It’s no secret that some cosmetic dentistry procedures can be costly. But Cosmetic Dentists offer a type of porcelain veneer that requires little to no tooth preparation and costs less than a comparable brand.

This technique is similar to Lumineers. This is a very strong veneer. The cosmetics dentists can change a lot of people’s smiles without doing a great deal of reduction of the tooth. There are cases in which mild tooth preparation is required to prevent the veneers from appearing bulky.

The cosmetic dentists are using Vivaneers to provide a permanent solution for discolored, cracked, chipped or broken teeth. Vivaneers covers all of those imperfections and leaves patients with straight, white teeth. These porcelain veneers are made from a strong ceramic ingot known as Prismatik ThinPress. This is capable of creating veneers that are just 0.3 millimeters in thickness, enabling the veneers to be placed onto the teeth with little- and often no- reduction of tooth structure.

Vivaneers also provide translucent shading for shade flexibility as the cosmetic dentist works with them, or opaque shading, which is used to cover dark underlying tooth shades. These super-strong veneers are durable enough to be used for bonded full crowns as well.

They introduced Vivaneers into his practice about a year ago. The dentists like the results achieved from using them on more than several patients. Most candidates for porcelain veneers can be treated using Vivaneers, adding that the most of cosmetic dentist tend to offer the Vivaneers option to patients who want very little preparation and tooth reduction, or those who fear pain.

Since this procedure is far less invasive than traditional porcelain veneers, pain is less of a factor. Vivaneers are particularly popular during these tough economic times, where more Americans are seeking ways to save money on everyday expenses in addition to luxury items. Vivaneers cost a bit less than Lumineers, so they can pass along the savings to the patient.

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Mention "TMJ" to people, and almost to a person everyone either knows someone who has this disorder, or they have it themselves. Despite the millions of people who suffer from TMJD (Temporo Mandibular Jaw Disorder) there is mostly just educated speculation as to the possible causes of this disorder. Even less is certain about its cure.

The temporo mandibular joints are small ball-and-socket hinge like structures on each side of your head that essentially connect your lower jaw to your skull. The lower jaw has rounded ends (condyles) that smoothly move in and out of this socket when one eats, speaks, yawns, etc. The surfaces of these bones are covered with cartilage, so bone is not grinding on bone, and the surfaces are also separated by a small disk which acts as a shock absorber. Sixty-eight pairs of muscles in your face and jaw area work to help stabilize this joint so that it moves smoothly to ensure speaking, swallowing, chewing, breathing, and even keeping your head on your shoulders! For the person with TMJD, however, any or all of these movements can become extremely painful as the condyles become dislocated or the cartilage excessively worn or overly stretched.

Researches now divide the disorders of the temporomandibular joint into three categories: one is myofascial pain, and it is the most common. This pain is characterized by discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function and the neck and shoulder muscles. Then there is of the internal derangement of the joint, which means the jaw is dislocated, the disc is displaced, or the condyle is injured. The last category is degenerative joint disease, such as arthritis in the jaw joint. (See reference below.)

This much science knows, but the certainty seems to stop here. The causes of TMJD seem to be as variable as the people who have it. Actual numbers of people experiencing TMJ disorders fluctuate widely, ranging from five to fifteen percent of the population of the United States to more than thirty-five percent of people. Women are more likely to develop this condition than men … and no, excessive talking is not to blame, although talking can cause pain if one has this disorder!

Amazingly, many suffering from a TMJ ailment seem to know the exact cause of his / her disorder. Some develop this condition due to facial or head injuries because of blows to the head, jaw or face, or from whiplash A great many sufferers indicate that they developed TMJ pain after prolonged dental procedures. Could it be your bite? Maybe your spine is misaligned. Do you need orthotics in your shoes? Perhaps there is a genetic connection. NIDCR is conducting a study to identify biological or genetic factors that may contribute to this disorder. Another recent study suggests there is a link to serotonin levels. While it would seem very reasonable to blame grinding and clenching of teeth for TMJD, ironically many people who grind and clench never experience TMJ pain. Arthritis can certainly be a cause, as can simply having tight jaw muscles due to stress.

Overuse of the jaw is another possible cause. Excessive gum chewing, nail biting and gnawing on items like plastic straws can overtax the muscles of this joint.

You may be experiencing TMJ problems if your jaw clicks, pops, catches, or locks when you open your mouth, Frequent headaches, neck-aches and ear pain and ear infections are other indicators of TMJ joint disorder. When TMJ affects the ear, one may then experience dizziness, lightheadedness, ringing in the ears, and a fullness or pressure on the ear drum. (Perhaps you don't need those antihistamines after all.)

Pain from the jaw can also radiate down your shoulders into your arms. Your teeth may not line up when you close your mouth, and you may not be able to open your mouth fully. In fact, the old song about the leg bone being connected to the hip bone, being connected to the back bone is an entirely appropriate analogy of TMJ pain. You may experience aches and pains throughout your body as your jaw struggles to align itself.

Fortunately, most people suffering from TMJ disorder will recover without medical intervention. Others will recover but will continue to have periodic bouts of the condition. Sadly, there are those for whom the pain of this disorder will become an indelible black mark on the fabric of their lives. Those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint may not experience total recovery either. Whether your case of TMJD is fleeting or permanent, experts agree that one of the most important things you can do is to ease the stress on the jaw joint, and this can be done through dietary changes. This does not mean one must subsist on oatmeal, soup, or pureed foods for six months to a year, and that is how long (or longer) it may take for your jaw to fully recover. It does mean, however, that a diet that is easy to chew will be most helpful for your condition.

Other possible courses of action for improvement involve physical therapy, chiropractic work, applying heat or ice packs, massage therapy, hypnotism, and avoiding extreme jaw movements (such as wide yawning, singing, gum chewing, screaming, etc.) Learning stress reduction techniques It is another possible course of action, as well as short-term use of pain relievers. Mouth guards are widely prescribed by many dentists, but one must remember that mouth guards are not a cure for TMJ disorder. Mouth guards will help prevent damage to one's teeth if one is grinding and clenching excessively, especially at night. Mouth guards, however, do not address the fundamental issue of WHY one is clenching and grinding. For some people, wearing a foreign object in one's mouth can cause an increase in clenching and grinding and resulting pain.

Be cautious with this disorder. More medical treatment is not necessarily better. Some dental experts urge that TMJD treatment be conservative and reversible. "Conservative treatments do not invade the tissues of the face, jaw or joint. Reversible treatments do not cause permanent, or irreversible, changes in the structure or position of the jaw or teeth." (ibid). Always seek a second opinion if you are advised to have orthodontics to change the bite, or crowns, bridge work or grinding the teeth down to balance the bite. "Scientists have learned that certain irreversible treatments, such as surgical replacement of jaw joints with artificial implants, may cause severe pain and permanent jaw damage. Some of these devices may fail to function properly or may break apart in the jaw over time." (ibid).

TMJ disorder can be an extremely painful condition that can affect every moment of your life, not just when you're eating. Sleep can be disturbed, work can be compromised, activities are affected (whether they be sports, exercise, singing, or playing wind instruments) participation in group outings can be affected, and your dental health as well as your overall health and well being can suffer.

Remember the old expression, "patience is a virtue, possess it if you can …" Most of us are sadly lacking in this virtue and want a quick fix, but patience, time, a softer diet, and stress management will go a long way in easing the pain of this disorder for the majority of people who suffer from it.

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Seemingly strong and white teeth may actually not be as healthy, as they appear to be. Many dentists explain that there are a number of dental problems that develop inside the oral cavity without patients' even noticing them, till they start to trigger pain. Hence, indicating that the problem has progressed to the next stage.

Dental Infections
Dental infections are almost always overlooked by patients' and even by some dentists. Mainly because their diagnosis can only be conducted through highly sensitive equipment and they cannot be treated through regular antibiotics. Patients have to be treated very carefully so that the bacteria present in the mouth are completely expelled and their re-occurrence is prevented.

Why do Infections happen?
Infections are primarily caused by the growth of bacteria in the mouth. But there are particular sites that are more prone to be attacked by bacteria that people should focus on keeping clean. These include – teeth with small cracks, or the minor gaps between teeth, old root canal filled teeth, teeth with old fillings and those with cavities.

These are the areas where bacteria will find a space to reside in; feeding on the carbohydrates that you intake and in return releasing toxic substances that silently damage and eat away a tooth's structure.

Why is this a serious problemem?
Dental infections are a serious problem because the bacteria present in the mouth can trigger many other problems as well; harming the health of the whole body.

In theory, the bacterium that causes infections in the mouth can easily be given a chance to grow, owing to a lack of dental hygiene and their consumption on the food particles that we consume. Now these bacteria will not only damage the teeth, but can also gain access to the bloodstream in the mouth and hence spread all across the body.

Once in the bloodstream they can reach different parts of the body and cause different diseases and illnesses to varying degrees like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, heart problems, infections and respiratory problems.

Symptoms to Lookout For
In case that you are worried about contracting a dental infection in the future, or already believe to have caught one. Then lookout for these symptoms that could confirm the possibility:

• Tooth ache
• Swelling
• Increased Sensitivity
• Fatigue

But the problem with dental infections is that they are easily overlooked because they pose very minimal and sometimes no symptoms at all, so can easily lie hidden in the mouth. So, the best way you can prevent their occurrence is by visiting your dentist every 6 months and following dental health-care measures regularly.

What are the Basic Dental Health-Care Measures?
Dental health care means to lookout after your teeth properly throughout the day to prevent cavities, tooth decay, infections, gum diseases and other serious illnesses from occurring. And this is relatively easy, just some simple measures that you need to incorporate into your daily lifestyle:

Step 1: Brush at least twice a day
Step 2: Use dental floss
Step 3: Use an anti-bacterial mouth-wash
Step 4: Watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake, especially at night because this is what bacteria feeds on
Step 5: Visit your dentist regularly!

These simple 5 steps will assure that your mouth is safe against all types of bacteria and infections.

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Dentists who concentrate on surgery are often referred to as dental surgeons. Not all of those who graduate from dentistry can perform the kinds of operations that are done on the jawbone. Special training and education is necessary for this.

Types of Dental Surgery

There are several types of operations that are commonly performed on the oral cavity. Orthodontics is one of the most common and may not necessarily require surgery that is extensive. Bear in mind that an operation can be as small as just making an incision on the gums to get to the root of the tooth. Dentists who specialize in orthodontics may actually be more focused on treating crooked teeth, placing implants on the oral cavity, improving the jawbone or the bone structure under the teeth and extracting teeth that need to be taken out due to damage.

The application of dental prosthetics is also another field under surgical dentistry. The use of veneers, implants, crowns, bridges and more fall under this category. Veneers are used to cover imperfect tops of teeth. These are highly similar to crowns except they are usually used for front teeth. Implants are used to allow the placement of an artificial tooth on the implanted titanium stud. As mentioned above, even the slightest incision for opening the gums is called an operation. Incisions are often done for those who wish to have crowns or implants placed.

Endodontic procedures have something to do with a root canal and the pulp of the tooth. A root canal is an operation in which the tooth is permanently disabled. This is done to prevent any more pain from occurring in a particularly bad tooth. Pulpotomy and pulpectomy are two operations focused on the pulp of a tooth as precursors to a root canal operation. Pulpotomy is often done to a tooth when it is infected and dentists need to drain it out. This is usually done to the tooth before a root canal or when the infection is so severe that anti-inflammatory medication does not work anymore. Pulpectomy is highly similar to pulpotomy except that this is done to relieve the pain by removing the pulp in the tooth itself.

Periodontics is a field of dentistry in which the gums and bone are the main concern of the dental health professional. These are important since the teeth are anchored and situated in both areas. Many oral health professionals are aware of this field and may be well versed in it.

The use of an anesthetic is often employed during any form of surgery in the oral cavity. This can be applied by the dentist himself since he may have a license to do so without the need for an anesthesiologist. A needle is used to anesthetize the area when needed. This is especially helpful when a root canal is underway as well as implanting. X-rays are often the responsibility of surgical dentists since not all dentists need this. In most cases, x-rays are necessary to see the extent of the damage and if the filling may have been undermined.

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The market is flooded with many teeth whitening products and whitening systems that claim to give satisfactory and long lasting results. One of the most popular and successful treatment, which has reached new heights is Zoom Teeth Whitening treatment. It is an in-chair treatment performed by a professional and experienced dentist.

This Zoom treatment is one of the quickest and effective ways of achieving whiter teeth. However, when it comes to dental treatments, many of us chicken out. This article will clear many myths, which are very commonly spread, about Zoom teeth whitening treatment:

1. When one hears about a dental treatment, the first thing that pops up in our mind is the pain! But with the advent of newer and safer technologies in medical science field, the process of teeth whitening has become absolutely pain free! Yes, you heard it right!
2. This treatment uses a laser beam that is an ultra violet beam. The mere sound of the word Ultra violet rays makes many of us back out. However, the newer and advanced Zoom3 technology has made this treatment absolutely side effect free! In this, the teeth are exposed to chemicals and even UV rays for a very short span of time. Thus making it a safer treatment. It does not have any side effects and the only effect is that the teeth look whiter than before!
3. One of the most important features of this treatment is that you won't have to wait for days or weeks to see the final results. This treatment shows you result in a matter of minutes! You just require 45 minutes. Moreover, with the newer and faster Zoom3 technology, it takes lesser than 45 minutes! With this treatment one can get their teeth whitened even in on urgent basis for a special occasion, like your wedding!
4. This treatment is a very comfortable and hassle free method of getting one's teeth whitened. All you have to do is sit on a chair for few minutes and relax, while the dentist does his job.
5. The whitening is immediate and it lasts for a long time that is more than six months. You even get a take-home maintenance gel with three years guarantee

With all the above mentioned benefits and all the myths busted, one can easily go in for a smile makeover with Zoom treatment. One more advantage is that the consultation session is free of charge! So what are you waiting for, go and get that bright picture perfect smile now!

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