Dental veneers are a relatively new advance in modern cosmetic dentistry. Before dental veneers, cosmetic dentists used dental crowns to alter the shape and color of a tooth. Dental crowns could be used to re-shape the tooth to fill a space, lengthen a tooth or even correct minor orthodontic issues. The disadvantage of a crown is that much of the tooth’s natural structure is lost to make room for the crown.

The advent of the dental veneer brought several advantages to cosmetic dental patients – the primary one being that veneers can be used cosmetically in much the same way as crowns, but without nearly as much loss of the natural tooth structure.

What are Veneers?

Dental veneers are very thin, custom crafted shells of tooth-colored materials which cover the front surface of teeth.

They can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and look more natural since they reflect light much as the enamel of natural teeth.

Resin veneers have the advantage of being thinner and therefore require even less removal of the tooth surface. It’s recommended that you discuss with your cosmetic dentist the best choice of veneer for you.

Advantages of dental veneers

They made of porcelain offer a host of advantages when compared to composite bonding or dental crowns.

While veneers still offer the same ability to change a tooth’s color and shape as dental crowns, veneers are considered a more conservative treatment.

Just as with porcelain dental crowns, the use of porcelain in the fabrication of the veneer makes it naturally stain resistant. Porcelain veneers look extremely natural and when used on an individual tooth, porcelain veneers are color matched with neighboring teeth to give them a blended and natural look.

What dental problems can veneers be used for?

Dental veneers are utilized by dentists to solve a variety of cosmetic issues. These include:

• Shaping of teeth: teeth can be lengthened or shortened to make the smile in proportion to your facial features

• Spaces between teeth: teeth can be widened to fill spaces between teeth

• Teeth staining: certain types of teeth staining, such as staining caused by tetracycline or other medications cannot be corrected through teeth whitening procedures; veneers can cover this type of staining

• Damaged teeth: this category includes chipped or broken teeth

• Crooked teeth: minor orthodontic corrections can be made using dental veneers

Are you a good candidate for dental veneers?

It’s important to consider the long-term effects of any cosmetic dental procedure. For example, the use of dental veneers is not reversible and although they can last a long time, as with any dental restoration, they will eventually need to be replaced.

Be sure to ask your dentist all of your questions about dental veneers and determine if you are a good candidate for the same.

The following are some additional facts about porcelain veneers that may help guide a more detailed discuss with your dentist.

• Color: If you plan on whitening your teeth, do this before getting veneers, then match the whitened shade of your natural teeth to the veneers. They cannot be whitened.

• Suitability: Your dentist will let you know if you’re not a good candidate for veneers. A couple of common reasons for this could include: unhealthy teeth with an inadequate amount of existing enamel on the tooth surface or for people who clench or grind their teeth.

• Durability: Veneers are very durable, but should they chip or crack, they are not repairable.

The dental veneer process

Having porcelain veneers typically requires three appointments at your dental clinic. The first appointment is a consultation to answer your questions and design a treatment plan based on your needs. Two additional appointments will be needed – one to prepare the teeth and the other to apply your new dental veneers.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Dental flippers are one type of removable partial dentures, or “removable partials.” All removable partials, including dental flippers, use standard acrylic denture teeth to replace missing natural teeth. The pink base or “plate” portion of a partial denture is an acrylic material identical to the base used in standard full dentures.

The Fabrication

The fabrication of dental flippers requires several steps. The dentist or dental technician first takes an impression of the patient’s mouth. A plaster cast is then poured using that impression. The plaster cast and a prescription specifying the appropriate tooth color are sent to a dental laboratory for the actual fabrication.

The laboratory’s technician selects the proper shape and number of acrylic teeth in a shade that most closely matches the specifications in the dental flipper prescription. An acrylic plate is then carefully molded to fit the patient’s palate (for an upper flipper) or to fit just inside the tongue side of the patient’s teeth (for a lower flipper).

Some dental flippers are secured in the patient’s mouth by the pink acrylic plate snapping between the teeth. For a slight additional cost, a dental flipper can be fabricated to be secured in the mouth using wires with small balls on the ends.

Uses for partial dentures

As mentioned earlier, dental flippers are relatively inexpensive dental appliances used to replace one or more missing teeth. Often, they are used on a temporary basis while the patient waits for a more permanent dental crown or bridge to be fabricated. They can also be used to aid the healing process after dental implants have been put into place.

Although a dental flipper is intended to be a temporary solution, some are designed so well that it is not unheard of for people to wear them for many years.

Dental Flippers Have Some Distinct Advantages

Dental flippers are far less expensive than fixed dental bridges, implants and other types of dental appliances. In fact, they are the least expensive way to replace a missing tooth. The difference in their cost means that dental flippers offer a distinct advantage to patients with tight budgets.

Several missing teeth can be replaced at the same time by using a single partial denture. A partial denture can therefore avoid or at least postpone the need for individual bridges or dental implants when several teeth are missing. In addition, a fixed dental bridge might not be appropriate if three or more teeth in a row are missing, or if the teeth on either side of the missing teeth are not healthy. These issues do not present any difficulty when a dental flipper is used.

Despite being considered a temporary solution, many people wear partial dentures for many years. If the patient uses good oral hygiene and the dental flipper is properly maintained, it can provide an outward appearance similar to that of a more expensive permanent dental appliance.

Partial dentures can also serve as “immediate” partial dentures. A flipper can be fabricated before unhealthy teeth are extracted, and then be inserted immediately after the extraction. In addition, if a patient is already wearing a flipper but an additional natural tooth must be extracted, an impression can be made with the flipper in place. The dental lab uses this impression (with the flipper embedded in it) to insert a false tooth in place of the bad one. This is a one-day procedure, enabling a patient to have a good replacement tooth the same day the offending tooth is extracted. Aside from the cost advantage, the fact that new teeth can easily be added to an existing plate is perhaps the biggest advantage of using a partial denture.

Disadvantages

Partial dentures may not be quite as aesthetically appealing as a permanent bridge because the clasping wires often used to secure them may not be completely concealed. Due to being removable, they are not as stable as bridges. They can also impair gum health if worn for extended periods, making good oral hygiene essential. Their irregular shapes also make them somewhat brittle and eating requires care or even removal to prevent breakage.

All in all, however, dental flippers are a viable and relatively inexpensive treatment option for people with missing teeth.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Chances are, you don’t have perfect, decay and disease-free teeth and gums. Most patients have at least one cavity and have had a bout or two with minor, reversible gum disease.

Maybe you’ve experienced bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity or lost teeth. If you went to the dentist, the dentist likely treated the condition to halt its progression or to eliminate the condition all together.

This treatment of a dental condition after it’s already begun is called restorative dentistry, which is often partially covered by dental insurance.

While preventative treatments are used to avoid a lot of pain, discomfort, embarrassment, excessive dental office trips, and forking over funds, sometimes things happen that are out of your control. Sometimes you don’t feel the pain and discomfort of a dental problem until it’s too late. Accidents and other things may also occur and necessitate some of these more serious measures.

You don’t have to feel embarrassed about it, though. Most of these procedures are very common, and chances are you’ve already experienced some of them yourself.

The goal of restorative dentistry is to protect and preserve the teeth. Here is a list of the most common procedures:

Fillings. This is a very common restorative dental procedure whereby the dentist will fill a hole in the outer surface of the tooth caused by plaque and tooth decay (cavities). The fillings can be gold, amalgam or composite resin. Resin fillings are the most expensive and least likely to be covered by insurance like amalgam fillings are. Amalgam fillings are most common because they are the least expensive.

Some patients (and dentists) prefer the composite resin fillings because of their appearance and their lack of mercury, which is in traditional amalgam fillings.

Crowns. This is simply a tooth-shaped and colored covering that is cemented over a tooth that is too badly damaged by decay. Crowns are also used on top of dental implants which replace missing teeth. They are often made offsite in a dental lab, resulting in the need for multiple dental office visits. Some dental offices, however, have the technology to make crowns onsite, giving patients new crowns in a single office visit.

Inlays and Onlays. These dental procedures are ideal for patients with chipped teeth or those whose teeth are too decayed for fillings, but not damaged enough for a crown.

Inlays are made of composite resin that is bonded to one cusp of the tooth (located on the chewing surface of the tooth). An onlay covers more than one cusp of the tooth and is sometimes called a partial crown.

Implants. Further, and possibly more serious, dental health issues can arise from missing teeth.

Implants are used to fill in these gaps and preserve the proper stability of a patient’s remaining teeth.

Implants are made of three components: the titanium rod (implant), the abutment and the crown. The titanium implant is surgically inserted into the patient’s jaw where the missing tooth formerly was. The abutment is then placed on top of the implant. Finally, a tooth-shaped crown is placed on top of the abutment.

Implants restore a patient’s smile as well as preserve the strength of the jawbone and proper alignment of surrounding teeth.

Dentures. Some patients, many of which who are older, have lost all or most of their teeth due to a life time of wear and tear. A toothless mouth not only takes away from one’s smile and self-confidence, it can hinder one’s ability to eat and speak.

Patients in these circumstances would be best treated with dentures.

There are two common types of dentures: full and partial.

Dentures have come a long way thanks to modern dental technology. Some dentists now offer patients permanent dentures, called all-on-four dentures that use dental implants to anchor the implants into place in the mouth.

While fillings, crowns, implants, inlays and onlays and dentures are the most common restorative dental procedures, there are other procedures your dentist may recommend to preserve your teeth and smile.

It is important to schedule regular visits with your dentist and have your teeth examined when there’s any kind of pain or discomfort.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

When you are not happy with your smile, it can affect your self confidence. You may be embarrassed to smile around others because you have a missing tooth. A dental implant might be the solution to your problem.

An implant is usually made of titanium and is used as an artificial tooth root. A dentist, periodontist or oral surgeon drills a hole into your jawbone and places the implant. Sedation or a local anesthesia is used for the procedure.

There will be some pain after your surgery, but an over-the-counter medication may be enough to reduce it. You will likely be instructed to eat only soft foods for the first week after you get an implant.

After three to six months, the implant becomes a permanent part of your jawbone. The dental professional will then attach an abutment to the implant. A crown is placed over the abutment.

A crown is an artificial tooth that matches the color of your natural teeth. It blends in so well with your own teeth that no one will know that it is not a real tooth. The process of placing the crown requires several visits to the dentist or periodontist and may take as long as two months.

In addition to improving the appearance of your smile, a crown helps you chew your food more easily. This means that you will be able to eat a wider variety of foods than you did when you had a missing tooth.

In order to get an implant, you must have a healthy jawbone that can support it. You should also be in good overall health to get an implant. If you have gum disease, heart disease, diabetes or other type of health problem, you may not be a good candidate for an implant. Your dentist can tell you if an implant is an option for you.

Your dentist may not recommend an implant if you smoke. Smoking has been shown to damage dental implants.

You must practice good dental hygiene when you get an implant. You have to floss and brush your teeth regularly, or your crown could become damaged and have to be removed.

If you are a healthy person and practice good oral hygiene, then your dental implant and crown can last a lifetime. With the help of an implant, you can fill in a gap caused by a missing tooth and get a smile that you will be proud to show.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO

Dentistry involves a variety of procedures carried out to maintain oral health and restore or replace damaged teeth. Some of these are:

• Tooth whitening to remove stains

• Bonding to take care of chipped or cracked teeth

• Enamel shaping to modify teeth

• Veneers to cover the front side of the teeth that are worn or stained

• Braces to correct crooked or crowded teeth

To carry out these treatments effectively, the dentist needs quality dental equipment and instruments. These are the tools that help to examine, adjust, restore and extract teeth and treat the area around them. Every dental clinic must maintain an essential inventory of dental supplies to ensure that the patient can be offered quality treatment. These can be:

• Anaesthetics and drugs

• Instruments like hand pieces, burs and abrasives, acrylic trimmers

• Impression materials, cements and liners

• Cleaning and infection control products

• Restoration materials

• Dental equipment related to surgery

• Disposable bibs and gloves

• Endodontics materials

Prosthetic dentistry deals with the restoration or replacement of teeth. As a specialist area it focuses on recreating teeth that are missing or severely damaged using precision dental equipment.

This involves procedures related to fixing the following:

• Fillings to treat cavities

• Crowns to cover teeth fully and restore their function

• Bridges to replace missing tooth or teeth

• Dentures that replace a missing tooth or a complete arch

• Implants to replace one or more missing teeth

Dentists usually try and prevent the loss of teeth by maintaining the oral structure to promote oral health. For example, if a crown is required, besides treating the damaged tooth, its appearance is also taken care of with a variety of non-metal options ranging from acrylic, composite, ceramic and porcelain.

The most common materials for dental crowns used to be porcelain or gold. Gold was invariably used for teeth at the back of the mouth while porcelain was used on the front teeth for its aesthetics and similarity to a natural tooth.

Today a number of alternate materials are available. These can not only withstand more stress without wearing out the other teeth but also look natural. At the time of fixing the crown, the dentist must be careful while working with acrylic as it is a clear material.

A material of choice in dentistry

Acrylic is very popular for a variety of reasons and is used for a number of things like making impression trays. It is used as a tooth coloured veneer to cover the surface of the tooth directly or on the crown covering the tooth to be restored. After the tooth is ready for the crown, a temporary crown made of acrylic is often used before the permanent crown is fixed. Using an acrylic trimmer, the crown is shaped carefully and used until it is ready to be replaced with the permanent crown.

Acrylic trimmers come in different shapes and sizes and are used for cutting and trimming various dental materials. They are generally pear shaped and used with a dental hand piece for grinding down acrylic bases or managing the thickness of the denture from the outside. The most popular ones are tungsten carbide acrylic trimmers.

With good quality dental equipment, supplies, instruments and medicaments, dentists help maintain oral health.

Find The Best Dental Plans in Your Area, Top Companies

Full Name*

Phone*

Email*

GET INFO