As in all professions, individual skills vary. Look for credentials and associations with organizations such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Ask to see examples of each dentist’s work (before and after pictures of actual patients are good guides). Try to find someone who will work with you on an artistic level to develop a plan for a beautiful and natural smile.
Each person responds differently because everyone’s teeth are different. There are several different process options such as Zoom, which is administered by the dentist and can take as little as two hours to achieve the desired result. Take home systems from your dental office can also be effective and cost less. On average a patient should see a difference in three to four days. A few patients experience sensitivity during the whitening process, however it is of short duration and there is no permanent harm.
In dentistry today we use ultra high speed filters that greatly reduce the amount of exposure. The amount is less than you would receive during a five minute walk outside in the sun. We use digital X-ray equipment in our office, so exposure is minimal. Without X-rays your dentist can’t see if there is decay between teeth or under the gum line.
Your nerve may have died a “silent death” without causing pain. The likely result of this will be an infection (abscess) that will only get larger and create a very serious health risk.
Yes, the size of the crown is a function of how your dentist prepares your teeth to receive a crown to fit your smile. Today dentists have the best quality material and technology to choose from when making your crowns. We can now make crowns out of pure porcelain without metal and alleviate the dark line at the gums. With the Cerec process, your custom crown is made in the same day, allowing you to leave the office in a few hours with your new tooth.
Excessive or uneven gums can be corrected with cosmetic surgery utilizing a laser. This tissue reduction will give a more even and natural appearance. Most patients don’t require any pain reliever after the procedure.
Not necessarily. Old unsightly fillings can now be replaced with esthetic, natural looking materials such as resins and porcelain. A crown may be needed if the tooth structure has been compromised by decay and can no longer retain a filling.
Old fashioned metal alloy fillings were compressed into a filling space without the benefit of today’s adhesive technology. Over time, the interface between the old filling and the tooth breaks down and creates a gap that can retain bacteria and stain that ultimately leads to more tooth destruction.
Yes, if you can get to a dentist quickly. Once a tooth is knocked out, the patient has about 45 to 60 minutes to re-implant a tooth. Its best to either place the tooth in milk or under your tongue until a dentist can prepare the site for re-implantation. Later, after a period of good healing has taken place, the nerve (which was severed in the loss of the tooth) will be removed by the dentist.