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All Posts in Category: Cosmetic Dentistry

cosmetic dentistry

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry: A Complete Guide To Understanding What Cosmetic Dentistry Is

Growing up, we are taught good dental health is important. As we age we learn just how important that advice was.

If you’re dealing with damaged or failing teeth, you may not smile as much or live with discomfort. The thought of cosmetic dentistry may seem like a faraway option due to cost. The truth is, over time cosmetic dental surgery cost has become more affordable.

If you are tired of being embarrassed about your teeth, you should consult with a cosmetic dentist. Before you do, here is a complete guide to help you understand what they have to offer.

General Dentistry vs. Cosmetic Dentistry

One focuses on your oral health and hygiene, while the other is about the appearance of your teeth. If you have broken, discolored, or missing teeth chances are that you haven’t been consistent with your oral healthcare.

The need for cosmetic dentistry can also be related to other health issues that are unrelated to oral care. This is more reason for wanting to brighten your smile.

Having nice teeth goes a long way in improving your overall self-esteem. 

What Options are Available?

Cosmetic dentistry addresses several problems. Most of them can be treated and corrected with a simple procedure. Here are a few of them.

Teeth Whitening

Of all of the cosmetic procedures, teeth whitening is the quickest and least expensive. Depending on the level of discoloration, you can have pearly whites in one or more appointments. 

Fillings and Artificial Crowns

Getting a filling is a dental procedure that involves removing tooth decay and rebuilding the tooth. There are several dental filling materials are available for patients to choose from.

Artificial crowns have the same purpose as fillings. They are designed to repair cracked, broken, or decaying teeth. Instead of a filling, crowns cover the damaged tooth.

Dental Implants

Probably the most intrusive process, implants require the use of metal posts or frames that are attached to the jaw bone. These fixtures allow the dentist to make permanent tooth replacements.

Dental implants allow for a tooth replacement where a tooth has been pulled or severally damaged. Implants can also be used to give an individual a full set of teeth.

Orthodontia

Commonly known as braces, orthodontia is a process used to realign teeth. A popular process was to attach wire fittings to the teeth that have to be worn for several years.

With new technology, braces have been replaced with less intrusive devices like Invisalign. 

Can You Afford Your Perfect Smile?

Cosmetic dental prices vary based on the type of service you need. Most dental insurance will not cover the cost of elective procedures but there are a few that do. 

If you are thinking about having a procedure done it is worth the cost of getting a consultation.

Are You Ready to Make the Change?

Now that you know more about cosmetic dentistry are you ready to make the call?  Don’t deny yourself the relief you want and need.

Contact us today for a full dental consultation.

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5 Truths Your Dentist Wishes You Didn’t Know About Cosmetic Dentistry

The field of dentistry is populated by a number of different types of generalists and specialists. If you’re like most people, you tend to stick with a general dentist when it comes to your regular cleanings and checkups. If so, you can bet that the following five truths are ones that your dentist wishes that you didn’t know about in terms of cosmetic dentistry.

1. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on appearances

General dentistry focuses on oral health and hygiene while cosmetic dentistry focuses on appearances. While a patient might be more concerned about how their smile looks, this often cannot be achieved without healthy teeth. General dentistry and cosmetic dentistry are complimentary services instead of being opposing ones.

2. Teeth whitening doesn’t mean your teeth are clean

Having a pearly white smile is the goal for nearly everyone who visits the dentist. Not everyone understands the link that exists between a healthy smile and teeth that are white. Just because you visit a dentist for a session of teeth whitening doesn’t mean that your teeth are also clean and that you can forgo your regular dental checkup. In fact, numerous germs, acids and bacteria can remain in your mouth and on your gums after you’ve had your teeth whitened.

3. Bonding is a temporary fix

If you visit your dentist looking for solutions to address injuries to your teeth or chips, bonding is often an option. While it’s not possible to determine the validity of bonding for your particular situation until you undergo a complete examination of the problem, bonding is simple and relatively inexpensive. Bonding is a temporary solution because the material used can wear down over time.

4. Cosmetic dentistry is an investment

Cosmetic dentistry is the glamorous cousin to general dentistry’s focus on health. That being said, cosmetic dentistry solutions are often considered an investment in the patient’s smile. This is likely to transfer to better overall oral health. The reasons for this are often twofold. Firstly, being vigilant about regular dental checkups, flossing and brushing help maintain the beautiful results that cosmetic dentistry provides. Secondly, paying particular attention to your oral health can reduce the costs that you might incur in the future if your cosmetic work fails because of a lack of hygiene.

5. Protecting your tooth enamel is important

Your teeth’s enamel plays a vital role in their health. Unfortunately, it can often crack and chip which then exposes the rest of that tooth to cavity-forming bacteria and acids. Tooth enamel isn’t a living tissue so it doesn’t heal on its own. The shaping of your tooth enamel can help improve the appearance of your smile as well as your bite. It can also protect your teeth from further damage from substances.

At Dupont Dental, we provide a range of dental services — both preventative and cosmetic — that focus on providing our patients with the healthiest and most appealing smile. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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perfect smile healthy dental hygiene

How To Achieve The Perfect Smile: Not As Difficult As You Think

Are you someone that will often shy away from smiling at people? If that’s the case, it’s likely that you feel embarrassed about your teeth. Perhaps some of them look misaligned. Or your teeth don’t have that bright white appearance they once had.

You will no doubt want to stop hiding your teeth and start smiling again. However, you might assume that “fixing” your teeth is a lengthy and expensive process. It might shock you to learn that achieving the perfect smile is easier than you think!

Moreover, improving the appearance of teeth is well within most people’s means. Here are some examples of how you can transform your teeth into something to be proud of:

Make Sure Your Home Dental Health Hygiene is Good

It doesn’t matter how much work you have done to your teeth. Nor does it even matter what you spend on that work. If you don’t look after your teeth, you’ll never have the perfect smile.

The key to achieving your ultimate goal is by starting with good dental hygiene. For a start, your daily routine should including brushing your teeth after each meal. Doing so ensures you get rid of the bacteria that can cause gum disease.

Each day, you should floss your teeth to remove any food stuck between them. It’s important to note that bacteria grows on food lodged in your mouth. Getting rid of their source of energy will kill them!

And when you’ve cleaned your teeth, don’t forget to rinse your mouth out with mouthwash. It ensures that any remaining bacteria gets destroyed from your mouth. Carrying out the above routine without fail each day will make your teeth strong and healthy.

Teeth Whitening

Are you embarrassed by your yellow and discolored teeth? If so, you can do something about it! Perhaps the easiest and most common step is by having teeth whitening carried out.

There are many teeth whitening treatments that you can have performed. You can opt for a solution that gets done by a dentist. Or you can use a treatment that you carry out at home. In both cases, the results will guarantee the improvement of your smile!

Fix Small Chips on Your Front Teeth

Some people don’t like smiling because of chipped teeth. Those problems can occur for various reasons. Examples include sports injuries and biting too hard onto a hard piece of food!

Dental bonding is a cosmetic treatment you can have applied to fix minor chips on your front teeth. It’s a painless process that involves the use of special composite resins. When they get applied to your teeth, they get buffed and polished to achieve a uniform look. Dental bonding is the ideal way to improve your smile and boost confidence from chipped teeth.

Repair Larger Chips and Broken Teeth

Veneers are an excellent treatment for those seeking to fix larger chipped teeth. It’s also the perfect way to fix broken or discolored teeth. Veneers are thin, translucent porcelain coatings that attach to the front of the teeth.

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Choosing cosmetic dentistry over a general dentist

Choosing A Dentist: Cosmetic Or General?

We all want to take proper care of our bodies – and we all know just how important that is. One of the most important parts of our bodies is our teeth. Often, people let their tooth care become a backseat issue. With our hectic modern lives being the way they are, this is all too easily done. However, it is a dangerous habit to fall into. Your teeth should take priority when it comes to looking after yourself. After all, having a clean, winning smile is an important attribute for just about anyone. Whether you just want healthier teeth, or you are looking for a Hollywood smile, there are positive steps you can take. If you have come to realize it might be time to take back control of your tooth care, then there are some basic things to do first. The first thing to do is to find a trustworthy dentist. This decision alone can be a difficult one to master. However, it is an important one, so it is worth taking some time to make the best decision. The earliest decision is whether to choose a general or a cosmetic dentist. They differ in their practice, but how? Let’s have a look now, to help you make your decision.

General Dentist

The general dentist is probably what you are used to. It is what most people are used to. A general dentist is well qualified to carry out any number of dentistry tasks for you. This is usually where you want to go when you are just looking for a regular check-up. Check-ups are vital, so it is equally important that you choose a reliable dentist to carry them out. It is well worth doing some research in your local area to see who might be the best for this. Beyond that, general dentists also carry out basic tooth care work. It is also likely that a general dentist’s practice will have a hygienist on board. This can be very useful to keep your teeth clean.

Cosmetic Dentist

A cosmetic dentist has everything that a general dentist has on offer, plus more. A cosmetic dentist like Dupont Dental will be trained to the same degree as a regular dentist. What’s more, they will also have additional training relating to the specific tasks which they carry out. Cosmetic dentists are perfect for whitening, veneers, bonding. Anything to help give you that winning smile you so deserve. It is important to remember that a cosmetic dentist can fix any problem you might have, just as a general dentist can. The only significant difference is that a cosmetic dentist will also put effort into ensuring that your teeth look the part. For example, if a cosmetic dentist fills a cavity, they will be sure to color-match to your teeth. That way, you keep your smile, even while having it repaired. With Dupont, you do have the best of both worlds.

Choosing between a general or cosmetic dentist can be difficult. However, a cosmetic dentist can do everything a general dentist can do, plus a little more. It is up to you whether you want to treat yourself to the upgraded Dupont Dental option, or the regular one.

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George Clooney smiling hollywood smile

Cosmetic Dentistry Could Give You That Perfect, Hollywood Smile

Think about that Hollywood smile. You know you’re in Hollywood when everyone flashes pearly whites of perfection. But that doesn’t happen naturally. If you don’t believe that, research some of the Hollywood star child pictures online. You’ll see many had crazy problems with their smiles and their teeth. So what is behind that perfect Hollywood smile? Typically, Hollywood stars have had major cosmetic treatment to get that perfect smile. So, if you want a smile like theirs, you ought to have a look into cosmetic dentistry. These are just some of the benefits.

Straight Teeth In No Time

It’s a little-known fact that teeth are not straight naturally. You may think your teeth are perfect. But head to an orthodontist and they’ll let you know they could still improve your smile. There’s no doubt that straight teeth are aesthetically more appealing than crooked ones. With cosmetic dentistry, a significant benefit is that you’ll have perfectly straight teeth in a matter of months.

No Gaps With No Pain

You might have noticed that some celebs have gaps in their teeth. But they usually try and do everything they can to hide these. Little gaps can be acceptable. But big gaping gaps can be unsightly. Particularly, if they are in noticeable areas. Again, cosmetic dentistry offers a significant benefit of ensuring those gaps are closed up. You won’t have to worry about a big gap between your two front teeth anymore. The procedure involved is painless, and once you get the work done, you’ll hardly notice it.

Fixing Overbites With Invisible Treatments

Another forgotten fact of dentistry is that teeth don’t fit perfectly on top of each other. At least, they shouldn’t. There should be a small, apparent overbite with the top teeth sitting a little further forward. Overbites can occur naturally but for some people, they are unfortunately massive. You might have had a problem your whole life with buck teeth and never thought there was a solution. But there is. Another big benefit of cosmetic dentistry is that you can fix your overbite. Due to the small level of work that’s required the treatment is often invisible. A retainer could do this for you and might not even have to be worn the whole time. Cosmetic dentistry could offer an invisible fix to a big issue with your smile.

A Friendly Cost You Can Afford

You might think that a Hollywood treatment comes with a Hollywood price tag. But that’s simply not the case. Most cosmetic dental procedures are completely affordable for the average individual. Certainly these types of procedures are a lot cheaper than other forms of cosmetic surgery. They’re great value for money too. You’ll have a permanent fix to an issue that’s probably been bothering you for years.

The Final Result

The last benefit of cosmetic surgery is probably the biggest. Forget about the cost, the treatment or the time it takes. Start thinking about the results. Next time you pass a shop window, you’ll smile at the reflection of a beautiful stranger and suddenly realise, it’s you!

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Surprising Benefits of Dental Implants

Healthy, strong teeth are essential for a stunning smile that lasts a lifetime, but the truth is that most people weren’t born with perfect teeth that stay strong and look great forever. Having a healthy and complete smile helps overall health while boosting confidence. It’s important for anyone missing one or more teeth to seek a replacement to prevent bone loss and preserve their facial structure. With today’s dental implants, it’s possible to have permanent tooth replacement and a complete smile at any age. Dental implants have many benefits, but some of them may be surprising.

Youthful Smile and Face

A healthy smile keeps a person looking younger because teeth help preserve facial structure. The lips, cheeks and skin of the face remain firmer and tighter when teeth are present. Missing teeth and the gaps they leave can lead to bone loss, which gives the face a sunken appearance and causes the skin around the cheeks, eyes, and mouth to look more wrinkled and looser. Patients who receive dental implants often comment on how they feel and look younger and how much more willing they are to smile.

Success in Social Life and Career

A smile is one of the first things people notice during a first impression, and a healthy smile ensures that it’s a positive impression. A study showed that men found smiling women without makeup were more attractive than women hiding their smiles and wearing makeup, which proves the impressive power of a great smile. It’s common to hide one’s smile due to missing teeth, and this can make them seem unapproachable or unfriendly when they’re truly not. Having a full set of teeth encourages a person to feel more confident and smile more, and this can lead to greater opportunities in social and professional aspects of life.

Healthier Food Options

Someone living with missing teeth or traditional dentures that slip and aren’t as durable as natural teeth may live on a limited diet with foods that are easier to chew and may not be healthy. Difficult or painful chewing due to missing teeth makes it difficult to enjoy harder, healthier foods like apples, carrots, and other firm option.  Bones stay healthy and strong with exercise, and this applies to the jawbones too. With dental implants replacing missing teeth, a person can chew on healthy foods that keep teeth and bones strong.

Halt Bone Loss

The loss of bone material in the body, a condition called osteoporosis can affect both women and men and the jawbone is one of the first areas doctors find a loss of bone. When a person has all their teeth thanks to dental implants, they can chew properly and have a strong jawbone. The placement of dental implants directly into the jawbone can slow down, halt and sometimes reverse bone loss. Dental implants help keep surrounding teeth healthy too as they don’t require modification for implant placement and the new teeth prevent natural teeth from shifting.

Learn how dental implants can address any missing teeth issues by contacting Dupont Dental today.  

 

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oral-surgery-jaw-tooth

Conditions That Require Oral Surgery

There are multiple conditions that can require treatment with oral surgery, but with today’s innovative dental practices, a patient can feel safe and comfortable undergoing such a common practice. Sometimes oral surgery is avoidable with good oral hygiene and sometimes it’s necessary to treat any oral issues that could become worse without attention. Tooth extraction is one of the most common oral surgeries, but there are also jaw problems that may require surgery.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

The third molars or wisdom teeth develop last and most of the time there isn’t room for them in the mouth, which prevents them from emerging and leads to impacted teeth. The impacted teeth become trapped between the gum tissue and jawbone, and this can cause pain, swelling, and infection in the gum tissues. Impacted wisdom teeth may damage nearby teeth, bone, and gums permanently and cause tumors or cysts that can destroy jaw sections. For these reasons, dentists perform oral surgery to remove the impacted wisdom teeth. Sometimes other teeth such as bicuspids become impacted too and require removal.

Tooth Replacement

Someone who has suffered tooth loss and seeks tooth replacement with dental implants will have to undergo oral surgery to place the implants. Dental implants replace the tooth root with a titanium rod anchored in the jawbone and the dentist then places an artificial tooth that functions like the remaining natural teeth.

Jaw Problems

For some people, their jaw doesn’t develop properly and this unequal jaw growth can lead to difficulties with eating, speaking, breathing, and swallowing. While issues such as misaligned teeth are correctable with orthodontics, more serious jaw problems need oral surgery to reposition the jaw for proper function. Sometimes severe cases of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) require oral surgery on the joints to correct problems in the temporomandibular joint.

Proper Fit for Dentures

First-time denture wearers may need oral surgery to correct jaw irregularities before the dentists makes the dentures. These corrections help the dentures fit better. Long-term denture wearers may also benefit from oral surgery if the jawbone deteriorates and the dentures don’t fit properly anymore. The oral surgeon may perform a bone graft to strengthen areas of bone loss.

Repair After Facial Injury

Someone who has suffered a facial injury, such as broken facial bones or fractured jaws, may require oral surgery to restore the structure and health of the teeth, gums, and jaw.

Treat Facial Infections

Infections in the neck, jaws or face can become life threatening without proper treatment. Oral surgery such as tooth extraction or making an incision to drain the infections may be necessary.

Oral surgery has many beneficial issues to oral and overall health and today’s dental professionals work to make it as stress-free an experience as possible. Learn about your oral treatment options by contacting Dupont Dental.

 

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Fixing crooked teeth

The Importance of Correcting Crooked Teeth

Crooked or misaligned teeth are more than just a cosmetic concern as without correction, they can lead to oral complications and health problems. With today’s innovative dental treatments, adults with crooked teeth can have healthy, straight teeth and a smile they’re confident sharing.

Crooked teeth causes

There are various reasons why teeth become crooked. Quite often, as permanent teeth grow in replacing baby teeth, they don’t grow in straight because they grow in one at a time and the existing teeth in the mouth affect their position. This is why it’s common for teens and pre-teens to undergo braces once all of their baby teeth have fallen out. Tooth loss is another common cause of crooked teeth as the remaining teeth move position to fill the gap left by the missing tooth. When the teeth shift, they’re usually misaligned. Less common causes of crooked teeth include TMJ disorder or a cleft palate.

How crooked teeth affect oral health

When the teeth have proper alignment, they support each other and help maintain the proper oral structure, which makes eating and speaking possible. However, when teeth are crooked, they can cause muscle and jaw strain as they don’t provide enough support and this leaves the mouth more vulnerable to damage or injury. Having teeth out of alignment can also lead to sensitivity or tooth pain and has the potential to increase the risk of gingivitis and tooth decay as it’s harder to reach all areas of the crooked teeth while brushing and flossing.

Treating crooked teeth

Treating crooked teeth requires working with a dental professional experienced in orthodontics. There are many ways of fixing crooked teeth and children and adults can both benefits from traditional braces. Today’s braces can be less obvious and more comfortable than braces of the past, but the most discreet option is the Invisalign system of aligner trays. Invisalign braces are very convenient for today’s busy adults and they’ve advanced so that they can treat a great degree of misalignment than when they were first introduced. The clear plastic trays of the Invisalign system are easy to remove during eating, brushing and flossing ensuring that teeth stay healthy as they move into a better position. For patients who don’t want to undergo orthodontic treatments and who have misaligned teeth that are more of a cosmetic issue, dentists may suggest placing porcelain veneers over crooked teeth. Veneers give a patient’s smile an even, smooth and properly aligned appearance.

There’s no reason to endure misaligned teeth in your mouth that make you self-conscious. Contact Dupont Dental to find out how we can restore and improve your smile.

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Porcelain Veneers DC

Maintaining Porcelain Veneers – DC

Porcelain veneers are a great option for improving or restoring the healthy appearance of a smile, and many people in DC opt for porcelain veneers. The lifetime of porcelain veneers depends on how well the patient takes care of them and with the right maintenance and dental care, porcelain veneers can last for many years. Reasons that porcelain veneers sometimes require replacement include decay, damage or cosmetic flaws, but delaying that replacement is often within the power of the patient.

Expected veneers lifespan

It’s impossible to predict precisely how long porcelain veneers will last because every patient is different. Some patients require replacement within a few years while others can go 30+ years without a problem that requires replacement. The average lifespan for porcelain veneers before they require replacement is 10-15 years.

Practice good oral hygiene

To ensure the longevity of any dental restoration, it’s vital that patients practice good oral hygiene. Although porcelain veneers don’t get cavities, a cavity in the tooth beneath a veneer requires removal of the restoration so the dentist can treat the decay. The dental cement dentists in DC use to place veneers can recede with time and bacteria can grow in the small spaces between the tooth and the veneer. By practicing good oral hygiene including brushing and flossing over and around the veneer and using a mouth rinse, porcelain veneers can last for years.

Avoid oral damage

The main reason that patients require porcelain veneer replacement is damage. The damage can be a sudden, large break or just gradual wear, but it’s possible to avoid damage by avoiding the following:

  • Sports trauma – Patients who play contact sports like hockey and football are at a higher risk of suffering oral trauma. Avoiding such trauma and damage to veneers requires wearing a mouthguard whenever playing.
  • Grinding teeth – For people who grind their teeth in their sleep, using a night guard can prevent damage to porcelain veneers and natural teeth.
  • Chewing on hard objects – Habits such as chewing on hard objects including ice, fingernails or pencils can damage porcelain veneers and natural teeth. Breaking these habits benefits oral health.

Discoloration issues

Porcelain resists stains, but patients still need to be aware of what causes tooth discoloration to ensure that their veneers maintain their bright appearance. Good oral hygiene helps prevent stains as does avoiding drinks such as wine or making sure to rinse after consumption. Another discoloration issue is when the natural teeth around the veneers fade in brightness, which means the veneers no longer match surrounding teeth. An in-office teeth whitening can restore natural teeth to their original brightness, so they match the veneers and is more affordable that replacing veneers.

If you’re wondering if porcelain veneers are right for you, contact Dupont Dental in DC and learn more about our cosmetic dentistry options, including porcelain veneers.

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Teeth Whitening Washington DC

Good Candidates for Teeth Whitening

A teeth whitening treatment is a popular option for enhancing and improving the beauty of a person’s smile, and a professional, in-office dental teeth whitening treatment is the safest and most effective option. While teeth whitening can address some teeth appearance issues, it’s not suitable treatment for everyone, so it’s important to know who makes the best candidates.

Professional teeth whitening procedure

During in-office teeth whitening, the dentist supervises to ensure its safety and prevent exposing the gums to the whitening agent. The dental professional applies a bleaching agent carefully to the patient’s teeth and then uses a laser light on the teeth to activate the full whitening strength. Dentists can brighten a smile up to eight shades in a single teeth whitening treatment.

Removing discoloration and surface stains

In-office teeth whitening treatments address stains on the surface of the teeth, on the enamel and dentin layers. The causes of these surface stains can include drinking dark beverages such as coffee, tea or red wine, eating foods such as blueberries, using tobacco products and natural aging.

Good candidates for teeth whitening

The best candidates for professional teeth whitening have good overall dental health but would like to remove tooth stains and general discoloration from the surface of their teeth. They need to have realistic expectations of what teeth whitening can accomplish and understand the possible temporary side effects such as sensitivity.

Poor candidates for teeth whitening

When a patient has tooth discoloration from tooth damage or decay, teeth whitening isn’t a good treatment. Such dental issues need to be treated before teeth whitening can be used effectively. Patients with tooth discoloration that comes from inside the tooth and not on the surface aren’t good candidates for teeth whitening as the bleaching agent only treats stains on dentin and enamel.

When teeth whitening isn’t an option

For patients with stains that are too severe for teeth whitening to treat, there are other options such as porcelain veneers. Veneers are shells that go over teeth to conceal dental flaws such as staining. When decay or injury cause dental stains, good treatment options include restorations such as a dental crown or inlay or onlay to restore the health and appearance of teeth.

The best way to know if you’re a good candidate for professional teeth whitening is to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. Contact Dupont Dental to learn more about teeth whitening and make an informed decision about improving the health and appearance of your smile.

 

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