Examples of Cosmetic Dentistry

Do you find yourself holding back your smile because of the poor condition of your teeth? Although most people have something about their appearance that they would like to improve, in severe cases where a person is embarrassed of their smile, the effects of the poor condition of their teeth could be having several health consequences.

Research has proven that smiling is an important part of your health and contributes to your happiness – and that it can actually help fight disease. Beyond this, teeth that do not look healthy often are not.

Although cosmetic dentistry can be used purely to correct the appearance of teeth, in its highest form, it creates better health at the same time.  This article begins to answer the most basic questions about cosmetic dentistry – to help you determine whether it is something you would like to ask your dentist about at your next visit.

What exactly is cosmetic dentistry?

In fact, the term cosmetic dentistry does not stand for a single treatment.  It could include something as simple as using white fillings instead of silver ones or as complex as a full mouth restoration or smile makeover.

Cosmetic dentistry seeks to look at the whole smile and health of the teeth to provide a solution based on the needs of the patient.  Individual treatments to reach this outcome could include a host of procedures such as dental crowns, bridges, veneers, gum re-contouring and more.

What is the most common treatment?

One of the more common cosmetic dentistry practices is teeth whitening. Your dentist is trained to help you get the best results by selecting the right treatment method based on your situation. Your dentist may recommend teeth whitening alone or in combination with other cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as Invisalign orthodontics, dental crowns or porcelain veneers.

What are some examples of cosmetic dental improvements?

Besides whitening, here are some of the most common examples of cosmetic dental procedures that can improve the appearance of your smile:

  • Resin or porcelain veneers to change the shape and alignment of teeth
  • Using tooth-coloured fillings instead of silver fillings
  • Evening out gum tissue
  • Restoration of worn teeth to their proper shape
  • Straightening crooked teeth with Invisalign or traditional Orthodontics
  • Closing spaces between teeth
  • Replacing discoloured fillings in front teeth
  • Replacing missing teeth with bridges or implants
  • Replacing old crowns
  • Repairing chipped teeth
  • Making teeth shorter or longer

How to find a cosmetic dentist?

Like other cosmetic surgery cosmetic dentists range in skill and quality. When looking for a cosmetic dentist it is advised to do thorough research on their credentials, experience and past clients. At Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group we’re proud to discuss our training as well as past cases and excellent track record. Contact us today.

/by
,

How Safe is Teeth Whitening?

Rumors of teeth whitening products wearing away tooth enamel and damaging teeth are enough to cause anyone concern.  But is safe teeth whitening there any truth to concerns about the safety of teeth whitening?

In general teeth whitening has proven to be very safe and effective.  However, it is valuable to explore how rumors of the negative effects of tooth whitening began in the first place, as well as a few cautions on the topic.

What is whitening gel made of?

There are two main ingredients used in almost all teeth whitening products: hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. The stronger of the two chemicals is hydrogen peroxide and due to its strength, it is the ingredient typically used in higher concentrations in dentist supervised whitening treatments.

Since hydrogen peroxide can cause a chemical burn on the gums, dentists are careful to ensure the safety of gums and other sensitive tissues during the treatment.

Carbamide peroxide is the less intense of the two chemicals and therefore safer to apply. It is most often used in over the counter whitening treatments.

Potential side effects of whitening

Side effects can occur during whitening and can be made worse through improper use of whitening products.  Common complaints are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.  Following directions carefully can help minimize these problems when whitening at home, but if either of these symptoms occur it’s important to pay attention.

Fortunately there are teeth whitening options for patients with even the most sensitive teeth. Options could include building the tolerance of teeth over a period of time with fluoride treatments or exploring whitening systems that work better for people with sensitivity.

Where do rumors that teeth whitening is unsafe come from?

It is true that it is not advisable for pregnant or lactating women to use teeth whitening products. Otherwise, the reported problems associated with teeth whitening usually result from the misuse of over the counter products. Ultimately, whether using a home whitening treatment or having an in-clinic treatment, the dangers should be very minimal.

Common cautions include: using a whitening product more often than directed, or leaving the solution on longer than the instructions recommend.

Another issue with whitening products comes from whitening material entering into an unfilled cavity or crack in the tooth. To avoid this scenario, make sure you have a check-up with your dentist before starting the whitening process.

Conclusion

Now that you understand how teeth whitening works and some of the associated issues and concerns, you can start comparing whitening treatments. Consider getting your dentist’s opinion on the best way for you to whiten and to check any dental health issues that could possibly prevent you from getting the best results.

/by
, , , ,

Chipped Front Teeth

At the age of 16 one of our patients was involved in a biking accident and the front teeth were broken and part of the teeth lost.  Now 18 years old, the patient came to Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group to repair his chipped front teeth and restore his smile.

Besides the chipping of the front teeth, the patient also has some crowding which has left some teeth crooked.  Invisalign treatment is recommended as the ideal option to straighten the teeth.  Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method which uses a series of removable invisible aligners to move the teeth back into a correct and straight position.

In the meantime, the patient was given a couple of options for repairing the chipped front teeth.  The ideal treatment recommended was porcelain veneers to correct the problem and create the most natural looking and long lasting solution possible.  Modern porcelain veneers are durable and have physical properties which match very closely with natural teeth.  This is due to the translucency of porcelain which reflects light in a similar way to natural teeth.

A second, short term option presented to the patient was to restore the shape of the front teeth using a bonding technique with composite materials.  Bonding produces a very nice result, but on the downside has a tendency to show discolouration over time.  It is a great short term solution however.

The patient, in this case, decided to go with the bonding with composite material option and is very happy with the result.

The patient is now considering Invisalign treatment and will consider porcelain veneers as a more permanent solution to his smile makeover once his teeth have been straightened.

Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group specializes in cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign treatments to help you achieve both a healthy mouth and a smile that you are proud to let shine.  Read more about having a smile make over or Invisalign treatment at our Nanaimo dental clinic and contact us today to book a consultation.  We look forward to serving you.

/by
,

Smile Makeover Dream Come True

The smile makeover photo is in – and Vina’s smile makeover is complete!  Vina’s smile make over, by Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group on Vancouver Island, B.C., involved changing the shade and shape of 8 of Vina’s teeth in her smile line.  Her four front teeth were previously restorations which were overdue for a change and as a result there was a dark metallic line along the gum-line of Vina’s smile.

Dr. Mahara commented on the final session of the smile makeover:  “Vina’s gum had receded from previous long term bridges – this caused some complication in bringing back an appropriate gum-line as the papilla, the gum tissue that fills the space between two teeth,  had receded.  In response to this, I had to be prep with a deeper margin to give the appearance of the teeth coming out of the gums and mimicking the natural contour of the tooth along the gum-line.  In all, I’m very pleased with the results of Vina’s smile makeover.  She now has a much fuller smile and her gum-line looks great.”

Vina chose the second whitest shade available and lengthened the front teeth to correspond to the smile line of her lips.  She now has a “movie star” smile and she’s proud to show it.

In conclusion, Dr. Mahara reminds Vina of the need to maintain her gum and teeth health with  regular dental hygiene visits, every 6 months at a minimum.  “People sometimes think that restorations,  like crowns or bridges, mean you no longer have to worry about cavities or gum disease.  This is not the case, as the tooth surface is exposed along the gum-line and in the gum pockets.”

“In fact,” explains Dr. Mahara, “it’s even more important to maintain your teeth after having restorations and especially a smile makeover.  If you develop cavities or gum disease after a smile makeover, it can be disastrous to your new smile if not caught in time.”

Vina’s Testimonial After the Smile Makeover

“I am truly delighted with the smile Dr. Mahara designed for me. Numerous people have complimented me on my teeth, and I now have a lot of confidence in my smile.  This smile makeover goes beyond what I expected.  I wanted to fix my smile, but Dr. Mahara went far beyond this by designing a smile that suits me perfectly.

Dr. Mahara is very precise and worked hard to get to a perfect result.  He is never satisfied with just good results.  It was clear from the beginning that Dr. Mahara was interested in designing the perfect smile make over –and he did it.   I really appreciated that Dr. Mahara took the time to listen and explain the smile makeover procedures and I always felt very comfortable with the next step.

It’s important in my profession as an esthetician to make clients feel welcome and comfortable and the first thing they see is my smile.  In the past I always worried about my smile and tried to hide it, but now I feel great just letting it go.  Thank you Dr. Mahara and your wonderful Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group staff!

If  you’re thinking about having a smile makeover done, I highly recommend Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.”

Vina’s Before and After Photos:

vina_makeover

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

/by

Smile Makeover Part 2

It’s been a brief eight weeks since Vina’s initial smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara, a trained cosmetic dentist, at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

“Vina was a perfect candidate for a smile make over,” explains Dr. Mahara, “because she had several failing restorations on her front teeth.”

Since the smile make over consultation, Vina has passed the first major check point of the process and had all 8 teeth  in her visible smile line prepped for her new crowns – at which point she received an instant smile makeover with Dr. Mahara’s amazingly realistic temporary crowns.

“The temporaries are very comfortable,” says Vina.  “They’re not as brilliantly white as the actual crowns are going to be, but still I’ve had a lot of compliments on my new smile.  It would be impossible for anyone to tell that these are temporaries.”

Since Vina’s previous restorations were failing, Dr. Mahara wasn’t sure what to expect when he removed the old restorations and he had to be prepared for various scenarios.

“Vina’s case was complicated.  Unfortunately, one of the teeth had decayed significantly under the old restoration and had to be removed.  Since bone grafting was needed to make sure the bone mass did not recede too much during the healing process, this will delay the placement of the new crowns by a few weeks.  We will ensure that the bridge sits flush with the gumline and the tooth looks natural,” explains Dr. Mahara.

Vina is thrilled that she made the decision to have the smile makeover done.

“My teeth were discoloured and uneven along the gumline,” she say, “I was never satisfied with my smile – and I admit that I sometimes tried to hide my smile.”

Who is a good candidate for a smile makeover?

“Anyone who is unhappy with their smile,” explains Dr. Mahara, “especially people with several old restorations, discoloured teeth that cannot be corrected through whitening, or with crooked teeth – for people who don’t want to have braces for an extended period of time.”

For those considering a smile makeover, the first step in the process is to book a smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara.  During this consultation, your unique smile will be considered and treatment options outlined clearly for you.

Read more about Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s smile make over process and stay tuned for Part 3 of Vina’s smile makeover, “After the Smile Makeover”.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

/by

8 New Reasons to Smile

Vina will soon have 8 new reasons to smile.  Each of the 8 teeth that are visible when she smiles will be included in her extreme smile makeover treatment plan by trained cosmetic dentist, Dr. San Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

“I’ve been having trouble with my front teeth for several years now, and when I smile I’m careful not to smile too big” says Vina.  The crowns have fallen and created an uneven gum line and a dark space between the gums and the crowns.  “I know this looks like something is stuck there –even though there isn’t,” Vina adds.

Vina has already had an initial smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara where Dr. Mahara explained the treatment plan options.  At a second appointment, impressions were taken to have the waxed up models of the new crowns constructed by a master lab technician. Part of Dr. Mahara’s smile makeover process includes using highly trained lab technicians to make the crowns.

“The crowns need to fit the patient perfectly –their face, mouth and even their personality are considered.  These teeth will look life-like,” says Dr. Mahara.

Meanwhile Vina is seeing the waxed up models of her new teeth for the first time today.  She describes them as, “beautiful,” and her excitement is evident.

“The wax up modelling process is excellent,” says Dr. Mahara, “it allows the patient to see what the crowns will look like and give us feedback that we can incorporate in the final product.”

Dr. Mahara studied and mastered the smile make over treatment process at the world famous post-doctoral dental school, the Las Vegas Institute.

“Patients tend to continually repair their teeth not knowing their options,” says Dr. Mahara.  “I also give my patients the option for a smile makeover which addresses the root causes of the problems and at the same time significantly improves the appearance of their smile,” he adds.  Dr. Mahara’s cosmetic dentistry training gives him the vision and the tools to do this.

For Vina, the smile makeover means new freedom and renewed confidence.  “I’m going to have a big smile on my face every day,” says Vina.  In her work as an Esthetician and Spa Technician, her smile makeover will go a long way to show her confidence and inspire confidence in her service.

If you’re considering a smile makeover, please read more about Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s smile makeover process and book your smile makeover consultation today.

Stay tuned for a post in December following Vina’s smile makeover to see her results.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

/by