Like the look of ‘teeth jewelry’ or ‘tooth gems’? Have you improved your smile with dentures recently? Had cosmetic dentistry procedures that reshaped your teeth? Maybe you’re a dentist who has drilled a patient’s tooth lately. If you have, you’re not alone. In fact, archeologists have discovered these procedures have been popular for as long as 9,000 years in some instances. Surprised? So were many experts in and out of the dental profession.

The Reshaping Of Teeth By Vikings

Somewhere between 750 and 100 AD, the Vikings discovered the aesthetic value of shaping their teeth. Yes, these big nasty brutes known for raiding, murdering, and other heinous acts, saw their teeth as being important to their overall appearance. To look their best, they would file the enamel on their teeth down to create certain patterns.

This wasn’t the first time this idea was found in history, but it was the first time a practice of this type was noticed in European history. Experts believe the Vikings might have picked up the idea from ancient African cultures that filed their teeth to fine points. We don’t generally file tooth enamel for appearance now, but we do undergo procedures such as bonding to achieve a pleasing, unified look.

Ancient Mesoamerican Tooth Gems

Some people choose to have precious or semi-precious stones implanted into their teeth for a unique look, but they weren’t the first to come up with this idea either. As reported in the National Geographic, ancient Mesoamerican cultures added stones to their front teeth.

However, this practice has the experts confused. Archeologists aren’t sure why these ancient people had an archaic dentist perform this work. It didn’t signify class and doesn’t appear to signify a specific position within the community. The only real thing researchers have noticed is that it seems to be predominantly a male trait.

Dentures From A Mesoamerican Dentist

From the same time period, archeologists discovered this ancient culture also used to file their teeth flat in order to fit them with a rustic type of denture. This may have worked for a short time, but it also proved dangerous. Because this would have exposed the pulp inside the tooth, it likely caused terrible infections that might have caused the death of the patient. Not a pleasant way to go by any means, but certainly an interesting concept when you consider today’s methods of replacing smiles we can no longer repair.

Dental Repair The 9,000-Year-Old Way

Believe it or not, even without all of the new technology, dentists drilled and fixed teeth as early as 9,000 years ago in Pakistan. Again, researchers aren’t entirely sure why the teeth were expertly drilled out, but they believe with some decay present in some of the holes that it was meant as a treatment for toothaches. Again, experts believe this drilling technique would have caused infection and even death. However, the dental tools and precision of the dentist’s technique are nothing short of amazing.

The next time you have to go to the dentist, you will have something to talk about while you have your mouth gaping open and full of tools.

They’ve become popular for their convenience and ability to lengthen the life of in-office treatments, but those inexpensive teeth whitening kits you find in the drugstore might not be the best idea. This doesn’t mean that they are bad all the time, but you definitely need to be aware of the downsides before heading out to buy the next whitening kit.

Whether you buy them in a paste, trays, strips, or mouthwash, make sure you know exactly what you need and what to watch out for before you buy.

Not All Stains Are The Same

Tooth enamel stains can come from just about anything. Foods such as blueberries and coffee can stain quickly. Poor hygiene and even good hygiene can cause stains when you miss small areas with your toothbrush. Age can discolor your teeth severely and still some are naturally a different color from the moment they appear.

Rather than heading to the drugstore to deal with the issue, you should make an appointment with the dentist. He or she will be able to examine the staining first to identify the source of the problem. The dentist will also be able to help you find a solution that works to prevent you from wasting your money.

Tooth Whitening Products And Dental Work

While most whitening products are completely safe to use, it can harm dental work, if you don’t use them properly. Treatments such as bridges, crowns, veneers, implants, and bonding will not change color regardless of the method you use. The best plan of action in this case is to have them redone or coated. If you choose to use harsh bleaching kits and leave them on too long, there is a possibility of weakening the material and softening the special coating. Your gums are also at extreme risk.

Available Treatment Options

At the bottom end of the scale (the weakest option) are over the counter strips, toothpastes, and mouthwashes. These only lighten teeth slightly, but are a great option to use with in-office treatments. Just be sure to check with your dentist; some are dangerous to use right before and after a professional whitening treatment.

Over the counter tray whitening may be stronger than the other methods, but you need to be careful here as well. Since the trays are not fit to your specific bite, they won’t get into all the hard to reach areas. If you really want a quality job, talk to your dentist about take-home kits that have custom-made trays. Your last option, and the most aggressive, is Zoom Whitening, which lasts up to three years with proper care.

Teeth whitening and at home kits are an excellent way to keep your smile looking its best, but like anything, you need to shop wisely. Your best course of action? Talk to your dentist to find out what they recommend for your particular situation. This ensures you’ll get the best value for your money with the least amount of risk, every time.

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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).