Category: Teeth Whitening

cosmetic dentistry

How to Get Your Dream Teeth for Less

Posted on | by mel | Leave a Comment on How to Get Your Dream Teeth for Less

Popular and Inexpensive Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

Cosmetic dentistry is often considered to be a high-priced luxury that only celebrities can afford. The truth is that there are some options available that can give you the same looks for much less. 

 

Composite Bonding

Chances are you already know about dental veneers. These porcelain covers for the front of your teeth give people a great Hollywood smile – but they are very costly.

You can get the same effect with composite bonding, which is basically the same material used to create white fillings. It often requires little or no removal of tooth enamel and it is applied one layer at a time, and then shaped, hardened, and polished. It is usually completed in just one appointment.

Although they do not last as long as veneers, they also can correct many problems such as chipped teeth, cracked teeth, discolored teeth, and even slightly misaligned teeth. They can also fill in gaps between teeth. It will normally last between 5-7 years.

 

Teeth Whitening

Another cosmetic effect you can get at a lower price is teeth whitening. Instead of paying in-office teeth whitening prices, some dentists will give you take-home chemicals that are much stronger than you can get in the store. This means you can get your teeth whiter than you could with store-bought kits.

Dentists have several options that can help you get your dream teeth, and some of it is affordable. Talk to your dentist about alternative methods for great teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry offers a way for people with bad to ordinary teeth to be able to get great teeth. There are several procedures that make it possible and it really is amazing what can be done with these techniques. While some of the techniques are very expensive, other dental cosmetic procedures are much less expensive, enabling you to get the smile makeover you always wanted. 

 

Dental Veneers

Getting a new set of dental veneers is going to be one of the most expensive procedures available, but it will give you a great set of teeth. Instead of paying the high price of veneers, you can get the same effect with composite bonding, also called dental bonding and composite veneers. This procedure will often be about half the cost of porcelain veneers. 

Composite bonding will also give you the advantage of getting a great set of teeth possibly in just one appointment. With porcelain veneers, you may need to go back two or three times. 

Dental bonding can fix many different types of tooth problems. They can correct problems that you have with chipped teeth, slightly misaligned teeth, cracked teeth, or discolored teeth. It can also be used to close spaces between teeth. 

  • The Difference 

Composite bonding differs from porcelain veneers in that the porcelain version is much more durable. A porcelain veneer will typically last about 15 years with care, but a composite veneer will normally last between 5 – 7 years – up to 10 years.

A porcelain veneer has to be made in a lab, and they are difficult to repair. Composite bonding is the same material used for white fillings. It is applied one layer at a time directly on the tooth and then shaped, hardened, and polished. It can easily be repaired when damaged. 

A composite veneer can do wonders for your teeth, but it will not quite have the natural look of a veneer made of porcelain. Unlike porcelain veneers, one made of composite material often does not need any tooth material removed in preparation. This makes the procedure reversible, but it usually is not reversible with porcelain veneers. 

  • Care Needed

A porcelain veneer is made of a harder substance than a composite bond. Both types of veneers require certain care and both will chip or can break. The composite bonding, however, is softer and will require more care. The composite material may also stain more easily than the porcelain version.

 

Teeth Whitening

One thing that is easily noticed when you see a celebrity smile is that they have amazingly white teeth. It certainly does catch people’s attention. If you get a professional teeth whitening in-office at the dentist’s, it will cost a considerable chunk of change. 

The advantage of having it done in-office is that you will be able to get the whitest teeth in the shortest amount of time. You also will not be able to get them as white any other way. The in-office teeth bleaching version can make teeth a much as six shades whiter in just one visit. 

A less expensive way to get teeth whitening that is better than the store-bought kits is to get professional chemicals from the dentist. Some dentists will make these chemicals available with trays if you get teeth cleaning first. This method will give you whiter teeth than store-bought kits by a couple of shades, and it will not cost near as much as an in-office teeth whitening session. 

 

Dental Crowns

When teeth are damaged or decayed, it can be unsightly – depending on which tooth it is. If the tooth becomes significantly damaged, an extraction may be needed. Tooth loss can cause problems because neighboring teeth tend to move toward the gap, causing misalignment of teeth and bone loss. 

If the visible portion of the tooth only is damaged, it may be able to be repaired by putting a crown on it. This can save you money because it will be less expensive than a dental implant and much less complicated.

Crowns are made of a variety of different materials, enabling you to get one that you can afford. Some dentists can put a new crown on your tooth in the same visit. They may have a milling machine right in the office. They simply use a scanner to provide the needed details. If they do not have the machine, it will have to be made in a lab and you will need to return when it is ready. 

With several options available that can give you high quality dream teeth at a low cost, what better time is there to make the move toward a better smile. Champion Dental Clinic is there to help you achieve 

coffee good for teeth?

Is Drinking Coffee Affecting Your Teeth?

Posted on | by mel | 3 Comments on Is Drinking Coffee Affecting Your Teeth?

That Sweet Morning Drink May Be Leading You to the Dentist

coffee good for teeth?

The beloved drink that many Americans start their day with may be affecting their teeth in a bad way. If you want to keep your teeth in good shape, you may want to think twice about sipping on coffee all day long. In addition to the fact that coffee stains teeth, you should know that it is likely helping your beautiful teeth to become bad teeth. 

 

Coffee and Teeth

Although your teeth appear to be solid, they are actually neither smooth, nor solid. When seen under a microscope, teeth contain many ridges and pits, and food can easily be trapped on them. Food that contains various dyes and pigments in them can also get trapped on your teeth, and this will eventually cause discoloration. 

When starting to drink a dark liquid like coffee, people may ask: Does coffee stain your teeth?

The answer is a definite yes. Acidic foods such as coffee are notorious for being able to stain your teeth over time. Coffee contains tannins, which is also contained in tea and some wines. The good news is that stained teeth from coffee is not permanent.

Another common problem is coffee plaque. If you have plaque on your teeth, it can also become stained from coffee. This can create brown edges between your teeth and on your gum line where the plaque accumulates. 

 

Coffee and Health

Many studies recently are showing that coffee has a lot of health benefits, says the American Dental Association. It can reduce the likelihood of getting some serious diseases when taken in moderation. Although it can stain your teeth, the problem with drinking coffee is largely in the amount of sugar people consume with it. 

Fancy coffees being sold at special coffee shops, such as Starbucks, contain an awful lot of sugar. According to CNN, some of their popular coffees contain as much as 25 teaspoons of sugar. When compared to a can of Coke, it is 2.5 times as much! Special coffees sold at other stores may not be much better.

 

Coffee Tooth Decay

Besides staining your teeth, sugar creates another big problem. The bacteria in your mouth that causes tooth decay feeds on sugar. When you leave a lot of sugar on your teeth, such as when you drink that coffee with loads of it and don’t brush your teeth afterward, you are causing the growth of harmful bacteria.

When multiplying, the bacteria produce an acid that will deteriorate your tooth enamel. Leaving the sugar on your teeth all day is bad for your teeth. This allows the bacteria to cause even more decay. When you sip coffee all day with sugar in it, the bacteria continues to grow and produce even more acid. 

When you add the acid from the coffee to the acid being produced by the bacteria, it causes even more damage to your teeth. In addition to the stain from coffee’s dark color, the enamel on your teeth becomes thinner as the acids wear it away. 

As it gets thinner, the underlying color of the dentin in your teeth – the underlying layer – begins to be seen. This causes your teeth to turn yellow.

 

Dry Mouth

Drinking coffee also causes dry mouth. This is an additional problem because your saliva helps to destroy the bacteria producing the acid. Without healthy amounts of saliva to keep the bacteria in check, the bacteria continue to multiply and produce more acid. Saliva also helps to heal your teeth, even repairing some of the damage. 

 

Preventing Coffee Stain

Adding more cream to your coffee will lighten the color of it in your cup. It will not, however, prevent your teeth from becoming stained because the tannins are still in the coffee – there is just less of them. The only difference is that it might take longer to turn your teeth yellow. 

When you add creamer to your coffee to make it lighter in color, you are also adding more sugar. The best way to reduce the stains from appearing from coffee is to cut down on coffee altogether, or at least reduce it to about two cups a day. 

 

Options for Teeth Whitening

If you have coffee stained teeth, there are several ways to restore their white color at the dentist’s office. Three popular options include:

  • Teeth Whitening

Although there are teeth whitening kits at the local store, these are not nearly as effective as your dentist can make them. Kits at the store are only able to whiten your teeth one or two shades lighter, and it will often take about two weeks or longer. The dentist can make them about six shades lighter in just one sitting!

  • Veneers

Veneers are porcelain caps that fit on the front of your teeth. They provide a powerful advantage of being able to cover up many flaws, such as slightly misaligned teeth, chips, discolored teeth, and even gaps between your teeth. They are made in a lab and look natural.

Once your teeth are made white again, you need to be aware that drinks such as coffee will stain them again. One way to prevent this is to drink water to rinse the coffee out of your mouth right after drinking it – and the sugar and tannins with it. Brushing right after drinking coffee will also help. 

 

If you have stained teeth from coffee, and live in the Farmers Branch  TX area, Our Champion Dental expert dentist team can help you. We provide teeth whitening and a wide variety of dental services to help remove the coffee effects on teeth and restore your white smile and repair damage from enamel erosion. You can contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for an appointment.