I have a split tooth and wants to prepare myself for what it may cost me.

Also how do you find an NHS dentist in this country…that is an NHS dentist that is willing to take on new patients.

Well its hard to find one thats going to take on new patients, but on verage it costs 150 to 200 for first visit then if its going to be crowned another 400 pounds

I have a cavity and the dentist put in a temporary filling and now I am going to get the real filling put in it.How long is this procudure going to take?Everytime I go to the dentist it has been for root canals or to get teeth pulled and it is always a major production.I have never been in there for just one filling.Will this take 20 min or is it a longer procedure? Thanks.

It depends on how many surfaces of the tooth he needs to fill. If it is only one filling it will take somewhere between 40-60 minutes.

I am VERY afriad of the dentist, but I need some real work done. Can anybody tell me somebody that's nice and kind?

?…ask a nurse. Good luck

When you’re learning about teeth whitening bleach, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This cosmetic teeth whitening article should help you focus on the central points of Teeth Whitening.

There are many teeth whitening products available to consumers both from your dentist, grocery stores, drug stores, online Websites. Educating yourself about teeth whiteners before buying is a very smart decision. There are two ways to whiten your teeth: over - the - counter and with a dentist. There are benefits and disadvantages to both ways.

Over - The - Counter

There are two ingredients used in whiteners. Some whiteners use 10 % Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide is also used to bleach hair. Other whiteners use Carbamide Peroxide. This breaks up in your mouth into both carbamide peroxide besides urea. It is to your benefit to retain your teeth professionally cleaned and any cavities filled before starting to use teeth whitener. Most over- the - counter whiteners use either trays or strips. The cost of these products can perform anywhere from under $10 to $35 per container.

Problems with over - the - counter whiteners

Without a professional administering the whitener, there will be no help for you to adjust the amount and strength. If you encounter sensitivity of your gum, there is no way to adjust the strength for your needs. It can also be difficult to cover all the tooth surfaces with strips and trays.

Remedies

If you experience irritation, you can try to cut back on usage. Instead of daily, use the whitening every other day. You can also apply a product such as Orajel, to your irritated gum.

FDA

One thing you should know is that the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration does not categorize teeth whitening products as drugs and therefore does not regulate them. Because of this, the ADA ( American Dental Association ) has set guidelines for these dental products. These guidelines are standards for safety and effectiveness. They state that whiteners should not cause any harm to either the teeth or the soft tissues of the gum.

If your dental health facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your teeth whitening decisions? Make certain you don’t let important dental health information slip by you.

They state that the product should be effective in whitening teeth. As of January 2006, no teeth whitening products have met the ADA guidelines for safety or effectiveness.

At The Dentists

Your dentist clean your teeth, fill any cavities also check your gums to be sure they are healthy. The dentist will use between 15 to 35 % of either Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide. Your dentist will adjust the amount based on how your gums adjust to the application process. Before applying the whitener, the dentist will clean your teeth with a pumice and then put a protective barrier on your gums.

The entire treatment generally takes about 40 minutes. The dentist apply a paste, take it off, and then reapply the paste. The dentist will repeat the process several times during the visit. Each application will result in your teeth being a shade lighter each time. Having your teeth whitened this way is faster than the over - the - counter products.

You can also opt for your dentist to make you a tray to take home that you wear over your teeth. The dentist will take a mold ( dogma of your teeth / gums ) so that the tray will fit properly. You will receive a gel to put into the tray. You then wear the tray for 2 hours during the day for 2 weeks and perhaps up to 6 weeks.

Using the professional services of your dentist to whiten your teeth can run anywhere from $300 to $1,000. You may also have to wait for an appointment, then go through the process of the examination. If the dentist finds cavities you will need to wait while the fillings are placed.

That’s the latest on teeth whitening methods. Now that you’re familiar with teeth whitening, you can make an informed decision, on how-to whiten your teeth.

Ron Keegan
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/facts-about-teeth-whitening-treatments-118549.html

Cosmetic are things that are used for enhancing beauty of a person. All of us know that looks play a crucial part in the success of an individual in any field. Your smile is a crucial element in your overall looks and if you happen to have any defect in your smile you will make sue of all the means possible to correct the condition. Dentists are professionals who have the professional training to help out people who may be facing any problem with their teeth and dental health. If you are a resident of NYC, then you are really lucky. There are many cosmetic dentists there and a cosmetic dentist NYC can surely help you in correcting any kind of dental problem.

The work of a cosmetic dentist is entirely different from a restorative dentist. While restorative dentist is involved with correcting serious dental defects like missing teeth, filling up gaps in teeth and such things, cosmetic dentist is more involved with working out things that help a person in getting that perfect smile. It is very important that you keep your dental appointment every six months. So whether it is your cosmetic dentist or restorative dentist make sure that you visit them regularly for check up. The will tell you immediately if anything is wrong with your dental heath or not. Timely treatment will save you from lots of troubles and your condition and also this can be correctly quickly.

Cosmetic dentist can take care of many dental problems and teeth whitening is one such thing. Stained yellow has become a condition that is very much on the rise these days. However all of us know that having stained yellow teeth is a major blotch in your otherwise good looks. This is one dental condition which makes it difficult for an individual to lead his social life properly. The social life of person is crucial is vital and people these days are willing to undergo many things if this means that they will be able to lead a very good social life.

Teeth can become stained in yellow color due to many reasons. The primary reason for having stained yellow teeth is due to unhealthy dietary habits. Consumption of some food stuffs like tea, coffee, cola and red wine in excess quantity is one of the major reasons for having teeth that is stained. Dentists do not advice anyone to totally stop taking these food stuffs, but they will certainly be advised to reduce their intake and make it to the minimum level. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will certainly help in reducing your dental conditions and any other condition which you may be experiencing. Basically this will help you in having a good health which in turn can help you in being hugely successful.

Cosmetic dentists can no doubt help you in achieving the perfect smile, but you must take care of your dental health in your own way. After all you do not want to be suffering from any condition, just because you neglect certain basic things like taking healthy diet and implementing healthy dental habits.

Brad Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/cosmetic-dentist-nyc-will-cure-all-your-smiling-blues-118732.html

A digital bite recorder is a computerized bite sensor that tells the dentist which tooth hits first and the amount of pressure being exerted. It has special use in multiple crown cases, whereby the patient achieves a stable bite without having to return to the office for multiple adjustments. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist, feels this is where cutting edge dentistry is most advanced today.

He explains, “When working on a smile makeover case, I am often fitting several crowns at a time. I use the T-Scan II to digitally record the patient’s bite. When I used to use articulation paper or waxes, my work was often reduced to guesswork. I did not really realize that until I saw the accuracy of this high-tech device and now my work is even faster and very exact.”

The T-Scan II, Occlusal Analysis Solution, which is made by Tekscan, allows dentists to accurately evaluate and access occlusion (spatial relation of the teeth when the jaws are closed), including the depth of the mark, its surface area, amount of force, and the contact timing sequence that results as that paper mark is made. The software graphically displays both forceful and time premature contacts to the user for predictable occlusal control during adjustment procedure.

Further, there are 1370 cell sensors in the bite recording surface. This recording can be replayed on the computer screen to see the exact sequence of the bite so the dentist can make the exact adjustments.

Dr. Maddahi continues, “The T-scan produces graphic images that are valuable tools for the dentist and wonderful visuals that help me to show the patient their occlusal trouble and understand better the solutions we offer. One of my goals is to get my patients in and out the shortest time possible and avoid return appointments. If I have patients who want a whole new smile they often can get that in several appointments.”

There are currently 1,397 dentists in the US and approximately 2,500 in the world that have the T-scan. There are roughly 310,000 dentists practicing in the US. That means 0.004448 dentists in the US use it. There are only 163 in California who have it.

Yvette Gonzales is relieved she had her work done by Dr. Maddahi, “I want to thank you, Dr Maddahi, and your staff for my beautiful smile. Growing up I was always self-conscious about my teeth. I have never smiled like I have since you changed my smile. Your work is phenomenal. What you did to my teeth is a masterpiece. I have never felt so comfortable and so at home in a dentist’s office. Everyone treated me like I was family.”

Dr. Maddahi explains the effects of a dental makeover, “When you think of a smile makeover you might think of Cinderella. And well, you should. To go from hiding your smile, to smiling with confidence, makes all the difference in the world for a person’s life. It can mean the difference between having a dream life or living in seclusion – no joke. But after the smile has been transformed into a beautiful natural look, the mouth still needs to be 100% comfortable. Consequently, it is important to make sure that the cosmetic dentist you choose has all the state of the art equipment including a digital bite recorder. In fact, where cosmetic dentistry is concerned, you are in the realm of aesthetics, so it only makes sense that the dentist you choose is both an artist and a dentist.”

Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for 20 years and is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797.

Jayden Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/newest-hightech-tool-in-digital-dentistry-is-computerized-bite-recorder-137202.html

Invisible Braces is the best way to give you a sweet smile and to enhance your personality as well. Braces are made to keep your teeth in alignment, proper and Well shaped. Braces can be used to cure your teeth from any dental problem. Mostly teenagers and adults use it because this is their time when they want to look attractive and impressive. If you are residing in Manhattan, be sure to take treatment from the best dentist. Tell your dentist the appropriate cause of your treatment so that the dentist can reach the root of the problem and then he will decide whether your teeth need braces or not.

Traditional Braces made of metals were not liked and hence people were not fond of such types. It gives a bad impression to someone fastening a metal braces on a misaligned and crooked teeth. So a new and hi-tech type was introduced to get a perfect smile. This new braces in Manhattan became very popular and more effective too. Earlier braces Manhattan made of metallic brackets were glued to the front side of the teeth, which gave an awkward look. But now-a day they are fasten towards the inward side in the teeth i.e. Invisalign and Clear braces. Braces are also made of wires and elastic materials. The invisible braces put pressure on the teeth and gradually it regains its desirable place.

The gauche look which one gets from braces gave evolution to invisible braces, which is also called Invisalign braces. The Invisalign treatment is new treatment, which gives patients the freedom from those metallic braces. Metal brackets are attached to a wire and further fasten by the dentist to achieve the desirable place. The wires are tightened once a month by the dentist and it has to be continued for a period of at least two year or more. Braces come in different colors and mode, made of gold, sapphire etc to give a fashionable look.

The demand of better and comfortable braces gave born to this invisalign treatment. The invisalign braces are light in weight and it is placed inside the teeth. The person taking this treatment has to take care of keeping it out when he wants to eat something. Although it is also important to brush up your teeth and braces as well after eating something This seems very uneasy to do all these. So to get rid of them, cosmetic surgeon gave revolution to a new type of braces called Clear Braces. These types of braces are made of ceramics or plastics. This ceramic made braces is fasten on the front and lower side of the teeth thus making them least visible.

It’s a recommendation to use braces only approved by American Dental Association. The invention of Clear braces and Invisalign has made easier for a person to visit dentist rather than ignoring of all the earlier problems and visiting the dentist. It’s been all the way easier to get a perfect smile.

Erzana Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/braces-manhattan-can-give-you-the-best-dental-treatment-120996.html

The number one way is to bleach your teeth! This can easily be done with Crest white strips, tray bleaching or chairside bleaching with your dentist. Tray bleaching is my preferred method, since it can be touched up easily and affordably in a night or two. Chairside bleaching is ok, but it can require multiple costly treatments and touchups are can be expensive if not included in the initial fee. White Strips have the same cost each time they are used and many of my patients have found them yucky!

The number two way is bonding. If you have a misshapen or rotated tooth or if the shapes of your teeth create a smile you don’t like, then a trained dentist can painlessly change your smile by adding a bonded composite material to your teeth. Minimally bonded smiles can look great and tend to look more natural than a fully veneered smile. When people see your new smile, they usually notice your own, natural teeth, not the small altered portion. Bonding, combined with a prior bleaching treatment, is one of your best options for teeth that look wonderful. Although bonded teeth can look great, they do sometimes pick up stain and the texture bonded surfaces can change over time.

The number three way is Crowns or implants. Use these options to fix any individual unsightly or missing teeth. All Porcelain (metal free) Crowns cover a tooth and tend to strengthen it, while remaining extremely esthetic. They do require considerable reduction of tooth. Although crowns often improve a tooth’s ability to withstand the vertical forces involved with chewing, they sometimes weaken its ability to withstand horizontal forces (dentists don’t like to make crowns for prize fighters!). If you need a single tooth replacement, an implant is often a terrific way to replace it, assuming you have enough bone remaining in the space to hold an implant. To have an implant tooth, first your dentist inserts an implant in the bone where you lost a tooth. The implant almost looks like a titanium version of the plastic inserts people place into plaster walls to hold screws. After the implant has been in your mouth from 4-6 months it’s ready for your dentist to screw in a post and fabricate a crown. Implant crowns also can be all porcelain (metal free). Sometimes implant sites need to be grafted with bone prior to implant placement to improve cosmetics and the function of the final implant crown.

The number four way is to keep teeth clean. Use an electric toothbrush; my favorite is a Braun Oral-B rechargeable electric tooth brush (any rechargeable model is good) Then start flossing! Healthy gums are definitely part of a beautiful smile. No matter how nice your teeth look, if your gums are red and unhealthy your smile will be unappealing. So it makes sense to take care of your teeth at home by brushing and flossing and be sure to have regular cleanings at the dentist (every 3-6 months).

The number five way is to have your teeth straightened with braces. Both conventional orthodontics and Invisalign clear braces (invisible trays) are great options these days. Conventional braces move your teeth using wires and brackets on teeth (to hold the wire). The wire exerts tension on different teeth to move them into more desirable positions. Invisalign is relatively new and uses a series of clear invisible plastic trays to gradually move the teeth into a better position. While undergoing treatment patients are encouraged to wear the trays up to 23 hours a day and only remove them while eating and brushing their teeth. Sometimes straightening just the front and side teeth will dramatically improves your smile. With the Invisalign technique, straightening can be accomplished in as few as 18 weeks.

The number six ways is to have porcelain laminates placed on your teeth. This is truly one-stop shopping; Teeth are whitened, straightened and made to look younger in about a week or two! This treatment option works by resurfacing your front teeth with a thin veneer of bonded porcelain. Porcelain laminates are best for improving smiles in which teeth are worn, poorly positioned or discolored. If done well they often last for 10 years or more and porcelain doesn’t show wear as much as bonded teeth do, so that they keep their glossy surface indefinitely. Also a major advantage porcelain laminates vs. bonding is that laminates are created away from the mouth. Following instructions of your dentist, their look is created by a highly artistic lab technician who often specializes solely in crafting beautiful porcelain laminates. Your dentist is not necessarily required to be the artist and create the exact changes needed on the spot, the way he would with bonding. However, porcelain laminates do require an exacting bonding technique (bonding as in gluing) and can, over time, pick up stains at the seam where the laminate meet the tooth.

And finally the number seven way is be happy! Think happy thoughts when you’re smiling! Good looking smiles can’t be fake or forced. If it is true that we smile when we are happy and that we are happy when we smile, then maybe, just maybe, fixing your smile will make you happier. I hope so and I hope this article has been informative.

Lawrence Spindel
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/seven-great-ways-to-improve-your-smile-86387.html

You may want to start by speaking with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, bleaching may not enhance your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not effect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

What is in-office bleaching?

If you are a candidate for bleaching, your dentist may suggest a procedure that can be done in his or her office. This procedure is called chairside bleaching and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 30 minutes to one hour.

During chairside bleaching, the dentist will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.

A number of in-office bleaching agents have the ADA Seal of Acceptance, your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

Lasers have been used during tooth whitening procedures to enhance the action of the whitening agent. No whitening products using lasers currently are on the ADA list of Accepted products.

The total treatment can usually be done within three to four weeks. First, you will need two or three visits to the dentist. Your dentist will need to make a mouthguard and will take impressions for this at the first appointment. Once your dentist has started the treatment, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time.

However, there are now some new products which can be applied for up to eight hours at a time. This means a satisfactory result can be achieved in as little as one week.

What are at-home procedures and products?

There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by your dentist or purchased over-the-counter one of the best is MAXODENT WHITENING SYSTEM.

It’s now possible to achieve "dental office" quality teeth whitening, from the comfort of your own home…

Whiter Brighter teeth can be yours in as little as 7 days.You can expect to see initial results almost immediately. Our new teeth Whitening Strips can have you looking younger and feeling more sexier and attractive in just one week

There are a number of reasons why you might get your teeth whitened. Everyone is different; and just as our hair and skin colour vary, so do our teeth. Very few people have brilliant-white teeth, and our teeth can also become more discoloured as we get older.

Your teeth can also be stained on the surface through food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain teeth.

Calculus or tartar can also affect the colour of teeth. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or tiny cracks in the teeth which take up stains.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT

TOOTH WHITENING SYSTEM

adel khamis
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tooth-whiteningrestore-teeth-whitening-94909.html

The “Hollywood Smile”

The “Hollywood Smile” is a media ideal dating back to the early 1900’s. Teeth were in such disrepair that people would not smile for photographs. The only smiles seen were created in published media as cartoons. Artists depicted teeth as solid white areas with the upper and lower teeth separated by a curved line following the lower lip. The curved line created an image of the front teeth being the longest and every tooth gets shorter all the way to the corners of the mouth.

Today, the “Hollywood Smile” is an improved media ideal. The lips are filled with very white teeth that block out darkness in the back of the mouth. Incising edges of top teeth follow the line of the lower lip coming within a millimeter of contact. Two front teeth are most prominent with adjacent teeth appearing sequentially smaller from the front teeth to the corners of the mouth creating perspective. Ideally, each tooth looks one sixteenth smaller than the adjacent tooth in front of it. There is symmetry of tooth color, shape and position right side to left side of the midline.

A masculine smile has square teeth. Incising edges of top teeth follows a straighter line. A feminine smile has rounded teeth. Incising edges of top teeth follows the lower lip line closer creating more curvature.

The Natural Smile

Natural smiles are seen everyday. Teeth fill the space between the lips and block out darkness in the back of the mouth. They are shades that blend with skin tones. Incising edges of top teeth follow the line of the lower lip, however, the two lateral incisors adjacent to the front teeth are shorter. The eyeteeth appear longer. Two front teeth are most prominent with adjacent teeth appearing sequentially smaller from the front teeth to the corners of the mouth creating perspective. Ideally, each tooth looks one sixteenth smaller than the adjacent tooth in front of it. There is symmetry of tooth color, shape and position right side to left side of the midline, however variation creates a natural appearance. Development and aging of teeth alters these relationships.

Natural smiles often have rotated, tilted, crowded, or spaced teeth. There is wear of outer and biting surfaces, gum recession and root exposure, chips, cracks or cavities. The four front incisors are the same color, the eyeteeth darker and the bicuspids and molars slightly lighter. Each tooth has great color variation over its surface. Teeth have a relatively translucent enamel shell with yellow dentin under it. As enamel thins and shows through yellow dentin, the tooth looks more yellow as occurs in the third of the tooth closest to the gums. Areas where dentin is not behind enamel as occurs between teeth and along the biting edge, appear dark gray because the translucent enamel allows darkness of the back of the mouth to show through.

The back of the mouth is a dark space as no light enters. Incorrect tooth position, tooth loss, malformed teeth, and loss of tooth structure from trauma or cavities create spaces that show the darkness of the back of the mouth.

Perception Esthetics

Perception esthetics recognizes that various smile designs and tooth defects are used to produce natural-looking smiles, and that a dentist’s perception of a patient results in a final smile design that fits the individual. Defining patient esthetic values and appreciation levels is essential to patient satisfaction.Without proper assessment, final smile design becomes the artistic interpretation of the dentist, which may or may not be acceptable to the patient. A dentist who does not understand perception esthetics produces the same smile for every patient, within the bounds of physical or financial limitations. The perfect smile, based on the “Golden Rule” of esthetic dentistry can be ideal for a 20-year-old patient but not ideal for an older patient. Table 1 lists the types of imperfections that need to be evaluated to ensure patient satisfaction.

Restoration goals must be balanced with limitations of ideals and limitations of treatment. Limitations of ideals include general traits (cultural, physical, and personality limitations), detailed inspection, and visual perception. Limitations of treatment include patient and dentist limitations. Patient limitations include physical, psychological, and financial limitations. Dentist limitations include artistic, perceptive, and technical ability (i.e., material and laboratory limitations).”

Tooth and Smile Defects

Tooth defects that affect smile esthetics include color, shape and position. Correctionsof unacceptable defects improve smiles. Inclusion of acceptable defects creates a natural smile. Aesthetics is an art and consequently, beauty is a personal preference and defining a patient’s preferences is critical.

Treatment

Treatment goals must be realistic based on limitations of ideals and limitations of treatment. Perception Aesthetics is a concept I published in the Journal of Esthetic Dentistry in the 1990’s. Perception Aesthetics review all factors that define realistic expectations for treatment goals.

Aesthetic Recontouring

Aesthetic recontouring is the process of selectively remodeling teeth to affect their shape, position, length, and contours. Youthful, feminine smiles are typically characterized by rounded edges. In a more masculine smile or one characteristic of an older individual, flat worn surfaces are more prominent. Significant generalized changes are possible when treating front teeth visible in the patient’s smile. Ideally, recontouring is confined to enamel and results in teeth of proper proportion. Significant changes are possible when treating front teeth visible in the patient’s smile.

Teeth Whitening

Bleaching lightens teeth by removing stain caught in microscopic holes within enamel. The active ingredient in most of the whitening agents iscarbamide peroxide, also known as urea peroxide; when water contacts this white crystal, the release of hydrogen peroxide lightens the teeth. Bleaching is successful in at least 90 percent of patients, though it may not be an option for everyone. Consider tooth bleaching if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea or smoking. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, smoking or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic. Every case is different. Typically, there is a multiple-shade improvement as seen on a dentist’s shade guide. If you have very sensitive teeth, or teeth with worn enamel, your dentist may discourage bleaching. Existing restorations such as crowns and fillings do not change color.

The dentist or hygienist will make impressions of your teeth to fabricate a bleaching appliance for you. The appliance is custom made for your mouth. Along with the appliance, you’ll receive the bleaching materials and you’ll be given instructions on how to wear the appliance. Some bleaching systems recommend bleaching your teeth from one to four hours a day. Generally this type of system requires three to six weeks to complete. Other systems recommend bleaching at night while you sleep. This type of system usually requires only 10-14 days to complete.

Lightness should last from one to five years, depending on your personal habits such as smoking and drinking coffee and tea. At this point you may choose to get a touch up. This procedure may not be as costly because you can probably still use the same appliance.

The retreatment time also is much shorter than the original treatment time. Several studies, during the past ten years, have proven bleaching to be safe and effective. The American Dental Association has granted its seal of approval to some tooth bleaching products. Some patients may experience slight gum irritation or tooth sensitivity, which will resolve when the treatment ends.

Composite Fillings - Front Teeth

A composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic mixture filled with glass. Composites are not only used to restore decayed areas, but are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth.

In order to bond a filling material to your tooth, it is first necessary to remove decay, prepare the tooth and then to condition the enamel and dentin. Once conditioned, a thin resin is applied which bonds to the etched surface. The bond strength of these fillings is incredible.

Following preparation, the dentist places the composite in layers, using a light specialized to harden each layer. When the process is finished, the dentist will shape the composite to fit the tooth. The dentist then polishes the composite to prevent staining and early wear. Bonding increases the strength of these restorations far beyond those of only a short time ago.

Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes. After receiving a composite, a patient may experience post-operative sensitivity.Also, the shade of the composite can change slightly if the patient drinks tea, coffee or other staining foods. The dentist can put a clear plastic coating over the composite to prevent the color from changing if a patient is particularly concerned about tooth color.

Composites tend to wear out in larger cavities, although they hold up well in small cavities. After placement, you may chew right away. The light instantly hardens these fillings. Your teeth may experience some degree of temperature sensitivity for a few days to a week. If it does not disappear within that period of time, contact your dentist.

These light cured composites are extremely cosmetic and most often bonded into place in one appointment. They are often referred to as “bonding.” Studies have shown that composites last 7-10 years.

In the past, teeth were most commonly repaired with silicate or acrylic restorations. Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, teeth can be restored with a more aesthetic and natural appearance. There are different types of cosmetic fillings currently available. The type used will depend on the location of the tooth and the amount of tooth structure that needs to be repaired.

White Composites - Back Teeth

A composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic mixture filled with glass. In the past, dental composites were confined to the front teeth because they were not strong enough to withstand the pressure and wear generated by the back teeth.

Following preparation, the dentist places the composite in layers, using a light specialized to harden each layer. When the process is finished, the dentist will shape the composite to fit the tooth. The dentist then polishes the composite to prevent staining and early wear. It takes the dentist about 10-20 minutes longer to place a composite than a silver filling. Placement time depends on the size and location of the cavity and the larger the size, the longer it will take.

The average cost of posterior composites is about one-and-a-half to two times the price of a silver filling. Most dental insurance plans cover the cost of the composite up to the price of a silver filling, with the patient paying the difference. As composites continue to improve, insurance companies are more likely to increase their coverage of composites.

Esthetics are one of the main advantages, since dentists can blend shades to create a color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage, minimize leakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.

After receiving a composite, a patient may experience post-operative sensitivity. Also, the shade of the composite can change slightly if the patient drinks tea, coffee or other staining foods. Composites tend to wear out sooner than silver fillings in larger cavities, although they hold up as well in small cavities. Studies have shown that composites last 7-10 years, which is comparable to silver fillings except in very large restorations, where silver fillings last longer than composites.

In the past, teeth were most commonly repaired with amalgam (silver) fillings or gold restorations. Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, teeth can be restored with a more aesthetic and natural appearance. There are different types of cosmetic fillings currently available. The type used will depend on the location of the tooth and the amount of tooth structure that needs to be repaired.

The other type of “white fillings” are called Composite or Porcelain Inlays and Onlays. These fillings are usually placed in back teeth when esthetics is of utmost concern. In order to increase their strength and longevity, they are fabricated in the laboratory and then bonded into position in the office. This is a two visit procedure rather than the one visit required to place a direct composite filling. However, when it comes to strength and cosmetics, the extra time and expense is well worth it! I hope that you now understand a little bit more about white fillings.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic material, which are bonded to the front of teeth. They can be the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth. Porcelain veneers are placed to mask discolorations, to close spaces, to brighten teeth, to straighten teeth, and to repair broken tooth structure. Highly resistant to permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking, the wafer-thin porcelain veneers can achieve a tenacious bond to the tooth, resulting in an esthetically pleasing naturalness that is unsurpassed by other restorative options.

Porcelain veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns or fillings in many situations. They provide a conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color, size, shape or position. Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers. Generally, veneers will last for many years, and the technique has shown remarkable longevity when properly performed.

Patients may need several appointments for the entire procedure including diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding. It’s critical that you take an active role in the smile design. Spend time in the decision-making and planning of the smile. Understand the corrective limitations of the procedure to correct tooth defects, color or position.

The preparation appointment will take from one to several hours. To prepare the teeth for the porcelain veneers, the teeth are lightly reduced to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. At this appointment, a mold is taken of the teeth, which is sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers. This can take about one to three weeks. If the teeth are too unsightly a temporary veneer can be placed, at an additional cost.

Bonding of veneers will take about one or two hours. First, the dentist places the veneers with water or glycerine on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color.While the veneers are resting on your teeth, view the esthetic results, and pay particular attention to the color.At this point, the color of the veneers can still be adjusted with the shade of the cement to be used. The color cannot be altered after veneers are cemented. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement.

All porcelain restorations are called veneers when they cover only the front of teeth. They are crowns when they cover all surfaces of teeth. Restorations are three quarter crowns when they do not cover the surface of teeth toward the tongue. It is often difficult to distinguish one type of restoration from another and therefore, it is easier to call them bonded porcelain restorations.

Crowns - Front and Back Teeth

Crowns are used to support a tooth when there isn’t enough of the tooth remaining, protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth. A crown is a restoration that covers a tooth like a thimble to restore it to its normal shape and size while improving strength and appearance of a tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally broken down and fillings won’t solve the problem. If a tooth is cracked, a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn’t get worse.

To prepare the tooth for a crown, it is reduced so the crown can fit over it. An impression of teeth and gums is made and sent to the lab for the crown fabrication. A temporary crown is fitted over the tooth until the permanent crown is made. On the next visit, the dentist removes the temporary crown and cements the permanent crown onto the tooth.

Crowns require more tooth structure removal, hence, they cover more of the tooth than veneers. Crowns are customarily indicated for teeth that have sustained significant loss of structure. Crowns are made from various materials including plastics, porcelains and metals or combinations of these.

The dentist’s main goal is to create crowns that look like natural teeth. To achieve a certain look, a number of factors are considered, such as the color, bite, shape, and length of your natural teeth. When the procedure is complete, your teeth will not only be stronger, but they may be more attractive.

Crowns should last approximately 12 years. However, with good oral hygiene and supervision most crowns will last for a much longer period of time. Some damaging habits like grinding your teeth, chewing ice, or fingernail biting may cause this period of time to decrease significantly.

To prevent damaging or fracturing the crowns, avoid chewing hard foods, ice or other hard objects. You also want to avoid teeth grinding. Besides visiting your dentist and brushing twice a day, cleaning between your teeth is vital with crowns. Floss is important to remove plaque from the crown area where the gum meets the tooth. Plaque in that area can cause dental decay and gum disease.

Replacing Missing Teeth

Fixed Bridges and Implants

A fixed bridge replaces missing teeth. Teeth on either side of the space are prepared for crowns. Crowns are joined together so crowns on either side can support the missing teeth in the middle.

Implants, usually made of titanium metal similar to that used in pins to join fractured bones, are permanent replacements for missing teeth. Part of the implant acts as the root of a tooth and supports a section that extends above the gums. Replacement teeth may be permanently fixed to the sections above the gums, like fixed bridges, or can be removable similar to overdentures.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures replace missing teeth supported by gums and remaining teeth. Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored resin bases, which are connected by a metal framework. Removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with rests, guide planes and metal clasps. The metal clasps often shows when smiling. A denture helps you to properly chew food, improve speech and prevent a sagging face by providing support for lips and cheeks.A full denture is held in by suction so function is compromised.

An overdenture is a denture that uses precision dental attachments to hold the denture down. The overdenture attachment can be placed in tooth roots that have been saved, or placed onto dental implants that have been placed to receive them. When proper smile design principals are applied to dentures, they can look very natural. Indeed, most denture patients want more imperfections in their denture teeth so they look more natural.

Full Dentures

There is a substantial difference between full dentures and your own teeth since it is only suction which holds a full denture in place.

Dentures may move or come loose when the tongue, lips, cheeks and muscles push against it. Good impressions provide an accurate fit and seal around the edges. Retention and stabilization can be aided by the shape of bone and firmness of gums which make it more difficult to break the suction.

It is difficult to predict how a patient will adapt to dentures.A stable, retentive denture increases success, but people must adapt psychologically and learn techniques of functioning with a denture. Speech patterns must be relearned and chewing efficiency may be dramatically reduced. For these reasons, full dentures are the last resort of dentistry.

There are two alternatives to full dentures: overdentures and implants. Occasionally weak teeth can be used to stabilize dentures. Teeth reduced in height are much stronger because forces are closer to the gums reducing the force generated on their roots.

Overdentures are dentures which fit over weak teeth reduced in height after root canals. In addition, precision attachments can be placed in these teeth and dentures for added retention. Retaining roots will also help maintain bone height which might recede if roots were not there.

Dental Implants

Often, implants are preferred over fixed bridges because natural adjacent teeth are not damaged making their long term prognosis better. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is osteointegrated (bone joins to it) into your jaw. Permanent replacement teeth are joined to implants appearing and functioning like your own teeth. Often, implants are preferred over fixed bridges because natural adjacent teeth are not damaged making their long term prognosis better.

The modern day implant has been done for over forty years with great success. The jaw must have enough bone to place implants and a patient should be in good health. Diabetes, smoking, and other systemic diseases can limit implant success. Proper brushing, flossing and maintenance procedures are critical to maintaining gum and bone health that support implants.

If teeth are extracted, bone must fill the space where the tooth was prior to placing an implant. Healing can be six months or more before bone is dense enough to accept an implant. Placing the implant is a surgical procedure done with just local anesthesia.

Healing of bone into the implant requires three to six months and after the implant is exposed through the gums, restoration can take an additional three to eight weeks.

Since implants involve surgery and are more involved, they cost more than traditional bridge work. However, some dental procedures and portions of the restoration may be covered by dental and medical insurance policies. Your dentist can help you with this process.

Paul Chalifoux
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/the-aesthetically-perfect-smile-122937.html