding – composite resin mixed to match the color of your tooth and then molded by hand onto the tooth’s surface to create the illusion of a complete natural tooth.
- Dental crowns – restorative dental therapy that protects and preserves a natural tooth that has had a root canal treatment.
- Enameloplasty – the correction of malformations of a natural tooth through hand-shaping. This is also the name for the removal of the tooth’s surface required for most types of dental veneers.
All of these cosmetic treatments will transform your smile for that special occasion. Get the bright, straight, white smile you want people to remember with the help of a little cosmetic dentistry.
Are dental issues holding you back? Take control of your oral health by booking an appointment with our experienced team at our Bingham Farms dental office.
