December 7, 2011

Causes of Tooth Discoloration and Treatment Options

Tooth discoloration is one of the most common reasons people seek cosmetic dentistry. Teeth that are dingy or darkened can make you self-conscious about your smile and detract from an otherwise spotless appearance. Our offices can provide information about cosmetic dentistry in the Fort Worth area, including treatments for tooth discoloration.

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Many factors can lead to tooth discoloration. The most common of these is exposing your teeth to staining agents. Staining agents can include:

  • Foods
  • Beverages
  • Nicotine

Coffee, tea and cigarettes are the most common causes of tooth discoloration. This type of staining affects only the surface of the tooth, discoloring the outer layers of the enamel. Fortunately, this means that it is also easy to treat.

Other causes of tooth discoloration can be more difficult to treat. These include certain drugs, particularly tetracycline, and excessive fluoride. Exposure to these substances during the development of the teeth leads to intrinsic staining—that is, staining that is a part of the internal structure of the tooth. Because intrinsic staining affects more than just the surface layers of the enamel, it is more difficult to treat than extrinsic staining.

Treatment Options for Discolored Teeth

Depending upon the type of staining that affects your teeth, your cosmetic dentist might recommend different types of treatment. Treatment options for discolored teeth include:

  • Surface treatment
  • Deep cleaning treatments
  • Dental veneers

Surface treatment is very effective at removing staining from the outer surfaces of the teeth. Treatment involves painting a bleaching agent on the teeth, then leaving it for a period of time. A typical in-office treatment involves two or three applications of the bleaching agent and lasts about an hour.

Deep cleaning treatments are also applied to the tooth surfaces, but are specially formulated to reach deep into the teeth. These treatments are relatively new, and have proven effective for some types of intrinsic staining. Intrinsic staining that does not respond to surface treatment or deep cleaning treatments are usually best treated with dental veneers.

To find out how your discolored teeth can be restored to their natural color, please contact our Cosmetic & Family Dentistry practice at 817.918.4199 for a consultation or appointment.

February 15, 2011

How Can a Smile Makeover Improve My Smile?

cosmetic dentistry Fort WorthIn the rapidly changing field of cosmetic dentistry, many techniques have been developed to improve the look of your teeth and the overall beauty of your smile. Even if you have a number of problems with your teeth, a combination of procedures, often referred to as a smile makeover, can give you the straight, white, shining smile you’ve always wanted.

What is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover is simply a combination of cosmetic dentistry procedures chosen by a cosmetic dentist specifically to help you meet goals you have set for improving your smile. Some procedures that can be part of a smile makeover include:

  • Porcelain veneers
  • Crowns
  • Invisalign
  • Gum recontouring
  • Tooth whitening

The exact procedures involved in any smile makeover depend entirely upon what issues exist with your teeth and how you wish to correct them. For example, a slight misalignment or small gaps between the teeth might be corrected with porcelain veneers. More serious misalignment, though, might be better remedied with Invisalign or another orthodontic procedure.

Planning Your Smile Makeover

The best way to plan a smile makeover is to make an appointment at a local dental office that provides cosmetic dentistry treatments. During this appointment, you can consult with the dentist and, together, you can determine what the best approach will be for your smile makeover. The dentist will discuss your goals and what you would like your smile to look like, and then will make recommendations for the best procedures to include in a smile makeover. For instance, if you are concerned about discoloration and feel you have an overly “gummy” smile, the dentist might recommend gum recontouring and tooth whitening to meet your goals.

The best thing about a smile makeover is that it is designed just for you. After your smile makeover, you can rest assured that your smile is the best it can be. For more information about smile makeovers and cosmetic dentistry in Fort Worth, please contact our office for a consultation.

October 26, 2010

The facts about dental implants

Until recently, fixed permanent bridges were a patient’s only solution to replace a missing tooth or teeth. But fixed permanent bridges require the removal of healthy tissue from surrounding teeth, and they often need to be replaced a few years down the road. Thanks to modern dental implant technology, Fort Worth cosmetic dentists can offer a better alternative for patients who need to fill a gap in their smiles. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, some 3,000,000 patients have dental implants, and that number is on the rise.

Dental implants involve prosthetics, such as crowns, that are anchored to the jawbone using titanium screws. The screws help to replace the tooth’s missing root structure. Simulating a root helps to preserve the jawbone, which can recede in the absence of a root structure to hold it in place. Another advantage of dental implants is that they stand alone. Unlike fixed bridges, implants don’t require support from nearby teeth.

The dental implant treatment process takes place right in the dentist’s office under a local anesthetic. The screws are placed and then given time, generally three to six months, to heal before the full restoration takes place. While the implants are healing, your cosmetic dentist will provide you with a temporary tooth replacement structure for cosmetic purposes.

Some patients do not have enough bone remaining in their jaw to support implants, and in those cases, the cosmetic dentist must perform a procedure to supplement the bone before the implant can be placed.

Implants look and feel just like natural teeth, and they help patients eat and speak normally. Some tooth replacement alternatives can compromise the ability to chew and alter pronunciation. Dental implants also can last for decades, reducing the need for numerous follow-up procedures.

Dental implants represent just one advance in dentistry that helps patients achieve picture-perfect smiles. Consult a cosmetic dentist to see which other techniques might meet your needs.

September 20, 2010

Am I a candidate for porcelain veneers?

Fort Worth cosmetic dentistryPorcelain veneers, the thin layers of porcelain that help to reshape a patient’s natural teeth, offer a fast and effective way to improve the smile’s appearance. Veneers can be used to address any variety of conditions, such as recessed or protruding teeth, or gaps between teeth.

Nearly any dental patient can use veneers to improve minor smile defects, such as a chipped tooth or a few crooked teeth. If you’re attempting to fix such a problem, then veneers may be a good choice for you. Of course you would need to do your part, too, by maintaining good oral hygiene before, during and after the veneer placement. If your teeth have dark stains, you may need to undergo whitening treatment before getting your veneers, so that those stains do not show through the porcelain layer.

While veneers are often effective, certain cases cannot be resolved by this technique alone. If your smile is affected by excessive crowding or multiple problems, you and your cosmetic dentist will need to work together to consider what other procedures will be needed—such as orthodontic treatment—to make sure that your new veneers achieve the desired effect.

If you’re considering porcelain veneers, consult with a cosmetic dentist to determine how the process will take place. A Fort Worth cosmetic dentistry practice can help you achieve a more beautiful smile.

September 10, 2010

Are Dental Implants Right for Everyone?

Many people who have lost teeth are choosing to have dental implants rather than traditional bridges or dentures. Implants are affixed directly to the jawbone, and feel and look just like your natural teeth. However, in some cases dental implants are not recommended.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

In general, anyone who is in overall good health and wishes to replace missing teeth is a good candidate for dental implants. Before making the final decision, you should consult with your dentist. The dentist will ask you questions about your health history and other issues. Based on this information, he or she will give you a recommendation about whether dental implants are right for you.

Some considerations your cosmetic dentist will take into account include:

  • Chronic illness, including diabetes
  • The health of your gums
  • The amount of supporting bone in your jaw

Even if you are a good candidate for dental implants, the procedure is unlikely to be successful if you are not willing to take meticulous care of your mouth during the healing period in order to maintain the implants and ensure the overall health of your remaining teeth, as well as your gums.

When Implants Are Not the Best Choice

After an evaluation or consultation, you might discover that you are not a good candidate for dental implants. Some issues that might make dental implants less likely to succeed include:

  • If you are a smoker
  • Existing gum disease
  • Existing conditions that slow or compromise healing
  • Degradation of the jawbone, often due to long-term denture use

In these cases, a better choice might be traditional dentures or a bridge used to replace your missing teeth. In the case of necessary lifestyle changes, such as smoking, you might be able to have the dentist reassess your eligibility after smoking cessation. A cosmetic dentist with experience in dental implants in Fort Worth can help you determine if you are a good candidate.