Considerations for a Smile Makeover

When you decide to undergo a smile makeover, your cosmetic dentist takes into account your current facial appearance, hair color, skin tone, gum tissue, lips, and your teeth. Each smile makeover is tailored to the individual patient with the color, width, length, and shape of the patient’s teeth being another factor that plays a large role in what direction your dentist takes with the smile makeover.

One of the first factors considered when planning your smile makeover is your tooth color. Your dentist can replace older silver or amalgam dental fillings with a more natural looking tooth-colored composite. The other consideration your dentist will undertake is trying to match the tooth color or shading of any required porcelin veneers, crowns, bridges, and dental implant work with what level of brightness may be acheived with teeth whitening for the remainder of your teeth.

Your dentist will also need to take into account the color of your face and hair when planning your smile makeover. An experienced cosmetic dentist will be seeking to find the right balance between your current face and hair tone and natural tooth color in order to achieve your desired smile makeover look and feel.

Teeth Alignment, Spacing, and Missing Teeth

Your current teeth alignment, spacing, and missing teeth all will play a major role in planning your smile makeover. If you have any teeth that are overlapping, crooked, or have existing gaps, your cosmetic dentist can take steps to align and straighten you teeth through referral to an orthodontist or improving their look and feel with dental veneers. Missing teeth will also play a significant role in your smile makeover planning since these have the most negative impact on an existing smile. Options that your cosmetic dentist may consider for missing teeth are using dental implants, parital dentures, or dental bridges. For any of your chipped or cracked teeth, an option that will be considered during the smile makeover process is using bonding to improve the overall look of your smile.

Taking a Look at the Esthetic Components of Your Smile

Another major component considerd for your smile makeover is the overall esthetic look of your teeth and existing smile. He or she will take a look at your overall tooth length. The tooth length trends to becoming shorter over time and they may consider reshaping or lengthing your two front central teeth or modifying your gum line using a laser dental procedure. Sometimes a referral to a periodontist will be required for crown makeover if determined to be a required part of your smile makeover. Sometimes longer teeth on a round-faced patient can create a “slimming” appearance as a result of adding the procedure to your smile makeover plans.

Your dentist will also take a look at your  teeth to determine if the proportion of each tooth with the others is correct. The proportions normally sought after for your front two central teeth is that the have a width to height ration of 4:5 which guides the proportions of the remainder of your teeth that are visible in your smile line. The cosmetic dentist will also take into account your overall tooth texture and characterization to ensure all of the components of the planned smile makeover are working in concert to deliver you the best smile possible.

How Long Does Your Smile Makeover Last?

The effective length of your smile makeover will be determined in part by your daily oral hygiene. Some common procedures that will need to be undertaken after having your smile makeover completed are teeth whitening, veneer replacement for those that become chipped, crown replacement every 10 to 15 years, and composite bonding replacment. These will differ amongst each patient, and the overall life of your smile makeover will be prolonged if you can maintain good dental hygiene and avoid smoking or drinking too much coffee and/or dark liquid drinks

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The term sedation refers to the process that is used to induce a relaxed, calm state of the body and mind through the use of sedatives. Over time, the IV (intravenous) sedation that used injection into your blood stream via your hand or arm was the primary method used by dentists. This has evolved to also include sedation drugs (nitrous oxide, tranquillizers, depressants, anti-anxiety meds, and so froth) that can be given to the patient in a variety of methods. These additional methods give patients an alternative to inhaling nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” or taking an IV. The ultimate goal of modern-day sedation techniques is to provide as relaxing of an environment as possible for the patient.

Why is Oral Sedation Popular?

Oral sedation dentistry is one of the most common techniques used to help patients that have an inherent fear of the dentist to be able to seek the treatment that they need while quelling their fear of the dentist. Since oral sedation does not use needles with an IV, the patients do not have the added fear of seeing blood with an IV and the medications that are administered to the patient make them feel as though they sleep through the treatment many times. Oral sedation, however, does keep the patient in a state of consciousness for their safety. Sedation techniques do not take the place of the dentist having to use a local anesthetic injection for tooth extraction or other procedures that may induce pain in the patent’s mouth. They can be used in conjunction with local anesthetics, but sedation dentists will apply the anesthetic after the patient has already been sedated in order to avoid additional anxiety build-up in the patient.

Getting to Your Sedation Dentistry Appointment

When you are planning on seeking treatment from a sedation dentist, an important planning consideration that you should keep in mind is arranging for a responsible adult to be available to drive you to and from the appointment. Most sedation dentists will reccomend that the adult remain with you for a timeframe of two to four house afer the appointment in order to help you get through the effects of the sedation and to bring you back to the dentist in the event of any complications after receiving your treatment. Some sedation medications will be required to be take before you go to the dentist, so ensure you have a ride going to your appointment before taking any of the prescribed medication.

How Does Sedation Dentistry Benefit You?

Sedation dentistry benefits patients who have a lot of anxiety or fear about seeing the dentist. It also has the benefit of making you feel like the procedure you are undergoing only lasts for a short time frame, even if it takes several hours to complete. This allows the dentist to complete complex procedures such as a cosmetic smile makeover, a mouth reconstruction, or other cosmetic dental procedures in less total appointments than if you were not undergoing sedation. You do need to verify what your insurance will cover before arranging a sedation dentist appointment. If the sedation will permit your dentist to complete a procedure in less time or number of appointments, your dental health insurance will be more likely to cover the sedation procedure.

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Dental inlays and onlays are indirect filling options your cosmetic dentist can perform on damaged teeth. They are the more traditional alternatives to crown restoration, which is also used to treat a decayed or damaged tooth. They are the longer lasting, stronger and many times better fitting solution to tooth decay problems. Cosmetic dental inlays and onlays can be used in place of the old type of dental fillings. While your dentist inserts or installs traditional fillings directly in your mouth, inlays and onlays are fabricated indirectly in a dentist’s lab and then bonded to your tooth or teeth using cosmetic dental bonding.

Inlays and Onlays Defined

The kind of restoration which is done within the center of the tooth is termed as inlay while one done when the extent of damage is greater and when it requires the cusp of the tooth or the entire biting surface of the tooth, then it is termed as an onlay.

There are many benefits of implementing dental inlays and onlays instead of other methods of restoration. These methods provide a superior fit. They try to preserve as much of the tooth. Therefore, if damage to the tooth or decay is minimal, then a lot of times it is best to set it right with either an inlay or onlay. Inlays and onlays will generally maintain their color as tooth colored resin fillings do after a while. The structure of the tooth is safeguarded if you choose to repair damage using an inlay or onlay. These restorative tools preserve much of the healthy tooth, thus promoting natural longevity of the tooth. The tooth is tailored at the edges and the preparation for an inlay and onlay is minimum. It becomes easier to clean when compared to alternatives such as dental crown or composite fillings. This alternative for restoration is very strong, stable and long lasting. An added advantage of an onlay is that it can protect the weak areas of a damaged tooth and full on reshaping on the tooth is not required.

How Does the Cosmetic Inlay or Onlay Installation Work?

The procedure to fit inlays or onlays generally takes two sittings. In the first sitting, the cosmetic dentist prepares the damaged tooth and a mold of it is taken and sent to the laboratory wherein an inlay or an onlay is fabricated. These restorative tools can be made using porcelain, gold or even resin materials. The difference will only be visible after the procedure is complete. A provisional or temporary inlay or onlay can be placed at this stage, which will protect the damaged tooth until the final inlay, or onlay is fabricated and fitted. In the final visit, this temporary inlay or onlay is removed while the real inlay or onlay is attached.

Dental inlays and onlays are reliable cosmetic dental damage restorative tools, which seldom fail. Your dentist can take all measures to ensure a smooth, tight fit especially around the corners of the tooth. A good dentist will also check your biting tendency to see that there are no occlusion problems affecting the borders of the inlay or onlay. Once the inlay or onlay is fitted, it is bonded to the tooth and the margins are polished to give that smooth and natural look to your teeth to help improve your smile.

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Dental veneers fall under the field of cosmetic dentistry as they play a large role in creating that perfect, ideal smile with beautiful, shapely teeth. Dental veneers are made to order tooth-like ceramic material that can cover damaged tooth enamel, uneven alignment of teeth, and cracks and chips on your tooth or teeth. Veneers can solve many dental issues including worn out enamel, which is the discoloration of the enamel that covers teeth due to genetic predisposition, bad food and drink habits, or poor dental hygiene. Other issues that can be tackled with dental veneers include genetic problems that you may be born with uneven spacing of teeth, general wear and tear of teeth that which comes with age, and uneven teeth, which is the result of grinding, and wear and tear of teeth.

What Are the Types of Dental Veneers?

There are 2 types of dental veneers: the porcelain, and the composite resin veneers. Both of these types of veneers are manufactured in a dentist’s laboratory and are fixed on to your tooth at the dental clinic. The indirectly made veneers, which are fabricated in the lab, are attached to your teeth using various kinds of resin cement. Porcelain veneers are durable and will last for a longer period of time, but will cost more money to have made and installed.

When Are Dental Veneers the Better Solution?

For small chips and cracks in your teeth, dental bonding may serve as an inexpensive and efficient method of treatment where appropriate composite white filling is used to repair the minor chips or cracks. For people with major problems like severe discoloration or staining, major cracking or spacing and uneven teeth, dental veneers are considered the appropriate method of repair.

Teeth whiteningcan provide a simple solution when you want brighter and shinier teeth. If you want to implant dental veneers then your dentist will most probably steer you towards whitening treatment in combination with some minor alignment techniques. This is because dental veneers require shaping or prepping of all the teeth before the procedure begins which can alter the natural form and shape of your teeth.

In some cases, dental veneers even serve the purpose of protecting a tooth’s damaged surface. They may also suffice where a dental crown might have been needed, thus avoiding further invasive methods of treatment, which come along with attaching dental crowns. Dental veneers are naturally thin hence, they might require a little bit of tooth shaping when they are bonded to the tooth. The thin porcelain surface can break easily and that is why your dentist might advise you to refrain from certain dietary tendencies like biting directly on to a hard food item or to wear a protective appliance while you sleep if your teeth are extremely brittle.

Overall, dental veneers are considered to be the better option for your cosmetic dentistry needs if you have serious tooth or enamel issues and within a few sittings, you can actually acquire that perfect, sought after smile or set of teeth.

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Everyone wants a dazzling, sparkling smile especially when  looks can play such a large role in your professional and personal life today. The brighter and whiter your teeth, the better your smile and entire appearance will be. Whether you choose a “take-home” teeth whitening kit or a professional treatment with a cosmetic dentist, you should educate yourself about teeth whitening before choosing a procedure to undertake.

Why Do Teeth Become Discolored?

Everyone starts with sparkling white teeth because of the porcelain like covering substance called enamel on your teeth. Microscopic crystalline rods make up tooth enamel, which protects the tooth while chewing, from gnashing, trauma, and decay from sugar. Over time, the enamel gets worn out allowing the yellow dentin, the core material of the tooth, to show through. When we chew, enamel develops micro cracks while dentin remains intact. It is these cracks, which later fill up with stains and debris that causes the teeth to take on a dull appearance.

What Are the Types of Tooth Stain?

Extrinsic stains are those that appear on a tooth’s surface from exposure to tobacco, food, and dark colored beverages such as coffee. Superficial extrinsic stains can be removed with brushing and cleaning while many extrinsic stains can require extensive treatments like bleaching.

Intrinsic stains are those that form on the interior of the tooth. They mostly occur from aging, trauma, exposure to mineral during tooth formation, and too much fluoride ingestion. Intrinsic stains were once considered too stubborn to be removed, but with modern technology can now be addressed.

General factors that can cause your teeth to stain are your eating habits, smoking, drug and chemical use, grinding, trauma, and the starting color of your teeth.

Options to Whiten Your Teeth

There are three options for teeth whitening: Peroxide Gel Application, Lower Concentration Peroxide Gel, and OVer-the_counter Whitening kits. The direct application of peroxide gel to your teeth for timeframes of 15-20 minutes to one hour have the quickest effect on the appearance of your teeth. This application is normally done by a cosmetic dentist and may require several sittings or appointments for people with significant staining of their teeth. The next option is a take-home kit that your cosmetic dentist provides. The take-home kit has a lower concentration of peroxide and you have a custom-fitted mouthguard that the peroxide is poured into for use in the home. The downside of this type of treatment is that it puts the onus on the patient to remember to administer the whitening treatment. The final method is the over-the-counter teeth whitening kit. They have a much lower level of perioxide and require more frequent wear than the variant you would get from your cosmetic dentist. The mouthpiece for these kits is also not custom-fitted which can result in un-even cleaning or whitening of your teeth.

Side Effects of Teeth Whitening

Sensitivity of the teeth and gums is the primary drawback to using a teeth whitening method or procedure. Many times, patients will experience gum or tooth discomfort if their overall dental health is poor or the concentration of peroxide is too great. If you are using an over-the-counter bleaching agent and start experiencing discomfort while using the treatment, you should stop and seek advice from your dentist on how to proceed. You will also see if you have any dental crowns, implants, inlays, outlays, or porcelin veneers, that they are not affected by teeth whitening procedures. The discolored teeth around them will improve in color while the implants will not.

How Do You Keep Your Teeth White?

In order to maintain the bright, white color of your teeth after undergoing a teeth whitening procedure, then you need to work on improving your overall dental health. You should also try to avoid dark colored food and beverages as much as possible and increase your frequency of brushing throughout the day especially after drinking coffee or smoking.

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In cosmetic dentistry, dental implants are defined as artificial replacements for a lost tooth or teeth. Though there are several solutions to counter a lost tooth, none has proved as effective and reliable when it comes to replacing a lost tooth as a dental implant with respect to maintaining durability and the functional efficiency of the tooth.

What is the Need for Dental Implants?

Tooth loss can occur due to various reasons such as tooth decay, failure of the root canal procure, gum disease, excessive wear and tear, trauma to the mouth, and other congenital defects. Dental implants are much stronger than the restorative materials used for tooth loss or decay like crowns, bridges, and dentures. In fact, it is easier to use dental implants in collaboration with a restorative procedure. For instance, an implant can be used to support a crown, which replaces a missing tooth. Advancements in cosmetic dental implant procedures have contributed to thinner much narrower implants, and many people are opting for dental implants because of this.

The dental implants of today can barely be distinguished from the original tooth thanks to the structural and functional connection between the implant and the bone. In most cases, dental implants can be fixed in one sitting, but it takes anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks for its osseointegration.  This is the process where the direct anchorage between the implant root and jawbone occurs. An osseointegrated implant is the most common and successful type of cosmetic dental implants used today. It can take from 3 to 6 months for the implant root to heal and join the jawbone and your dentist can complete the procedure by placing a crown in the meanwhile.

Cosmetic Dental Implant Procedures

Placing the dental implant can be divided into two parts. The first is where the jaw is prepared for implantation. The implant is a titanium material screw and crown. A very small hole is made in the space of the lost tooth to guide the screw that will hold the implant. This has to be done very skillfully and carefully by the dentist in order not to damage pertinent vital face and jaw structures like the inferior alveolar nerve, which runs across the lower jaw.

The second step in placing the implant after the hole has been drilled in the jaw. This hole is widened slightly to provide space for the implant screw. After this implant is placed, a covering screw is placed on the top to provide for proper healing and the implant to anchor with the jawbone. After a gap of many months, this protective crown is removed and replaced with a temporary crown. This temporary crown lets the gum to grow and shape itself around the implant naturally. The procedure is complete when the temporary crown is replaced with a permanent one.

Cosmetic Dental Implant Success Rates

Dental implants are one of the most successful procedure in dental surgery. The success rate of dental implants has been established as 95% for the upper jaw and 90% for the lower jar for an average period of 5 years. Dental implants may fail for many reasons. However, the very logical reason is the improper osseointegration of the dental implant and the jawbone. Dental implants can also fail or break just like your regular teeth as well. If you smoke, your dentist will very likely inform you that you will have a higher success rate for your dental implant not failing if you can stop smoking before undergoing the procedure.

If you are a smoker who is considering a dental implant, your dentist will likely advise you to give up smoking before undergoing the process because smokers face a higher risk of implant failure. Since the procedure can be extremely expensive, you risk wasting your money on dental implants if you do not give up the habit.

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What is Direct Composite Bonding?

Direct composite bonding is the precise placement of restorative material by a dentist on your tooth. This form of bonding is usually completed in one sitting, and you do not have to make multiple trips to the dentist or allow a curing period between applications. The dentist applies materials colored to match the color of your tooth or teeth in order to fill cavities, repair gaps and spaces between teeth,or repair chips and broken teeth and make up worn out edges of the tooth.

What Are Dental Veneers?

A dental veneer is when your dentist applies or sculpts composite materials onto the tooth directly to make them more prominent when you smile. In dental terms, they are called direct composite veneers and in non-technical language, it is simply known as bonding. This method is the less expensive treatment for a person with chipped or broken teeth, stains or discoloration, gaps between their teeth, and crooked or misshapen teeth.

What is Adhesive Bonding?

Adhesive bonding involves attaching the restoration material to the tooth using a bonding agent, an etchant, an adhesive, and then using curing light of great intensity. This method of treatment is primaryily used for metal free and esthetic crowns, bridges, porcelain veneers, inlays and outlays.

How Does the Bonding Process Work?

If you require a direct composite or adhesive method of dental bonding, the first thing your dentist will do is separate your teeth with a rubber gum to prevent interference from the saliva and thus moisture. An anesthetic injection may be used if the procedure calls for it. After this, the dentist will apply a phosphoric acid solution to the actual tooth so that the adhesive or bonding agent will adhere to it better. After 15 minutes, the acid solution will be removed and the bonding agent will be applied.

If a direct composite bonding technique is being applied, then the dentist will apply putty like resin to the natural surface of the tooth and give it shape by sculpting it. An intense curing light will be projected on it to harden the composite. The application of resin will be repeated until the filling or direct composite veneer has taken full shape. The dentist will finish the filling appropriately, so that it does not create tooth sensitivity or dislodge itself

For a laboratory-based restoration, the dentist will apply adhesive to the restoration, place it on your tooth, and project the intense curing light on it for the time it requires to bond. It is quite common for a bonded tooth; especially one which is filled with a crown or on which an inlay or outlay has been placed to feel sensitive. However if the sensitivity persists after you have been done with the procedure for a while, then you should consult your dentist.

How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost?

It is difficult to estimate the cost of dental bonding separately, as it is done in collaboration with other cosmetic dental procedures. However, if you are getting a metal crown made from a lab, then the entire cost of the procedure will include the bonding cost as well. The other factors that influence the cost of dental bonding is the experience and advanced training of your dentist, your insurance coverage, and your geographical location.

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Sometimes, however, the lines blur between necessary and elective procedures. A recent example is the change in dental filling composition. Historically, dental fillings were made of gold, silver, or other metals that would leave visible dark areas or spots on a person’s teeth. Fast forward to today, and fillings can be considered cosmetic at some level due to the porcelain or other composite materials that can be used to better match the color of your teeth. A number of people now choose to have their old fillings replaced with the newer styled ones to better improve their smile and overall oral appearance.

With the modern advancements in technology, cosmetic dentists have never had the power before to help make your teeth look as natural and tooth-colored as possible when having to do oral procedures on your mouth. Cosmetic dentists are also able to make use of laser technology now in their office without having to send you to a specialist for an even higher dental bill.

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

The following is a listing and short description of the common cosmetic dentistry procedures and treatments that are being used:

Composite Bonding: This is where a dental composite material is applied into a cavity or onto a tooth directly where it is then shaped and hardened with a high intensity light. The restoration then blends with the remaining part of the tooth and makes for a nicer looking smile on the patient.

Dental Implants: These are artificial replacements for the root of one of your teeth that has failed or been pulled. Most of the time, these result in an enhanced smile, and help the patient appear younger.

Dental Veneers: Dental Veneers are composite (or porcelain) laminates which are bonded to the surface of a tooth or teeth in order to help repair cracks or chipped teeth to improve the patient’s appearance. They can also be used for patients with significant gaps in their teeth.

Full Mouth Reconstruction: This is the larger cosmetic procedure that can sometimes be recommended by your dentist if you are being seen about a smile makeover. If your dentist finds that there are permanent problems with your bone structure, teeth, or bite, he or she may recommend a full mouth reconstruction in order to accomplish the work you desired completed.

Inlays/Onlays: This is also known as getting an indirect filling. Inlays or Onlays are made from a composite material or from porcelain and are a nicer looking way to fill teeth that have undergone significant toot decay. Inlays and Onlays are made in a dental lab before they are fitted and bonded to your toot or teeth by your dentist.

Teeth Whitening: One of the most requested cosmetic dental procedures. Most whitening procedures involve bleaching the patient’s teeth in order to enhance his or her smile.

With the advances of technology over the past decade, cosmetic dentistry is no longer only for people who are extremely “comfortable” with their money. If you are unhappy with the look of your teeth or your smile, a cosmetic dentist may be able to help you.

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