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Getting a new smile doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair. If your teeth have minor to moderate chips, stains or tooth gaps, dental veneers could be the answer. These thin wafers of dental porcelain mask tooth imperfections and completely change your smile’s dynamic—and without a huge impact to your wallet.
To achieve that effect, though, your personal set of veneers will require the expertise of both your dentist and a dental lab technician to design and create your veneers. And while there are numerous considerations in achieving a truly life-like appearance with veneers, one of the most important is their color.
We always associate the color white with teeth. And while it is the dominant hue, actual tooth color is more complex. An individual tooth is comprised of multiple shades and tints, that range in variation from its biting edge to the gums. Likewise, tooth color in general can differ from person to person.
Your dentist must take these individual color variations into account while designing your new veneers, especially if you’ll be getting them for some but not for all your teeth. In that case, it’s important for the veneer color to blend seamlessly with the color of your natural teeth without veneers.
Your new smile expectations and desires are also important and should be considered when designing veneer coloring. For instance, do you want a more natural look—or would you prefer a smile with more “dazzle”? This could have an impact on color.
Your dentist takes all of this information (including your input) and communicates it clearly to the dental lab technician creating the veneers. That process is a combination of both science and artistry, using a variety of techniques to achieve an accurate, life-like texture and color result. For example, a technician may paint the edges of the veneers with a ceramic paste that when cured produces a life-like translucency.
This meticulous attention to color detail is necessary to create beautiful veneers that look natural. If the color is right, you’re sure to enjoy the change your veneers bring to your smile for many years to come.
If you would like more information on transforming your smile with dental veneers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Porcelain Veneers: Your Smile—Better Than Ever.”
Thanksgiving is an appropriate time to spotlight an often unsung group: individuals providing primary care for another family member. During November, National Family Caregivers Month recognizes those caring for children with special needs or senior adults with life challenges—and part of that ongoing care includes watching out for their loved one's oral health.
Keeping teeth and gums healthy requires a concerted personal effort to prevent dental disease. While most of us can handle this on our own, some need assistance. If you're caring for someone like this, be sure you focus on two main areas: daily hygiene and regular dental visits. These are the two foundation stones for preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
The relatively simple tasks of brushing and flossing are crucial for disease prevention—but they can pose a challenge for someone with diminished physical, mental or behavioral capacity. In some cases, you as a caregiver may have to perform the task for them.
But even someone with severe limitations may be able to do these tasks for themselves with some adaptations. For one, choose a place for brushing and flossing that's most comfortable for the person (not necessarily the bathroom) and keep to a routine schedule. Above all, approach the task in a positive and playful way, especially for children.
Choose a toothbrush and flosser that your loved one can easily handle. Flossers are also available with toothbrush-sized grips for those with less manual dexterity. An older person with arthritis may need an extra-large grip or a toothbrush modified with a bicycle handle. As an alternative, both children and older adults may benefit from using an electric toothbrush. Some special needs children can have a gag response to toothpaste, so you may wish to use less or substitute it with a diluted fluoride mouthwash on the brush.
Dry mouth is a concern among many older adults, often due to the medications they take. In fact, hundreds of medications can have dry mouth as a side effect. Saliva serves the important oral health function of washing away food debris and neutralizing acid in the mouth, but when saliva production is low, it is not only uncomfortable—it greatly increases the risk of tooth decay. To help with dry mouth, encourage your loved one to drink more water during the day and ask us to recommend a product that will boost their saliva production. You can also ask their physicians about drug alternatives without dry mouth side effects.
To make dental visits easier, be sure we know about any needs or conditions that might affect their care. If possible, accompany your older family member during their visit: Because health problems often increase with age, even routine visits may be more involved.
We understand that caring for family members who need assistance can be demanding, with needs often being prioritized. We urge you to keep dental care on the high-priority list—it could make a difference with the rest of their health and overall quality of life.
If you would like more information about oral care for a family member with special needs, please contact us or schedule a consultation. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor magazine article “Aging and Dental Health.”
People often lose teeth from dental trauma, extractions, or in severe cases of periodontal disease where the tooth was impossible to save. If yours are missing, you probably don't feel like smiling much these days. When you lose your teeth, facial muscles can sag, and eating and speaking may not be as easy as it once was. At Brookside Dental Care in Stockton, CA, it doesn't matter why your teeth are missing. What matters is how we can help you to correct the problem.
Below are some frequently asked questions patients have about dentures.
What Types of Dentures are Available?
- Conventional - After we extract the remaining teeth, and tissues heal, we place these removable dentures inside the mouth.
- Immediate - We insert these removable set of dentures immediately after extracting the remaining teeth. Because we outline your smile goals before you begin, you won't be without teeth during the healing period.
- Over-denture - It isn't always necessary to remove natural teeth for dentures to be placed. When we can save them, an over-denture covers the remaining teeth to provide stability, support, and to preserve your jawbone.
What Can I Expect from Treatment?
At Brookside Dental Care, once your procedure is complete in our Stockton, CA, office, it may take some time getting used to your new dentures. As your mouth becomes accustomed, you'll need to follow adequate oral hygiene practices and brush and floss them as you would your natural teeth. We also recommend that you brush the roof of your mouth, as well as your tongue, to stimulate circulation before inserting them. Taking care of your dentures will prevent stains, scratches, and oral irritation.
If you are tired of living with missing teeth, visit our office to discuss the benefits of dentures further. At Brookside Dental Care, our dedicated team of Stockton, CA, dentists are committed to providing you with the best care, services, and results every time. To learn more about dentures, as well as other services we provide to restore your smile, visit our website. For questions, concerns, or to schedule an appointment, please call (209) 952-8804.
Available from the Stockton, CA, office of Drs. Alexander Pritsky, Ravneet Nijjar, and Robert Lang, Invisalign is an orthodontic system that uses removable clear aligners made of polyurethane plastic. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign is invisible and removable, making it a great option for those who are looking for a more discreet orthodontic option. Read on to learn what this treatment can do for you!
More about Invisalign
Invisalign clear aligners apply controlled pressure to teeth to move them into their proper position. Made of flexible plastic material, these aligners fit over the top and bottom rows of teeth and are crafted using computer software. You will wear these trays, or aligners, for a minimum of 20 hours per day, only needing to take them off while you eat or brush your teeth.
You get a new set every two weeks to continue the gradual movement of teeth until they are correctly aligned.
One of the many advantages of Invisalign is that they're not cemented or bonded to teeth. This removability makes oral care simple and removes any need for food restrictions.
Aligner for Teens
While this dental treatment is primarily for adults, Invisalign can be right for some older teenagers. Modern-day technology addresses several issues teenagers used to have with the invisible aligners:
- The first issue was getting teenagers to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day. Invisalign for teenagers solved this problem by creating “compliance indicators” on the aligners themselves. Compliance indicators are colored dots that fade over time as aligners are worn in the mouth to ensure teenagers are following the plan.
- The second issue is that teenagers' teeth are still eruption so “eruption tabs” are built-in. These tabs hold space for teeth that have yet to erupt.
Interested? Give our Stockton office a call
Invisalign is a great treatment method to improve your smile. If you're interested, just call Brookside Dental Care in Stockton, CA, at (209) 952-8804 today!
You may think all crowns are alike—but there can be a world of difference between one crown and another. Getting the crown your dentist recommends and one that's satisfactory to you will depend on a number of factors, including what you'll ultimately have to pay.
Here are 3 things you need to know about crowns before undergoing a crown restoration.
Different materials. Although porcelain is the most life-like material used, earlier types of this glass-based material weren't strong enough to withstand biting forces, especially in back teeth. Years ago, all-metal crowns were most often used until the development of a hybrid porcelain crown with an inner metal substructure for strength. In recent years stronger all-porcelain crowns have risen in popularity. The material type that works best often depends on the tooth to be crowned—all-porcelain may work for a visible front incisor, but a porcelain-metal hybrid might be needed for a back molar.
Level of artistry. While new computer manufacturing systems allow dentists to produce patient crowns in-office, most still require the services and skills of a dental lab technician. The cost difference between crowns usually occurs at this juncture: the more life-like and customized the crown, the more artistry and time required by a technician to produce it. This can increase the cost of the crown.
Limited choices. While you and your dentist want your crown choice to be as individualized and life-like as possible, your dental insurance may limit your options. Many policies only provide benefits for the most basic crown restoration—enough to regain functionality and have an acceptable, but not always the most aesthetic, appearance. To get a higher quality of crown you may have to supplement what your policy and deductible will cover.
Deciding which crown is best will depend on where it will be needed, the level of attractiveness you desire and your insurance and financial comfort level. And your dentist can certainly help guide you to a crown choice that's right for you.
If you would like more information on restorative crown choices, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Porcelain Dental Crowns.”
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