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Everybody loves a bright white smile, and
there are a variety of products and procedures available to help
you improve the look of yours.
Many people are satisfied with
the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with fluoride-containing
toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular
cleanings at the dentist's office. However, if you decide you
would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter,
you should investigate all of your options.
You can whiten your
smile in one appointment with the doctor or you can use a customized
at home bleaching system to achieve your goal. Sometimes we even
suggest a combination of both of these methods.
You may want to start by speaking with Dr. Barnes.
He can tell you which whitening procedures would be effective
for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration.
For example, yellow-hued teeth will probably bleach best, brown-colored
teeth may bleach less well, and gray-hued teeth are the most
difficult to whiten. Likewise, bleaching may not enhance your
smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings placed in your front
teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials,
and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these
cases, you would want to know this before bleaching and plan
to replace these restorations when the tooth whitening has been
completed.
If you are a candidate
for bleaching, the doctor may suggest a procedure that can be
done in our office. This procedure is called in chair or in-office
bleaching and may most often be done in one visit of 60-90 minutes.
Often we will suggest at home
whitening using custom made trays and a bleaching gel that we
will dispense to you. This method of whitening usually can be
completed in 7-14 days of 1 or 2 short 30-45 minute daily sessions
wearing the trays on your teeth.
With recent advances in dental care, you can have an attractive
smile. You don't have to settle for stained, unsightly teeth.
Rather, you have choices that can help you smile with confidence.
A subtle change in your smile can make a big difference in
the way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to the doctor
about the options most suitable for you, what your expectations
are and the dental fees involved.
A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of a face. With
dentistry's many advances, you no longer have to settle for stained,
chipped, or misshapen teeth. You have choices that can help you
smile with confidence. Talk to the doctor about the options most
suitable for you, what your expectations are, and the dental
fees involved.
Advances in modern dental materials and techniques have provided
new ways to create more pleasing, natural-looking smiles. As
a result, dentists and patients have several choices when it
comes to selecting materials used to repair missing, worn, damaged,
or decayed teeth.
Newer dental restoratives include ceramic and plastic compounds
that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds,
often called composite resins, are often used on the front teeth
where a natural appearance is important. They can be used on
the back teeth as well depending on the location and extent of
the tooth decay.
There's no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or with
teeth that are stained, badly shaped or crooked. Today a veneer
placed on top of your teeth can correct nature's mistake or the
results of an injury and help you have a beautiful smile.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored
materials designed to cover the front side of teeth.
A crown covers a tooth and restores it to its normal
shape and size. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve
its appearance. It can cover and support a tooth that has a large
filling. It can be used to attach a bridge, prevent a weak or
brittle tooth from breaking, or restore one that's already broken.
A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored, badly
shaped, or out of position. Crowns are also used to cover dental
implants.
Consider Invisalign to get the beautiful straight teeth you've
always wanted—without braces. A complimentary consultation
with Dr. Barnes can determine if Invisalign is right for you.
When you are missing a tooth, especially one that shows when
you smile it can have a very negative impact on an otherwise
beautiful smile and on your confidences and self concepts. Fortunately
modern dentistry now has some great possibilities for solving
these problems.
There are two types of tooth replacement: fixed
bridge and implant.
A fixed bridge replaces missing teeth with
artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap
where one or more teeth may have been. The restoration can be
made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials
and is fitted onto surrounding teeth for support and retention.
A
dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into
your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants
are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who
have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury,
or some other reason.
While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more
tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not
rely on neighboring teeth for support.
Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling; you may
forget you ever lost a tooth. You know that your confidence about
your teeth affects how you feel about yourself, both personally
and professionally. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces
from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don't feel secure. Perhaps
you have difficulty chewing. If you are missing one or more teeth
and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and
confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that
can look and feel just like your own!
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