Smile Makeover Near You at Family Dental Care™

Smile Makeover Near You

A smile makeover goes beyond simply responding to dental problems as they arise. It’s a comprehensive smile-rejuvenation plan that’s uniquely suited to your own facial features and aesthetic preferences. The results can be quite dramatic — both in terms of how you will look and how you will feel. These are the major steps involved:

Take a look. The makeover process is all about giving you the smile of your dreams. So, take a good look at your smile and note what you like and don’t like about it. Some questions you can ask yourself are:

• What do you like or dislike about the color, size, shape and spacing of your teeth?
• Are your teeth as white as you’d like them to be? Do you want teeth that are a bright “Hollywood White,” or would you prefer a more natural look with slight color, shape and shade variations?
• Are any teeth chipped, cracked or worn?
• Does your smile have a gummy appearance? Are you pleased with how much your teeth show, both when you smile and when your lips are relaxed?
• Do your teeth seem too large or small?
• Do you like the alignment and spacing of your teeth?
• Are you self-conscious about crookedness or gaps?

The most important job you have as a member of your own smile makeover team is to communicate exactly what you don’t like about your smile and how you’d like it to be different. Before the first consultation, give some thought to above questions.

Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder… and that’s you! Some people want their smile to look “perfect” — and to them, that means completely straight, uniformly white teeth. Others like a slightly more natural look, and are not displeased by slight gaps or shade variations. There are lots of decisions to make, but don’t worry — dentists are skilled at helping you sort it all out!

Share your thoughts. Communication is an extremely important part of the smile makeover process. At the first makeover consultation, it helps if you describe what you would like to change in as much detail as possible. Bring along pictures of smiles you like, or of how your own smile used to look. Your makeover dentist will have some thoughts to share with you as well because dentists are trained to look at smiles in terms of facial balance. In other words, a dentist will look not only at how the elements of a smile (teeth, lips, and gums) relate to each other but also how they blend in with the face as a whole.

Make a plan. An important part of planning a smile makeover is a comprehensive dental exam. Cosmetic dentistry offers an amazing array of lifelike tooth restorations and treatments; but first, any conditions in your mouth that may jeopardize a good result must be taken care of. If your teeth are discolored, for example, the reason must be determined. You may have an underlying dental disease that needs to be treated before whitening your teeth; otherwise, the whitening may not last. Likewise, if you often drink red wine or other beverages that stain, you might do better with porcelain veneers than bleaching treatments.

Try it out. A smile makeover is an investment that is meant to last. That’s why many of the procedures performed are irreversible. So if you are contemplating some changes, it’s a great idea to try them out before you fully commit to them. There are many ways to preview the results: computer imaging, 3-D models, and even placing temporary restorations on your teeth so you can see what the final results will look and feel like in your own mouth. This also allows a fine-tuning of the makeover plan.

A “trial smile” is a great way to eliminate unknowns in the makeover process. But when it’s all done, there’s still one thing you may not be prepared for: how great it feels to flash your new smile to the world!

Book your next appointment at www.FamilyDentalCare.com

Enamel-Friendly Foods for Your Teeth

The enamel of your tooth is extremely hard. It is also your first line of defense against cavities. Wouldn’t it be a shame if your diet weakened the enamel of your teeth throughout your mouth and subsequently caused a spread of cavities and tooth sensitivity? Obviously. So, in order to keep your teeth healthy, it is important to include enamel-friendly foods and avoid enamel-damaging foods as best as you can.

Foods That Damage Enamel

The biggest enemy of tooth enamel is acid. Acid corrodes slowly away at your tooth enamel, damaging it. As the enamel disappears, your teeth become vulnerable to decay and infection. The enamel naturally defends your teeth from the plaque that builds up.

Some foods that are high in acids and can be damaging to your teeth are soda, fruit juice, flavored water, sugary snacks and soft foods like cake, cookies, chips, and crackers, and citrus fruit. These foods aren’t just bad because they are acidic, but also because they are full of sugar and can stick to the crevices of your teeth for a long time. Have you ever had a sugary treat like a donut and noticed small bits of bread in the crevices of your molar teeth? It seems harmless enough, just pick it out or rinse your mouth out with water, right?

Unfortunately, even if the food is just a cracker or chips, if it stays in contact with your teeth for a long time, microscopic bacteria can consume it and use it to grow. As that bacteria grows, the colony produces acid on its own! This corrodes the teeth even further and eventually forms cavities.

Foods That Are Enamel-Friendly

One of the best things you can consume for your teeth is calcium. You can get this in the form of cheese. Cheese is not only high in calcium, but it also helps to balance the pH of your mouth which lowers the acids that are attacking your teeth! You can also find calcium in fortified rice, low-fat yogurt, and milk, among other places like salmon, broccoli, and spinach.

Foods that are rich in vitamin D are also good for your teeth. Many of these foods are the same as the ones mentioned above, which makes things easy for you!

EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR FILLINGS

Most Americans have dental fillings in their mouth. They are a common dental service that is used to protect teeth and repair damage. Our dental team at Family Dental Care provide high-quality treatments that last, but how can you extend the life of your dental fillings? Continue reading on to get the answer.

How Long Do Fillings Last?

Typically, composite resin (tooth colored) fillings can last around ten years and have a lifespan similar to the that of an amalgam (metal) filling. Metal is found to work well for larger fillings. An overly large cavity or damaged area may require additional restoration, such as a crown, inlay, or onlay.

How Can I Keep My Fillings Healthy?

Regardless of what type of filling you have already received, there are practical steps you can take to help keep your filling healthy and lasting for a longer period of time. Below are a few helpful tips:

• Regular brushing twice a day and flossing once a day at least.
• Frequent visits to the office for dental exams and cleanings at least twice a year. These visits allow our team to check up on the state of the filling.
• Quitting the habit of smoking will not only protect your overall health, but will keep your teeth from decay.
• Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet ensures a good smile and limiting sugary foods helps to prevent cavities.
• Contacting our dental office if you experience any signs of discomfort or a loose filling will help to protect the restoration.

If you are interested in a restorative treatment for your smile, then contact our Family Dental Care staff today for assistance or information on the services we offer. Call us to schedule your next dental exam and cleaning!

The Difference Between Dental Veneers & Bonding

Are you interested in improving the appearance of your smile? Not sure if dental veneers or dental bonding is right for you? At Family Dental Care™ we are proud to offer dental veneers, bonding and other cosmetic dentistry services which are perfect for improving the appearance of a smile.

About Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are extremely thin shells (typically made from porcelain) which are designed to look just like a natural tooth. Veneers are bonded directly to the front of teeth, completely concealing the natural tooth.

Pros of Cosmetic Veneers

• Veneers are versatile.
• Veneers are affordable.
• Veneers look natural.
• Porcelain is stain-resisting.
• Veneers are durable.

Cons of Cosmetic Veneers

• Veneers are permanent.
• Veneers require tooth structure and enamel to be removed.
• Although affordable, veneers are more expensive than dental bonding.

About Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure in which tooth-colored composite bonding material is used to repair or alter a tooth, including decay, damage, discoloration and more. The bonding material is designed to match seamlessly with your natural smile.

Pros of Cosmetic Bonding

• The bonding treatment is quicker.
• It is typically less expensive than dental veneers.
• Dental bonding is versatile.
• Dental bonding is matched with the natural smile.
• Dental bonding can be easily repaired.

Cons of Cosmetic Bonding

• The dental bonding material can be stained.
• Dental bonding is less durable than veneers.
• Less effective at concealing discoloration/staining.
• The outcome is heavily dependent on the skill of the dentist.

Visit Our Cosmetic Dentist Today

Want to improve the appearance of your smile with dental veneers, dental bonding or another cosmetic dentistry service? Contact Family Dental Care™ today to schedule your consultation.