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What Are Dental Veneers and Are they Worth it

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The human body is very strong, durable and it can regenerate quite quickly considering the injury order trauma, but that is not the case for one part of your body. Yes, I am talking about our teeth. Once you lose one tooth, it is gone forever. A new bone will not form and it will not regenerate. This is why it is so important to always protect your teeth. But, even when you do, things could still go wrong and you will have to find a solution such as dental veneers.

However, this solution is not the only option. There are several other alternatives that can resolve your issues. Some are more expensive and others are cheaper. Which solution you should go for depends entirely on your budget and what your dentist recommends.

But, since you are here reading this article, you are probably thinking about dental veneers. To help you finalize this decision, I wanted to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of these veneers. But with this information in mind, you will probably be able to decide whether they are worth it.

What are they?

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Most commonly, this solution is recommended for people that have trouble with the appearance of their teeth. It could be because of discoloration, a broken or chipped tooth, a gap, or whatever the reason. What is important is the fact that you are not satisfied with how your smile looks and you want to fix that.

This is where dental veneers come in. These are very thin pieces of porcelain that are made very similarly to your set of teeth. Once they are made to match the size and shape of your smile, they are attached in front of every tooth individually.

The reason why so many people want to get these is that they are not as expensive as other solutions. Also, it is a much quicker process and less painful.

The average price for adding veneers is anywhere between $1500 and $2000 per tooth. It is not a small amount of money, but considering that you can get more than 10 years out of this, it can be worth it.

Can they fall off?

If you are not at all familiar with dental veneers, you might be worried that they could fall off in the future.

But, really should not be. The fact is that that kind of situation does not happen often. Even if it somehow does, your dentist should be able to fix it for you immediately. Depending on the dentist, you may even get a warranty. No need to pay extra fees for the repair.

Is it a painful process?

This is another question that many patients ask and it is a fair one. People want to prepare both physically and mentally for these kinds of procedures.

Well, the truth is that the procedure can be painful and the level of pain will vary from person to person. But, there is no need to worry because you will be under the effects of anesthesia during the procedure. This is done to minimize the pain.

However, the recovery period after the procedure is actually quite short. Of course, it can hurt for several hours after the effects of anesthesia are gone and the next few days, but after that, you will quickly get adjusted and your gums will heal.

Compare this to any other solutions such as adding crowns and you understand how less painful it really is.

Nevertheless, you will probably get a prescription for painkillers to make this entire process much easier for you. If you ever feel like the pain is increasing, you can take a pill every few hours.

If you are still afraid of the procedure, you can click here and see exactly what professionals have to say about dental veneers. Once everything is properly explained to you, I am sure that you will feel much more confident to go through with it.

Source:signaturedentistry.com.au

What you can and cannot eat

Basically, dental veneers are made out of very durable and high-quality porcelain which means there are not any foods that pose any kind of danger. You have the freedom of eating almost anything want.

However, over longer periods of time, if you continue eating certain foods, that may cause damage.

So, just to be safe and to ensure that your veneers last as long as possible, there might be some foods that you should avoid or at least cut down on use.

A lot of dentists claimed that it is a good idea to cut down on alcohol. Alcohol can be damaging to the bonding material between the tooth and the porcelain.

The same applies to darker liquids such as coffee and red wine. Keep in mind, this does not mean that you should completely avoid alcohol or darker liquids. You should just cut down the consumption rate.

Tobacco is another one of those things that could damage the bonding material.

And last but not least, avoid eating hard foods. Pulling on sticky foods or biting through hard food such as candy is not exactly a good idea.

Are they worth it?

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So, the question remains: Is it really worth it to add dental veneers over other solutions?

Well, I think that the answer to this question is a definitive yes. Even though it is not the perfect and most optimal solution, it is still a good choice. You also have to consider that it is the more affordable option compared to dental crowns. Properly developed dental crowns can cost more than $3500 per tooth. Multiply that with the 32 teeth in your mouth. That is a lot of money.

So, if you are having trouble with a broken or chipped tooth or your noticing heavy discoloration because of a root canal, dental veneers is a great option. It is not going to take all of the money out of your bank account and it will last for years.

If you take care of them properly, they could easily last for 15 years or maybe even more.

What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants?

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Just a generation or two ago, it was normal for older adults to be missing a few teeth. Lack of fluoridation, sub par dental care, and the typical wear and tear of life meant teeth got infected or chipped, loosened or got knocked out. If you were lucky, you replaced them with a bridge or, if you were missing a lot of them, then you were fitted for dentures, but overall, tooth loss was as common as bumps and bruises or a broken arm. It was just something that happened, but today missing teeth are less common.

Today, when someone loses a permanent tooth, the most common course of action is to see a cosmetic dentist for an implant placement. Placed directly into the jawbone, dental implants blend in with the natural teeth, allowing for the best possible appearance and function. More importantly, dental implants offer a number of valuable health benefits that simply accepting tooth loss or relying on dentures cannot.

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Maintains Existing Teeth

When a dentist places a bridge to replace one or more missing teeth, they have to anchor the bridge to the teeth on either side of it. Unfortunately, in order to place a bridge, the dentist generally has to shave away some of the enamel and reshape the anchoring teeth so that the bridge fits properly. This isn’t a major intervention on its own, but removing even some enamel means making those ones more vulnerable to damage down the line, including cavities and abscesses. It’s better to leave healthy teeth intact, which implants allow for.

Another advantage of placing permanent dental implants rather than leaving an open space or opting for a bridge is that implants will make you less vulnerable to gum disease, relatively speaking. That’s because bridges sit at gum level and are cemented into place in various way, depending on the style, which can make the area harder to clean. Implants, on the other hand, are maintained with the same basic brushing and flossing practices you would use to care for your natural teeth. And since gum disease can cause you to lose more of them, placing a bridge can actually cause a dangerous chain reaction in an already vulnerable mouth.

Source:southexdental.com

Protects Jaw Integrity

If you’ve ever seen someone who has lost most of their tooth, you may have noticed that the lower half of their face seems to have lost its shape. That’s because missing teeth are associated with progressive bone loss, a result of overall periodontal disease. According to Dr. Bret Dyer, implants help prevent this bone loss and retain facial shape because placing an implant involves screwing a titanium post directly into the jaw bone. Over time, it fuses with the bone. This helps ensure normal pressure on the jaw, which can prevent the need for bone grafting later on.

Ensures Complete Nutrition

Any type of oral pain, from a cold sore to a cavity, can make it harder to eat normally, but missing teeth are the worst of all because they don’t just cause discomfort, they also represent a functional problem. In particular, missing teeth make it hard to chew crunchy or sinewy foods, though exactly which teeth you’re missing will determine what kind of problems you have.

Of course, if you’re only missing one or two, you’ll likely be able to compensate with other teeth, but once you’re missing several, you may need to significantly modify your diet – and that can mean missing out on important nutrients. However, by placing implants where you’ve lost teeth, you’ll be able to eat normally, unhindered by loose fitting dentures or bridges.

Bite Support

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In a healthy mouth with all of its teeth intact, the upper and lower parts of the jaw should closely line up, creating an even bite. And, when they don’t meet properly, we typically fit people with braces or other orthodontia to shift the jaw into a more appropriate position. As soon as you begin losing teeth, however, those gaps allow the neighboring teeth to loosen and move around, which can cause your entire bite to be compromised.

An uneven bite can be uncomfortable and can cause an array of other oral health problems, such as jaw pain and gum disease, but luckily, the dentist can assess and correct for bite problems when placing dental implants. Specifically, they’ll look at how the existing teeth meet, evaluate the wear pattern, and take steps to place and shape your implants for the most natural possible bite.

Consider The Confidence Boost

In the United States, having “bad teeth” is associated with poverty; some have gone so far as to call teeth “luxury bones” because of how oral health is overlooked by conventional medicine. That’s unfortunate for a number of reasons, not least of which being that a lot of tooth loss could be prevented by more widely accessible dental care, but in particular it means that many people experience poor self-confidence and the associated mental health effects because of what is fundamentally a cosmetic issue.

Getting dental implants is an expensive fix for poor self-confidence, but if you’re missing out on your life because you feel anxious or depressed about the state of your teeth, it’s a worthwhile undertaking. You deserve to fully participate in your life, and while missing teeth may not be a physical impediment, it can be a mental block. Given the concomitant health problems, however, as long as you can afford implants, it’s worth pursuing them.

Pursuing Dental Implants

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Placing dental implants can take the better part of a year from start to finish, so if you’re considering pursuing placement, it’s worth starting that conversation now. Though often referred to as restorative dentistry, it’s important to recognize that getting dental implants is not a purely cosmetic pursuit. Especially if you’ve suffered dental disease or trauma that has caused you to lose some of your permanent teeth at a young age, they can offer critical health benefits. Sure, your smile helps you make a good impression, but it does a lot more than that. Make it a priority.

All You Need To Know About Dental Health and Cavities

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A cavity or tooth decay is breech of the enamel that permanently forms in your tooth. Tooth decays are a consequence of various factors including, exposure to sugary foods and drinks, the use of harsh chemicals, poor oral hygiene and low immunity due to pre-existing medical conditions.

Tooth decays and cavities are the most common dental health problems in the world. Although cavities are common among children, they also affect adults. Regardless, if you have teeth you are at risk of tooth decay

When cavities are not treated, they grow bigger and affect the core layers of your teeth. Cavities can result in acute toothache, severe infection and tooth loss. The problem can extend to affect the jaw. Brushing your teeth, flossing and visiting your parramattadentalavenue.com.au regularly for a check-up, are some of the ways you can prevent cavities and tooth decay.

Symptoms

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Symptoms and signs of cavities are different, depending on their extent and location. Cavities in their early stages may not present with any symptoms at all. But as the decay progresses, they can show some signs and symptoms like:

  • Holes in your teeth
  • Increased tooth sensitivity
  • Pain when you bite down or constantly through the day
  • When eating or drinking something cold, sweet, or hot you can have mild to sharp pain
  • Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth

When to see a dentist

It is important to have to visit a dentist regularly for a check-up even if your tooth feels fine since cavities form insidiously. However, you are advised to see your dentist anytime you experience a toothache or pain in your mouth.

Causes

Cavities are a result of tooth decay which is a gradual process. Below is how tooth decay develops:

  • Plaque formation

Plaque forms as a result of eating sugars and starches and failing to clean your teeth well. When the food debris is not cleaned off and remains stuck on the enamel, bacteria start feeding on them and this results in the formation of plaque.

  • Poor mouth hygiene

Not cleaning your teeth regularly promotes plaque formation and causes tooth destruction.

  • Dry mouth

When your mouth is dry it enhances plaque formation. Saliva helps to wash the plaque from the teeth and it contains antibodies that inhibit bacteria growth. Without saliva, your defenses against plaque formation and bacterial growth are compromised.

Prevention of cavities or tooth decay

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Keeping your teeth and mouth clean helps you to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Below are some tips on how to prevent cavities. Seek advice from your dentist on which tips are recommendable for you.

  • Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after every meal

If not after every meal, you are advised to brush your teeth at least twice a day using a good toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Remember to brush all areas of your teeth.

  • Rinse your mouth

In case your dentist feels you likely to develop cavities or tooth decays they may advise you to rinse your mouth with fluoride. A mouth wash may be prescribed to offer protection against tooth decay

  • Visit your dentist regularly

It is good to get your teeth assessed by a professional. Through oral exams, plaques can be identified early and removed. Moreover, silent cavities can be attended to before progression. it’s important to get in touch with your Parramatta dentist for professional oral check-ups and dental advice.

How To Take Care of Your Teeth in Winter

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It’s a well-known fact that freezing temperatures can cause a lot of problems for your skin. However, freezing temperatures can also wreak havoc on your teeth, as the chances of developing dental problems in the winter are drastically increased.

Ask any dentist and he will tell you that you need to take extra care of your teeth during the winter months. Oral health is essential, and we’re going to tell you how to do it.

1. Brush Softly

Winter months can be particularly devastating for those with sensitive teeth. The cold makes your teeth even more sensitive, and quick temperature changes can cause you pain. So because of this, a good tip, for those with sensitive teeth, would be to change their brushing style and take a more soft approach. Your gums will be most affected by the winter, so you need to brush more gently around them. Another thing you can do is get toothpaste that is recommended for sensitive teeth.

2. Drink Lots of Fluids

Staying hydrated during the winter months is not only advised but beneficial for your oral health. Dehydration can mostly be noticed in the winter months after waking up. As homes start heating, the air gets dry pretty quick which leaves your mouth particularly dry when waking up. Maintaining fluid levels in your mouth helps reduce bacteria from ever developing. So a good tip would be to always drink plenty of fluids before waking up and always take a glass of water with you to bed.

Source:bustle.com

3. Wear Mouth Guards

A rather unusual tip on winter oral hygiene, but we’ll mention it like it that focuses on a particular group of people. Namely, according to mygranddental.com, a mouth guard is very handy for those that play sports during the winter. The easiest way we can cause injuries to our teeth is when playing sports like football, basketball, hockey, etc. So a mouth guard for playing sports during the winter will not only secure your teeth, but it will also drastically decrease the chances of visiting the dentist.

4. Drink Less Hot Cocoa

Let’s face it; winters are not winters without a nice cup of hot cocoa with the family. But this might not be the smartest thing to do as cocoa contains chocolate, which is full of sugar. Sugar, on the other hand, is bad for us as it creates decay. We’re not saying you should entirely quit drinking hot cocoa, but simply limiting the intake can make a huge difference. If you still want to drink hot cocoa, there is a sugar-free version that you can always opt for. If your throat is sore and you need to drink something hot, why not go for tea and leave out the sugar?

5. Wash Your Hands Frequently

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During the winter months, germs stick to the warmer things. Your hands tend to be warmer than most things outside, which cause germs to be attracted to them. However, germs can also travel, and they do with every handshake, everything we touch, etc. So a good tip for the winter periods would be to frequently wash your hands to keep the germs at bay.

The Complete Guide to Cosmetic Dentistry

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People will often time feel desperate in their search for perfection. With the numerous cosmetic surgeries like facelifts, breast implants, stomach tucks, there is one that stands out from the rest- cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry is not a surgery procedure, but a procedure that gives you the perfect smile. It focuses on eradicating the sin that is bad teeth, and the world is starting to catch up to it pretty fast.

The choices for treatment in cosmetic dentistry are many. In this article, we are going to give you the complete guide to the newest trend of cosmetic dentistry.

1. Teeth Whitening

As we all know, it’s natural for your teeth to lose their natural white color, after all, it comes with age. Teeth start changing from natural white to shades of yellow as soon as teenage years. Teeth lose their color due to genetics, foods, coffee, tobacco, tea, red wine, and more. Within the cosmetic dentistry industry, there are multiple techniques used to whiten teeth.

Img source: iristonhouse.co.uk
  • Pure Laser

The first one is in the form of laser technique in which a laser beam emits wavelengths that carry a whitening agent made from carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The chemical then serves as stain removal and removed any bit of yellow from your teeth, making them perfectly white.

  • Kick Start Laser

According to industry experts BirchgroveDental, this technique involves the patient wearing a mouthguard filled with whitening gel. The gel is made out of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide and a laser beam is then used to activate the gel onto the enamel of the teeth.

  • Home Kit

This last technique is the only one that doesn’t involve a laser beam. Instead, the patient wears a mouthguard filled with whitening gel that he is instructed to wear each night for around three weeks. The gel works slowly, but effectively, making your teeth perfectly white after three weeks of treatment.

2. Veneers

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Veneers is a technique that is used to do multiple things. It can be used to whiten your teeth, cover badly broken teeth, reshape teeth, or close up gaps within your teeth. This technique is predominantly used to thicken your teeth or make them longer or even squarer. The porcelain used for the technique is called veneers, and they are shaped around existed teeth to fill in the gaps.

3. Teeth Straightening

Another way to strengthen teeth besides orthodontics is to do it cosmetically. Cosmetically teeth whitening can be done a few ways:

  • Cosmetic Teeth Strengthening

The patient is firstly administrated with local anesthesia and then the dentist uses a device called electrosurgery unit which uses heat to remove fragments of gum. He then reshapes the molted gun and sets it up for implantation of new veneers. The teeth are than driller so that the veneers can be implanted.

  • Orthodontics

This technique involves a metal brace which is placed inside your mouth. The brace is manually attached to your teeth and it straightens the teeth through time. Usually, metal braces are worn between one year and up to three. The patient is required regular appointments with their dentist during that time every four weeks.

4. Crowns or Caps

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Crowns or caps are used to restore chipped teeth or replace broken ones entirely. It works in a way that an impression of the broken or chipped tooth is made from porcelain or metal, which is then built inside a laboratory to perfectly cover your entire broken surface of the tooth. The old tooth is cut down a little so that the entire crown can be placed above the tooth. The final step of this technique is to cement the crown onto the tooth so that it doesn’t break off.

Benefits of Dental Implants

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If we neglect our teeth in the early stages of life, we will have consequences for the rest of our lives. Not understanding the value brushing and flossing your teeth daily can be harmful when real problems start to appear. When you have experienced pain in a particular tooth, don’t let it just past by you, because you should react and search for dental advice and professional help. Leaving the situation to resolve it on its own will lead to future damaging the root and the tooth itself. With the process now spreading you risk losing your adult teeth, not only will you have problems while eating but you will also shy away from smiling in public.

Losing your teeth can genuinely be a significant problem, their performance in the daily primary is questioned. You risk reoccurring problems on your gums with foreign damage and bacteria, chewing problems are guaranteed when you lose a molar and have to shuffle your jaw around while eating. With every tooth you lose, it will become harder for you to function and process food. Each one of your teeth has its purpose of serving, and your general health can be jeopardized as well if you are not taking proper care.

source: rd.com

When you lose your adult teeth, they will not grow back, of course. You have to fill the spot left open and in that way stop the problem from spreading to another tooth. Dental implants or fake teeth are the solutions for this question. They are placed inside of your jaw where your teeth fell out or broke, to replace them and provide you with functions of the previous teeth. For more details on dental implants you can check what dentist in Bethlehem, PA has to say about those.

Note that fake teeth or dental implants have titanium roots, covered with the crown to fill in the spot left “empty” when they are inserted in your mouth. After some time adjusting to its presence, you will feel that the implant behaves just like a regular tooth. Giving such a crucial help to your daily activities dental implants are more than necessary and practical when you need them. You can replace the missing teeth from your jaw, allowing you to continue your life.

source: infinitesmilesdentistry.com

When we mention the benefits of dental implants, they are most recognizable in less maintenance, securing attachment from the very root of the tooth, improved speech, chewing abilities, looks like a real tooth and functions like a real tooth. The others will immediately notice that you look much better and your confidence is back. People who tend to overlook the potential of dental implants are the ones who have issues with their smelly breath. As a result of not chewing enough and swallowing, can lead to problems with your digestion. We hope now you have a clear idea of the potential of the fake teeth.

After all, sooner or later, our teeth deteriorate and we need to decide what to do with that. Whether we are going to have the problem fixed, or leave it be, but everybody must be leaning towards the first option.