Posts Tagged ‘cosmetic’

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Anyone with serious dental problems, a lack of adult teeth from birth, or structural problems can benefit from dental implants. If you’re young and have already starting losing teeth due to decay you might want to seriously consider what an implant procedure can do for you. Partials and dentures certainly offer one opportunity, but if you can go with implants you will have a much better overall experience.

The structure of your bone just under the gumline relies on the teeth that are there to maintain the basic shape. Once you start losing teeth side by side or you lose the front teeth, your facial structure can change dramatically as you lose bone every year. Once the process starts and becomes noticeable you will see a deterioration in bone structure continue throughout your lifetime. Smoking, bone density, and disease can play a role in how fast this happens.

Dental implants help protect against bone loss and facial structure. They are also much easier to maintain and have proven to be less of an embarrassment risk than partials or dentures. Your mouth ends up with less bacteria because you don’t have the adjoining plate that holds the teeth against your gums, the roof of the mouth, and up against other teeth. In some cases, the plate riding against the other teeth traps enough bacteria to promote additional tooth decay.

Getting your implants is a small commitment in time, but it can do so much for you. You don’t have to have every single tooth replaced with an implant, as they can provide better structure to hold a denture or partial plate in place. In some cases, they can be used to provide structure support for teeth that are in danger of being lost.

The implant is inserted first, below the gum line. Your mouth will have to undergo a waiting period after this to ensure that the swelling is gone and the structure is achieved. This can be around 4 months. After that, the dentist will need to create what is known as an exposure, a place to attach the new tooth.

After about 4 months your dentist will place a simple exposure point to attach the teeth and you will be looking forward to having permanent teeth once again. A dental impression will be taken and then your dentist will skillfully and artfully craft real looking teeth that match your mouth. The last step is to insert them.

Be sure to get a comprehensive overview of the cleaning procedures and return for follow up visits so that your dentist can be sure your new smile is as comfortable and strong as possible. Some dentists prefer complete removal of the restorative teeth in order to do a proper cleaning from time to time, but not all dentists feel this way. Educate yourself on your dentist’s preferences and why it’s the preferred manner.

Fortunately, dental implants are more readily available than they were even just a decade ago. They aren’t quite as cost prohibitive as they once were, and the results are even more beautiful. You can feel good about smiling and laughing again.

Toronto Dentist provides advanced cosmetic and general dentistry procedures such as Invisalign Toronto, teeth whitening and more. Professional implant dentist Toronto can help restore your teeth and your smile.

The First Teeth Whitening Formula Was Urine!

Monday, March 15th, 2010

A smile is the main form of communication throughout the world. Ever since the beginning of mankind, people have been fixated on ways to keep teeth bright, white and clean. Some of the early methods are pretty basic but our ancestors certainly paved the way for modern dental and oral hygiene. Let’s see what led up to man’s fixation with teeth whitening.

The first ever toothbrushes were used in 3000 BC. These comprised of small branches that were scuffed at one end. People rubbed them on their teeth to get rid of food particles and other debris. In the 1400s the first toothbrush was invented by the Chinese. These had bamboo handles and hog hair bristles. They caught the attention of European traders who introduced them to many cultures.

Louis Pasteur, a French bacteriologist, caused some alarm when he discovered germs. People learned that hog bristles could be responsible for oral infections. Scientists continued to search for a more sanitized substitute, but they were only successful in 1935 when nylon was discovered by Wallace Corothers.

Dr West’s Miracle Tuft Toothbrush was the result. A leading company, du Pont, started to market this product right through America. The public was told about the drawbacks of hog hair and the many advantages of nylon. The only problem was that the ‘miracle’ toothbrush was so rigid that it harmed gums. Dentists wanted nothing to do with them. Du Pont continued its efforts and 20 years later, the soft-bristled nylon Park Avenue toothbrush was launched.

The Squibb Company caused a dental revolution when it introduced the first electric toothbrush in 1961. The product received the stamp of approval from the American Dental Association and, over the coming years, the electric toothbrush became much improved. Today they are battery operated, cordless, and even sonic.

In 2000 BC the Egyptians were the first to start teeth whitening. They used a mixture of crushed pumice stone and wine vinegar which was rubbed onto the teeth using a chew stick. This might sound gross, but wait until you hear what the Romans did - they whitened their teeth with urine! Roman physicians were adamant that urine contained bleaching properties.

History shows that it wasn’t dentists who offered teeth whitening to the public. It was in fact barbers who were often asked to extract rotting teeth. After filing the teeth, they would apply a caustic acid as a whitener. It proved to be effective but, in the process, the enamel was destroyed.

Italian dentists discovered in the 1800s that tooth discolorations could be removed with fluoride. Parents were encouraged to let their children suck on candy that contained fluoride. The results were so pleasing that fluoride was added to mouthwashes, toothpastes and even to drinking water. Years later it was discovered that fluoride was responsible for adult tooth discoloration.

Mankind is now living in the 21st Century and we are just as obsessed with sparkling white teeth in our efforts for that perfect smile. In fact the number of whitening or bleaching procedures done in the last 5 years has increased by a staggering 300 percent. This information was released by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Invisalign braces Toronto is an inexpensive way to straighten and enhance your smile dramatically. Cosmetic dentist Toronto offers various tooth whitening options to help you achieve the look that you want.

Helpful Information On Invisalign Braces

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Are you an adult that wants to straighten your teeth? Maybe you have a child that you think needs braces. Have you been putting off seeing your dentist about these issues because of the common fear of metal braces? If you answered yes to any of these, there is an alternative and less scary option; invisalign braces.

Invisalign braces are different from metal braces because they do not contain any metal at all. They are instead made of thermoplastic material. The aligners are clear and are custom made to fit. They are similar to traditional braces only in the way that they move teeth little by little. Align Technology Inc. Is responsible for making them and the company was founded in 1997.

These clear aligners are a good option for people that fear the anxiety metal braces can cause. The metal version is often seen as not appropriate for their age by adults. Also, it is common to think that metal braces are for children that are in high school or elementary school. In addition to adults, younger people sometimes do not like the idea of metal braces as well due to the look of them. Younger people are more concerned about their looks than others so they see wearing metal in their mouths as embarrassing and unattractive.

Discomfort is often caused by metal braces. Having them put in is a long process and it consists of teeth being tightly bound by wire and brackets. Once the process of having them put in is finished, patients are usually put on painkillers for a few days to a week because of the soreness the pressure exerts on teeth. Clear braces are different because they do not cause this and they do not cause irritation. They are virtually pain free and do not require monthly adjustments.

To find out if you are a good candidate for clear braces, your dentist will take a bite impression to see if the treatment would be an effective one. Not every case is suited for Invisalign braces as a solution. If you do qualify, you will be fitted will aligners and will have to see your dentist about one time per six weeks to assess your progress. The clear aligners also have to be replaced every two weeks.

Another benefit of invisalign braces is that they can be removed. When you drink, eat, brush, and floss your teeth, you can take them out. Though, they will need to be worn for twenty to twenty-two hours per day. They should only be removed at times for those reasons.

Insurance coverage, the amount of time it takes for your teeth to completely straighten, and the price depends on what your dentist determines. Since every patient is different, it will vary. Not every orthodontic office has clear braces as an option so check which local offices do.

If you are weary of traditional metal braces, then you should consider invisalign braces. They are not painful and they do not require any metal nor metal adjustments. They are a convenient option for those who want to correct the alignment of their teeth. See your dentist with any questions and concerns because they are the only people that can tell you if they will work for you or not.

Dentist Toronto provides advanced cosmetic and general dentistry procedures such as dental implants, Teeth whitening in Toronto and more. Professional implant Toronto cosmetic dentist can help restore your teeth and your smile.