Dental veneers (also known as porcelain veneers or dental laminates) are among the most recent developments in cosmetic dentistry. Veneers are very thin shells made from porcelain or resin-based composite materials. They are placed on the front surface of a tooth in order to improve color and shape of the tooth, as well as make the teeth look healthier and more natural. Dental veneers is a perfect solution for those who have worn tooth enamel, irremovable stains or cracks, crooked teeth, spacing or uneven alignment of the teeth, etc.

This cosmetic procedure is quite popular and demanded nowadays. Porcelain veneers are considered to be stronger and more natural than the veneers made of resin composite materials. Also, porcelain veneers have better resistance to discoloring and staining. It is also important that our gums can tolerate porcelain material quite well. If a good care is taken, they can last up to 10 years, in contrast to composite veneers which usually last 1-2 years. Maintaining dental veneers includes practicing a proper dental care, avoiding grinding and clenching, avoiding applying extra force on the teeth, avoiding drinking too much tea coffee or eating stain-causing foods, etc.

Veneers work in the similar way to false fingernails, and the procedure of veneer bonding is quick and absolutely painless. After an initial consultation with your dental specialist, on your first appointment your dentist will make certain preparations for the procedure using a local anesthetic. The preparations include reshaping and removing very thin layers of dental enamel from the surface of your teeth. Then, dentist will make models of your teeth and send them to the dental lab in order to create and design you veneers. For 1-2 weeks you will be offered to use temporary veneers. When your veneers are ready, on the second visit your dentist will check out the shape and fit of the veneers, and then cement them to your teeth.

In modern cosmetic dentistry, porcelaine veneers are the ultimate way to create a bright beautiful smile which will work almost for everyone. It is a good, effective and relatively unexpensive alternative to other cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening, bonding or dental crowns. In addition, the veneers can serve for protection of the surface of the cracked or damaged teeth. Dental veneers are a safe and reliable dental cosmetic procedure for those, who dream about a new charming smile and new opportunities in the life.

Tags: advantages of dental veneers, dental laminates, dental veneers, porcelain veneers, veneers

Posted: April 8th, 2009 under Cosmetic Dentistry.
Comments: 2

There is no doubt that a shining and sincere smile can make you face look very beautiful without any make-up or cosmetic procedures. However, not every one of us is endowed with proportional, shiny and white teeth, and many people wish to improve aesthetic look of their smiles. Nowadays, cosmetic dentistry is a rapidly developing field of dental medicine. Only a decade ago, we could only dream of aesthetic dental services that would make our teeth look sensational. But now, a great deal of effective dental cosmetic procedures became a daily routine of modern dental professionals. Every day the specialists of cosmetic dentistry provide thousands of people with tooth reshaping, dental bonding, teeth whitening, and other numerous restorative benefits.

Good optical properties of the tissues of healthy teeth, including color of the enamel, richness of the color, opalescence and shining, are the main ingredients of aesthetic appearance of your teeth. But different dental problems and defects can result in denaturalization and loss of these good properties. Also, such factors as problems with digestive system or blood vessels, medication overdoses, etc., can seriously affect a person’s teeth and aesthetic appearance.

Modern dentistry possesses a series of effective methods allowing to achieve significant aesthetic effects even in the most difficult situations! People with huge gaps between their teeth or people with old and damaged dental fillings can have a cosmetic procedure which will result in putting their teeth in almost ideal shape. Besides, new effective methods of teeth whitening can make your teeth as white as snow. Now, a Hollywood smile is available for everyone!

Presently, cosmetic dentistry includes a wide range of procedures:

• Dental Fillings. This is one of the oldest procedures of cosmetic dentistry, which has already become a common practice for every dental clinic or cabinet. It means filling the cavities of decayed teeth with composite resin materials (like porcelain or special chemical compositions) that have the appearance similar to the one of tooth.
• Teeth Whitening. This is the procedure of removing various stains, shades and unnatural pigmentation from your teeth by bleaching. Teeth whitening is one of the simplest and most effective cosmetic dentistry procedures that is currently having a great demand.
• Dental Bonding. The procedure of repairing or restoring the shape of your teeth with the help of dental composite materials. The people who have decaying, cracked or broken teeth, as well as the people with small gaps between their teeth may want to have this procedure.
• Dental Veneers. This procedure involves placing porcelain or plastic laminates on the front surface of your teeth in order to change shape or color of your teeth. This procedure can be demanded by people with broken or damaged teeth, and also by those who failed to get good results after teeth whitening.
• Dental Contouring and Reshaping. This is a more complicated treatment which helps to improve the shape of your teeth. In the majority of cases, it includes scanning and evaluation of your teeth, modeling better designs for your teeth followed by sculpturing and reshaping. People with various dental imperfections can use this method of cosmetic dentistry.
• Gum Lift. This is a procedure of raising and reshaping your gum lines in order to make your teeth look longer, more proportional and symmetrical.
• Dental Implants. This method means placing artificial titanium tooth roots followed by placing false tooth as a compensation for your missing tooth. This procedure is connected with several risks, but modern dental technologies have already put these risks to minimum.
• Dental Bridges. This is another method to replace missing teeth, but in this case the false teeth are held between two healthy teeth with the help of special porcelain crowns.
• Dental Crowns. This method means covering the surface of your teeth with special porcelain, ceramic or metallic crowns. This is a very effective and popular method for people with broken, cracked or worn teeth, and also for the people whose teeth are healthy but have a lack of stability or white color.
• Dentures. Dentures are removable substitutes for missing teeth. Placing dentures is an essential procedure for the people who lost some of their teeth. There are partial and complete dentures.

Cosmetic dentistry can bring back good health and natural beauty of your teeth. Choose to have one of these procedures and you’ll certainly see that visiting your dentist may not be always connected with anticipation of painful and unpleasant treatment. This time you will leave the clinic with the desire to enjoy those miraculous changes you are going to experience after your aesthetic cosmetic procedure.

Tags: cosmetic dentistry, dental bridges, dental care, dental implants, dental veneers, teeth bonding, teeth whitening

Posted: June 20th, 2008 under Cosmetic Dentistry.
Comments: 1

In our modern society, pearly white teeth are considered to be the main factor that defines attractiveness of a smile. That is why nowadays, teeth whitening is a very popular dental treatment that is demanded by thousands of people around the world. Whitening is a dental procedure that means bleaching your teeth with the help of some natural materials or chemicals. Our teeth are permanently under effect of various colorants containing in our foods, drinks, medicines, tobacco or cosmetics. The other factors that can affect the color of our teeth include age, traumas and accidents, smoking, our eating habits, genetic factors, having certain antibiotics, and so on. Fortunately, modern whitening techniques are very effective for bringing back beautiful natural white color of your teeth and making your smile enchanting and captivating.

There are several methods of teeth whitening, which can generally be classified as the methods of clinical teeth whitening (the procedures that must be implemented by dental professionals in their cabinets or clinics) and at-home methods of teeth whitening (using whitening toothpastes, whitening gels or strips, special whitening kits, etc.). The results of such procedures are strictly individual: some people can have noticeable improvements of the color of their teeth, but some people can be left unsatisfied with the outcomes of the procedures. Anyway, average results of teeth whitening can be represented as the following:

A number of teeth whitening procedures can be done at home. The easiest, cheapest and most popular technique is using whitening toothpaste, which contains abrasive and polishing chemical elements. Also, it is possible to use special peroxide-based whitening stripes or gels, which are available in every drugstore or pharmacy. Such products must be applied regularly to your teeth for about a two-week period of time, but the first results can be noticed within the four or five days after the beginning of the treatment. In-office bleaching is one of the most popular clinical whitening procedures. It involves applying a special whitening gel with further treatment of your teeth with laser, heat or light that stimulate activity of the gel. The results of this procedure usually can be seen in 30-60 minutes.

Teeth whitening is quite a common procedure, which, however, is connected with several risks. The most significant risk is increased sensitivity of teeth after whitening sessions, because bleaching or treatment with abrasive chemicals slightly damages the enamel. The other risks associated with whitening include irritation of soft tissues in the mouth that usually lasts up to three days, and possible problems with tooth restorations as they do not change color after teeth enamel whitening procedures. That is why people with gum diseases, problematic enamel, sensitive teeth and other dental problems, people with very dark or damaged teeth, as well as children, old people, pregnant and nursing women must choose to avoid teeth whitening.

Nevertheless, if you are determined and really want to try one of those miraculous aesthetic procedures, consult your dental specialist about the most effective whitening methods that will not be harmful for your teeth. Also, ask for independent opinions of the people who may have already tried one or another teeth whitening methods. Finally, be very careful when using special teeth whitening toothpastes, gels and other whitening agents for at-home whitening. Never forget that safe and effective teeth whitening requires professional equipment and control of an experienced dental specialist.

Tags: dental care, teeth whitening, teeth whitening procedures, teeth whitening risks

Posted: June 18th, 2008 under Cosmetic Dentistry.
Comments: none