Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Cosmetic Dentistry - Dental Bonding

Improving My Smile with Dental Bonds

How Does Bonding Work?
Bonding uses composite resins or porcelain/composite veneers to cover the surface of stained teeth and give a nice, even appearance to broken or misshapen teeth. There are two basic bonding techniques:

Composite bonding
First, the front of the tooth is slightly reduced to prevent the "new" tooth from being too bulky. Microscopic grooves are then etched into the tooth surface with a mild acid. A composite resin matched to the colour of the surrounding teeth is applied to the tooth, contoured into shape, set using a curing light, and finally smoothed and polished.
Veneer bonding
A veneer is made to match the colour and shape of your tooth. Porcelain veneers are generally stronger, while composite veneers are less expensive. With porcelain veneers, the dentist takes an impression of the tooth and sends it to the dental lab for fabrication of the veneer, usually after the front of the tooth has been reduced. With either method, the tooth is prepared for bonding by roughening the front surface with mild etching solution. The veneer can then be bonded to your tooth using a dental bonding cement.

While more expensive, a porcelain veneer offers a better colour match to your surrounding teeth and typically lasts for five to 10 years.

Above article from: www.colgate.ca

Purcellville Dental offers a wide range of cosmetic dental treatment services in Purcellville VA. Please visit our main website to learn more!

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental Timothy A. Smith, DDS
609-T East Main Street
Purcellville, VA 20132

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Dental Health Care - Heart Disease and Gum Disease

Is There a Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Disease?
Overall the data indicates that chronic gum disease may contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death in both men and women.

How does this happen? Gum disease is a bacterial infection that can affect conditions outside your mouth. In heart disease, one theory is that gum disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they attach to the fatty deposits in the heart blood vessels. This condition can cause blood clots and may lead to heart attacks.

If I Have Heart Disease, Are There Special Requirements to Maintain Proper Oral Health?
To maintain the best oral health, you should:

Establish and maintain a healthy mouth. This means brushing and flossing daily and visiting your dentist regularly.
Make sure your dentist knows you have a heart problem.
Carefully follow your physician's and dentist's instructions, and use prescription medications, such as antibiotics, as directed.

Am I at Risk if Dental Procedures are Performed?
If you have certain preexisting heart conditions, you may be at risk for developing bacterial endocarditis — an infection of the heart's inner lining or the valves. Anytime there is bleeding in the mouth, certain oral bacteria can enter the blood stream and may settle on abnormal heart valves or tissue weakened by an existing heart problem or heart condition. In these cases, the infection can damage or even destroy heart valves or tissue.

There are precautions you need to take if you have any of the following conditions:

Artificial (prosthetic) heart valves
A history of endocarditis
Congenital heart or heart valve defects
Heart valves damaged (scarred) by conditions such as rheumatic fever
Mitral valve prolapse with a murmur
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Be sure to tell your dentist if you have a heart condition, and what, if any, medications you are taking for it. Your dentist will record important health information in your record and coordinate treatment with your physician.

Above article from: www.colgate.ca

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental Timothy A. Smith, DDS
609-T East Main Street
Purcellville, VA 20132

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Dental Braces for Adults

Adults and Braces

Why are more adults getting braces?
As braces have become less bulky and visible in recent years, more and more adults are wearing them, for a variety of reasons. Some adults want to correct problems with their teeth or jaws before they cause serious or further damage. Others want to feel better about their appearance by addressing longstanding cosmetic concerns. Keep in mind that even "cosmetic" problems can cause real damage over time. Teeth and jaws that are not aligned properly can lead to premature wear and tear, advanced tooth decay and gum disease, dentures or other reconstructive solutions and even more extensive surgery to correct serious problems.

New techniques and the advent of clear, less noticeable braces means that adults are increasingly turning to braces to correct:

Gaps between teeth (spacing)
Teeth that push against one another (crowding)
Crooked teeth
Overbites
Underbites
Crossbites

How do I know if adult braces are right for me?
If you think you might benefit from braces, ask your dentist to recommend an orthodontist — someone specially trained to fix problems with teeth that are not aligned properly. The orthodontist will look at your teeth and maybe take X-rays to study the underlying bone structure. Based on what he or she finds, a treatment plan will be recommended. While braces are a popular option for fixing misaligned teeth, an orthodontist can tell you whether you may benefit more from other types of orthodontics like removable retainers, headgear or aligners.