How Are Porcelain Veneers Placed?

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What are porcelain veneers? If you are looking to straighten, cover up, whiten, or reshape your teeth, porcelain veneers offer a cosmetic dental solution for enhancing your smile to look just how you want. Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of tooth-like porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of your teeth. The procedure generally takes a few visits to ensure the most accurate placement. You can expect to experience the general steps outlined below:

1. Initial Consultation: At an initial consultation, your cosmetic dentist will assess your teeth and discuss your goals for your smile.

2. Tooth Preparation: In order to compensate for the added thickness of porcelain veneers, your cosmetic dentist will prepare your teeth by reducing and preparing them beforehand. If you qualify for prepless veneers, no tooth reduction or preparation is necessary since the prepless veneers are so thin they can bond directly to the natural tooth surface.

3. Temporary Veneers: After your teeth have been prepared, your dentist will give you temporary veneers to wear while your permanent porcelain veneers are being designed and made.

4. Bonding: Images and molds of your teeth are sent to our highly skilled ceramist who carefully crafts your permanent porcelain veneers to fit your smile. Once your dental veneers are complete, your dentist will bond them to the front surface of your teeth. If you choose prepless veneers, no drilling is necessary!

5. Perfect Fit: After your porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth, your cosmetic dentist will check to make sure your bite, color shading, and tooth shape all contribute to an aesthetically pleasing smile.

To ask a cosmetic dentist about porcelain veneers, as well as additional treatment options for creating a beautiful new smile, use our Crown Council dentist locator to find a cosmetic dentist near you.

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The Benefits of Teeth Whitening

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Straight, white teeth are no longer just for celebrities. Advancements in cosmetic dentistry over the last several years have made teeth whitening safer and more affordable for almost anyone wanting a brighter smile. Why is having a white smile important?

According to a national survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to the opposite gender, and 74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success. Having a clean, straight smile that you feel confident about enhances your social and career opportunities.

While teeth whitening has become more affordable, use caution when choosing a teeth whitening system. When it comes to treating your teeth, the quality and safety of the treatment can be the deciding factor between damaging your teeth or enhancing their look. Several do-it-yourself remedies are available, but the safest teeth whitening treatments are overseen by your cosmetic dentist.

Many cosmetic dentists offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening systems to effectively brighten your smile. The in-office whitening system can whiten your teeth several shades in just one visit. Teeth whitening at home usually takes a little longer, but can also brighten your teeth to your desired shade.

To find out how you can brighten your smile with cosmetic dental teeth whitening, contact a Crown Council general dentist today to schedule an initial consultation. To find a dentist near you, use our Crown Council locator at the top of this page.

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Smile Makeovers for More Youthful Smiles

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Liking your smile plays an important part in self-confidence and how you present yourself to others. If you have always wished your teeth where longer, straighter, or whiter, consider a smile makeover from a cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist is trained in the art of crafting beautiful smiles that fit with a person’s face shape and features. You can finally have the smile you have always wanted!

Your cosmetic dentist chooses from a variety of techniques to create a treatment plan unique for your smile. The following are just a few of the cosmetic dentistry procedures that your cosmetic dentist might choose from:

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Ask Your Cosmetic Dentist about Dental Crowns

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Whether it results from years of wear and tear, or an accident, tooth damage is fairly common. If you are looking for a way to restore a damaged tooth, talk to your cosmetic dentist about dental crowns. Dental crowns are regularly used to cover, protect, and repair the following types of tooth damage:

·Broken or cracked teeth

·Severely decayed teeth

·Deep discoloration

·A missing tooth

·Root Canal

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped piece of porcelain or metal that your cosmetic dentist fits over your existing tooth. Porcelain is most commonly used because it mirrors the esthetic qualities of natural tooth enamel. In addition to having the same translucent quality, it is more stain-resistant than other materials. As technology advances, porcelain crowns are being fabricated to withstand greater chewing pressure as well.

A cosmetic dentist usually recommends dental crowns for teeth that can’t be restored by less invasive procedures like porcelain veneers. With dental crowns, you benefit from restored chewing capacity, strength, shape, and appearance of your tooth. Your cosmetic dentist will take great care to make sure that your new tooth matches the color, shape, and contours of your natural teeth so that it blends right into your smile. Many cosmetic dentists are utilizing new technology that allows them to fabricate your dental crown right there in an in-office milling machine. While traditionally you have to wear a temporary crown while your permanent crown is made in a lab, this new technology allows you to have your dental crown placed in one day!

Ask your cosmetic dentist about dental crowns as an option for restoring damaged teeth. To find a cosmetic dentist near you, use our Crown Council locator on this page.

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Tooth Loss and Dental Implants

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As adult tooth loss becomes more prevalent, more people are turning to a dental implants dentist for tooth replacement solutions. Research sited by The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons states that 69% of adults ages 35-44 have had at least one adult tooth fall out. What causes teeth to fall out and why is seeing a dental implants dentist a good idea?

Tooth loss stems from a variety of causes, however some of the most prominent are listed below:

·Gum disease

·Tooth decay

·Poor diet

·Injury/Trauma

·Disease

·Failed root canal

The number one cause of tooth loss is gum disease. When you don’t thoroughly and consistently brush and floss your teeth, plaque begins to build up around your teeth and gums. Over time, this plaque begins to weaken the gums, causing your tooth to fall out. The best way to prevent tooth loss is to visit the dentist annually for professional tooth cleanings, and maintain good oral hygiene. Other important factors in preventing tooth loss include wearing a sports mouth guard for high contact sports, and avoiding chewing hard foods (ice, popcorn kernels, nutshells, etc.).

If you are already missing teeth, it is in your best interest to see a dental implants dentist right away. With dental implants, you can have a complete and aesthetic smile restored! A dental implants dentist is trained and experienced in replacing both your tooth and tooth root with a dental implant, for a long-lasting smile. A dental implant consists of a small titanium rod placed in the gums, with a dental crown, bridge, or dentures attached above. Your dental implants dentist will tell you that dental implants are among the most successful and effective tooth restoration option available.

To learn more about tooth loss and the dental implants replacement option, contact a dental implants dentist near you by using our Crown Council dentist locator.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Sedation

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What is dental sedation?

A sedation dentist most commonly administers dental sedation to patients in the form of a pill or IV prior to their appointment. This sedation medication works as a sedative and anxiety medication to help you feel calm and relaxed during your procedure.

Does dental sedation make you fall asleep?

Although some people use the term ‘sleep dentistry’ interchangeably with sedation dentistry, the dental sedation that your sedation dentist prescribes does not actually make you fall asleep. Oral conscious sedation usually makes you feel groggy and very relaxed, but you can remain conscious throughout the procedure. Many patients choose to sleep peacefully throughout their visit.

Is sedation dentistry safe?

Unlike some forms of general anesthesia and deep sedation that can render a patient unconscious for a period of time, oral conscious sedation allow you to remain conscious. You continue to have control over your protective reflexes and breathing capacity to ensure greater safety, and you can still communicate verbally with your sedation dentist if needed.

What are the side effects of dental sedation?

Many patients like that dental sedation creates a temporary amnesia effect, so that you won’t remember hardly anything about your dental visit. Reduced post-operative soreness is another positive side effect of dental sedation.

To find out more about the benefits of dental sedation, use the Crown Council dentist locator on this page to find a sedation dentist near you.

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