7 Reasons Why Porcelain Veneers Are a Better Option Than Crowns

Is your chipped or broken tooth marring your otherwise perfect smile? If yes, then it is time you take action to correct the minor imperfections. While the options available are plenty, how do you know which is the best one for you? If you want to rectify the problem without tampering with your other perfect teeth, then veneers could be an option for you. Veneers not only correct the flaws, but also whiten, brighten and straighten your teeth. Here 7 benefits of porcelain veneers that you can look forward to.

Improves Smile

Veneers can restore the brilliance of your smile. Why spend thousands of dollars on complex treatments when you can correct any visible dental flaws with veneers? Veneers are thin porcelain laminates with the thickness of an eggshell, made to fit snugly over a tooth's surface and hide any blemish. The shade and shape of veneers are designed to suit the surrounding teeth, so that they fit in seamlessly.

Stain-Resistant

Mangy yellow teeth can break your image like no other. The best thing about veneers is that they are stain resistant. This means you can indulge in coffee, tea and other such beverages to your heart's content without having to worry about stains. This might just be the thing avid coffee drinkers are looking for.

Durable

While a dental crown will not last more than 5 to 7 years, veneers can last a lifetime, if taken proper care of. Regular brushing, flossing and dental checkup will make sure your veneers look sparkling new for a long time to come. Furthermore, they are not as costly as an average crown.

Corrects Rotated Teeth

Braces are not for everyone, as they are awkward-looking, uncomfortable and a hassle. If you do not want to go through the pain and money to straighten your teeth with braces, then veneers can be an option for you. By simply placing the veneers over the crooked tooth can create the illusion of perfectly ordered pearly white teeth.

No Downtime

Braces can take months to generate an effect, teeth whitening are costly and bonding does not last nearly as long as veneers. Whether you want to change the size, shape or color of your teeth, it can be done with veneers in just a couple of sittings. And immediately after the treatment, patients can resume their normal activities. Experiencing a certain amount of discomfort after the procedure is normal. The pain usually subsides after some time.

Minimal Risks

The possibilities of side effects involved with the treatment are fairly non-existent. The dentist will prescribe medications to keep the swelling or pain in check. The only major flaw involved with the procedure is that it is irreversible. A small layer of enamel is usually removed from the tooth surface to make enough room for the veneers. Consult with your doctor to know more about the risk involved; opt for the treatment only when you are sure.

Can Be Used In Conjunction with Other Treatments

For a complete smile makeover, the dentist will undertake the procedure in collaboration with other treatments for that picture perfect smile.

Porcelain veneers are on any day a better option from their counterparts.

Porcelain Veneers - A Simple Solution For a Bright and Beautiful Smile

A young woman came to my practice enquiring about using a whitening system to remove the tetracycline stains across the tops of her front teeth. Even though some people can experience a slight improvement through a whitening approach, a better option to treating tetracycline stains is to use Porcelain Veneers. By the use of porcelain veneers, we were able to restore her very beautiful smile.

In this article I will share my experience with several of my patients in using Porcelain Veneers to remove stains as well as correct various other defects, to get the perfect smile everyone deserves.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are fine shells of ceramic material that are bonded on to the front of a tooth. They are used to mask discolorations, brighten teeth, and to improve the smile. They are a great restorative choice for improving the appearance of your teeth.

When is a porcelain veneer restoration recommended?


As an alternative to crowns, to change tooth color, size, or shape.
For treating severe teeth discolorations. For example, teeth stained by tetracycline, by injury, and for masking discolored fillings in front teeth.
Alternative for certain Orthodontics. For example, when the front teeth are slightly misaligned, crooked, or rotated.
For the repair of old crowns and bridgework under certain specific situations.
For the elimination of gaps between teeth.Can porcelain veneers get stained due to extended use - especially with the use of tea, coffee, red wine, or tobacco products?



A major advantage of using porcelain veneers as opposed to cosmetic dental bonding materials is that the porcelain veneer's surface is made of porcelain. Since porcelain is a type of ceramic, it is nonporous with non-fading permanent color. Hence, a porcelain veneer's surface is extremely stain resistant.

What can I expect from my porcelain veneer procedure and what are the risks?

This procedure can greatly enhance your smile and self esteem. You can expect an aesthetically pleasing naturalness for your teeth. But you should understand that they are not perfect replacements for your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are shaded from the top to the bottom just as with natural teeth. If they were all one color they would look false, like chiclets. Porcelain veneers are shade stable, and their color will not change. Some people experience minor sensitivity after the teeth have been prepared for veneers and while wearing the temporary veneers. If you feel any changes in the way you speak, please call your dentist. Your dentist can make minor adjustments to your veneers to correct this.

How is it done?

The procedure is fairly simple but for the comfort of the patient we almost always use a local anesthetic. The procedure usually requires three to four appointments from diagnosis to treatment planning, teeth preparation and completion.

In the diagnostic step we will conduct a comprehensive examination of your mouth, including all the necessary X-rays, analysis of your bite, analysis of the proportions of your teeth forming the eshethic zone, incisal guidance and canine rise. A diagnostic wax-up will be made of the finished smile so you can have input and tell us how you want your smile to look. The wax-up makes this part of the process easier for the patient as well as for the dentist and the lab technician. The more you can tell us what you want the finished product to be the easier it is for us to deliver exactly what you want.

In the next step we prepare your teeth for veneering. The teeth are shaped in accordance with the diagnostic wax-up. About 0.5mm-0.7mm of tooth structure is removed and then replaced by the added thickness of the veneer. A very precise impression is made of your teeth and is sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of your veneers. This can take about two to three weeks. We place temporary veneers for you, during this period.

The next step is bonding of veneers to your teeth. First, we place the veneers on your teeth to check their fit and to get a sense of the shade or color. At this time, we request that you view it and provide us input on the aesthetic results, especially the color.

If you are interested in learning more about porcelain veneers and how they can enhance your smile, please contact me though my website address shown below. Our dental office is located at Metro Center on the corner of 12th and F Streets in Washington DC, United States.


Dr. James E. Johnson,

James E Johnson DDS and Associates PC

555, 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Phone: (202) 783 - 3368

[http://www.dcmetrocenterdentist.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._James_E_Johnson



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1882195

Enhancing Your Smile With Porcelain Veneers

The purpose of porcelain veneers are to improve the health and appearance of the teeth. Porcelain veneers can look completely natural and whiten dark yellow stained teeth or tetracycline stained teeth. Teeth can be whiter and straighter looking (often referred to as "Instant Braces"). The shape of teeth can be improved, lengthened, shortened, fuller or less full, be more round, more square or bolder looking.

A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of heat-fired porcelain that is custom made to fit your teeth. They are separate veneers of porcelain that are bonded to the teeth. The patient brushes, flosses and eats normally. Whatever the needs or desires of the patient, veneers can be an effective cosmetic solution that will last for many years. The restored teeth will permanently be whiter than the natural teeth. The oldest case by Dr. Sam Muslin was completed in 1984 and the patient's teeth are still better looking than his natural teeth would have been by now. The veneers have been in his mouth for over 23 years and the patient is 85 years old.

Non-Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry

With the development of the thin non-invasive, no tooth grinding type of cosmetic treatment, the patient's natural tooth structure can be saved. No grinding on the patient's teeth is also referred to as Non-Invasive Dentistry or Non-Invasive Porcelain Veneers. Sometimes if a tooth is protruding, some surface grinding is necessary to make the teeth line up evenly. Non-Invasive Porcelain Veneers can create permanently whiter teeth. Patients can have white teeth without the hassle of bleaching or ongoing teeth whitening to maintain a whiter color. Continual use of bleaching agents such as Zoom, or BriteSmile, or Crest Whitening Strips or any other teeth whitening or teeth bleaching agents compromise the tooth structure. Teeth bleaching can make the teeth sensitive towards temperature, sweet and fruit juice. Ceramic dental bonding that is non-invasive or requires no grinding protect the teeth.

Less Tooth Sensitivity

The non-invasive porcelain veneer adds another layer of porcelain to the existing tooth. The tooth can be much less sensitive, much whiter and very natural looking. Less tooth sensitivity is a huge advantage if the dentist is highly skilled in dental bonding. The extra layer of porcelain over the existing tooth covers all of the sensitive areas. The patient can have an exceptional smile that highlights their eye color, complexion and lips. There are many brands of non-grinding or non-invasive porcelain veneers such as Lumineersa made by Cerinate, Da Vinci Labs, Glidewell Labs and Mac Labs. Many other dental porcelain labs make veneers that require no grinding. The non-invasive porcelain veneers are not new; Dr. Sam Muslin has been doing them for many years. A word of caution: thin porcelain veneers require an artistic and talented hand skill or the results can look unnatural (see bad veneers below).

Traditional Porcelain Veneers

The traditional porcelain veneer requires the tooth to be reduced (ground down with a dental drill) about 1mm in order to make room for the porcelain. The porcelain veneer will fit inside the area of tooth that has been ground away. The advantage of the traditional veneer is the porcelain is thicker and can hide a dark colored tooth better than thin porcelain veneers. The disadvantage is that the healthy natural tooth structure has to be ground away. The dentist has to be very precise with the work otherwise the teeth can be sensitive after treatment due to the loss of tooth structure. This type of veneer is better if the patient has "buck teeth" and needs to have them less protruded. The teeth will not be sensitive if bonding was completed to perfection.

Bulky Porcelain Veneers - "My teeth look too thick!" This type of bad porcelain veneer is too thick and square. They lack the natural contour of a tooth. They look heavy and have a tendency to collect food near the gum line because they are too think and over contoured. Over contouring refers to a sudden bulk of tooth that abruptly emerges from the gum line which then collects and traps food. A natural tooth has a streamlined contour so the food slides off easily and does not collect food. Listen to what this person has to say about her bad porcelain veneers experience.

Fake Porcelain Veneers - "My teeth look like dentures!" Some veneers are way too white. White teeth can still look very natural but cannot have too much opacity. Opacity refers to the density of the white color. If there is too much white coloration, the light translucency through the tooth is interrupted. The tooth looks fake or has the "Chickletts" look.

Cosmetic dentistry goes beyond the skills of the conventional dentist. The average dentist does not do enough of it to know how to control all of the variables from one patient to the next. Just taking a weekend course is not enough. Be very selective with the dentist you choose. Ask for photos of his or her work or speak to their patients that had it done.


The Best Compliments about Dr. Sam Muslin:

"Every time I am up for a promotion, my competition is just as qualified. The decision to pick one of us for the higher position can be subjective. I wanted to present myself in the most professional manner. I asked Dr. Muslin to cosmetically treat my teeth so I would present myself as more youthful, intelligent and healthy. He said cosmetic dentistry could be done to improve my dental health and appearance simultaneously. It was simple; I appeared more professional than my competition. I am now one of the top bank executives in the country."

Freelance internet marketer and copy writer. Santa Monica cosmetic dentist Sam Muslin has gained an international reputation for his cosmetic dentistry. See his gallery for before and after pictures of actual patients.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ludwich_G_Schaaf



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4698427

Whitening Your Teeth? What to Consider

With the variety of tooth whitening products available today, it is now easier and more accessible than ever. Whitening your teeth can come in the form of toothpaste, over the counter whitening strips, take home bleaching trays from your dentist, and in office bleaching. It is important to find out which method is appropriate and best suited for you.

The first step before whitening your teeth should include an exam and cleaning at your dental office. For best results, surface staining and heavy build-up should be removed from your teeth to ensure a clean slate to allow proper penetration of the whitening solution. It is also important that your dentist determine if you are a good candidate for whitening. An individual with a large amount of decay or active periodontal disease will want to address these areas before beginning whitening therapy. How often you should whiten is something that should be determined by you and your dentist.

It is important to understand that when whitening teeth, only natural teeth and tooth structure can be whitened. Due to this, not everyone is a good candidate for whitening. Crowns and Veneers which are constructed from a variety of materials from porcelain to gold, will not be altered by the whitening gel. Tooth colored fillings are also restorations that will remain the original shade after whitening is completed. This is most applicable when addressing the esthetics in the front of the mouth.

Individuals that typically have sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures in their mouth should be aware that whitening may have the effect of heightened sensitivity for a prolonged period of time that can last anywhere from a week to a month. It is also of importance to note that teeth that present with a hue of gray to dark brown, or patients that had a history of tetracycline use may not achieve their desired result. In these cases the shade will improve, but the degree of improvement varies.

Now that we have determined that you are a good candidate for whitening, it is time to decide which method is best suited for you. Toothpastes are the least expensive method, but require the longest period of time to improve tooth shade and often are not as effective at achieving the whitest smile possible. Over the counter whitening strips are another available method. Whitening strips can improve the shade a reasonable amount but typically only cover the front teeth and are not customized to fit your smile. Individuals with rotated or malpositioned teeth will have a hard time achieving the desired result with the whitening strips as they do not conform to these teeth accurately. Bleaching trays are fabricated at your dental office from impressions taken of your teeth. These customized trays cover all of your teeth completely. You will then be given bleaching material and can expect to see results in a typically case in 1-2 weeks. In office bleaching is the most expensive method and is typically completed in one appointment and as such is an instant way to achieve a bright smile.


Kendall Wood received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Kendall is a member of the American Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Association, and the Southern Willamette Dental Society. You can visit his dental practice website at http://www.corvallisdental.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kendall_Wood



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6267014

Are Cheap Dental Veneers Covered by Insurance?

Dental veneers are mostly cosmetic, and because of this there are many dental insurance companies that simply will not cover you for having this procedure done. If you want a cheap and simple solution you may want to take a look at discount dental plans, which will often give you big discounts of up to 50% on cosmetic dentistry like braces, teeth whitening and often porcelain veneers.

Before we go any further it is important to understand what a veneer actually is. We know that in furniture it is used to go on the surface of a table to give it a nice shiny appearance even if the old exterior was worn. In the same way, our teeth can be discolored, chipped, and broken, and a dental veneer is a way of covering all of that with a lovely looking surface made to look very natural.

Some things to be care about before getting veneers:

Before the dentists can apply the veneer he needs to scrape away a layer of the enamel on your teeth. This may cause your teeth to be extra sensative to hot and cold, so if they are already very sensative you may want to consult with your dentist first. Also, this process is not reversible. So once you go through with it there is no way to undo the treatment. It is bonded to your teeth and made to last, which is a good thing because you don't want them coming off anyway.

The benefits of dental veneers:

You can have whiter teeth and healthier looking teeth with a simple porcelain veneer, and they look very natural. The porcelain will not cause any problems with your gums, and these veneers can help extend shortened teeth and even change the shape of them. Unlike crowns, they are a little cheaper and when properly done, will provide many years of beautiful smiles.

Check with your insurance company first:

Because many insurance companies will not cover dental veneers because it is cosmetic in most cases you will want to call them up to be certain. The last thing you need is to be stuck with a big bill that you will not be compensated for.


You may be able to get cheap dental veneers by checking out these dental plans. They offer big discounts on all kinds of dental treatments and can even pay for things like braces and teeth whitening.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Richards



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2464394