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Planning Your Dental Veneer Treatment: All you need to Know | Oxnard CA

Posted On July 10, 2019

As with any other treatment, the first step to planning your smile makeover treatment with dental veneers is scheduling your initial consultation. Here, your dentist will examine your teeth to determine whether you’re a good candidate for dental veneer treatment. Ideally, your teeth should be healthy, with no signs of cavities, there should be no indication of gum disease, and you must have enough tooth enamel to prevent sensitivity during preparation.

Porcelain veneers are the most common option because they are stain-resistant natural-looking, but require more tooth preparation compared to composite veneers. Composite veneers require no or minimal tooth preparation, which means they can be installed in one day. They’re also cheaper but tend to stain over time, needing replacement sooner than porcelain veneers.

The placement of composite veneers is different from that of porcelain veneers. Here’re a few things to keep in mind:

Composite veneers are usually placed in a single appointment. The dentist gradually adds the adhesive materials in thin layers, while shaping it and hardening it at each stage, to determine whether the defect has been adequately concealed. When the result is satisfactory, the material is polished to give it a smooth appearance.

Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are fabricated in a dental laboratory. They are translucent and stain-resistant. They can also be made to closely resemble the appearance of natural teeth. Once they’re ready, they are placed in two appointments.
In the first appointment, the teeth being treated are prepared under local anesthetic.
At the same time, the dentist will take impressions and fabricate temporary veneers using a template made from the 3D preview model. The temporary veneers allow you to try out your planned smile design and make fine adjustments to the final veneers while protecting the prepared tooth before the permanent porcelain veneer is ready for placement.
The second appointment is scheduled about two weeks later. The dentist isolated the prepared teeth from any moisture so the porcelain veneers can be fitted.

It is important that you visit your dentist a few days after your dental veneer treatment for a check-up to ensure that all is well after you’ve had time to adjust to them in your normal routine.

8 Little Known Things About Dental Veneers | Oxnard CA

Posted On July 5, 2019

Dental veneers are a common cosmetic dental treatment that can improve your smile dramatically within a short time. But if you’re planning to transform your smile with veneers, it’s important that you learn as much about this treatment to manage your expectations and ensure that the improvements are long-lasting.

Here are some things you may not know about veneers:

Veneers are color-matched to the current shade of your other teeth to create a uniform look. But unlike natural teeth, porcelain veneers cannot be stained, discolored, or bleached to change their color. So over time, your natural teeth will discolor, making the white veneers more dominant.
To prevent this, your dentist may recommend whitening before the veneer process so your porcelain veneers are matched to your whitened teeth. Afterward, you will need a regular whitening schedule to maintain a uniform smile.
There are two common types of veneers: composite veneers, which are installed in one appointment with minimal tooth preparation, have a shorter life span compared to porcelain veneers. They tend to chip and stain if not looked after. Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are stain-free and tend to last longer.
Although durability depends on how well you care for your veneers, both types should last 10 to 20 years.

If you have untreated tooth decay. It is not advisable to simply cover up the infection with dental veneers, as the situation will keep getting worse, increasing the risk of tooth loss.
If you have been diagnosed with bruxism. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaws at night, then you might damage your veneers reducing their durability. If you proceed with the treatment, your dentist may offer custom night guards to reduce the stress on your teeth and veneers.
If you have a case of malocclusion or bad bite, veneers may not be a suitable treatment for you. Poorly aligned teeth may cause uneven stress on your teeth, such as those fitted with veneers, ruining the restoration.
Dental veneers cannot be repaired; only replaced. Though veneers are non-living, the tooth underneath and the surrounding gum tissues are living, and prone to change over time. For instance, shrinkage of the gum line may expose the root surfaces, affecting the position of the veneer relative to the rest of the tooth. In such situations, or if they crack, break, or sustain any other kind of damage, they can be replaced.

Getting veneers is an investment in your smile. So it’s important that you take good care of them. This includes following a proper at-home oral hygiene regimen and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and whitening.

Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants: Do You Qualify? | Oxnard CA

Posted On June 23, 2019

Dental implants may be a suitable tooth replacement option for you if you have lost one, several, or all of your teeth.

Generally, oral surgeons require that dental implants patients have:

Overall good health
Strong and disease-free gums
Sufficient jawbone to support dental implants
A good oral hygiene routine

The success of your implant treatment plan partly depends on how well you care for your new teeth and gums, in addition to your dentist’s ability to diligently monitor the health of your gums. However, you must consult your dentist before making any treatment plans.

Personalized Consultation

Each case is unique, and if you have any dental issues, medical problems, or bad lifestyle habits, then you should speak to your doctor or dentist before starting the treatment to find ways to reduce the risk and increase your chances for a successful dental implant placement.

X-rays will likely be taken, and models of your teeth prepared for further examination after your visit, to help in determining the ideal position for an implant, the number of implants needed to fill the gap, and the quality and volume of jawbone available.

Establishing proper basic dental health is a vital component in any treatment plan. So during the initial appointment, your dentist will make you aware of any urgent problems, as well as the treatments needed to stabilize any tooth- or gum-related problems. At the same time, the dentist will give you an outline of your personal implant treatment plan.

Depending on the situation, you may find that other tooth replacement options are more suitable for you. So at the end of your consultation, your dentist should give you a written summary of your treatment planning discussion, indicating your current dental situation and the ideal treatment for your case, highlighting the expected stages of the treatment, duration, and cost for you to make an informed decision.

Final Note

At the initial consultation, your dentist will assess the feasibility of tooth replacement with dental implants treatment. Of course, you must be over 18 to ensure that the growth and development of your teeth does not interfere with the position and stability of the implant, increasing the risk of the replacement tooth failure.

Living with Dental Implants: What to Expect in Oxnard CA

Posted On June 19, 2019

Tooth replacements, such as implant crowns, dentures, and bridgework are designed to match the shape, size, and color of existing natural teeth for a perfect fit in your mouth. While all options help to fill any gaps in your smile and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting, only dental implants replace both the tooth root and the tooth crown.

As a result, implants feel, look, and function like your natural tooth. Dental implants technology offers many advantages for anyone looking to replace one or more missing teeth. Here are some of the things you can expect:

Their strong support allows you to bite with the same amount of force as you would use with your natural teeth.
Their stability allows you to pronounce words correctly.
Their natural-looking appearance and feel allows you to smile and laugh with confidence.
Ongoing dental care will be similar to any person with all-natural teeth, a few months after the completion of your tooth replacement procedure. Once your dentist is satisfied with the healing and general results of the procedure.
Implants prevent bone resorption. Once in place and supporting your new teeth, normal functional forces (eating, talking, smiling) stimulate the surrounding bone, causing it to become denser and stronger for normal function of your mouth.
Maintain a proper bite and facial structure. Without an implant (serving as the tooth root), the underlying bone would diminish (resorption) as growth would be focused in areas with activity. Bone resorption may cause your teeth to shift and face to shrink, causing you to appear older.

Final Note

Once an implant has been successfully placed and the surrounding soft tissues show signs of good health and the new replacement teeth are comfortable and well adjusted, then the diligence of your personal attention to oral hygiene and willingness to attend regular checkups and professional cleaning will have the greatest effect on their durability. Plaque and calculus can also form on replacement teeth, increasing the risk of gum infection, soreness, discomfort, and even tooth loosening. Otherwise, with good care, implants will last as long as natural teeth.

3 Stages of a Dental Implant Tooth Replacement | Oxnard CA

Posted On June 18, 2019

A dental implant tooth replacement is a common treatment for replacing one or more missing teeth. Though it’s a fairly simple process, it involves a surgical procedure to place a titanium post implant in the position of a tooth root, so it connects the replacement tooth to the jawbone. The result is a strong and sturdy artificial tooth that feels and functions like your natural teeth.

There are three components of a dental implant:

The titanium implant – This titanium post is placed at the site of a missing tooth inside the upper or lower jawbone
The abutment – Usually made of porcelain, titanium, or gold, the abutment is attached to the implant with a screw, so it projects above the gum line to receive the crown.
The crown – The porcelain replacement tooth is cemented or screwed onto the abutment to fill the gap in your smile.

The Procedure

The standard treatment involves three stages:

During the first procedure, the oral surgeon makes a small cut in the gum where the tooth will be placed. Next, a hole will be drilled in the bone tissue and the implant placed, after which the incision will be stitched closed. You may wear temporary dentures or bridgework as the site heals.
After three to six months, within which time the implant will have bonded with the bone tissue, the second procedure will take place. This involves making another cut in the gum tissue to expose the top part of the titanium implant. A collar (healing cap) is screwed onto the top of the implant to facilitate healing of the surrounding tissue. The cap is removed after several weeks and the abutment screwed in its place.
At the same appointment as when the abutment is connected, the crown will also be attached to the abutment to finish the tooth replacement process.

Please keep in mind that there’s a faster way to get implants, where the mini-implants and crown are placed simultaneously in one appointment.

Final note

Dental implant procedures are very popular, with over 98% of patients getting satisfactory results. However, much of this success depends on the patient having enough bone tissue to bond firmly to the implant. If you don’t have enough bone tissue, perhaps due to bone resorption for staying with a gap for too long, then your dentist may recommend another procedure called bone grafting or bone augmentation to build up your bone tissue before implant placement. The health of the remaining teeth and gums is also important for a successful procedure.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Long Treatment Plan? | Oxnard CA

Posted On June 12, 2019

From the time of surgical implant placement to the time of placing the replacement tooth (crown, denture, or bridgework), dental implant treatment time can vary between four months and nine months, depending on the availability of good quality bone tissue. Patients with low bone density may require additional procedures like bone augmentation that increase the treatment time to six months or even more. Similarly, patients who require more implants to support dentures may need to have 3-4 implants placed at a time, which will increase treatment time to about nine months.

But are you willing to wait that long to receive your dental implants?

Dental implants are typically used to replace one tooth, or multiple teeth when combined with dentures or bridgework. If you’re missing one natural tooth, then a single implant will be sufficient. For larger spaces with two or more missing teeth, you don’t need one implant per tooth. Instead, the implants will be appropriately spaced depending on the volume and quality of bone tissue at each potential implant support, to support the replacement teeth.

If the teeth you want to replace are in a visible part of your smile, then it’s important that you have a temporary tooth to fill the gap during treatment. The common options are simple plastic dentures and removable bridges. These temporary restorations should not be put under heavy pressure (biting or chewing) as this could interfere with the healing of the underlying implants.

Temporary restorations are not as comfortable or aesthetically pleasing as your final restoration, but they should allow you to function better until your treatment is completed.

Verdict

Plaque and calculus can also form on replacement teeth, increasing the risk of gum infection, soreness, discomfort, and even tooth loosening. Otherwise, with good care and maintenance and quality underlying bone tissue, implants will last as long as natural teeth. The same cannot be said for dentures or bridgework. They’re faster in terms of restoring your smile, but require more care and maintenance in the long run.

Who is the Right Candidate for Cosmetic Dentistry?

Posted On February 21, 2019

A wide, open smile makes everyone around you comfortable and lets them know that you are friendly and easy to be with. Nonetheless, many of us are unhappy with our smiles. If you often find yourself trying to hide your smile instead of showing it off, you may be giving people the wrong impression about yourself. You may appear stern, unhappy or aloof.

Cosmetic dentistry encompasses the full spectrum of procedures including teeth whitening, straightening misaligned teeth, replacing missing teeth with implants, crowns, and creating a dazzling smile using porcelain veneers, among others.

Teeth whitening – you can get true professional dental whitening that lasts a lifetime
Porcelain veneers – used to replace chipped, stained and even crooked teeth
Orthodontics – used to transform twisted, overlapping or crooked teeth into a straight, perfect smile
Dental implants – a permanent, comfortable, natural-looking and natural feeling tooth replacement option

Creating Beautiful Smiles

You don’t have to go through life with a smile that you don’t want. With modern technology and advanced dentistry techniques, you can have the smile that you have always wanted. The treatments are fast and painfree, allowing you to completely transform your smile in no time.

Cosmetic dentistry has advanced at a breathtaking rate over the past few years. Now, it is possible to have multiple procedures done during one visit even for the most anxious patients – thanks to dental sedation. With a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic dentistry team, you can be assured of safety and comfort during treatment.

Get your Dream Smile Sooner

Depending on your case, it is even possible to have multiple procedures during one visit so you can get your dream smile sooner. Using state of the art equipment and the latest dental techniques, you can correct a lifetime of anguish over dental faults in just a week.

Patients who finally decide to correct that introverting smile are often thrilled with their results. They are happier, more confident, and generally more optimistic in life.