Category Archives: cosmetic dentistry

The 3 W’s to Ask When Getting Cosmetic Dentistry

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in cosmetic dentistry, DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry

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To the many people whose smile doesn’t embarrass them, cosmetic dentistry is barely an after-thought. Outside of the occasional teeth whitening, it’s nothing needed. But for some, a smile is cause for embarrassment; a hand across the mouth covers up laughter. There is a constant need to hide. For those people cosmetic dentistry can be life altering.

There are many forms of cosmetic dentistry, anything from a simple teeth whitening to fixing an overbite. Of course, when there is such a wide array of things that can get done, there will be a lot of questions. To help put your mind at ease, here are the “Who”, “What” and “Why” questions you should ask before deciding on a procedure.

Let’s start with…

Who?

This is an important question as cosmetic dentistry is not an officially recognized specialty within dentistry. So looking for a doctor that has an accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is a good start. To get an accreditation a dentist must complete a written examination, document five specific types of clinical cases, participate in continuing education classes, and pass a final oral examination.

What to Ask?

Once you find an accredited dentist, the AACD recommends that you ask for the following items before undergoing treatment:

Before and after photos. These photos will allow you to examine the results of other patients being treated by the dentist to make sure his or her work fits your dental needs.

References. References allow you to get a sense of the quality of care the dentist provides.

Proof of continuing education. Be certain that your dentist has taken continuing education courses to keep him or her up-to-date with the latest techniques in clinical cosmetic dentistry.

Once you find the perfect dentist, learn about the benefits and risks, and what you can expect during the process. Make sure you’re clear about:

      What it will cost?

      How much experience your dentist has with the procedure?

      If there is any special maintenance needed afterwards?

 Answering these questions will lead to, probably the most important one:

Why Am I Doing This?

Ask yourself:

        How will these treatments benefit me? 

        Do the costs outweigh the benefits?

These are important questions to ask when you are deciding on what could be, pricey fixes. Your dentist will be able to help you decide if a treatment will really enhance your quality of life or if it will just add a huge bill to the pile.

Your smile is your calling card on the world. A confident one will imprint itself on the people around you. If you have decided to learn more about enhancing your smile, having these questions answered to your satisfaction will help you to build trust in your doctor and help you relax with your decision. Soon you’ll be brightening the world with your new smile!

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The Top 5 New Years Resolutions For A Whiter Smile

28 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in cosmetic dentistry, DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry, Smile

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New Years Resolutions are a tradition at my house. Every December 31st my wife and I sit down and discuss what we would like to accomplish during the New Year. To my surprise one of my wife’s resolutions was to floss more. I suppose ‘surprise’ is a strong word, but she had just rattled off about 15 resolutions before that and I was getting a bit bored.

I asked her why she would want to floss more (obvious reasons aside). She said she wanted to have a brighter smile.

Hello blog idea!

Here are the Top 5 New Years Resolutions that will lead to a brighter smile:

  1. Brush your teeth, CORRECTLY!

Brushing your teeth seems simple, right? Well, most people are doing it wrong. You should brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day for at least two minutes, each time. Pay attention to the back teeth and brush your tongue. Use a whitening toothpaste to help get an extra shine.

Another tip: if you plan to brush right after a meal, rinse your mouth out with water first. Some foods high in acid will leave a residue on your teeth and brushing without rinsing will scrape enamel away.

  1. Floss

Once again, seems pretty simple. But most people don’t do it enough (including my wife… I hope she doesn’t read this). Flossing will help remove plaque and keep cavities away.

  1. Eat Right

Yes, a brighter smile can be achieved just by choosing the right foods. Eat green veggies high in minerals like broccoli, spinach and kale. This will help strengthen the enamel on your teeth and help protect against stains. Also, stay away from sodas and other high sugar drinks. These beverages contain high levels of acid that can strip teeth of enamel.

If you are a coffee or tea drinker try adding a splash of cream or milk – “It changes the chemistry of the beverage, which makes it much more difficult for stains to adhere to the tooth’s surface.” –10 Natural Ways to Get (or Fake) Whiter Teeth by Amanda Greene

  1. At-Home Whitening

These can include anything from whitening stripes to gels you paint onto your teeth. Most of these whitening kits contain carbamide peroxide, which acts as a bleach to remove stains. It can take two to three weeks to see noticeable results using these products. Of course there can be some side effects to these treatments like, increased tooth sensitivity and irritated gums. You should consult your dentist before starting an at-home whitening regiment.

  1. See Your Dentist

Your dentist will have the strongest whitening products available. Everything from customized gel trays for your mouth to lasers that will whiten your teeth. They can be pricey but you’ll have dramatic results in much less time.

Any way you decide to whiten your teeth, you should talk to your dentist first. They will give you the best plan for your smile!

5 Things to Eat When You Have a Temporary Crown

20 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Adult Dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry, Sensitive Teeth, Smile, Tooth Friendly Recipe, What To Eat

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Cavities. They can happen to the best of us. Even those who happen to write a blog about how not to get them… (please don’t tell my bosses).

So, a quick trip to the dentist, a couple hours in the chair watching a movie while they drill (the movie was Larry Crowne… how apropos) and I find myself with a temporary crown awaiting a permanent that should arrive in a couple weeks. Which led me to wonder, what can I eat so that this loosely attached piece of acrylic doesn’t come off and leave me with an exposed nerve in my mouth?

Lets start with what to avoid:

  1. Sticky foods.

All of your sugary, gum candies should be avoided. These include: chewing gum, hard candies, caramels, toffee, etc. They should probably be avoided even when you don’t have a cavity, unless you want a cavity and then you’ll have to avoid them anyways.

  1. Hard foods.

These range from nuts to uncooked vegetables. If you must have them, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth with the crown.

  1. Hot liquids.

This includes soups, coffee, tea. This is more a sensitivity issue more than anything else. It’s hard to keep liquids to one side of the mouth and if you have any exposed nerve endings, you can feel some discomfort when the heat touches the crown.

  1. Cold foods.

As stated above, the same goes for cold foods. Anyone who has sensitive teeth can attest to the pain of cold on teeth.

So what can you eat?

1. Smoothies

Right after I had my temporary crown installed I asked my dentist what I could eat. She told me to stay away from the foods I listed above and suggested I try a smoothie from the place next door. As it is summer right now I can imagine a smooth might be good. Just be careful of how cold the smoothie might be. You can control the temperature when you whip up your own!

2. Pasta

I decided I wanted something more substantial than a smoothie and opted instead to go to the Italian place next to my dentist office (my dentist is in a strip mall with a bevy of food options). I had a nice rigatoni with alfredo sauce. I got it to go so by the time I got home it had cooled down and was just warm enough not to cause any discomfort. It was soft, satisfying and most importantly, didn’t hurt.

3. Pudding

If you’re wondering what I had for dessert, wonder no more! I had chocolate pudding. Once again, soft, satisfying and most importantly, didn’t hurt.

4. Eggs

From scrambled to hard-boiled, eggs are a good option. They are soft, satisfying… you get the idea.

5. Soups

I know, I know. I told you in the list above to avoid soups. But that was hot soups. Cool soups like a vichyssoise or gazpacho are a great option, especially with this summer heat. Even good, old-fashion soups, like chicken noodle is okay, as long as you let them cool first. The Joy of Blending has a really tasty Cool Mint Pea soup.

Really, there are plenty of foods to eat while you have a temporary crown. Just remember to stay away from the avoid list above, chew with the opposite side of your mouth the crown is on and you should be just fine. Remember, if you ever feel pain, especially when you are not eating, make sure to inform your dentist.