Black and unsightly silver
fillings Many people have had silver fillings
placed into their teeth because they had "cavities".
These silver fillings are called amalgams. Amalgam fills
the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed.
However over time, the amalgam corrodes and leaks which
blackens the silver, and many times the tooth. This
is easily seen as soon as a patient opens his or her
mouth and is usually a source of embarrassment for the
patient.
Composite fillings are made of a porcelain-like material
that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal. They
are strong and durable, and they are color-matched
to the natural tooth, making them "invisible".
Composite fillings also lack the sensitivity that is
often associated with silver amalgam fillings. They
are especially suited for smaller cavities and for patients
who may be allergic to metal fillings.
Please don't hesitate to call our office with any questions
you may have about the benefits of replacing silver
amalgam fillings with invisible composite fillings.
Cracked,
worn, discolored or broken teeth For over 100 years, dentists
have been using silver-mercury amalgam fillings to restore
decayed or broken teeth. The only other alternative
was gold and that was always too expensive for most
folks. Now there is a new and economical way to restore
teeth using tooth-colored resin fillings. The resin
is made up of glass particles in a plastic matrix. The
doctor bonds the putty-like material to the tooth with
a high-intensity light. This hardens the material and
allows it to be shaped and polished for immediate use.
Once completed, the tooth has a natural appearance and
is actually stronger than before due to the strength
of the adhesive agent used to bond the resin to the
tooth. Resin restorations not only look better, but
they are stronger and last longer than the old silver-amalgam
fillings.
Please call with any questions you may have about the
benefits of resin restorations.
Fix
discolored, dark or stained teeth with bleaching
Tooth bleaching involves the placement of a bleaching
solution on the teeth to eliminate stains and discoloration.
The solution is held in place by a custom-made, see-through
tray that fits over the teeth - much like a mouthpiece
worn by a professional athletes.
Bleaching is a safe, effective and relatively easy means
of producing a whiter smile.
Two bleaching methods are available: Power Bleaching
with a light, done at our office, and At-Home-Bleaching,
which provides for home use (not to be confused with
over-the-counter bleaching products available in your
local drug store).
The difference between the two is the strength of the
whitening agent and the time it takes to get effective
results. Power bleaching usually takes three to six
visits, while home bleaching may take five days to two weeks.
Sensitive teeth, or those that are chipped, eroded or
weakened by cavities, should be repaired or protected
before they are bleached.
Painlessly
repair broken teeth with dental bonding
Bonding is typically painless and
can yield dramatic results in a single office visit.
Essentially, bonding hides any natural flaws through
the placement of a thin plastic coating on the front
surface of the teeth.
After treating the tooth surface, a puttylike bonding
material is applied that is then sculpted, shaped and
colored to suit the patient's needs. A high-intensity
light causes the plastic to harden after which the new
surface is smoothed and polished.
Bonding can lighten stains, close gaps and even alter
crooked or malformed teeth. It can be utilized to change
the shape or color of a single tooth or if necessary
to revamp the entire smile.
Please call our office for a free cosmetic consultation.
Poor self-image, resulting in low self-esteem The appearance of the teeth has a
dramatic effect on both the person's attractiveness
to others and on their own self-image and self-esteem.
Studies have shown that a person's appearance will have
a strong effect on their social and career success,
by influencing how others perceive them.
While the appearance of the teeth is one of the most
important contributors to facial beauty, it is also
probably the most often neglected when improvements
to appearance are sought. A person with low self-esteem
connected to their facial appearance, can often be greatly
helped by cosmetic dental procedures.
Dental make-overs have become more common, less invasive,
and more effective in correcting deformities and cosmetic
dental problems. The effect of these procedures can
be nothing short of dramatic both in terms of appearance
and also in terms of correcting, at least partially,
personality deficiencies caused by poor self-image.
Ugly teeth are no longer a matter of fate; they are
now becoming a matter of choice.
Porcelain
Veneers Porcelain veneers are often used
for the same reasons as bonding (to lighten stains,
close gaps and even alter crooked or malformed teeth).
They are considerable more durable and stain resistant
than bonding.
The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain similar
in size to a fingernail. Once it is "bonded" onto the
tooth it becomes extremely strong. It also blends in
with the remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable
to the naked-eye. Once in place, it looks, feels, and
functions just like a natural tooth.
Porcelain veneers can be utilized to change the shape
and color of a single tooth or if necessary, revamp
an entire smile. Porcelain veneers can also be used
to correct teeth that have been worn from clenching
and grinding.
Please call for a free cosmetic consultation. You may
ask any questions you have about the benefits of porcelain
veneers.
Too
much filling, too little tooth A Crown for a Tooth
Teeth are often restored with fillings of silver or
composite plastics. These materials can often accomplish
the aim of replacing the part of the tooth that has
been lost in a strong and good-looking manner.
However, there comes a point where the damage to the
tooth has removed too much structure to hold a filling.
The restoration must be done by a technique that will
attach to the remaining tooth, stand up under heavier
use and meet more elaborate cosmetic requirements.
The Crown is the dental restoration that can strengthen
and restore the entire top of a tooth. The crown can
also be part of the attachment of a fixed bridge for
the replacement of teeth. The tooth is strengthened
because it is covered from the outside with a casting
of metal or ceramic that will wrap up and splint the
tooth.
The chewing of the tooth can be improved because it
can be reshaped to match more efficiently with the opposing
teeth. A crown can improve cosmetics by the use of modern
ceramic processes that produce translucency and color
that is more natural than has ever been possible.
For over 100 years, dentists have been using silver-mercury
amalgam fillings to restore decayed or broken teeth.
The only other alternative was gold and that was always
too expensive for most folks.
Now there is a new and economical way to restore teeth
using tooth-colored resin fillings. The resin is made
up of glass particles in a plastic matrix. The doctor
bonds the putty-like material to the tooth with a high-intensity
light. This hardens the material and allows it to be
shaped and polished for immediate use.
Once completed, the tooth has a natural appearance and
is actually stronger than before due to the strength
of the adhesive agent used to bond the resin to the
tooth. Resin restorations not only look better, but
they are stronger and last longer than the old silver-amalgam
fillings. Resin restorations can range from $150 to
$350 per tooth.
Please call with any questions you may have about the
benefits of resin restorations.
