Smile Solutions

It’s never been easier to achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of

 

Have you ever found yourself browsing through your favorite magazine and been captivated by a smile? You may believe that a magazine worthy smile is out of your reach. Maybe you’ve had teeth pulled, or your teeth have shifted and left you unhappy with your smile. Maybe years of drinking coffee or tea have yellowed your teeth. Or perhaps you were just born with a challenging smile. Is there any hope for you? Dentistry has taken dramatic steps and provided incredible solutions for just about anyone’s situation. The strength of dental restorations, the color choices, the dental material, and increased patient involvement make it possible to have the perfect smile. Let’s look at some of the most common dental problems and the amazing solutions available today.

Problem: You have chipped, cracked, worn teeth, crowding or spacing

Solution: Dental Veneers

Dental Veneers can make any smile more beautiful without removing painful tooth structure. Veneers are thin porcelain shields that are bonded to the front of your teeth to create a dramatic change in your smile.

Problem: Your teeth are straight, but they are stained, discolored, or dull-looking

Solution: Bleaching

This is perhaps the most prevalent dental issue, and it’s an easy fix! Bleaching is a whitening technique that removes stains. Some deep bleaching will even remove tetracycline stains. Bleaching is a safe and effective and is also the least expensive treatment available!

Choose professional whitening. Dentist-supervised bleaching is not only safer than over the counter whitening products, it’s more effective. For tetracycline stains and aging teeth, professional deep bleaching techniques are required to accomplish a Hollywood white shade. Your dentist will take extra precautions to make sure your teeth are safe and sound:

1) A key to successful bleaching is proper fitting trays. This must be done at your dentist’s office. If the over the counter tray does not fit well, then you will have problems such as jaw pain (caused by the repositioning of the jaw). Also, the solution can leak from the tray and irritate the gums.

2) Gum and tooth sensitivity can be monitored and treated. Your dentist can control the strength of the solution, thereby controlling sensitivity.

3) If you have crowns, your dentist can advise you on the proper usage of the solution in a controlled environment.

4) Heavy plaque and tartar stains must be removed. The appearance of these on the teeth will decrease the ability of the whitening solution to saturate the teeth.

What will it cost?

The cost of whitening varies ($350-$1000) according to the type of treatment you are getting. If you elect in-office treatments which require 1 or 2 visits (approximately 45-60 minutes each), you will see instant results. You may be required to continue at home for 2-3 weeks to enhance and improve the transformation. The other option for professional whitening is dentist-monitored at-home whitening. This technique is usually less expensive than in-office procedures. You’ll see an improved smile in 6-8 weeks. It may require 1-2 tray adjustment visits. Let your dentist help you choose which technique is best for you. Don’t let your age convince you that you can’t have younger, healthier teeth. Whiten them up!

What about natural teeth whitening solutions?

Consistent brushing and flossing are key. Removing food stains daily with a toothpaste that focuses on stain removal is crucial. The toothpaste that I stand by for removing food and drink stains is Rembrandt. Rembrandt contains hydrogen peroxide, which is the main ingredient in some professional tooth whitening formulas. Rembrandt is target focused and does not harm the tooth enamel. You might experience temporary cold sensitivity that goes away within 2 weeks after using the toothpaste. The tooth sensitivity is felt because the deeper you remove staining particles from your teeth, the more dentin tubules are open. The opening of these tubules creates that sensitivity. To decrease that sensitivity, after two weeks you may want to use Sensodyne or Hello toothpaste. Both of these brands of toothpaste are non-staining.

 

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