Tag Archives: cosmetic dentist

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 Power of Mona Lisa’s Smile

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry, Smile

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One of the most famous and talked about paintings in history is the Mona Lisa. For centuries, the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, painted by the great Leonardo Di Vinci, has captivated people from all walks of life. It was sought after by Kings and Queens, and even hung in Napoleon Bonaparte’s sleeping chamber. It has been acclaimed as “the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world.”

But why is this painting so fascinating? Her SMILE! Or half smile, as the case may be.

At the right corner, the Mona Lisa’s mouth is turn up, in a smiling manner. In the left corner, her lip is flat, conveying no feeling whatsoever.  When we view the painting, our eyes send mixed signals to the brain.

“Different cells in the retina transmit different categories of information or ‘channels’ to the brain. These channels encode data about an object’s size, clarity, brightness and location in the visual field.” Wrote Ewen Callaway in Mona Lisa’s smile a mystery no more, his article about the study done on the Mona Lisa’s smile.

“Sometimes one channel wins over the other, and you see the smile, sometimes others take over and you don’t see the smile,” says Luis Martinez Otero, a neuroscientist at Institute of Neuroscience in Alicante, Spain, who conducted a study of the Mona Lisa’s smile, along with Diego Alonso Pablos.

Did Leonardo Di Vinci intend to cause confusion in the brains of his audience? Absolutely, Martinez Otero contends. “He wrote in one of his notebooks that he was trying to paint dynamic expressions because that’s what he saw in the street.”

So, next time you are in the street, make sure your smile is at it’s best! Because the power of a good smile can captivate us, inspire us and make us fall in love.

Whiter Smiles for Your Wedding: 4 Ways to Get The Look!

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Adult Dentistry, cosmetic dentistry

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With wedding season in full swing, we know brides want pearly white teeth to match that beautiful white dress.

You can give the appearance of a whiter smile by wearing brighter shades of lipstick, like red, which really makes your smile pop!

Clinique created an entire line of 12 lipsticks in varying shades aimed at making your smile appear brighter.  Clinique claims, “On application, Clinique’s specially designed lipstick colours create a contrast that brightens your smile.”  These great lip shades might be a less expensive alternative to professional whitening treatments.

If you want long-lasting whiteness, we suggest you ask your dentist if these procedures below will work for you to enhance your smile.

You can always go with Zoom! Whitening, a professional in-office whitening treatment done under the supervision of a dental professional.  This laser whitening procedure claims to brighten your smile by up to 8 shades, which is nearly enough to match a wedding gown!  The average cost is about $500; however, www.DentistUSA.com Dentists often post deals for Zoom! Whitening and other in-office whitening procedures.   The best part about this method:  the busy bride will certainly be able to spare 45 minutes it takes to complete this procedure.  Find a Cosmetic Dentist here.

Another great program that many of our DentistUSA dentists participate in is Free Whitening for Life.  With Free Whitening for Life, dentists are able to offer free, take-home, customizable whitening trays upon completion of dental treatments.  These bleaching trays require 7-10 days of application and can brighten teeth by up to 6 shades.

White strips & whitening polishes are also an effective alternative to many professional whitening systems.  Brides might opt for these, as they’re an inexpensive alternative to the above two methods, and they’re available in most drugstores.  These take home strips and polishes can take anywhere from 7 to 30 days to work and usually brighten your teeth by a few shades.

A brighter, whiter smile that brides can show off

All these are fantastic ways to achieve a brighter, whiter smile on your wedding day.  They range from choosing a brightening lip color to visiting a dentist to find the best medical program for you.

Have you inquired about teeth whitening procedures for your wedding?  Find a Cosmetic Dentist online here!

We always recommend consulting a dental professional before starting any cosmetic or dental treatment.  Please contact a dentist to find out which of the above is right for you, and do your research beyond this before making a decision.  This blog post in no way is to replace medical advice.