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It’s something that many parents fear, the dentist telling you that your son or daughter may need braces. We’ve all heard that they’re expensive, but we also know that they’re necessary for some kids so that when they’re older, they have nice, straight teeth.

Braces are an orthodontic cure for what’s commonly called a “bad bite”. This means that the teeth are crowded, crooked, or don’t align properly to allow a person a natural, healthy bite. Sometimes the upper and lower jaws don’t come together the right way when an individual bites down, due to misalignment, and even though the teeth are straight, the bite is not. (more…)

Are your teeth “unattractive”? The cosmetic procedure of attaching veneers to your teeth can create a bright, white smile with perfectly aligned and shaped teeth. If you’ve got cracks or chips, uneven alignment, or crooked teeth, the custom-designed shells of ceramic or composite resin can hide a multitude of flaws.

Over time teeth can lose their enamel, which is the thin, hard substance that covers and protects teeth. It might be natural, due to genetics, or more often a result of soft drinks, coffee or tea, smoking, or medications. Teeth also naturally wear down with age, and aged teeth tend to have more cracks, chips, or even spaces between them.

There are two materials that are most commonly used when making dental veneers, but both composite resin and porcelain veneers are made by dental technicians in a lab or directly built inside your mouth when you’re at the dentist office. Those that are made in a lab are bonded to teeth with a resin based cement, but of the two choices, porcelain veneers are more expensive, and last longer.

When you have small chips and cracks, bonding is more likely the way to go for cost effective cosmetic dentistry. But in cases of discolored, oddly spaced, or worn teeth, dental veneers are more appropriate for a long-term solution. (more…)

When you think of going to the dentist, you’re likely to think about cavities and fillings, root canals and extractions, treatments, or any other number of “operative” types of work in your mouth. However cosmetic dentistry focuses on making the appearance of one’s teeth better.

The other benefit (aside from making your smile pretty) of cosmetic dentistry can be restorative benefits. Historically, many people would receive types of dental fillings that were made of gold or amalgam, which made your teeth look dark. Today it’s possible to have your fillings made of porcelain or resins that match your natural tooth color, so your smile looks more natural. Cosmetically speaking, people can get their old fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored fillings to achieve these results.

Another big “trend” these days is tooth whitening. Caffeine, nicotine (and other cigarette chemicals), tea, berries, and sugars can badly discolor the teeth, making them look yellow or even brown. Whitening kits have become very popular, but they often miss the mark on getting people that brilliant white smile they’re longing for. Cosmetic dentistry will almost always involve some sort of whitening treatment.

Smile makeovers and full mouth reconstructions are also becoming very popular. This includes treatments for over/under bites, bone and muscular structures, as well as crooked or chipped teeth, broken teeth, or missing teeth.

The names of procedures that can be considered “cosmetic” are dental fillings (if being done only as a means to replace old fillings), bonding (the sculpted repair of broken or chipped teeth, made to look like new), whitening, dental veneers (thin plastic or porcelain laminates that hide “ugly” teeth or gaps in teeth), and dental implants (artificial tooth replacements, like prosthetic teeth).