Sometimes, a previous oral health condition or even genetics can cause imperfections in the appearance of your smile. Discoloration, misalignment, uneven spacing, and other irregularities of the teeth can all affect the appearance of your tooth. These blemishes, however, can be fixed. Cosmetic dentistry includes any treatment given to correct imperfections in the mouth’s appearance. If you are unhappy with the appearance or comfort of your smile, come to our offices in Bradenton and Sarasota. We offer a wide variety of cosmetic options including whitening, smile design, recontouring tooth shape, veneers, bonding, and ceramic/porcelain crowns.
Bonding is a common procedure for patients suffering from minor tooth imperfections. This includes gaps between teeth, minor decay damage, a chipped or cracked tooth, and cosmetic purposes. Bonding is a painless procedure which involves adhering a composite resin to the tooth. This composite resin is a putty-like material which the dentist molds to fit the shape of the tooth it is repairing. First, the dentist applies a gentle phosphoric acid gel to the surface of the tooth in question. This gel creates micro-etches in the tooth which provides the rough surface needed for the bonding agent to adhere. Next, the dentist color-matches the resin to the patient’s tooth and shapes it to fit. Once the material has been molded, an intense UV light is used to harden it and keep it in place. Lastly, the resin is buffed and polished, to match the patient’s other teeth. The entire process takes only 30 minutes to an hour.
X-rays are crucial tools in modern dentistry for diagnosing and monitoring oral health. They provide detailed images of teeth, gums, and surrounding structures that are not visible during a regular dental examination. These images help dentists detect cavities, assess bone health, check for tooth and root positions, and identify potential issues such as tumors or cysts. Dental X-rays are safe, with minimal exposure to radiation, and play a vital role in developing effective treatment plans tailored to each patient’s dental needs.
The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It’s unnecessary to “scrub” the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.
Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient. Patients are usually more satisfied with bridges than with partial dentures.
Generally, no. However, it’s advisable to use a fluoride containing toothpaste to decrease the incidence of dental decay. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride.
Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), more patients today are requesting “white” or tooth-colored composite fillings. We also prefer tooth-colored fillings because they “bond” to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. While fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they also look better. However, “white” fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.
