I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
Teeth that are stained, discolored, or misshapen can negatively affect your confidence in both personal and professional interactions. Fortunately, the services of a dental professional, such as David Jackson, DDS, mean that you do not have to live with these problems forever. Here are four ways that cosmetic dentists can give you a healthier and more natural-looking smile.
Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening is almost always the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions cosmetic dentistry. However, not everyone is familiar with all the techniques that cosmetic dentists have at their disposal to whiten teeth. In addition to the standard scraping and fluoride rinse that your family dentist will perform, cosmetic dentists can whiten your teeth using veneers and whitening fillings.
Veneers are thin laminates usually made from dental porcelain that are applied to the outside of your teeth. After a veneer has been applied, your teeth will appear perfectly white and will be protected from future staining as long as you maintain good dental hygiene.
Whitening fillings are usually used on teeth that are experiencing significant internal decay, as the stains rise up from the inside of the tooth. Whitening gel is placed inside of the tooth after a root canal is performed, and then the tooth is covered with a temporary filling. The temporary filling will be replaced with a permanent filling after one to two weeks.
Replacing missing teeth
Whether you have lost teeth from gum recession, a sports injury, or other means, there are several different options that prosthodontists can use to replace your teeth. Full or partial dentures are the most common method currently in use and do an adequate job at replacing a large number of teeth.
There are some situations where dentures may not be the best solution for replacing teeth. If you want a more permanent and natural-looking solution or you are only missing a few teeth, dental implants may be a better option. Dental implants consist of a titanium screw that is implanted into the jawbone, a piece of metal called an abutment that sticks out of the dental socket, and a porcelain crown to replace your missing tooth. The titanium screw fuses with the jawbone through a process known as osseointegration to create a permanent tooth replacement solution.
Dental Sculpting
Even if you are not missing any teeth and they are not discolored, you may be unhappy with the shape of your teeth. If they grow in at the wrong angle, they can become crowded, making it difficult to clench your teeth properly and possibly cause abrasions and sores on the insides of your cheeks and lips.
Cosmetic dentists do not always have to remove teeth to replace this problem. Often, altering the shape of the teeth is enough to realign them so that they are not causing any pain or discomfort. Dentists will use files to shorten the length of your dental enamel by a few millimeters, or add a composite paste that hardens to replace chipped sections of your teeth.
Bite reclamation
Bite reclamation is a specialty procedure that your dentist will need to perform when your teeth do not clench together properly when your mouth is closed. Bite reclamation is similar in many ways to dental sculpting, as material is often added to or filed away from your teeth.
The primary difference between dental sculpting and bite reclamation is that sculpting is usually performed for purely cosmetic purposes, while bite reclamation is meant to repair a serious problem with the alignment of the mouth. Additionally, severe cases may require more advanced procedures, such as jawbone surgery, to be performed by an oral surgeon during the reclamation process.
Recent advances in cosmetic dentistry have made it so that virtually anyone can have a perfect smile. Contact a local cosmetic dentist if you are unsatisfied with the coloration or shape of your teeth to find out what options they have available for you.
Share26 September 2016
