In the past decade there has been a dramatic interest in cosmetic dentistry. We all realize that having a healthy, bright, beautiful smile enhances our appearance and allows us to smile with confidence. Thanks to the advances in modern cosmetic dentistry, we are able to improve our teeth and smiles with quick, painless and surprisingly affordable treatments.
Remember, your smile speaks before you even say a word!
Today, a wonderful pearly-white smile is important for a wide variety of reasons. Beautiful teeth can boost self-esteem and self-confidence, and a stunning smile is often the most recognized feature of a person. daVinci™ dental veneers have been renowned for excellence and durability in the field of cosmetic dentistry for the past 25 years. These ceramic veneers can cover even the most unsightly blemishes on the teeth, and treatment can be completed in two or three visits.
daVinci™ veneers are ideal for the nervous patient because they need little or no anesthesia to apply. They’re also highly resistant to staining agents like tobacco, coffee and red wine. daVinci™ veneers look completely natural, feel fantastic and can instantly cover the most severe cosmetic defects.
daVinci™ veneers are wafer-thin, which means that the eating, speaking and biting functions are seldom affected by their placement. daVinci™ veneers are available in four different shades, ranging from “bright” to “incredibly bright” and can only be applied to healthy underlying teeth and gums. If the dentist notes tooth decay or gum disease, these issues need to be addressed before the placement of dental veneers.
The dentist will plan on three visits, though treatment may be completed in two. The first visit involves a thorough investigation of the teeth and the planning of forthcoming treatments. The planning stage is an ideal opportunity to ask questions. Objectives and potential end results will be discussed, and the dentist will ensure that teeth are healthy enough for veneer placement.
The second visit may last several hours. The teeth need to be prepared before the daVinci™ veneers are placed. Preparation generally involves the light buffing of the teeth to create space for veneer placement. Since daVinci™ veneers are wafer-thin, little of the tooth needs to be altered.
When the teeth are fully prepared, impressions are created. These impressions or molds are then sent to a daVinci laboratory. It generally takes around two weeks for the custom-made daVinci™ veneers to be fabricated. In the meantime, a temporary measure is placed to ensure the teeth look pleasant and are fully functional.
During the final visit, the daVinci™ veneers are bonded to the teeth. Before bonding permanently, the dentist temporarily places the veneers on the teeth with glycerin. This helps to determine whether the shade and fit are agreeable. If the shade requires alteration, this can be adjusted using colored dental cement.
daVinci™ veneers are permanently placed with specialized dental cleansers and bonded using a visible light beam. The light beam hardens the cement and ensures that an ultra-secure affixation occurs. Once the veneers are placed with cement, the color can no longer be altered.
daVinci™ veneers produce a stunning result that transforms the smile with minimal discomfort.
LUMINEERS® are an excellent option for people who are unhappy with the cosmetic appearance of their teeth. These ultra-thin porcelain slips fit perfectly over the teeth making them look cosmetically perfect, white and completely beautiful. An off-white or crooked smile can cause serious confidence problems. LUMINEERS® are a fantastic alternative for patients wanting a beautiful smile without surgery, harsh chemicals or painful treatments.
For LUMINEERS® to be applied, the underlying teeth, bone and gums must be healthy. Patients with gum disease or tooth decay must be treated prior to LUMINEERS® placement. Unlike dental veneers, LUMINEERS® can be left in place for over 20 years or removed upon request to expose the intact original teeth. LUMINEERS® can be fitted in just two appointments, and instantly add pizzazz to the sm
LUMINEERS® provide a wide range of advantages over similar treatments. The most meaningful advantage to anxious patients is that no painful alterations of the teeth are required prior to the LUMINEERS® application. The covers themselves are so thin and unobtrusive that speech and eating are seldom affected.
LUMINEERS® are constructed from Cerinate® porcelain, which is known for its exceptional strength. Even though LUMINEERS® are thinner than dental veneers, they are less likely to break or chip. Additionally, Cerinate® porcelain can be color-modified and balanced. This means that different levels of opaqueness and translucency can be utilized.
One of the main reasons LUMINEERS® are so easy to fit is that little etching has to be done beforehand. With veneers, many teeth might have to be permanently altered or drilled to ensure the best fit. However, LUMINEERS® offer a beautiful end product without any drilling, anesthesia or extensive etching. This factor alone can reduce the time in the dental chair by almost half, when compared to traditional veneers.
During the initial visit, bite impressions and X-rays are taken to determine the exact way the teeth fit together. The dentist also thoroughly examines the teeth to ensure that no tooth decay and no signs of gum disease are present. Together, the dentist and patient choose the color of the LUMINEERS® and the desired level of transparency. The bite impressions are sent to the laboratory to be custom-crafted.
The LUMINEERS® are bonded to the teeth at the second appointment. If bonding substance has oozed out from beneath the LUMINEERS®, this is carefully removed using a beveled featheredge margin. Once the LUMINEERS® are in place, the dentist polishes them until they are completely smooth. The advantage of this smoothness is that bacteria and staining agents cannot easily adhere to the surface of the LUMINEERS®.The LUMINEERS® are finally separated. Up until this point, they are still attached where the bite impressions suggest teeth would naturally join. The treatment is finished, leaving a beautiful white smile, and perfect, healthy teeth.
If you have questions or concerns about LUMINEERS®, please ask your dentist.
LUMINEERS® and Cerinate® are registered trademarks of Den-Mat Holdings LLC.
With ClearCorrect, your dentist or orthodontist can straighten your teeth using a series of clear, custom, removable aligners. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time until you eventually get straight teeth.
You and your doctor will evaluate your teeth and talk about any problems or goals you have for your smile. Once you and your doctor establish ClearCorrect is the right treatment option for you, your doctor will take impressions, photos, and x-rays of your teeth that ClearCorrect uses in manufacturing your custom aligners. Then your doctor writes a prescription for your custom aligners and sends it to ClearCorrect.
ClearCorrect can treat a wide variety of issues that keep people from achieving their ideal smiles. Straighter teeth don’t just look better; they work better too. Poorly-aligned teeth can interfere with bite function, wear out quicker, and are more prone to cavities. Ask your doctor how ClearCorrect can help you.
Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth. The most popular method is using a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically. Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.
Tooth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up maybe needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine.
This type of tooth whitening usually requires two visits. At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays.
At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary. The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after you have stopped bleaching.
You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy, white smile.
Day White® is a specialized take-home whitening treatment which has been designed for use during daytime hours. Day White® offers an excellent alternative for people who would like to have a brighter smile, but do not relish the prospect of wearing strips or whitening trays all night long. In fact, the Day White® treatment will only take one hour per day, and is substantially less expensive than some in-office alternatives.
Day White® is an extremely user-friendly home treatment. The kit includes whitening gel, a patented syringe and special whitening trays. There is nothing complicated, messy or time-consuming about applying Day White® and it can whiten the teeth by as many as fourteen shades in as few as 10-14 days.
Day White® utilizes proven technology to remove organic stains on the teeth and whiten yellowing dentin and enamel. Day White® has been created with the wearer in mind, and comes in several flavors.
It should be noted that Day White® should only be applied to healthy teeth. Patients who have tooth decay or gum disease need to have these conditions treated prior to applying the Day White® gel. Day White® may not remove inorganic or deep stains, so it is important to consult with the dentist to ensure that expectations are realistic, considering the current condition of the teeth.
Day White® is a healthy way to whiten teeth. The combination of hydrogen peroxide and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) enables any imperfections in the surface of the teeth to be filled while the bleaching is underway.
Day White® is available in two low concentrations (7.5% and 9.5%). Each syringe is filled with enough gel to treat the teeth three times daily, so the results are under the patient’s control.
To use Day White®, simply load the gel into the custom-made trays and apply to the teeth for up to 30 minutes twice daily. When the desired time expires, remove the trays and rinse the mouth. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the trays after every application.
Whitening will occur gradually over the course of the Day White® treatment, and the end result will be a pearly white smile.
