Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is the general term used to describe what dentists do to improve your appearance. An improvement in your appearance increases self esteem. That, in turn, can improve overall health.
The Concerns
People often complain that their teeth are crooked, chipped or broken from accidents. They are self-conscious about visible natural imperfections. They can see decay and stains. Fillings are showing. Continue reading
White Fillings
There are two general types of white fillings: ceramic and composite. In truth so-called white fillings are tooth-coloured)
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings represent an ever-evolving technology to repair and restore teeth in a way that is both strong and pleasing in appearance. The word composite implies that the constituents of these fillings are complex. Continue reading
Crowns
Crowns are an excellent way to repair teeth that have been broken, or have
been weakened by decay or a very large filling. A crown could be made for a number of other reasons, for example:
- you may have a discoloured filling and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth.
- you may have had a root filling and need a crown to protect what is left of the tooth.
- it may be the part of a bridge that is cemented to a natural tooth.
The New Patient Complete Dental Examination
If your first visit to Growing Beautiful Smiles was for some purpose other than a New Patient Complete Dental Examination, then once that other bothersome issue is disposed of, a complete dental exam should become a priority.
Sometimes people ask us why this is necessary. Continue reading
Removal of Mercury Fillings
The mainstream in dentistry staunchly defends the use of mercury fillings. Historically the mainstream became the mainstream by winning a nasty professional debate (“the amalgam war”) in the eighteen-fifties.
What I refer to as “mercury” fillings, are what most people call “silver fillings” and what the dental profession calls “dental amalgam fillings.” (Actually we call a filling a “restoration.”) A dental amalgam filling leaks small amounts of mercury as a gas which you inhale 24/7. Your body eliminates some of it, but enough remains so that in most people, it accumulates over the years.
Suspicion that mercury leaked from amalgams launched the amalgam war which in turn re-defined the way the dental profession organized itself and, it seems, significantly crippled its ability to think. Clear evidence that mercury was leaking from amalgams has existed for almost a hundred years. Continue reading
Things You Need to Know About Partial Dentures
Devices other than partial dentures which attempt to replace the appearance and function of a tooth are:
- a bridge. It is not removable but is permanently fastened in place to adjacent teeth.
- or an implant. These are devices which permanently attach themselves directly to the bone of the jaw and protrude through the gum just as teeth do. At Growing Beautiful Smiles, we do not provide implant services, but a will be happy to discuss them with you and put you in touch with practitioners who do.
One way to replace a tooth or several teeth is with a partial denture. There are many things to consider…
-
Location:
A partial denture can be made for the upper jaw (“upper partial denture”) and/or the lower jaw (“lower partial denture.”)
-
Fixed in Place or Removable?
A partial denture is removable; the patient can take it in and out – wear it or not wear it. Almost always, the plan is to wear it during waking hours and leave it out while sleeping.
-
The advantages of a removable device are:
-
Things You Need to Know About Full Dentures
Another way of replacing missing teeth is with implants – devices that permanently attach themselves directly to the bone of the jaw and protrude through the gum just as teeth do. They overcome the difficulty of dentures which might move about with the act of chewing. The cost of implants is prohibitive for many people. At Growing Beautiful Smiles, we do not provide implant services, but a will be happy to discuss them with you and put you in touch with practitioners who do.
Replacing all of the teeth in the jaws usually is done with a full (“complete”) denture. There are many things to consider…
-
Location:
A full denture can be made for the upper jaw (“upper full denture”) or the lower jaw (“lower full denture.”) or both.
-
When the Device is Provided:
-
“Standard” – The denture is provided to replace teeth extracted in the past – often to replace an older denture.
-
“Immediate” – The denture is provided at the same appointment that the teeth are extracted. Continue reading
-
Things You Need to Know About Denture Relines
Full dentures and some partial dentures transfer some of the biting forces to the gums. Full dentures, especially upper full dentures, stay in place because of their accurate fit to underlying structure of the mouth. That underlying structure, once upon a time, used to hold teeth. It’s purpose in life was to hold teeth and to receive and dissipate the forces placed on them. No longer.
When the bone underlying a denture is denied its purpose in life – supporting teeth and dissipating the forces placed on it – it tends to shrink in size. Its new purpose is merely to support a denture and the much diminished forces placed indirectly on it via the cushioning action of the gums. Continue reading
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a plastic (composite) coating applied to vulnerable areas of teeth to make decay less likely to get started.
They are only applied to the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have ‘pits’ (small hollows) and ‘fissures’ (grooves) on their biting surfaces. Therefore, they are also known as pit and fissure sealants. Continue reading