Monthly Archives: September 2012

Does Invisalign Work for Adults?

If you have misaligned teeth, teeth with spaces between them, or malocclusion, your cosmetic dentist might recommend Invisalign. Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that serves as an alternative to traditional braces. It can be used to move teeth into their proper position over a period of time, and offers several advantages over metal braces. [pullquote]Anyone with teeth that need to be moved into a more optimal position can benefit from Invisalign treatment.[/pullquote]

Who Can Use Invisalign?

Anyone with teeth that need to be moved into a more optimal position can benefit from Invisalign treatment. Although braces are typically thought of as a treatment for adolescents, adults can also benefit from orthodontic treatment. Your cosmetic dentist can determine if your goals can be met with Invisalign. Although Invisalign can correct a wide range of orthodontic and cosmetic issues, in some cases other treatments might provide a better result.

For a successful treatment, you must be able to wear your Invisalign trays for twenty-two hours every day. They are to be worn during the daytime as well as overnight, and should be removed for eating and for drinking any beverage other than water.  Proper care of your trays is vital to a successful result.

How Invisalign Works

Instead of using rubber bands attached to metal braces affixed to the teeth, Invisalign uses custom made, clear trays made of plastic to gradually shift your teeth into the proper position. Each tray is slightly different than the previous tray, gently moving your teeth a short distance at a time. The trays are carefully constructed by your cosmetic dentist to bring you a little closer to your final goal.

In general, you’ll wear each tray for about two weeks. After the first four to six weeks, you’ll start to see results. Because you can remove your trays, you’ll be able to get a good look at how your new, perfect smile is progressing.

After you’ve reached the last tray, you will have reached your goal for a straight, properly aligned smile. You’ll then need to wear a retainer periodically to be sure your teeth don’t move back to their original, misaligned position.

If you are considering the Invisalign treatment and would like to know the first steps to take, contact the doctor family Dentistry in Littleton Colorado today to schedule an appointment.

Broaden Narrow Smiles with Veneers

An attractive, healthy looking smile extends far beyond the health of your mouth; indeed, many people believe that brushing and flossing is all it takes to ensure that a winning smile stays that way.

However, not everyone is blessed with perfect teeth, and for most people, there are some imperfections we would want to address – from staining and discoloration, to widening a narrow smile. Developments in cosmetic dentistry, however, mean that a huge range of treatments – from veneers to teeth whitening and dental implants – are available to address most concerns a person might have with their smile. [pullquote]Veneers are typically constructed from thin porcelain, and they can be customized to fit the patients mouth in a range of ways, from size to coloration so that a narrow smile can be broadened with ease.[/pullquote]

For a narrow smile, where the smile appears constricted due to the teeth pointing down or inwards towards the interior of the mouth while the front teeth point outwards and so appearing more prominent, is an ideal candidate for improvement by a cosmetic dentist, and a popular method of widening this type of smile is through the use of veneers. Veneers are small, thin shells that are affixed onto existing teeth by a cosmetic dentist in such a fashion that they can alter the look of the patient’s smile to produce desired results and appearance.

Veneers are typically constructed from thin porcelain, and they can be customized to fit the patients mouth in a range of ways, from size to coloration so that a narrow smile can be broadened with ease. Teeth can appear realigned, or appear longer or fuller through the use of a simple, yet highly effective technique.

A cosmetic dentist removes a small amount of a patient’s tooth enamel in preparation for the tooth to receive the veneer; dental imprints are taken and the veneers are then manufactured according to the desired result in a dental lab. Once the veneers have been delivered back to the dentist, he bonds the veneers into place on top of the teeth to produce the enhanced smile.

The end result is not just a smile that is more attractive, but also natural looking as the veneers are translucent; allowing the teeth’s natural color to shine through.

Veneers can be used to treat other smile anomalies too, not just narrow smiles – teeth that are slightly misaligned, severely stained teeth or damaged teeth can all be treated with dental veneers, so whatever imperfection your smile might have, there’s an excellent chance a cosmetic dentist can address your concerns through the use of dental veneers.

To find out if you are a candidate for dental veneers, contact Governor’s Park Dental Group serving Denver CO today to schedule your personal consultation.

Clenching Teeth: Am I still a Candidate for Dental Implants?

dental implants CoquitlamDental implants are permanent, artificial tooth roots that are used to replace lost teeth. The artificial roots fuse with the jawbone, and are then covered with a cap that is color-matched to the rest of the teeth. Dental implants are low-maintenance, and look and feel like natural teeth.

Not everyone is an automatic candidate for dental implants, however. Patients with existing bone loss in the jaw may require bone grafts so the jaw can support the implants. Patients who grind their teeth will also need to take steps to correct their habit.

Grinding or clenching of the teeth, also known as bruxism, exerts large amounts of pressure on the implants. This is especially true of people who clench their jaws at night. The unconscious person clenches much more tightly than a person who is awake, which can do extra harm.

Clenching your jaw when you have dental implants can cause the bone surrounding the dental implant to erode. Bone loss could lead to possible implant failure, where the post itself comes loose and no longer supports the cap or crown.

If the implants are supporting dentures, the clenching of the jaw can cause them to crack or break in half. The pressure from bruxism can also cause the artificial tooth covering the implant to chip, crack, or break.

Suffering from bruxism does not automatically rule you out as a candidate for a dental implant. Your implant dentist will have to assess the state of your jawbone to see if the pressure has caused any bone loss. He will also be able to determine the severity of the clenching.

The dentist might be able to create a custom night guard for you, depending on your particular situation. The night guard will help to correct your bite while you sleep, and will cushion your teeth and jaw from the pressure caused by bruxism. With correct use of a night guard, a patient who clenches his jaw may successfully undergo dental implant treatment.

To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, contact the Coquitlam office of Dr. Bernard Jin at 604-229-2824 and schedule your consultation today.

Can Women with Osteoporosis Still Get Dental Implants?

Osteoporosis is often a concern for older patients, especially women. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone tissue weakens, leading to brittle bones and increased risk of fracture. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and wish to have dental implants, it is very important that you consult with your implant dentist to evaluate your individual eligibility for the procedure.

How Do I Know if I Can Have Implants?

An implant dentist will be able to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. He will evaluate your overall health, the health of your gums and jawbone, and take into account other aspects of your situation to be sure you have the best possible chance of a successful implant procedure. Some considerations before having implants placed include:

•    Presence of gum disease
•    Strength and volume of bone tissue
•    Medications you may be taking to treat osteoporosis
•    Presence of systemic problems such as a suppressed immune system or diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you might still be able to get implants. If osteoporosis has affected other parts of your body, it might not necessarily have caused decrease in jawbone mass or degradation of these tissues. However, certain medications used to treat osteoporosis can decrease the likelihood of a successful implant procedure.

What Medications Can Affect an Implant Procedure?

A certain class of medication used for treating osteoporosis can cause complications to implant placement or other dental surgery. These drugs, called biphosphonates, keep the body from reabsorbing bone tissue, but they also appear to affect your ability to heal after a dental implant procedure Biphosphonates can increase the risk of biphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw, also known as BONJ. When BONJ occurs, the bone tissue actually begins to die due to insufficient blood supply.

If you have osteoporosis and are , call the doctor Family Dentistry, serving Highlands Ranch and neighboring areas, today to speak with our dedicated team of dentists to determine what treatment options are best for your individual needs.

A Healthy Body and Healthy Smile Go Hand in Hand

Denver dentistsLouis Armstrong once sang ‘Smile and the whole world smiles with you’, and never a truer word was spoken. Smiling is a great reliever of stress, and a hugely important factor in our attractiveness to others. It’s a proven fact that smiling not only makes us feel better about ourselves, but also those around us and keeping our smiles healthy is one reason why so many people are encouraged by dentists to make the effort to visit regularly.

But a healthy mouth is not just intrinsic to the way we look, it can also have a positive effect on our overall state of health. While keeping our teeth clean with regular brushing and flossing, and visits to a dentist helps to ensure our smiles remain bright and attractive, good oral hygiene reduces the risk of developing serious illness in other areas.

This is especially true of the heart; the most vital of organs can be badly affected by chronic gum disease, as plaque build-up – a major factor in gum disease – can stretch underneath gum tissue and allow bacteria to enter the blood stream where it binds with fat proteins. These proteins can build up, leading to clogged arteries which can obstruct the flow of blood around the body and could eventually trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Poor oral hygiene and health has been attributed to infections in other parts of the body too, and research into links between infection and oral health has revealed links between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis and also memory loss in later years.

Diabetics too can be affected by poor oral health, as the condition often leaves the sufferer with a less efficient auto-immune system, making them more susceptible to infection and so gum disease is often more prevalent in diabetes sufferers.

There are other areas where poor oral health can have an effect on a person’s overall health, including pregnancy so it is important that regular dentist visits are made to address any problems, and also maintaining a strict dental hygiene regime involving brushing with a good toothpaste, flossing regularly and rinsing with mouthwash. Dietary changes can also help effect good dental health.

With good oral health intrinsically linked to good physical health, it has never been more important to visit a dentist – not only to safeguard your smile, but also to safeguard your overall health. Contact our Denver dental team at 303-832-7789 to schedule your next visit.

Eat the Foods You Want With Dental Implants

If you are missing teeth, even if you have dentures, it can be difficult to eat some of your favorite foods. This is especially true of chewy or sticky foods, or foods such as corn on the cob that require more biting pressure from your front teeth. Dentures often do not adhere well enough to make it easy to eat these foods. Dental implants, however, allow you to eat the same foods you were able to eat with your natural teeth. [pullquote]One of the major advantages of dental implants is that they do not shift or move in the mouth.[/pullquote]

Why Are Implants Better Than Dentures?

One of the major advantages of dental implants is that they do not shift or move in the mouth. Although well-fitted dentures stay relatively stable, they can become loose and can sometimes shift in the mouth. Pressure on the front teeth can cause the entire plate to pop loose. Many denture wearers avoid foods like apples or corn on the cob to avoid this possibility.

Implants, however, are firmly rooted in the jawbone. While dentures sit on the gums, implants have a root portion made of titanium that bond with the bone. Because of this bonding, implants are immobile and secure in the mouth. They also help keep your jawbone healthy, stimulating the regeneration of bone tissue every time you chew.

Making the Choice for Implants

If you are considering implants, your first step should be to consult with an implant dentist to discuss how the implant procedure works and evaluate whether you are a good candidate for the surgery.

Some people might not be a good candidate for implant surgery. Your dentist might not recommend implants if:

•    You have diabetes or another systemic problem that affects healing
•    You lack sufficient bone mass to support implants
•    You have severe gum disease that must be treated first

If you lack sufficient bone mass, bone grafts can help create a sufficient foundation for your implants. Gum disease should be treated before implants are placed to prevent possible failure of the procedure.

For more information or to find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, contact the doctor Family Dentistry, serving Columbine and surrounding areas, today to schedule an informative consultation.

Are there any side effects from teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a common procedure available to most people, to brighten a smile dulled by everyday life. Some people choose to do teeth whitening at home via a range of home whitening kits that are available from most drug stores. Others choose professional treatment, carried out by a cosmetic dentist.

Home treatment kits come complete with a ready-mixed bleaching agent and a mouth tray that is filled with the bleaching agent and then worn for a period of time. Results from home treatment kits are generally good, but treatment can take a while before the desired brightness is achieved. [pullquote]…professional teeth whitening yields often far better results than is available through over-the-counter kits.[/pullquote]

Having the treatment done professionally by a cosmetic dentist allows for the bleaching agent to be carefully formulated taking into account the level of discoloration on the patient’s teeth and the desired result, and also allows for the applicator tray used in administering the treatment to be molded to fit the patient’s bite.

As a consequence, professional teeth whitening yields often far better results than is available through over-the-counter kits.

Tooth whitening is a safe, effective and painless treatment, regardless of the method chosen. However, anyone undergoing treatment to brighten their smiles should be aware that there is a possibility of heightened tooth sensitivity for a period of time after treatment has concluded.

Other side-effects of the treatment may include slight discomfort in the gums. These are often attributed to the bleaching agent coming into contact with the soft tissues of the mouth and are often caused by ill-fitting applicator trays.

However, the good news about these side-effects is that their duration is temporary, and it won’t be long until things return to normal and you can begin to enjoy a whiter smile.

Contact [PRACTICE NAME HERE] in [CITY NAME HERE] to learn more about your options for a brighter smile.