Health & Fitness

Nobody enjoys the process of having a cavity filled. Its time consuming, it can be painful, and its just not the kind of thing one would consider pleasant. On top of it all, when youre finished you have a lump of metal in your tooth. Many find these old-fashioned metal fillings to be unsightly at best.

In case you have not been paying attention, there have been some advancements in filling materials lately that are fairly exciting. There are now tooth colored fillings that when properly installed are nearly invisible to the naked eye. Instead of opening your mouth and seeing grayish lumps of metal, all you see are pure white teeth.

Tooth colored fillings are made of a composite material that is composed of both plastic and zirconia. This composite is extremely durable, and the life expectancy of a tooth colored filling is actually longer than that of a standard metal one. One thing that adds to the durability of tooth colored fillings is the fact that they are actually bonded to the tooth.

Bonding Increases Staying Power
By having the composite material bond to the tooth, these filling become virtually inseparable from the tooth. Additionally, dentists can actually adjust the strength of the filling to meet the needs of the tooth. For the molars, they can make the fillings more durable so that they can withstand the grinding function of these teeth. For the incisors, the fillings are made to be shinier so that when we smile the only thing one notices is the beauty of our teeth.

There seems to be an increased interest in teeth whitening procedures these days. There are a number of at-home teeth whitening products you can buy, and there are even more options available through a good cosmetic dentist. It seems to be the case that if you are unhappy with the color of your teeth, you can simply have them brightened.

There are some types of discoloration where a teeth whitening procedure might not be very effective. If your teeth are discolored brown you might have difficulty whitening them. Additionally, if your teeth are stained gray you might want to consult with your cosmetic dentist to see if a teeth whitening procedure is in your best interest.

Most who are interested in a teeth whitening procedure have a more yellowish tinge to their teeth. This type of staining is most often caused by coffee, tea or wine consumption. If you happen to drink all three, then you are likely to have an even more vested interest in having your teeth whitened.

Be Cautious When Using At-Home Products
If you choose to try out an at-home tooth whitening system, you might want to exercise a bit of caution. While these products are intended to be safe, some users do experience unpleasant side effects including increased tooth sensitivity and inflamed gum tissue. If you are trying to bring your teeth several shades whiter, you might want to talk to a qualified cosmetic dentist and at least get their opinions. The options they have access to might be a whole lot more effective than the over-the-counter solutions.

If makeover shows are any indication, then the public is extremely interested in improving their looks through a variety of cosmetic surgeries. Dental surgeries in particular are a very attractive option for many, and there is a good reason for this. A good cosmetic dentist can radically improve your smile by utilizing a combination of surgical and non-surgical options.

One of the best and perhaps most simple tools that a cosmetic dentist might use to improve your smile is a simple tooth whitening procedure. This oftentimes very simple procedure doesnt require any surgery, and can sometimes produce very dramatic results in only one office visit. Some patients however, require more radical solutions to their dental issues.

If you have cracked or chipped teeth, you might have to undergo a little more intensive procedure. Oftentimes dental surgeons can correct a chipped tooth with what is called a porcelain veneer. Porcelain veneers are thin sheets of ceramic material that cover the front portion of your tooth, hiding any imperfections or blemishes.

There Are More Radical Solutions
Sometimes patients have a series of very serious dental issues that need to be addressed. They might be candidates for crowns, or bridges, or they might have serious tooth straightening needs that only an orthodontist can attend to. The first step is going in for a consultation. A good cosmetic dentist will be able to help you put together a comprehensive dental plan of attack that will help ensure that your smile looks as bright as it possibly can.

For those who are unhappy with the appearance of one or more of their teeth, and who are on a budget, dental bonding might be a very good option. Dental bonding has a couple of things going for it. It is generally much cheaper than a porcelain veneer. Additionally, the process of having a tooth bonded generally takes only one office visit.

The process of bonding is actually fairly similar to the process of having a porcelain veneer installed. First the tooth is roughed up by the dentist. This allows the bond to achieve a more secure connection with the tooth itself. Then an adhesive is applied to the tooth, and finally the bond is installed.

The big difference between a bond and a veneer is that a bond is generally made of a resin composite. This material isnt as durable as porcelain, and it is not as stain resistant. The life expectancy of a bond is around five to ten years. The upside to all of this is that the procedure is generally fairly quick, and as far as cosmetic dentistry goes, bonding is fairly inexpensive.

Bonding Can Be a Temporary Solution
If you have a cracked, or chipped tooth, dental bonding might be a great temporary solution for you. Teeth can be bonded and then when you have the money necessary for a porcelain veneer, you can have the bond removed and the veneer installed. In the meantime, you wont have to suffer with a chipped-tooth smile.

It is amazing how far dental surgery has come in the last decade. The improvements that have been made in both patient comfort and results have been nothing short of phenomenal. This is especially true when it comes to dental implants.

Dental implants are essentially permanent structures that are installed into your mouth to replace a missing tooth or teeth. There are a number of different reasons why one would choose to have a dental implant installed, the most common being that one is simply missing a tooth. The procedures that are used for replacing one tooth are quite a bit different than those used for replacing a few or even all of your teeth.

If you are just replacing one tooth, then your situation is quite a bit simplified. Oftentimes, what is called a root form implant can be used if there is enough bone available. This type of implant is composed of a screw, usually made of titanium, which is attached to a replacement composite tooth. The screw is then inserted into the jaw bone, and ultimately the bone bonds with the metal in process called ossiointegration.

Various Types of Implants
If there isnt quite enough bone for the screw to hold onto, dental surgeons can perform what is called a bone graft, essentially adding more bone to the area. It is an interesting fact that most dental implants so accurately mimic the tooth root system that many times they are actually more secure than our natural teeth. Recovery times for dental implants vary, but with a root form implant you can generally expect a recovery time of three to six months.