Smile Designing

Do you require Smile Designing?

You can analyze your smile yourself to know whether you need any smile makeovers! Please stand in front of a wall mounted mirror in a brightly lit room.

Preferably the mirror should be of sufficient length so that you can see your complete self.

• Do you like the way your teeth look and the way you smile?
• Are there any spaces between your teeth?
• Do you have any missing teeth?
• Do you have any crooked or mal positioned teeth?
• Are any of your teeth shorter than the others?
• Do you have a "gummy" smile?
• Have your gums receded or are they swollen?
• Do you have any old crowns or fillings that do not match your natural teeth?
• Do the teeth look white or they are yellow, dark or stained?
• When being photographed, do you smile normally or is the smile restricted?
• Do you shy from showing a full smile in front of strangers?
• Are you embarrassed to visit a dentist due to the condition of your teeth?

If for any of the above questions your answer is
YES
YOU REQUIRE A SMILE MAKE OVER!!

Or, ask a very good friend to be absolutely honest, but do make sure they are a true friend.

How Can My Dentist Improve My Smile?

People who may benefit from corrective jaw surgery include those with an improper bite resulting from misaligned teeth and/or jaws. In some cases, the upper and lower jaws may grow at different rates. Injuries and birth defects may also affect jaw alignment. While orthodontics can usually correct bite, or "occlusion," problems when only the teeth are misaligned,From subtle changes to major repairs, your dentist can perform a variety of procedures to improve your smile. There are many techniques and options to treat teeth that are discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing. Your dentist can reshape your teeth, close spaces, restore worn or short teeth or alter the length of your teeth. Common procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers and reshaping and contouring. corrective jaw surgery may be necessary to correct misalignment of the jaws.

These improvements are not always just cosmetic. Many of these treatments can improve oral problems, such as your bite.

Bleaching

Bleaching is a common and popular chemical process used to whiten teeth. Some people get their teeth bleached to make stains disappear, while other just want a whiter shade.

Discoloration occurs in the enamel and can be caused by medication, coffee, tea and cigarettes. Discoloration also can be hereditary or due simply to getting older.

Bleaching can be performed by your dentist in the office or, under dental supervision, at home. Many patients enjoy bleaching at home because it is more convenient. Treatment begins when your dentist creates a custom mouthpiece to ensure the correct amount of whitening solution is used and that your teeth are properly exposed. Typically, whitening at home takes two to four weeks, depending on the desired shade you wish to achieve. Whitening in the office may call for one or more 45-minute to one-hour visits to your dentist's office.

Bonding

Bonding is tooth-colored material used to fill in gaps or change the color of teeth. Requiring a single office visit, bonding lasts several years. Bonding is more susceptible to staining or chipping than other forms of restoration. When teeth are chipped or slightly decayed, bonded composite resins may be the material of choice. Bonding also is used as a tooth-colored filling for small cavities. Additionally, it can be used to close spaces between teeth or cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color and shape.

Crowns

Crowns, also known as caps, cover a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and appearance. Due to their cost, they are used in cases where other procedures will not be effective. Crowns have the longest life expectancy of all cosmetic restorations, but are the most time-consuming.

Veneers

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the color or shape of your teeth. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers are used to treat some of the same problems as bonding.

This treatment is an alternative to crowns, which are more expensive. The procedure requires your dentist to take an impression of your tooth. Before the custom-made veneer is cemented directly onto the tooth, your dentist will lightly buff the tooth to compensate for the added thickness of the veneer. Once the cement is between the veneer and your tooth, a light beam is used to harden it. Porcelain veneers require more than one visit because they are fabricated in a laboratory. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding.

Contouring and reshaping

Tooth reshaping and contouring, is a procedure to correct crooked teeth, chipped or irregularly shaped teeth or even overlapping teeth in a single session. Tooth reshaping and contouring, is commonly used to alter the length, shape or position of your teeth. Contouring teeth may also help correct small problems with bite. It is common for bonding to be combined with tooth reshaping.

This procedure is ideal for candidates with normal, healthy teeth but who want subtle changes to their smile. Your dentist will take X-rays to evaluate the size and location of the pulp of each tooth to ensure that there's enough bone between the teeth to support them.

Brides-to-Be and Job Applicants: Here's Your Quick-Fix

Reality TV has provided the general public with a glimpse into the world of cosmetic dentistry with shows like "Extreme Makeover"—and people like the "quick-fix" they see. One of these quick fixes is a resin appliance (known as VENEERS AND LUMINEERS : a clip-on smile or snap-on teeth), designed to fit over the teeth to create an esthetically appealing smile.

Snap-on teeth are being used by many patients to obtain a beautiful smile.

Snap-on teeth, however, are not appropriate for all patients. Those with protrusive teeth, removable teeth, or who are not interested in improving their dental health are not good candidates for the appliance. Also, that the final look of the product is limited to the patient's natural bite, occlusion, and smile-line.

Items to note before you quick-fix:

• Quick-fix dentistry is just that, a "quick fix." Treatment done is temporary and is meant to be a stepping stone to a more permanent solution.
• When approaching your dentist about snap-on teeth, be sure to discuss dental needs you should consider before opting for a cosmetic solution, such as decay and periodontal problems.
• The overall look of snap-on teeth is dictated by a patient's bite, occlusion, and smile-line (the front part of the teeth that is only visible when someone smiles).
• Cosmetic dentistry is about creating an esthetically appealing look. You may, however, be able to get a better cosmetic look with crowns or veneers rather than using the temporary snap-on teeth.

Minimally Invasive Veneers Dramatically Change Smiles

Unhappy with your smile, but unsure of which procedure is best for you? Fortunately, there are various conservative cosmetic treatment options available to patients, according to a study in the November 2007 issue of General Dentistry, the AGD's clinical, peer-reviewed journal. One such treatment option is minimally invasive porcelain veneers.

Minimally invasive porcelain veneers are very thin and designed to cover the surface of the teeth to which they are applied. With this type of veneer, tooth structure is left intact and only altered when necessary.

"Minimally invasive veneers help patients conserve their enamel, which is a big attraction," comments AGD spokesperson, Eugene L. Antenucci, DDS. With traditional veneers, an anesthetic is required and the treatment is not reversible. Since no one dental treatment is suitable for everyone, it is important for patients to research all of their options. "Both traditional and minimally invasive porcelain veneers are highly esthetic, and can be expected to offer years of wear," according to Dr. Antenucci.

With all of the available treatment options for people who are unhappy with their smiles, it might be difficult to choose which one is best for an individual. Howard E. Strassler, DMD, lead author of the study, advises patients who are considering esthetic treatment to "undergo a comprehensive clinical examination that includes an esthetic evaluation.

Masking mild to moderate tooth discolorations, correcting minor misalignments and rotation of anterior teeth, and reshaping peg-shaped and undersized teeth are just a few of the possible improvements minimally invasive porcelain veneers may provide. People who are interested in this option should talk to their dentist about the best choice for their teeth. "Each case needs to be evaluated [to decide] if a minimally invasive porcelain veneer is right for the clinical condition," says Dr. Strassler.

Common misconceptions about minimally invasive porcelain veneers:

• Minimally invasive porcelain veneers will make teeth look too big or too long. In almost all cases, some tooth reshaping is necessary to allow the teeth and smile to look better than the smile the patient started with.
• Minimally invasive porcelain veneers can lead to gum disease. The dentist will finish and polish edges to avoid ledges and to make the veneers smooth. As with all teeth, patients should brush and floss around the veneers.
• There will be sensitivity after having veneers bonded. With minimally invasive veneers, since the tooth enamel is maintained.