Month: March 2020

What Are Dental Veneers?

Veneers are porcelain or resin covers that are attached to the front of your teeth to correct issues like chipped teeth, gaps, discoloration, and misshapen teeth and give you a smile you can be proud of.

What are the benefits of getting veneers?

Veneers are an artificial cover that is attached to the front of your tooth to correct any abnormalities and leave you with a beautiful smile. Veneers are an excellent solution to anyone dealing with chipped teeth, a gap between their teeth, extreme discoloration that cannot be fixed with whitening, unusually small or pointed teeth and more.

What are veneers made of?

Veneers are usually made of porcelain or resin composite materials. When you’re ready to meet with your dentist and get your custom made veneers, you’ll want to know the benefits of the porcelain veneers versus resin veneers so you can make the best selection for your lifestyle.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

  • Removes less enamel than cap and crowns
  • Natural-looking color and texture
  • Stain-resistant
  • Long-lasting
  • Thin Shell
  • Custom-fit
  • Strong

Benefits of Resin Veneers

  • Removes less enamel than caps, crowns, and porcelain veneers
  • A simple procedure that sometimes only required one visit
  • Less expensive than porcelain veneers
  • Easily repaired if damaged or broken
  • Custom-fit

What is the cost of veneers?

The cost of veneers varies greatly depending on the dentist that is providing them and what type of veneers you select. Veneers are not usually covered by insurance because they are a cosmetic procedure designed to cover up chipped teeth, gaps between your front teeth, and misshapen teeth. Traditional veneers can cost between $1,000 and $2,500 per tooth and last around 10 to 15 years.

What to expect when you get your veneers

The first step to getting your veneers includes a consultation with your dentist to figure out what issues you are experiencing with your teeth and what you would like your veneers to look like. With this information, your dentist can give you more information about the type of veneers that will best meet your needs.

Next, your dentist will take an impression or mold of your teeth so your custom-designed veneers will fit your teeth perfectly! The porcelain or resin veneers are made right on the mold of your teeth. Most dentists will even offer a wax-up model of your teeth so you can see what your results will look like before the treatment starts.

Some dentists will provide you with a temporary veneer to try out beforehand to make sure you like them and they fit properly before attaching the permanent veneers to your teeth.

When your veneers have been perfected, you will have an appointment with your dentist to have the veneers bonded to your teeth. At this appointment, your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth before attaching the veneers. The bonding process is extremely secure and veneers cannot be removed after they are attached. They are attached to your teeth by applying a mild acidic solution to both your teeth and the veneers, creating a porous surface that can be bonded together with a translucent cement. At this time it is important to speak, smile and move your mouth around to make sure your veneers feel right in your mouth. Your dentist can make a few minor adjustments at this time.

How to protect your veneers

Although veneers are designed to be strong and give you a smile you can be proud of, it’s still important to take certain steps to protect your new veneers. After you get your veneers, our dentists suggest you protect them by:

  • Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports or other dangerous activities
  • Never using your veneers to rip open packaging or condiment packages
  • Not chewing on hard objects like your fingernails, pens, and ice
  • Using a retainer (custom-made nightguard) if you grind or clench your teeth at night
  • Brushing and flossing your teeth daily!

What type of dentist does veneers in Tucson?

You can get veneers from many different dentists all over Tucson. If you’re ready to be more confident in your smile with custom-fit veneers, call the office of Dr. Adam Dalesandro and Dr. Jeffrey Derickson for an appointment. From preventive dental care to new veneers, you can always count on getting the treatment you need at our dental office. Call us today at (520) 327-5993 for more information.

People Also Ask

What is the difference between veneers and Lumineers?
Lumineers are a type of veneer that is thinner, cheaper and faster to apply than traditional porcelain veneers. Unlike traditional veneers, lumineers are semi-permanent and don’t require grinding down of your teeth. Lumineers are not as effective at hiding damage or discoloring to your teeth and they don’t last as long.

What is the difference between veneers and dentures?
The biggest difference between veneers and dentures is that veneers are covers that are attached to your existing teeth while dentures are designed to replace any teeth that may be missing. Veneers are attached to the front of your tooth while dentures can be implanted, sit on top of your gumps, or attached to a neighboring tooth.

How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

How much do dental implants costWhat are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement solution and have been successfully in use since the 1960s. Designed to be artificial tooth roots, dental implants have a similar shape to screws and are bonded with the natural bone in the jaw to create a sturdy base to support artificial teeth. With an extensive life-span and several health benefits, dental implants can be well worth the price of the investment.

Quality Factors into the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental Implants were designed to be a long-term solution and have a lifespan averaging at least 25 years with proper care and maintenance. Dental Implants are an investment due to the high quality they offer. The implant itself, the root-like portion that is shaped like a screw, is made out of titanium and is surgically placed into the jaw. An abutment is placed on top of the implant to hold the prosthetics in place. The crown, the part that mimics a tooth, is designed to be natural looking and is made of mostly ceramic.

The titanium lasts a lifetime, but the abutment and crown are more prone to deterioration. With proper care and maintenance, they can still be expected to last 15-25 years. There are other factors in how long your dental implant can last, including:

  • How well you take care and maintain your dental implants
  • Your general oral health and lifestyle.
  • How you use your dental implants.
  • Location of the implant.
  • How skilled the dentist was that inserted the implant.

Having poor oral health and misusing your implants can negatively affect how long your implants will last. As long as you take care of the implants and receive the procedure from a trained and experienced dentist who knows how to flawlessly place the dental implants, you can expect the dental implant to have a full life span of 25 years due to the high quality of the materials used.
The Health Benefits that are Worth the Cost of Dental Implants Dental Implants offer other benefits in addition to their high-quality materials. There are several health benefits that are associated with getting dental implants. For example, dental implant surgery also helps to restore the structure of your jawbone by reducing the load on the remaining teeth. This preserves your natural tooth tissue and prevents bone deterioration or resorption that may lead to jawbone loss.

For those born with certain deformities, dental implants can be used to osseointegrate with the jawbone. Meaning that the titanium integrates with the surrounding bone and fuses permanently to the mandible. This will prevent Besides its aesthetic value, implant surgery makes it easier for you to eat and speak because the implant post is secured firmly into your jawbone.

The Cost of Alternative Solutions of Dental Implants

You might be surprised how affordable dental implants are compared to other tooth replacement options, especially when you take into account long-term cost-effectiveness and quality of life. At first glance, dentures or removable bridges can appear more inexpensive compared to the price of dental implants, given their lower upfront costs. However, the full cost of these options can run much higher than the cost of dental implants, for several reasons:

  • Initial costs versus total costs.​ The initial price you pay doesn’t include the cost of replacing your dentures or bridges, which may be necessary as often as every 5 years. It also doesn’t include the ongoing maintenance costs, such as adhesives and fixatives.
  • The convenience costs.​ Unlike your natural teeth or dental implants, you need to remove your dentures to soak and brush them, which can be a time-consuming hassle.
  • The health costs.​ Without a tooth or implant, your jawbone will begin to deteriorate, which can change your facial appearance and lead to further health problems.
  • The social costs.​ Dentures can slip or click when you chew, laugh, talk, or kiss. There is the possibility of them falling out altogether.

The Total Cost of Dental Implants is Based on Each Client’s Individual Needs

Since every dental implant treatment is customized for specific individuals’ needs, the costs vary accordingly. The total cost depends on several different factors, including how many teeth need replacing and where they’re located, the number and type of implants, and whether any additional procedures are necessary to prepare your mouth for the implants.

An evaluation by an experienced dental implant expert is the best way to ensure that you are getting an accurate cost estimate for quality work. If you see ads for dental implants with low prices that seem too good to be true – well, you know what they say. If someone quotes you a price for dental implants without examining you, it’s best to be cautious in that scenario.

A single top or bottom set can cost anywhere between $3,500 to $30,000. Full mouth implants can range anywhere from $7,000 to $90,000, with the full mouth set averaging at approximately $30,000. Most insurance companies do not cover the full cost of dental implants, regardless of the fact that they are now considered the standard solution to teeth replacement.

The Cost of Alternative Solutions of Dental Implants

You might be surprised how affordable dental implants are compared to other tooth replacement options, especially when you take into account long-term cost-effectiveness and quality of life. At first glance, dentures or removable bridges can appear more inexpensive compared to the price of dental implants, given their lower upfront costs. However, the full cost of these options can run much higher than the cost of dental implants, for several reasons:

  • Initial costs versus total costs.​ The initial price you pay doesn’t include the cost of replacing your dentures or bridges, which may be necessary as often as every 5 to 15 years. It also doesn’t include the ongoing maintenance costs, such as fixatives and adhesives.
  • The convenience costs.​ Unlike your natural teeth or dental implants, you need to remove your dentures to soak and brush them, which can be a time-consuming hassle.
  • The health costs.​ Without a tooth or implant, your jawbone will begin to deteriorate, which can change your facial appearance.
  • The social costs.​ Dentures can slip or click when you chew, laugh, talk, or kiss. There is the possibility of them falling out altogether.

The Cost of Dental Implants can be Well Worth the Investment

When taking into mind all of the variables of the long-term effects, benefits, and quality of dental implants, it’s easy to see why they have become the standard solution in the world of replacing
teeth. The cost of dental implants may seem expensive when you first look into it but can be overall worth the investment and offer some peace of mind for your dental health.

People Also Ask

  • How painful is dental implant surgery? ​Most dental implant patients say the procedure is smooth, and a local anesthetic is used so that the discomfort is minimal. Plus, implants are popular because they give patients a natural, lasting smile, allowing them to live and eat without holding back.
  • How long does the dental implant surgery take? ​The dental implant process is usually a three-phase process, which can be different for each person. Typically the entire process takes from 5 to 8 months but can differ on each case and what each patient needs.
  • What is the procedure for dental implants? ​During the surgery to place the dental implant, your oral surgeon makes a cut to open your gum and expose the bone. Holes are drilled into the bone where the dental implant metal post will be placed. Since the post will serve as the tooth root, it’s implanted deep into the bone. When osseointegration is complete between the bone and the implant, you may need additional surgery to place the abutment — the piece where the crown will eventually attach. This minor surgery is typically done with local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. The process can take several months to complete.

What Is the Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth?

The best way to whiten your teeth

Let’s Discuss What is the Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth

If you are considering the best way to whiten your teeth, it’s important to factor in some variables. This includes what your budget is, the time frame you are wanting to achieve, how much effort and time you are willing to commit to adding this into your routine, and the type of stains you have. It’s important to take into consideration any restrictions you may have regarding your oral health as well. Options can range anywhere from professional treatments that come with a hefty price tag, to do-it-yourself and budget-friendly.

Professional Treatments can Offer the Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth

If you have grey or brown discoloration, oral health problems, dental restorations, or certain diseases you will need to discuss your teeth whitening options with a dentist. For the most dramatic and instantaneous results, it’s best to visit your local dentist’s office or teeth whitening clinic for a professional whitening treatment, which offers a higher concentration of active bleaching ingredients. The downside is that professional whitening can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,500 dollars per treatment. If that’s not quite in your budget, the good news is that over-the-counter teeth whitening products have come a long way, and the aesthetic results can
now rival those treatments administered by your doctor, as long as you don’t have any underlying conditions.

The Best Teeth Whitening Products to Use at Home

If you have yellow teeth due to stains from food, drink, or aging then you should be able to use at home devices or products to help restore your smile. There are three main options for teeth whitening at home: toothpaste, strips, and light devices. Pastes offer minimal whitening results, due to low levels of bleaching ingredients, which also means they have a low chance of permanently damaging your enamel. Strips and light devices provide more dramatic results since the whitening ingredients make full contact with teeth for longer periods of time.

Whitening toothpaste pastes typically contain mild abrasives like hydrated silica, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium carbonate to polish and remove surface stains, essentially getting the “whitening” effect by scraping off the stains. Whitening toothpaste can also possibly contain low concentrations of active hydrogen peroxide to bleach teeth, which will strengthen the whitening effect.

Whitening strips use a plastic strip, tray, or mold to apply the bleaching ingredient hydrogen peroxide directly to teeth. Each session lasts between 30 minutes to two hours, and you’ll need up to three weeks of repeated use for full results. If you want to make your teeth white fast, strips are one of the most effective over-the-counter teeth whiteners, as the active ingredient is left on teeth for an extended period of time. It’s important to ensure you are using high-quality products so that you are not causing damage to the teeth.

Whitening light devices work by applying a whitening agent directly to the teeth, then a blue LED light is held over them to increase and accelerate results. Like teeth whitening strips, light devices are very effective because of the amount of time the active ingredient makes full contact with your teeth.

The Best DIY Way to Whiten Your Teeth

Made popular by online resources, there are a ton of Do-It-Yourself options for whitening your teeth at home. There seem to be so many ways to whiten your teeth but do they all work? Are they all safe? Will some actually do more harm than good? When whitening your teeth at home, always keep a close eye on how you react and stop any treatment immediately if you notice sensitivity or pain. Generally, these are the safest way to effectively whiten your teeth at home:

  • Creating a Baking Soda paste to use as a toothpaste.
  • Oil Pulling to help whiten teeth and used as anti-bacterial for overall oral health.
  • Swishing with diluted Hydrogen Peroxide, but only minimally limited use as not to damage your enamel.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar is considered a natural cleaning product but should be used very sparingly and quickly as to not soften your teeth.
  • Practicing good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily.
  • Prevent stains from forming and limit your intake of staining food and drinks, such as red wine and coffee.

There is a surplus of other DIY “hacks” for whitening teeth, but can be more harm than good, due to the high level of acidity that is proven to permanently damage your enamel. With no real studies to show the effectiveness and safety, the following are not recommended and should be avoided:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar or Hydrogen Peroxide for long periods of time.
  • Fruit peels are not backed up by science to have any sort of whitening effect, although made famous by celebrities.
  • Activated Charcoal toothpaste has been proved to be too abrasive for teeth, especially for daily use.

What’s the best option for whitening sensitive teeth? If you have sensitive teeth, you’ll want to take some extra precautions before using at-home whitening products. It is recommended to see your dentist if you have sensitive teeth, as it may be a sign of dental problems. If your teeth are okay but you simply have sensitivity, your dentist can help with desensitizing treatments. Just ensure you are paying close attention to how your teeth react. If you experience sensitivity or if the edges of your teeth start to appear see-through, you should stop the whitening regimen immediately, so that permanent damage is not inflicted.

The Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth

For every Scenario, Good oral care, including regular brushing, flossing your teeth, and dental checkups and teeth cleanings will go a long way towards helping remove the surface stains. If you want to see significant results you’ll need to choose an option that really removes stains from the enamel on your teeth, such as in-chair treatments and whitening kits. Whitening toothpaste can also assist in helping you restore your smile and it is possible you can achieve desirable effects at-home by utilizing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. As long as you do not have any oral health risks, you can establish a tooth whitening regime based on your individual needs and your budget.

People Also Ask

  • Will whitening my teeth change the color of a fake tooth? ​If you have a fake tooth, at-home teeth whiteners will not damage it, and they will have no impact on its brightness or color. Generally, once that fake tooth is in place the color remains fairly stable and cannot be altered.
  • How do teeth get so yellow? ​Some of the most common causes of tooth discoloration include drinking beverages such as coffee, soda, and wine. These substances get into the enamel of your teeth and can cause long-term discoloration. Excessive exposure to fluoride can cause the teeth to yellow, especially in children.
  • What is the cheapest way to whiten your teeth? ​Using 1 part baking soda and 1 part water to create a paste to use on your teeth is considered the most cost-effective solution to whiten your teeth at home.

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