Fix Your Smile with Tooth Bonding

Is there something quirky—like a chipped tooth or rounded teeth—about your smile that bothers you? Do something about it with dental bonding. Dental bonding can help fix many different tooth-related issues, including fix or improve the natural shape of your teeth. If your teeth are showing signs of tooth decay, are naturally rounded or if you chipped one of your teeth years ago and never fixed it, ask your dentist about dental bonding.

So how does dental bonding work? Essentially, it is a material that covers the front of the tooth. The bonding material can be used to shape and fill missing areas in your teeth. Once they are put in place, a light is applied to make the material harden. Lastly, they are polished! Dental bonding can restore your confidence in your smile so that you will willingly show off your pearly whites every chance you get!

So what are you waiting for? Ask your dentist about dental bonding and get the tooth quirk that has been bothering you fixed once and for all. Dental bonding can repair chipped, cracked and discolored teeth and also replace silver amalgam fillings for a straighter, uniform smile!

Why to get Invisalign

Why Straighten Teeth?

Straight teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems.

It contributes to self-esteem, self-confidence and self-image - important qualities at every age. A pleasing appearance is a vital component of self-confidence. A person's self-esteem often improves as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as well as improve a person’s general attitude toward life.

You may be surprised to learn that straight teeth are less prone to decay, gum disease and injury. Straight teeth collect less plaque, a colorless, sticky film composed of bacteria, food and saliva. Decay results when the bacteria in plaque feed on carbohydrates (sugar and starch) we eat or drink to produce acids that can cause cavities. Plaque can also increase the risk for periodontal (gum) disease. When teeth are properly aligned, and less plaque collects, these risks decline. And when teeth are properly aligned it is easier to keep teeth clean. As for injuries to teeth, protruding upper teeth are more likely to be broken in an accident. When repositioned and aligned with other teeth, these teeth are most probably going to be at a decreased risk for fracture.


Untreated orthodontic problems may become worse. They may lead to tooth decay, gum disease , destruction of the bone that holds teeth in place, and chewing and digestive difficulties. Orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces , inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints, sometimes leading to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. Treatment by an orthodontist to correct a problem early may be less costly than the restorative dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.

©2006 American Association of Orthodontists

Dental Implants

Over 15 years ago I lost one of my teeth due to an unexplained decay of one of my roots. My dentist explained that sometimes the body attacks itself and that is why my root had decayed and had subsequently resulted in the necessity of removing my molar. So, after much drilling and poking and prodding and pressure as if my mouth were a construction site, my tooth was removing. I was told at that time that I should either get a bridge or a dental implant Pennsylvania. I thought that might be a good idea and that I should probaby do it, but then I heard the price tag. Needless to say, cheapskate that I am, I still have a gaping hole in my mouth and have learned to live without my tooth.

Being a cheapskate I finally got my implant 15 years later. I learned a great deal about the difference between a bridge and an implant and I can tell you that the difference is worth it. A bridge is less expensive, but you ruin 2 good teath on either side of your missing tooth and that seems counterproductive. And the pain that I had anticipated turned out to be minimal. I expected to be on vicodine for days, but, with minimal anti-inflamatories I recovered a few days later. In retrospect, I wish I had gotten the dental implant after the tooth was drilled when my insurance was willing to cover it.

So, the moral of the story is that if you have a missing tooth - get a dental impant. It looks and feels like a real tooth once the crown is put on and it leaves all your teath intact.

Crown Lengthening Procedure

The procedure of crown lengthening is used to make a tooth appear longer by removing either gum tissue, bone, or both. Before the procedure even takes place you will need to have a consultation with your general dentist. This will allow your dentist to review medical history and x-rays, as well as set a date for surgery.

Do not let the word surgery scare you from this procedure either. Crown lengthening is a fairly common procedure that can be done with local anesthesia. Once a patient is numbed, a small incision will be made around the teeth that need crown lengthening. Next the extra gum tissue will be carefully pulled back from the tooth so that the supporting bone is exposed. This will allow access to the root of the teeth.

The gums position is then molded to form a better position on the tooth and perfectly shaped to make sure both sides are even and look the same. Once the gum has been peeled back and the dentist is sure enough of the tooth structure is revealed the area will be rinsed with sterile salt water and the flaps will be stitched back together.

After the crown lengthening procedure is performed teeth will look longer because the gums are now sitting at a lower level. Usually this procedure can be done in one visit, but will vary in time depending how many teeth need the surgery. To keep the swelling down after surgery ice can be applied to your face and in 7 to 10 day the sutures can be removed.

Benefits of Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a procedure that involves the removal of gum tissue, bone, or both to make a tooth appear longer. This procedure can be used for aesthetic needs but is also used for tooth restoration.

When a tooth needs to be restored, usually a filling or a crown is used. Sometimes there is not enough tooth structure above the gum line to create a solid foundation for a filling or a crown. This can happen when a tooth is fractured at the gum line. There is also a lack of support from the tooth if there is extensive decay, which reduces the remaining healthy tooth area. To be able to continue with the tooth restoration by using a filling or a crown a dentist must first expose more of the tooth by removing tissue or bone. A patient will benefit by this crown lengthening procedure because now more of the tooth is unveiled allowing to help as an anchor for the future restorative work.

Crown lengthening can also be used to make a smile more aesthetically pleasing. This procedure can be used to correct “gummy smile”. A smile can be referred to as a “gummy smile” when an unusually large amount of gum tissue shows around the upper part of the teeth making teeth look shorter. This type of smile can make some people embarrassed and be afraid to smile. By getting the crown lengthening procedure patients with a “gummy smile” can get their gum line repositioned which will not only improve their smile but also improves the contours of their face.

Whether you need crown lengthening in preparation for restorative work, or for esthetics reason the great advantage of this procedure is that it can be performed in one visit. After a simple anesthetic the excess gum tissue will be removed to expose more of the tooth.

Damaged Dental Crowns

Mt. Vernon Dental crowns are supposed to last you approximately ten years. But it’s no guarantee—food impaction and other forces can damage and impair your dental crown’s ability to function properly.

What Is A Dental Crown?

A Mt. Vernon dental crown is a cap placed over your tooth in order to prevent further fracture or decay, strengthen a weakened tooth, and provide the means for a tooth to function properly.

Depending on your dentist and cosmetic goals, your dental crown could be made of:

· Porcelain: The most aesthetically pleasing dental crown, but is not nearly as durable, thus confining its placement to lesser used areas of the mouth

· Porcelain-fused-to-metal: Stronger and more durable than pure porcelain

· Gold: The most durable but least desired due to cosmetic concerns

How My Dental Crown Can Be Damaged?

Your Mt. Vernon dental crown lifespan can be seriously compromised if you indulge in the wrong habits. Providing the appropriate post-treatment care and being conscious of the fact that your artificial tooth will always be weaker than your real ones can go miles.

This includes:

· Not chewing on inedible objects like ice, pen caps and fingernails
· Brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush
· Use a non-abrasive toothpaste
· Stop grinding and clenching your teeth. If this habit is sub-conscious, wear a mouth guard while you sleep
· Return to your dentist for frequent cleanings

Beware Of Plaque Buildup

Your dental crown will be custom designed to fit your tooth. However, the area around your dental crown where the gum meets the tooth can easily gather plaque. Use floss or specially shaped brushes to remove all plaque from this area, or you risk ruining your dental crown and gum disease.

Your Options for Dental Crowns

There are three kinds of commonly used Mt. Vernon dental crowns:

•Porcelain
•Porcelain-fused-to-metal
•Gold

Depending on your cosmetic goals, financial restrictions, and oral health needs, you can discuss with your dentist the most appropriate route for you.

Porcelain

Mt. Vernon Porcelain dental crowns (also known as all-ceramic) are the most aesthetically pleasing and natural looking dental crown, as it is completely metal-free. However, there are drawbacks, such as it is not as strong or durable as its counterparts and thus should not be used in heavily used areas of the mouth.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal

Mt. Vernon Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are the most commonly used dental crowns today. They are more durable than pure porcelain and remain a very natural looking option. However, as time peels back your gum line, more of the metal collar will show.

Gold

While not as popular as porcelain dental crowns, gold crowns are still used today under specific circumstances. For instance, if a patient grinds or clenches their teeth, gold crowns are the best route as they are more durable than porcelain options. Additionally, they provide more longevity than their porcelain counterparts.

Dental Crowns

Has extensive wear and tear damaged your tooth to the point that its functionality is compromised? Than you need to consider a dental crown. A dental crown is essentially a cap placed over your tooth to:

•Prevent further damage
•Serve as a shell for a cracked tooth
•Replace a crown
•Allow a damaged tooth to regain functionality

Do I Need A Mt. Vernon Dental Crown?

While options such as Mt. Vernon porcelain veneers are another route you can take to prevent further tooth decay or repair a damaged tooth, if excessive damage has compromised your oral health, dental crowns are your only course of action. This is because unlike other smile restoration procedures, dental crowns provide a more fortified foundation for your teeth. Instances when this is required are:

•You're the victim of periodontal disease, which would automatically disqualify you for porcelain veneers
•Grinding or clenching your teeth
•Major decay has eroded the foundation of your teeth
•Significant shape change is required to meet your goals

What's The Procedure Like?

If you experience dental anxiety, many dental offices now practice sedation dentistry to alleviate any stress you may experience. However, compared to other smile restoration options, the Mt. Vernon dental crown procedure is rather simple and non-invasive: