My Cosmetic Dental

What are your tooth whitening options?

2008-07-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

What are your tooth whitening options? There are actually two routes to go, in office or at home. Both methods are effective but you need to decide if you would rather spend an hour or so at the dentist or have a couple quick dentist visits then do the treatment at home over a 3 day period. Another thing to consider is that some in office methods take special equipment so you need to see what your dentist is set up for. All of the methods produce similar results.

This is a guide that is here to inform you of the options available and what is involved but remember that everyone’s teeth are different so to decide on the best option for you ask your dentist.

In home method:

The in home method includes two short visits to the dentist then 3 days at home. On the first visit the dentist takes an impression of your mouth. The dentist then uses the impressions to make two trays, one for the upper teeth and one for the bottom. These trays are very thin and almost invisible. They can be worn during the day or at night.

On the second visit the trays are given to the patient and tested for a proper fit then the dentist shows how to apply the prescription quality gel into the tray. This gel is stronger than the tooth whiteners you would buy over the counter.
At home the patient will wear the trays for several hours a day for three days. By the end of the treatment the teeth should be noticeably whiter.

The patient usually experiences some sensitivity for a couple days after the treatment.

This treatment usually runs around $500.

In office methods:

Zoom Whitening:

Zoom Whitening is about a 1 hour in office treatment. The Dentist first places a retractor in the mouth to pull the lips away from the teeth. The “Zoom” whitening gel is then applied to the teeth. A bright light is then shone on the mouth for about an hour. The gel is activated buy the light that whitens the teeth.

The patient may have some sensitivity for a couple days.

The cost of this treatment runs about $500.

Bright Smile:

This is also about a 1 hour treatment. A gentle hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to the teeth then activated by shining a special light onto the mouth. This is a gentle “Blue Spectrum” light which is patented by Bright Smile. The blue light is wavelength matched to the gel so it can whiten and brighten your smile.

The patient may have some sensitivity for a couple days.

This treatment costs about $500.

Rembrandt:

Rembrandt is a 1 hour in office treatment that can whiten teeth up to 10 shades. A bleaching gel ( Rembrandt Virtuoso Lightening Gel) is places on the teeth. A “Rembrandt Sapphire light” is the shone on the mouth for about an hour.

Rembrandt claims that this treatment will prevent renewed stains, yellowing & dulling.

After this treatment you may experience some sensitivity for a couple days.

This treatment costs about $500.

Are you a candidate for tooth whitening?

The candidate for tooth whitening is anyone with stained, yellowed or discolored teeth that wants a brighter smile. The real question is which candidates will have the best results.

The candidates that will see the most dramatic change will be those whose teeth are discolored due to age, drinking coffee, tea, red wine or cola. If your teeth are stained from smoking or gray due to taking certain medications you will see improvement but not as extreme.

How to get discounts on cosmetic dentistry:

Tooth whitening and all cosmetic dental treatments are expensive. To make matters worse dental insurance pays for nothing considered cosmetic. This means you have to pay 100% out of your own pocket.

There is now a plan that can save you 50% or more off all your dental care, including Cosmetic Dentistry. To see more go to How to save money on cosmetic dentistry.

What are Lumineers and are they right for you?

2008-07-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

What are Lumineers? They are a type of porcelain veneers made from a special, very hard porcelain. This allows Lumineers to be much thinner than regular veneers, about as thick as a contact lens.

The process of getting lumineers is much the same as traditional veneers.

1. The dentist makes an impression of your mouth then discusses the options with the patient. Together you decide on the perfect smile for you.
2. The dentist sends the impression to the lab with specific instruction on what is wanted.
3. The lab produces a wax model called a “Wax up” and sends it back to the dentist.
4. When the wax model arrives the dentist and patient look over the wax up and make any changes they feel are necessary.
5. Once the model is approved the lab starts to produce the final product. This takes about 3 – 4 weeks.
6. The dentist then makes another impression and makes temporaries for the patient to wear
until the real ones arrive.
7. The teeth are prepared which involves grinding down the teeth. (Lumineers claim that no grinding is needed but if this isn’t done it could result in problems.)
· If the teeth are not ground down the veneers may look unnatural. Certain conditions are the exception.
· Without grinding down the teeth it could leave an unnatural space at the top of the tooth. Here you could have tooth decay of gum problems.
· Without roughing up the enamel the veneer will not bond as well.
8. When the Lumineers arrive the temporaries are removed and the final product put on.
9. A few days after the Lumineers are put on they may need to be adjusted to provide a more comfortable bite or fit. This is perfectly normal.

Who is the candidate for Lumineers. They can be used for treatments from complete smile reconstructions to things like crooked tooth, gaps between teeth, chipped or cracked teeth and stained or discolored teeth.

So how much do Lumineers cost? Regular porcelain veneers run about $975 - $2,200 per tooth depending on what part of the country you are in. Lumineers are about 25% less.

Even though Lumineers cast less than traditional veneers they are still expensive and when doing your entire smile it can add up fast. To make it worse dental insurance doesn’t pay for cosmetic dentistry. This means you get to pay 100% out of your pocket.

There is a new solution called Dental Plus. For only $19.95 / mo. per household you can save 50% or more on all your cosmetic dentistry.

To see how you can save money go to "How to save money on cosmetic dentistry".

What are Porcelain veneers & are they right for you?

2008-07-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

What are Porcelain Veneers & are they right for you?

What are Porcelain Veneers? They are thin shells of fired porcelain that are placed on the front side of the teeth. Often known as instant orthodontics veneers offer a natural look and feel and they are strong & versatile. Veneers also resist staining to keep a white smile for a long time.

Porcelain veneers are used for a variety of smile enhancements from complete makeover to more specific flaws like stained or discolored teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, crooked teeth and even gaps between teeth.

The process takes several visits and starts with an exam followed by a discussion about the options and the type of smile you would like. The dentist then takes an impression of your mouth and sends it to the lab which makes the veneers with precise instructions.

The lab produces a wax model called a “Wax up” that shows how your smile will look. The dentist and patient will examine the model and either approve it or request changes. Once a model is settled on the lab starts to produce the final product. This takes 3 – 4 weeks.

While waiting for the veneers the dentist makes temporaries. To do this the dentist first makes another impression then make the temporaries. The next step is to grind the teeth down a little. This is done for several reasons.
· Shape the teeth so the veneers fit right. If the teeth aren’t taken down the veneers will
stick out to far and look unnatural.
· The adhesive will stick better to a surface that has been roughed up.

After the veneers come in the temporaries will be removed and the final product bonded to the teeth. After a few days the veneers may need to be adjusted to provide a more comfortable bite or fit. This is perfectly normal.

Porcelain veneers aren’t cheep. They run from $975 to $2,200 per veneer depending on the part of the country you live in. This leaves many torn between the facts that they would really love to improve their smile but they simply can’t afford the cost. There are options that can save you 50% or more off the cost of the procedure.

To see how you can save money on cosmetic dentistry go to "How to save money on cosmetic dentistry."

HOW TO SAVE MONEY on Cosmetic Dentistry

2008-07-18T21:00:00.001-07:00

ARE YOU WITHOUT INSURANCE?

DO YOU NEED TREATMENT INSURANCE WONT PAY FOR?

There is a plan that can help you!

CBS News recently reported that more than 100 Million Americans are without dental insurance. This is an epedemic that is puting the United States behind the rest of the world in dental care. Why are there so many people without insurance? There are several common answers to that question.

Due to the rising cost of insurance fewer businesses are able to offer benefits or require employees to foot part of the cost. Many people who are on tight budgets can't afford the extra cost.
Dental Insurance has limits on the annual benefit. Usually somewhere around $1,000. (If you are getting more than minor treatment this wont go very far.) Many people find such a low limit to be useless and not worth the monthly expence.
Dental Insurance wont cover anything considered Cosmetic. We need healthy teeth but one of the most inportant parts of out dental care is how our teeth look.

There is a new plan called "Dental Plus" That can save you up tp 80% off all your dental care, INCLUDING COSMETIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS. Some of the great features are...

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NO HIGHER RATES DUE TO AGE OR PHYSICAL CONDITION.
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COSMETIC DENTAL TREATMENTS & FACTS

2008-07-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

In today’s world making a good first impression is important. Whether you are going on a job interview, sales call or a first date people draw conclusions about you by your appearance. One of the most important parts of how you look is your smile. There is a number of procedures you can get but what are they and are they right for your smile. Here are the facts about some of the most common treatments.

ORTHODONTICS:

This is the most common cosmetic procedure. Braces have become a normal part of childhood & today there are even many adults who were unable to correct their teeth as children that get braces to fix their smile.

The average treatment is 1 – 2 years and can easily run $5,000 or more. The treatment can cause tenderness in the mouth, especially after the braces are tightened.

The purpose of orthodontics is to straighten teeth, remove gaps and place them correctly in the mouth.

For a list of common questions and answers go to Abella Dental

Veneers & Crowns

PORCELAIN VENEERS:

This is a treatment that has become a popular way to correct the appearance of Crooked, Uneven, Chipped or Broken, or Discolored teeth. The most common candidate has front teeth that may be healthy but don’t have the desired straight white appearance.

The procedure is about 1 hour per tooth and requires 3 visits. The cost runs from $975 to $2,200 depending on where in the country you are. There is no down time off work for this procedure.

For more information go to What are Porcelain veneers

For more facts on Porcelain Veneers go to My New Smile

PORCELAIN CROWNS:

These are very similar to Porcelain Veneers but are for teeth that require a crown,

The time and cost are very similar to veneers. $950 to $2,200 per tooth.

For more facts on Percelain Crowns go to My New Smile

WHITE FILLINGS FOR BACK TEETH:

This is for those who don’t want metal fillings in the back of their mouths

The time is about the same as a regular filling but is a little more expensive.
· For a 1 surface filling $150 - $250
· For a 2 surface filling $200 - $400
· For a 3 surface filling $250 - $500

Missing Teeth

BRIDGES (Dental Partials):

The ideal candidate for this is someone with a missing tooth or teeth. This is less intrusive and less expensive than an implant and is considered permanent.

The treatment is usually 1 – 2 hours and requires 2 visits. The average cost is around $750.

DENTAL IMPLANTS:

This is also for those with a missing tooth or teeth but don’t want to mess with a bridge. This process is more intrusive and requires the implant be connected to the bone but after it is in there you don’t need to remove it for cleaning.

The entire treatment takes 5 – 6 months but usually only 2 visits. The cost is $3,000 per tooth.

DENTURES:

This is another option for a missing tooth or teeth. This is considered a long lasting fix but does require special cleaning.

The treatment requires 1 – 2 hours and 2 – 4 visits. The cost is about $1,150.

For more information on Bridges, Implants & Dentures go to Locate a Doc

Mouth Restructuring

FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCION / REHABILITATION:

The candidate for this needs complete reconstruction of all teeth, often to relieve pain or discomfort. (This term is sometimes used for less severe cases.) Though it is used to relieve pain it is considered “cosmetic”. It is a permanent procedure but additional repair work may be needed in the future. This treatment will leave you with a 3 – 5 day downtime for recovery.

The treatment requires 2 – 5 visits of several hours each. You will need to sit down before you hear the price, $30,000.

TOOTH CONTOURING & RESHAPING:

The candidate for this is someone with Gaps between teeth or Crooked or Cracked teeth. It is a permanent processes with no downtime for recovery.

This treatment requires one visit with 15 – 30 minutes & $200 per tooth.

GUM RECONTOURING / SHAPING:

For those who have overgrown gums or a “Gummy” smile. This is basically cutting away the extra gum that has overgrown on the teeth.

This treatment takes one 1 – 2 hour visit and runs about $200.

To learn more about Mouth Restructuing go to Locate a Doc

Whitening

BRITE SMILE:

The candidate for this will have Stained, Yellowed, or Discolored teeth. It is a long lasting solution and have no down time.

This requires one, 1 hour, visit and runs about $500.

REMBRANDT WHITENING:

This is also for those with Stained, Yellowed or Discolored teeth and is a long lasting solution.

The treatment is one, 1 hour, visit that runs about $500. There is no down time.

TOOTH WHITENING:

Another treament available for Stained, Yellowed or Discolored teeth. It is a long lasting treatment that has no down time.

This requires one, 1 hour, office visit and several hours at home over three days. This is about $500.

ZOOM! WHITENING:

For Stained, yellowed or Discolored teeth. This is considered a long lasting treatment.

Requires one, 1 hour office visit and runs about $500. There is no down time.

ZOOM! 2 WHITENING:

For Stained, Yellowed or Discolored teeth. This is a long lasting treatment.

Requires on 1, 1 hour, office visit and costs $500.

To get more details on the different types of tooth Whitening go to Locate a Doc

For more info go to "What are your tooth whitening options"