Cosmetic Dentistry Plattsburgh NY
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
While traditional dentistry addresses the health of your teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry focuses on the appearance of your teeth, mouth, and smile.
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“Recent advances in cosmetic dentistry allow dentists to offer everything from improved teeth whitening to translucent tooth coverings to complete smile makeovers,” says Dr. Harms. Cosmetic dentistry has been around for decades, but the materials used today are more durable and natural looking than those used in the past.
According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), two-thirds of patients seeking cosmetic dentistry are female, and the average amount spent on cosmetic procedures by these patients in 2007 was a little less than $4,000. However, some cosmetic dentistry procedures can cost as little as $300. Because cosmetic dentistry is considered elective rather than “necessary,” it’s not usually covered by insurance.
Cosmetic Dentistry Options
There are a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures available, including:
Teeth whitening. This procedure brightens teeth that are discolored or stained. Teeth whitening, or bleaching, can be done in a dentist’s office or at home with a system dispensed by the dentist. Over-the-counter teeth-whitening products are also available.
Bonding. This can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained, or have spaces in between them, by bonding tooth-colored materials to the tooth surface.
Veneers . These are thin, custom-made porcelain shells that cover the front of the teeth to disguise discoloration or imperfections.
Tooth reshaping. This procedure involves changing the teeth to improve their appearance by modifying or removing enamel. Tooth reshaping (also known as dental contouring) is often combined with bonding.
Crown lengthening . This can fix a "gummy" smile (where more gums than teeth are visible) or an uneven gum line by removing excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth’s crown and give the appearance of longer teeth. This involves minor oral surgery.
Smile makeovers. These procedures involve a comprehensive assessment of the overall appearance of the teeth and smile. Typically, several cosmetic dentistry procedures are required to overhaul the look of a patient's smile. Think of it as a facelift for the mouth.
Above article from www.everydayhealth.com
Learn more about our cosmetic dentistry treatment at Champlain Smiles in Plattsburgh NY.
Dental office, Champlain Smiles located in Plattsburgh NY provides a full range of general, cosmetic, family and orthodontic dentistry treatment. Our mission is to provide our dental patients with professional quality dental care in Plattsburgh NY and the surrounding areas. www.champlainsmiles.com
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Cosmetic Dentistry Plattsburgh NY - Dental Bonding
Dental Bonding - Cosmetic Dentist Plattsburgh NY
How Dental Bonding Can Alter the Look and Feel of Your Teeth
Dental bonding can be an economical solution for stained, broken, or chipped teeth and other minor cosmetic dentistry issues.
Have a chipped, broken, or stained tooth? Dental bonding can make it look like new again without causing too much damage to your budget.
“Bonding is a relatively inexpensive way to make minor dental repairs,” says Kimberly Harms, DDS, a dentist in Farmington, Minn. and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA). Plus, dental bonding is sometimes covered by insurance.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure in which a tooth-colored composite material is applied to a tooth, sculpted into shape, hardened, and polished. It’s called bonding because the material bonds to the tooth. Dental bonding is ideal for small cosmetic dentistry work, such as fixing a broken or chipped tooth or closing small gaps between teeth. Dental bonding is also used as a tooth-colored filling for small cavities because it’s more cosmetically appealing than silver fillings.
What Does Dental Bonding Involve?
Your dentist will first apply a gentle phosphoric acid to the surface of your teeth, which etches and roughens the surface to help the bonding material stay in place. This process doesn’t hurt. The putty-like bonding material is then placed on the tooth’s surface, shaped, and sculpted. A special light is used to help the material harden and set. Finally, the composite is polished and buffed for a smooth finish.
Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding
“Dental bonding is less expensive than veneers, but it also has drawbacks,” notes Dr. Harms.
Advantages of dental bonding include:
If you have a minor cosmetic dentistry issue — such as a cracked or discolored tooth, a gap between your teeth, or silver fillings that show when you smile — dental bonding may help.
“Dental bonding is also used in cosmetic dentistry to reshape or recontour teeth,” says Harms. In contrast to veneers and bleaching, however, dental bonding can’t be used to whiten your entire smile. Dental bonding can also be appropriate as “white fillings” for small cavities in teeth that are not exposed to excessive force when chewing, but the material used in dental bonding may not be durable enough for large cavities.
Maintenance of Dental Bonding
Because dental bonding is more susceptible to staining and chipping than other forms of cosmetic dentistry, special care is required to keep your bonded teeth looking natural. Here are some tips to keep your dental bonding in tip-top shape:
Dental bonding isn’t appropriate in every situation, but it can be a quick and relatively inexpensive way to improve your smile. And feeling good about the appearance of your teeth can help you maintain good dental health.
Above article from everydayhealth.com
Cosmetic Dentist Plattsburgh NY
Champlain Smiles Dental Office
Airport Plaza • 762 Route 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518.324.CARE
How Dental Bonding Can Alter the Look and Feel of Your Teeth
Dental bonding can be an economical solution for stained, broken, or chipped teeth and other minor cosmetic dentistry issues.
Have a chipped, broken, or stained tooth? Dental bonding can make it look like new again without causing too much damage to your budget.
“Bonding is a relatively inexpensive way to make minor dental repairs,” says Kimberly Harms, DDS, a dentist in Farmington, Minn. and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA). Plus, dental bonding is sometimes covered by insurance.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure in which a tooth-colored composite material is applied to a tooth, sculpted into shape, hardened, and polished. It’s called bonding because the material bonds to the tooth. Dental bonding is ideal for small cosmetic dentistry work, such as fixing a broken or chipped tooth or closing small gaps between teeth. Dental bonding is also used as a tooth-colored filling for small cavities because it’s more cosmetically appealing than silver fillings.
What Does Dental Bonding Involve?
Your dentist will first apply a gentle phosphoric acid to the surface of your teeth, which etches and roughens the surface to help the bonding material stay in place. This process doesn’t hurt. The putty-like bonding material is then placed on the tooth’s surface, shaped, and sculpted. A special light is used to help the material harden and set. Finally, the composite is polished and buffed for a smooth finish.
Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding
“Dental bonding is less expensive than veneers, but it also has drawbacks,” notes Dr. Harms.
Advantages of dental bonding include:
- Cost. The average cost of dental bonding ranges from $300 to $600 per tooth. “But many dental insurance plans cover most of the cost of bonding, particularly when it is done for structural reasons or to fill a cavity,” says Harms.
- Speed. Dental bonding typically requires only one office visit. The entire process can be accomplished in 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.
- Ease. Anesthesia is usually not necessary, unless bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Compared to veneers and crowns, dental bonding also requires the least amount of enamel removal, explains Harms.
- Bonding material can become stained. Unlike crowns and porcelain veneers, dental bonding has a tendency to become discolored over time. “Coffee, tea, red wine, and cigarette smoke can stain the material used in dental bonding, making it stand out from the rest of your teeth,” says Harms. To minimize staining, you’ll need to avoid these substances for 24 to 48 hours after bonding is first performed. If you’re a smoker, you’ll want to choose a different cosmetic dentistry treatment. “Because bonding material is porous, it will yellow from exposure to cigarette smoke,” explains Harms.
- Less durable. Additionally, the material used in dental bonding isn’t as strong and long-lasting as porcelain veneers and crowns. It can easily chip. With proper care though, dental bonding can last three to seven years.
If you have a minor cosmetic dentistry issue — such as a cracked or discolored tooth, a gap between your teeth, or silver fillings that show when you smile — dental bonding may help.
“Dental bonding is also used in cosmetic dentistry to reshape or recontour teeth,” says Harms. In contrast to veneers and bleaching, however, dental bonding can’t be used to whiten your entire smile. Dental bonding can also be appropriate as “white fillings” for small cavities in teeth that are not exposed to excessive force when chewing, but the material used in dental bonding may not be durable enough for large cavities.
Maintenance of Dental Bonding
Because dental bonding is more susceptible to staining and chipping than other forms of cosmetic dentistry, special care is required to keep your bonded teeth looking natural. Here are some tips to keep your dental bonding in tip-top shape:
- Cut down on coffee, tea, and red wine.
- If you’re a smoker, this is a good reason to quit — not to mention that smoking also increases your risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
- Since dental bonding can chip easily, avoid biting your nails or chewing on hard objects, such as ice, pencils, and raw carrots.
- Call your dentist if you notice sharp edges or if your teeth feel strange when you bite down. If necessary, dental bonding can be repaired or touched up, says Harms.
Dental bonding isn’t appropriate in every situation, but it can be a quick and relatively inexpensive way to improve your smile. And feeling good about the appearance of your teeth can help you maintain good dental health.
Above article from everydayhealth.com
Cosmetic Dentist Plattsburgh NY
Champlain Smiles Dental Office
Airport Plaza • 762 Route 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518.324.CARE
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Dental Care Plattsburgh NY
Preventive Dental Care Plattsburgh NY
Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics
Think you know everything about proper brushing and flossing techniques? Understand the basics and what you can do to promote oral health.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Follow these steps to protect your oral health.
Brushing for oral health
Oral health begins with clean teeth. Consider these brushing basics from the American Dental Association:
You can't reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your gumline with a toothbrush. That's why daily flossing is important. When you floss:
Visit Champlain Smiles in Plattsburgh NY website to learn more about our dental care services to patients in Plattsburgh and the surrounding areas.
Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics
Think you know everything about proper brushing and flossing techniques? Understand the basics and what you can do to promote oral health.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Follow these steps to protect your oral health.
Brushing for oral health
Oral health begins with clean teeth. Consider these brushing basics from the American Dental Association:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. When you brush, don't rush. Take enough time to do a thorough job.
- Use the proper equipment. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, especially if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively.
- Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue. Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can irritate your gums.
- Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store your toothbrush in an upright position, if possible, and allow it to air dry until using it again. Don't routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, which can encourage the growth of bacteria.
- Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become frayed.
You can't reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your gumline with a toothbrush. That's why daily flossing is important. When you floss:
- Don't skimp. Break off about 18 inches (46 centimeters) of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand — leaving about 1 inch (3 centimeters) to floss your first tooth.
- Take it one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gumline to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.
- Keep it up. If you have trouble getting floss through your teeth, try the waxed variety. If it's hard to manipulate the floss, use a floss holder or an interdental cleaner — such as a dental pick or stick designed to clean between the teeth.
Visit Champlain Smiles in Plattsburgh NY website to learn more about our dental care services to patients in Plattsburgh and the surrounding areas.
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