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What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry has become a hot topic for both young professionals and baby boomers seeking to improve their smile, but it is a term that can mean different things to different people.

Some people associate cosmetic dentistry with looking younger – something like a dental facelift that can rewind the natural aging process of their teeth. Other people have developed a host of dental challenges that leave their teeth and smile needing a comprehensive approach rather than temporary fixes, and others yet, who have always felt self-conscious about their smile.

Much as cosmetic dentistry does not mean the same thing to everyone, a good cosmetic dentist offers a wide variety of treatment options for people seeking to enhance their smile. The options range from teeth whitening to porcelain veneers to Invisalign or braces.  In many cases, a combination of these dental techniques is required to deliver the best results.

Here are some examples of the most widely used forms of cosmetic dentistry in action:

Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in dentistry today. This fantastic dental procedure effectively provides a quick way for patients to achieve a beautiful white smile. There are several professional whitening procedures, both in-office and at home which can be used to enhance your smile.

Composite Fillings

Traditional mercury fillings fail over time as the conditions of the tooth and mouth change. Worse yet, mercury fillings can crack otherwise healthy teeth as they expand and contract due to heat and cold. Newer, longer-lasting composite fillings are a very effective replacement for old mercury fillings.  At Downtown Dental Group in Nanaimo, we only use composite fillings from the beginning!

Smile Makeover

A smile makeover is the ultimate restoration of your smile’s youthful appearance. A smile makeover encompasses all the necessary components of cosmetic dentistry for you to achieve a beautifully youthful and healthy smile.

The goal is to create a rejuvenated natural smile properly proportioned to your face. With advancements in cosmetic dentistry, almost anything is possible. For example, crooked unbalanced teeth can be immediately improved through dental crowns or porcelain veneers.  This is known as “instant orthodontics”. Porcelain veneers are also often utilized to fix chipped and broken teeth and enhance the appearance of your natural smile.

Gum Therapy

A healthy smile is not just about healthy teeth, it’s about the overall health of your mouth and body. Using advanced ultrasonic Cleaning techniques, dentists are now able to combat bacteria growth and help the body use its own natural defences to increase overall oral health. Treatments are also available to contour gum tissue to improve health or to reduce a “gummy” smile.

Neuromuscular Dentistry

Some smile improvements are not just cosmetic. Many of these treatments, such as neuromuscular dentistry, can improve bite problems such as over-bite, under-bite or cross-bite. When treated to maintain a proper jaw position, patients find a lifetime of jaw pain and headaches can be resolved in just a few appointments.

Which procedure is right for me?

Our dentists at our Downtown Nanaimo, BC, dental clinic can answer any questions you may have about techniques used to improve your smile. The condition of your teeth and results you seek often indicates the best procedure. We often give our patients a range of treatment options from best-case scenarios to short-term or even temporary repair.  It’s always up to you to choose.

Contact us today to book an appointment or read more about cosmetic dentistry on our website!

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5 Advantages of Dental Implants

A missing tooth could be more of a problem than you might imagine. Did you know that since each of your teeth depends on one another to keep their position, a missing tooth can cause your teeth to shift and tilt?

Another often overlooked fact is how the missing tooth affects your jawbone.  Since one of the functions of a tooth is to stimulate bone renewal, once the tooth is gone, the bone quickly starts to recede and disappear.

All things considered, it’s very important to replace a missing tooth as soon as possible – and dental implants are becoming one of the top choices to do so.

How Does a Dental Implant Work?

A small titanium post acts as a substitute for the root of the tooth and creates a very strong anchor for a custom-made dental crown. Implants can be used individually, or to support a number of dental prostheses, including implant-supported bridges and dentures.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Natural Appearance
A porcelain crown placed over the dental implant will look as natural as possible.

No Impact on Other Teeth
Since dental implants do not require restorations on the neighbouring teeth, you don’t need multiple restorations on teeth that may not need it otherwise.

Stimulates Bone Renewal
Since bone regenerates due to stimulation from teeth rooted in the bone, a dental implant stimulates the bone and gums as much as a natural tooth would.

High Success Rate
The success rate for implants is remarkable: 98 percent for lower implants and 91 percent for upper implants.

Easy Care
A dental implant can be brushed and flossed normally.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

As with all things, good care is required to make your dental implants last.  With regular care and good hygiene habits, it’s possible that your implants can last for a lifetime.

Find Out if a Dental Implant is Right For You

The best dental implant candidates are in good health, and have healthy gum tissues and adequate bone in the jaw to support the implant.

We welcome you to read more about dental implants at Downtown Dental Group in Nanaimo on our website and to contact us to book an appointment.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

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3 steps to a smile makeover

If you’re not happy with your smile and ready to make a change, Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is here to help you get there.

The smile makeover process includes 3 steps after the initial consultation:

1) The Treatment Plan
2) The Smile Makeover Prep Session
3)  The Finishing Session

Of great importance, each step of the process has carefully planned quality checks built in to ensure your maximum comfort and the maximum success in creating your perfect smile.

What makes Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s approach to a smile makeover successful?

  • Each person’s smile is unique. Your smile makeover will be designed and planned to identify your ideal smile and ensure that your investment in your smile is protected from early wear.
  • We take the time to listen to your concerns and answer all of your questions.
  • We do our best to maximize your comfort.  Does the thought of temporary veneers or crowns sound uncomfortable? Today’s temporary veneers and crowns feel and look so real that no one will even know they are not permanent.  Does the thought of dental procedures make you uncomfortable?  Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group prides itself on providing options to improve your comfort during procedures.
  • Is cost an issue? Apply for no-fee financing to put your smile makeover in your budget.

Contact Downtown Dental Group today to book a smile makeover consultation.

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Same Day Smile Makeover

A smile makeover does what the name implies; it provides a total transformation of your smile.  A smile makeover means that each tooth in the smile line is cosmetically improved leaving nothing but your ideal smile for all to see.

Would you believe that your smile makeover can now be completed in a single day?  Under the right circumstances, it’s now possible thanks to CEREC, same-day crown technology!  Read on to find out if a same day smile makeover might be right for you.

What challenges can it benefit?

A smile makeover can be used to correct several types of dental challenges, including:

  • Discolouration
  • Misalignment
  • Spacing
  • Missing Teeth
  • Chipped, Cracked, or Uneven TeethTooth
  • Length
  • Tooth Proportions

A same day smile makeover using CEREC, same-day crown technology works for patients whose treatment involves dental crowns.  Since smile makeovers can employ other treatment methods such as Invisalign, teeth whitening, veneers, bridges and others, please consult with Dr. Mahara further regarding your specific case.

What is CEREC?

CEREC, or single appointment crowns, are a sophisticated computer-aided system for producing durable high-quality ceramic restorations. It is simple to use, fast and is excellent for conserving the natural tooth. CEREC is ideal for patients who want a solid ceramic, authentic tooth-coloured alternative to traditional crowns made in a dental lab – all completed in one visit.

Are these crowns new?

This technology is not new. In fact, it has been around for nearly 30 years. Many dental offices have not invested in this technology, due to start-up costs and additional training in computer dental assisted design and milling.

Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group, however, has chosen to invest in this valuable technology so that all of our patients can minimize their time spent away from work and family yet also receive optimal restorative results.

Benefits of CEREC

CEREC crowns allow tooth restorations to be completed in a single session but there are several other benefits. First of all impressions are done with super accurate digital impressions. This means no more putty-like material in your mouth to get an impression.

Secondly, the tooth is prepped and the crown fitted during the same visit, so there is no need for a temporary crown. Temporary crowns, typically worn for about two weeks with traditional crowns can come loose or weaken during wear. This is a thing of the past with CEREC technology.

Since these crowns are made of a solid block of ceramic, they are considered to have a very strong structure.

Not only are they known for being strong, but ceramic provides a very natural looking crown which reflects light in a similar way to our natural tooth structure. Additionally, the ceramic blocks come in a wide variety of shades and colours, so your crown can be selected to blend in naturally with your surrounding teeth.

Considerations

Although amazingly quick for a smile makeover procedure, this treatment could take several hours as all the design and milling are done in the clinic while you enjoy some free time with your favorite movies, music or books.  Dr. Mahara and his staff will make sure you are aware of the timeline well ahead in the planning phase.  On the day of the treatment every effort to ensure your comfort will be taken including the provision of refreshments.  

Conclusion and Example

Depending on your situation, it’s now possible to have a complete smile makeover completed in a single day!

Contact Us!

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to combine a complete makeover with CEREC technology to our patients. Please call to book an appointment with Dr. Mahara today.

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Should You See Your Dentist for Whitening?

As people of all ages seek a whiter, healthier looking smile, teeth whitening has emerged as the single most popular cosmetic dentalteeth whitening dentist nanaimo procedure in dentistry.

With all of the new developments in whitening, from whitening toothpaste to whitening gum and mouthwash, the question is, what is the difference between over the counter teeth whitening products and professional whitening at your dental clinic?

How does whitening work?

Over the counter whitening products work in a similar way to professional whitening in a dental clinic, but there are some major differences in the planning and approach, the concentration of whitening products, cost, and safety and application.

Planning and approach

One of the biggest challenges with whitening is that not all teeth stains and discoloration respond to the traditional bleaching approach.  Additionally, the look of your smile is effected by a number of other factors including the appearance of the gum-line, the straightness of your teeth and even the shape of the teeth.

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.

In the end you will always have the final say in which treatments work best for your based on your time and budget, but you will avoid the frustration of one-size-fits-all treatments that may not be right for you.

Concentration of whitening gel

If you’ve tried over the counter whitening products, you know that you have to be consistent with their use and really patient if you want to see results.  One of the reasons why great results are often not achieved by over the counter products is that people do not stick with the process – which can be cumbersome, time consuming and uncomfortable.

Whitening at your dental clinic offers nearly immediate results. The primary reason for this is that a dentist is permitted to use a high concentration of bleaching gel to get whitening results that show immediately.

Over the counter whitening products cannot compete with the dramatic results achieved through high concentration, in-clinic whitening.

Safety and application

Another challenge with over the counter whitening products is the application.  Even if you take the time to read and carefully follow the directions, it can seem impossible to make the process smooth and comfortable.  Perhaps the trays or strips do not fit properly, or some of the whitening gel ends up on your tongue or gums.  All of this can make it hard to stick to the plan!

In clinic teeth whitening is done with customized applications to make sure that they fit and protect you.  Precautions are built in to the whitening process to make sure that whitening gel does not stay in contact with the gums, tongue or cheeks.

Tooth sensitivity is another common complaint when whitening.  Your dentist has the tools and knowledge to reduce tooth sensitivity and discomfort while you whiten.

Costs

In clinic teeth whitening services average in range from $300 – $500 while over the counter whitening products typically range from $40 – $120.  In the end, however, it is up to you to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

If you are looking for fantastic results in the shortest amount of time, your dentist is your best bet.  If you’re not sure if teeth whitening is for you, your dentist can also review your plans and discuss other options and factors that you may not have even considered. As a bonus, professional whitening usually includes some home maintenance products to help you keep your new, whiter smile even longer.

 

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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.

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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.

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