Options to Improve Your Smile

Your smile plays an important role on self-esteem, confidence, and how you think others perceive you.  Your smile may affect your career success and social relationships with others. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), 74% of people find that an unattractive smile can get in the way of their career success.  Most people think that attractive smile is an important social asset.   These are some of the options to improve your smile:

Teeth Whitening

There are two types of stains that cause teeth discoloration; intrinsic and extrinsic stains.  Intrinsic stains can be from a mother’s use of antibiotics during pregnancy or childhood exposure to fluoride.  Extrinsic stains are the result of smoking, some medications, beverages (coffee, tea and soda), foods and fruits (blueberries), aging and other factors.

·       In-office Teeth Whitening (chairside) is performed in the dental office for about 60-90 minutes.  Prior to the procedure, an informed consent discussion form is reviewed and signed.  The discussion includes patient’s diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks and treatment.  Most patients are happy and satisfied with the result. Their teeth are whiter and they smile with greater self-confidence!

·       Take-Home Whitening-the dentist takes impressions and fabricates custom fitted bleaching trays for the upper and lower teeth.  The patients are instructed to load the whitening gel into the custom fitted bleaching trays and fit over the upper and lower teeth.  Whitening at home may be more convenient but it can take two to four weeks or longer to whiten teeth or get the result you want.

·       Over-the-Counter Tooth Whitening products can be purchased at the drug stores and on-line.  The American Dental Association (ADA) cautions patients to use accepted whitening products under professional supervision for safety.  Some examples are the whitening strips, brush-on whitening and whitening gum.

*Consult with your Glendora Cosmetic Dentists to determine the type of stain you have and decide which whitening option treatment would work best for you.

Composite Filling/Tooth Colored Filling

Composite filling is a tooth colored material used to close the gaps between teeth; repairs little chips and restores teeth with tooth decay.

·       Esthetics, shades of composite filling material match very closely to the shades of the enamel and dentin

·       Close spaces/gaps between teeth, restore chipped, broken, stained or cracked teeth

·       Minimal tooth structure reduction

·       Inexpensive

·       Single visit procedure

Veneers

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit over the front surface of teeth.  Veneers provide a natural tooth appearance and they can restore chipped, stained, misaligned and worn down teeth.  There are 2 types of veneers; composite resin veneer and porcelain veneer.

Composite resin veneer

·       Resin material that is bonded over the front surface of the tooth

·       Treatment can be completed on the same day

·       No lab work is required

·       Correct small chips, cracks and discoloration of the tooth

·       Not stain resistant

Porcelain veneer

·       Thin layer of porcelain bonded over the front surface of the tooth

·       Requires minimal tooth reduction

·       Treat teeth with intrinsic staining

·       Provide a natural tooth appearance

·       Gum tissues tolerate porcelain well

·       Change tooth’s color and shape

·       Stain resistant

*Consult with your Glendora Cosmetic Dentists to learn about your treatment options.

Ceramic Crowns

Ceramic crowns are fabricated entirely out of a glass-like compound such as porcelain.

·       Esthetic; color and translucency mimic natural tooth; life-like appearance

·       Restore anterior (front) and posterior teeth (back molars)

·       Biocompatible; no allergy problem; teeth tolerate well

There are 2 ceramic materials that are the clinician’s favorites today: Lithium Disilicate and Zirconia. Lithium Disilicate restorations are good choices for single unit restorations, both anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth.  Zirconia restorations are good choices for single unit restorations for the posterior (back) teeth.

Enamel shaping and Contouring

Enamel shaping or contouring involves with contouring the dental enamel to improve the appearance of the teeth.  This procedure is best for patients who just need minimal adjustments of the teeth.

·       Cost, an inexpensive way to improve the look of the teeth

·       Painless, no anesthesia, no discomfort during the procedure

·       Improves health of teeth, minimal shaping/contouring of overlapped teeth may decrease the risk of tooth decay and gum disease

·       Chipped and irregular teeth

·       Minor bite problems

Braces

People of all ages are benefiting from braces.  Braces can straighten crooked/crowded teeth, close spaces/gaps, improve an irregular bite, and correct jaw positioning. 

·       Clear aligners are worn every two weeks to progressively move and straighten crooked or crowded teeth

·       Aligners can be removed while eating, brushing and flossing

Implants

One of the options to replace missing teeth is Dental Implants and restored with Implant Supported Crown. A dental implant feels and looks very close to a natural tooth.  It is a metal post surgically placed beneath the gum which fuses to the bone in the jaw and acts like the root of a tooth.  The dentist makes a custom artificial tooth (Implant Supported Crown) and fits it onto the post portion of the implant.

·       Implant Supported Crown is firmed attached to the implant

·       Esthetic, similar to a natural tooth, comfortable

·       Adjacent teeth do not have to be involved

·       With proper care, implant and implant crown can last for a long time

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  If you are not quite happy with your smile, call for a FREE consultation to discuss the different options to improve your smile. Please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call 626-335-5114.

Bright, White Smiles with Veneers

                                    

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit over the front surface of teeth.  Veneers provide a natural tooth appearance and they can restore chipped, stained, misaligned and worn down teeth.  

Types of veneers

·       Composite resin veneer is a resin material that is bonded over the front surface of the tooth to improve its appearance.  The treatment of composite veneer can be completed in a same day dental visit and no laboratory work is required.  Composite veneer can restore and correct small chips, cracks and discoloration of the tooth.  However, the resin material may not be as durable as porcelain and it is not stain resistant.

·       Porcelain veneer is a thin layer of porcelain bonded over the front surface of the tooth.  It usually requires a minimal amount of tooth (enamel) reduction.  Porcelain veneer is strong and resilient once placed, and highly stain resistant.

What to expect during a veneer procedure

·       Dentist removes a small amount of the tooth surface to allow placement of the veneer

·       An impression is taken of the prepared tooth and it is sent to the lab

·       Laboratory fabricates the veneer to fit the tooth

·       The veneer is bonded to the tooth with resin cement

Can you whiten veneers?

·       Both composite resin and porcelain veneers do not respond to whitening.

·       Talk to your dentist before you whiten your teeth.

·       It is recommended to whiten the teeth prior to having restorative treatment.  The whitened teeth match the shade/color of the restorations (veneers)

How to care for veneers

·       Avoid chewing on hard foods or non-food items (pens, biting nails)

·       Limit food and drinks that stain teeth (coffee, tea, curry, pasta sauce, berries and others)

·       Regular dental checkups, at least 2x/year

·       Brush 2x/day and floss daily

·       Teeth grinding can cause chipping and damages to veneers.  Talk to your dentist, you may need to wear a protective occlusal or bite guard to protect the veneers

 Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

·       Porcelain and composite resin veneers provide a natural tooth appearance

·       Porcelain veneer is stain resistant

·       Restore teeth that are chipped, cracked, discolored, or misaligned

·       Change the color and shape of teeth

·       Minimal tooth (enamel) reduction

·       Composite resin veneer-reversible

·       Composite resin veneer-treatment can be completed in one office visit

Disadvantages

·       Porcelain veneers-irreversible

·       Porcelain veneers-patients wait 1-2 weeks (laboratory time) before they can be bonded onto the teeth

·       Some people experience an increase in tooth sensitivity after getting veneers. Sensitive to hot or cold temperatures for the first few days after the treatment, but it usually goes away

·       Porcelain veneers are usually not repairable if they chip or crack

Longevity of veneers & cost of veneers

·       Porcelain veneer can cost between $925-$2500 per tooth.  According to a 2013 survey of members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the average cost of a single veneer was $1253.54.

·       Porcelain veneer can last from 10 to 15 years

·       Composite resin veneer can cost half of a porcelain veneer

·       Composite resin veneer can last from 5-7 years

Veneer cost Factors

·       The fees of the dentist performing the procedure

·       The artistic and technical skill of the dental laboratory technician

·       The location-where dental veneer is fabricated (region of the country, metropolitan areas versus small towns)

·       Types of dental insurance (most dental insurance companies do not cover veneers)

Dr. Anna Lee is a cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  If you have any questions about porcelain and composite resin veneers, please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call for a FREE consultation at 626-335-5114.

Gentle cleaning

The first visit to the dentist may include a variety of items depending on the health of their smile. Once your child is in the chair, Dr. Lee and her team will communicate with you the needs for the visit. This may include x-rays, an oral exam and if there are any cavities she will discuss a plan with you. If your child’s teeth have plaque or build up on them:

The visit may include:

·       the dentist or hygienist may also clean your child’s teeth; remove any plaque or stains and follow with a polish

·       fluoride treatment if needed

Once this is done, Dr. Lee or her team will follow up with you and determine what is needed next. If your child’s teeth are pretty healthy this may include scheduling the next routine cleaning. For more information on your child’s first visit, contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team.

Children’s First Dental Visit

      

Dr. Anna Lee and her team want to ensure that your children have the best visit possible. In order to ensure that she provides a great first experience.

Your child’s first dental visit should be special and memorable and it can even be fun.  One happy dental visit can lead to another happy visit. And a number of good dental experience may encourage your child to come back and continue a lifetime of good oral care and habits.

The purpose of the first dental visit is to learn about your child’s oral health and how to best care for the child’s unique needs before any problems occur. Many dental problems can be prevented or treated in the early stages.

For more information on your children’s first dental visit contact Dr.Lee and her team.