Author: Zack Boyd

Lets face it when it comes to our appearance, we all desire a beautiful smile. Unfortunately, for most of us it is just a desire. If you want to improve your smile and have chipped or cracked teeth, you may be asking: Dental veneers or crowns which is better for me?

The answer to that question, sadly, may not be a simple one. Your dentist will most likely answer that the decision is based on many factors including your tooth structure, whether decay is present, or whether you have previously undergone root canal therapy.

Generally, veneers will be the best option for you if you want to improve the color or shape of your teeth. Other issues that can be corrected with veneers are excess space between teeth and crowding.

In some cases, a crown will be a better choice. This occurs most frequently where there is less tooth structure (usually because of tooth decay) or if you have previously had root canal therapy.

The placing of veneers will require two or three visits to your Boulder cosmetic dentist. Some will simply perform an exam and discuss options with you at the first visit. In other instances, the process will actually be begun at that first visit. Either way, the enamel of your teeth will be trimmed to match the approximate thickness of the veneer. An impression of your teeth will be taken, which will be sent to a lab for creation of the veneer(s).

At the second visit, the dentist will place the dental veneer over the tooth to check the shade and color. The shade can be tweaked if required with the shade of cement that is used. At times, some trimming may also be needed. Your tooth will then be cleaned and polished. The veneer will be placed on the tooth with cement. A special light activates the chemicals in the cement, curing it. Excess cement will be removed if necessary, the dentist will evaluate the placement, and voila! Your new beautiful tooth will be in place!

If a crown is the option you need, a somewhat similar process will occur. X-rays will ensure the healthiness of the tooth. If no decay is present, the dentist will begin the process by numbing the area. The tooth will be trimmed and a paste or putty will be used to make an impression, which will also be sent to a lab. A temporary crown will cover and protect your tooth while the crown is being created.

The second visit will entail removal of the temporary crown and a check of the fit and color of the crown, as in the veneer process. The tooth will again be numbed and the crown placed.

As you can see, the question of which is right for you dental veneers or crowns will be an individual choice determined by the condition of your teeth and the dentists recommendation.

Have you possibly concealed your smile when you are among other folks simply because you are distressed by it? If so, you are not the only one. Countless people have teeth that have been discolored by things such as coffee, tea, cigarette smoking, and even due to getting older. Even when you are executing exceptional oral health practices of brushing and flossing, you may encounter staining. If you are experiencing awkwardness as a result of your teeth, the treatment of teeth whitening might be the answer you need. Most importantly, it is a simple option that anybody can take advantage of.

Just like you would before any treatment, you need to obtain a complete exam from your dentist prior to undergoing the treatment plan. This is to make sure that there are no problems like chips, damaged fillings or decay that could be impacted by the whitening solution. Your dentist can subsequently discuss the whitening process to you.

Over-the-counter solutions are becoming increasingly popular, but dental experts recommend that you receive the treatment from a professionally trained dentist. Over-the-counter products typically provide only a minimal concentration of beneficial ingredients, thus are not particularly successful. Professional treatments have a greater concentration of the active ingredients required, thereby creating more desirable end results. It is also considerably safer to have teeth lightened by a specialist to make certain that the process is carried out correctly. The procedure is much faster than a do it yourself product. You will walk away from the dentist’s office with beautiful white teeth while you may have to wait three to four weeks for at-home kits to bring about the same degree of whitening. It is also more likely that damage to tooth enamel could occur with these types of solutions.

Most people are aware of the obvious benefit of teeth whitening, which is a more dazzling smile, but there are additional benefits. These consist of better self-esteem and pleasure of social life since you are more at ease with your looks. Understand, nonetheless, that resuming your old behaviors of drinking tea, coffee or soda or smoking, may negate the whitening system.

There are a number of choices offered in dentists’ offices nowadays to carry out teeth whitening. Some employ trays customized to your mouth with a particular whitening solution. Sometimes, a portion of the whitening will transpire in the office and the rest in your home. Laser whitening is coming to be ever more in demand amongst dentists in Colorado Springs. You may wish to conduct some research into the various kinds of whitening methods before you make your selection. Most dental professionals feature the kind of treatment options they offer on their websites with a description of the process. They may also showcase before and after images on their site or Social Media sites. You might also take a look at information on the different solutions.

So you found out that you have gum disease. What is next you say? Well, at this point, it is important that you acquaint yourself with the different treatments for gum disease. The best thing to do is to ask your dentist some questions, but of course learning about the procedures on your own will not hurt either.

The treatments for gum disease can either be non-surgical or surgical: it all depends on how serious the disease is. Take note though that regardless of the treatment recommended to you, the main aim of your dentist is to control the infection.

Non-Surgical Treatments

1. Professional Dental Cleaning: This is simply the removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Remember, it is only the plaque that can be removed by brushing and flossing regularly. The tartar can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning. The regular dental cleaning takes place twice a year, but if your dentist sees signs of gum disease, he may increase the cleaning.

2. Scaling and Root Planning: This is a deep-cleaning procedure performed under local anaesthetic. Scaling scrapes away the plaque and tartar above and below the gum line, whereas planing refers to the process of making the rough spots on the tooth root smooth. These two procedures are done when you have plaque and tartar under gum tissue.

Surgical Treatments

1. Flap Surgery: The gums are lifted back so as to allow for tartar removal. The gums are then placed back in such a way that they fit snugly around the tooth; thus, decreasing the possibility of bacteria growing into the pockets of the gums.

2. Bone Grafts: Fragments of bones are used to replace bones that have been destroyed by gum disease. These bone fragments can be your own, donated by others or synthetic. By putting bone grafts, the stability of the teeth is restored.

3. Soft Tissue Grafts: This is similar to bone grafts but instead of bone, it is the tissue that is stitched in place to replace the destroyed tissue in the gums that had receded.

4. Guided Tissue Regeneration: When the bone that supports the tooth is destroyed, this procedure enables bone and tissue growth through stimulation.

5. Bone Surgery: This is when there is moderate and advanced bone loss. The craters in the bone are smoothed out, and the bone around the tooth is reshaped to minimize the craters. In doing so, bacteria growth is minimized.

Almost all of these procedures can be done by a dentist near Dupont Circle, Washington DC, in the comforts of a dental office. Medication is also provided to help you relax during the treatment, as the dentist sees fit.

Treatments for gum disease may cause you some discomfort, but you need them if you do not want to make yourself more ill than you already are. So keep an open mind and say aaahh!

If you, or someone you know, is missing teeth, then continue reading about a reliable tooth replacement solution in the form of dental implants. When you are finished reading, you will be convinced that the smartest next step to replacing teeth are missing is to meet with a Washington DC dental implants surgeon for an initial consultation. Many times these initial consultations with implant dentists are complimentary because not everyone is a candidate for tooth implants.

Dental implants are important for people who may have problems with their teeth. A dental implant is a device made of titanium that is mostly used in tooth restoration. For instance, if you were in an accident, and suffered severe trauma to your mouth, which resulted in the loss of some of your teeth, dental implants would be used to restore your missing teeth. A dental implant looks like a real tooth, and once inserted into your jawbone, a dental implant functions just like a real tooth.

The main purpose of dental implants is to replace the tooth or teeth that are missing. When you look at a tooth implant, you will see a tooth-like structure with a screw on the end. This screw is inserted into the jawbone to secure the tooth within the mouth. Prior to tooth implants, dentures were used to replace missing teeth. In comparison however, dental implants are more durable and last longer than dentures.

Dental implants are stronger than dentures because a dental implant contains a titanium screw that is inserted into jawbone. Titanium is available in different grades based on the amount of carbon and iron inside. The titanium used in a dental implant is grade five, and as long as the implant is made of 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium alloy, it is strong enough to resist tension and not fracture.

Fitting a tooth implant into jawbone requires drilling. After jawbone has some time to fuse with the implant, dental crowns are placed on top. The entire process may seem complicated, and that is why the dental implant procedure can take a long time. Nevertheless, the fact that tooth implants fit better, are more stable, and look more natural makes them a preferred choice among many people who have lost some of their teeth. Moreover, tooth implants provide a more natural feeling, and can even prevent bone loss and gum recession. Hence, if you need any major tooth restoration, be sure to include dental implants in your list of options.