Understanding Dental Veneers

Jan 8, 2016 | Blog

Veneers are something that has been made popular by cosmetic dentistry. Dental veneers are custom-made shells designed to cover the entire front surface of a tooth. These are tooth-colored materials and are specially designed to improve your facial looks.

These dental veneers can be made from resin composite materials, but the most common veneer material is porcelain. Porcelain veneers are able to reflect light and therefore more closely mimic the look of natural teeth. Over the course of time, they are more stain resistant and are better than resin composite veneers. Resin veneers, however, are thinner than porcelain veneers and require shaving less of the natural tooth’s surface before final placement and bonding.

Both resin and porcelain veneers are designed to hide the following dental problems:

• Discoloration of the teeth
• Chipped or fractured teeth due to trauma
• Dentition that are worn down due to aging
• Irregular, misshapen, or misaligned teeth
• Teeth with gaps between them that makes the smile not beautiful

When you and your dentist have both agreed that veneers are the perfect treatment plan, the initial step usually is getting ready the molds. After that, some x-rays would be taken to ensure there is no underlying pathology. To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will shave some enamel from your tooth’s surface. Next, an impression will be made of your tooth, which is sent to a dental laboratory. That laboratory then constructs your veneer. As it may require some time for your dentist to receive the final veneer, temporary dental veneers may be placed onto your teeth.

Before the final dental veneer is bonded permanently to your shaved natural tooth, your dentist will check for the placement and shade concerning the adjacent teeth. The dentist may trim and shape the surface as needed to ensure proper fit. Your tooth will be polished, cleaned, and roughened to allow for maximum bonding. Once the tooth is in place, the bonding agent is set with a unique light, activating the chemicals in the cement to make the bond permanent. Excess cement is removed, your bite is checked for alignment, and your new smile is now revealed! Do ensure that you are fully satisfied with the treatment provided before deciding that the treatment is completed. A review is usually in place after the veneers is fitted in.

Cosmetic dentist in Central Falls, RI 02863

Family Dentistry: Lifetime Care You Can Trust

Jan 28, 2016 | Blog

If you have a family dental practice in your neighborhood, take advantage of that, it will benefit you greatly. There are many advantages to such a practice. A family dentist is an authority when it comes to treating you and your child’s teeth. They can provide comprehensive care for your family members. This lifelong care allows the dentist the ability to assess the patient as a whole and to have a vast experience in dental history and oral hygiene habits of each family member.

Bringing your family to a family dentistry practice is indeed a wise decision that can last a lifetime. Family dentistry, at its core, is about trust and relationship building. A family dentist who treats a patient starting from his or her teens will remember any relevant information of the patient’s oral care that would affect him or her in the later years. Your family dentist will also know what’s happening with your oral cavity over time and will be on the lookout for signs of oral issues, e.g. gingivitis, dental decay or oral cancer.

Gingivitis is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and loss. This disease when left untreated, can lead to much larger problems such as stroke or heart disease. The good news is that it can be reversed if caught on early. Hence, it is important to visit your family dentist regularly for checkups. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The wise move is to take care of your dental health before it is too late.

Not only does your family dentist provides regular preventative services to your entire family, but they also have the knowledge, and expertise to know when you might need the care of a specialist. Therefore, they are the most suitable person to offer recommendations for excellent care outside of their practice if necessary.

Because a family dentist treats your entire household, a strong relationship is established and will strengthen over time. It is no doubt that their offices are comfortable and inviting, well designed to provide a relaxing environment. While offering the convenience of a single location to serve your entire family, family dentists are dedicated to providing service to you and your family.

Family dentist in Central Falls Rhode Island

What’s the Connection between Oral Health and Overall Health?

Feb 21, 2016 | Blog

Most people know that keeping your mouth clean is the best way to have an attractive and healthy smile. However not so many will be aware of the benefits to general health. Having healthy teeth and gums helps protect your overall health.

What Is Oral Health?
Oral health is concerned with the condition of any of the structures in your mouth, including your teeth, gums, tongue and all your oral tissues.

How Is Oral Health Related to Overall Health?
When your teeth and gums are healthy then it’s much easier to eat a varied and nutritionally sound diet. Choosing foods that are good for your teeth, for example those that are low in sugar, will also benefit your general health. Having a nice smile helps boost self-esteem, and good oral health decreases the risk of bad breath. It’s also much easier to speak clearly when you have all your teeth.

Which Oral and General Health Conditions Are Linked?
Oral health has been connected to a number of different general health issues. Clinical studies have found links between gum disease and diabetes. For example, uncontrolled diabetes can increase the amount of glucose in the saliva, increasing the risk of gum disease. Conversely gum disease causes bleeding gums that allow bacteria in the mouth to enter into the bloodstream where it’s thought they can create new sites of inflammation, making it more difficult to control blood sugar levels. In addition diabetics find it more difficult to heal. Gum disease has also been linked to heart disease, and people with unhealthy gums could be at increased risk of developing heart issues.

How Can I Achieve Good Oral Health?
It’s important to visit your dentist in Central Falls, RI as often as recommended. Book professional tooth cleanings at the same time as this will reduce bacteria in the mouth, helping to keep your gums healthy and strong. People with diabetes or other medical conditions that compromise their immune system may need to visit their Central Falls dentist more frequently.

Best Foods for a Beautiful Smile

Feb 9, 2016 | Blog

Most people are well aware certain foods are bad for teeth, but did you know some are very good for oral health? Listed below are just a few of the foods that could help your teeth and gums stay in tip top condition.

Salmon
Salmon is packed full of vitamin D which helps your body to absorb calcium from other foods, keeping your teeth and bones strong and healthy.

Onions
Onions might give you temporary bad breath, but they also contain sulfur that lowers the amount of decay causing bacteria in your mouth.

Strawberries
Strawberries are high in fiber and vitamins C, ensuring your gums are able to repair themselves and fight infection.

Pineapple
Pineapple is also high in vitamins C as well as an enzyme called Bromelain which helps promote healing. In addition pineapple increases saliva production, helping to wash away excess bacteria and sugars that could cause disease.

Quinoa
This fashionable grain is full of minerals including magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and calcium, all of which help strengthen your teeth.

Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds contain plenty of calcium, helping to strengthen your teeth.

Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms not only taste delicious, but also contain something called Lentinan which helps prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Wasabi
Wasabi is a type of Japanese horseradish that contains particular compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Sea Salt
Sea salt contains numerous different minerals that help strengthen teeth.

Xylitol
Your dentist in Reno may recommend chewing xylitol gum after every meal as this ingredient helps inhibit bacterial growth, reducing the risk of gum disease and cavities.

Stevia
Ordinary sugar promotes bacterial growth, increasing acidity in the mouth. Stevia is a natural sweetener that doesn’t have this effect.

Of course a great diet is only half the story, and needs to be backed up with professional dental care from your dentist in Central Falls, RI 02863, and great daily dental care at home.

Learn about All Your Teeth Whitening Options

Feb 14, 2016 | Blog

A beautifully white smile is often perceived as a sign of youth and vitality, but over time it can gradually fade. Eating certain foods or drinking dark-colored beverages, taking particular medications and simply aging can all take its toll on your teeth. It’s hardly surprising that tooth whitening has become one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures in recent years. Professional teeth whitening is safe and effective and can quickly rejuvenate your smile. If you’re thinking about whitening your teeth, there are several options to choose from which include:

In-Office Whitening
In-office tooth whitening is hugely popular, as you can literally book a lunch time appointment and leave with a dazzling white smile. Surface stains can quickly be eliminated, and teeth can be brightened by up to eight shades in just an hour. This option is the most expensive, and you don’t have much control over the final results. Your cosmetic dentist in Central Falls will activate the bleaching gel with a special light so the final result should be a stunning white smile.

Custom-Made Take-Home Whitening Kits
Not everyone wants to whiten their teeth so quickly, and custom-made whitening trays enable you to safely bleach teeth in a more controlled manner. Your Central Falls Rhode Island dentist will take impressions of your teeth that are used to fabricate custom-made whitening trays. You’ll be shown how to use these trays, and should wear them for as long as directed. Most people will begin to notice real results within a few days, but they generally need to be used for two or three weeks to achieve optimum effects.

Over-The-Counter Whitening Kits
Over-the-counter whitening kits come in the form of trays and whitening strips and can cost between $20 and $50 so it’s tempting to think they will save you money. However the bleaching gels contained in these kits are not as strong as those available to your dentist. In addition, there’s the possibility these kits could irritate your gums as ill-fitting whitening trays can allow the gel to leak out.