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Porcelain veneers provide an excellent solution to hide one or more dental maladies that can ruin your smile. A consultation with our cosmetic dentist will demonstrate how the addition of one or several veneers can alter the appearance of misaligned teeth, close unwanted gaps between teeth, and generally provide a cosmetic enhancement that will improve your smile in weeks, not months or years, of dental treatment. What are Veneers? Veneers are very thin, lightweight coverings that are made to fit on the front of teeth requiring enhancement. Their uses are plentiful from covering up deep dental stains to changing the appearance of teeth that are misaligned. The process for porcelain veneers makes them a permanent treatment option. A thin amount of enamel is removed from the front of each tooth being treated. This is done so that when the veneer is cemented into place, all teeth will appear even and symmetrical. An impression is taken that is sent to the dental lab that is making your veneers. Temporaries are placed as needed. In a few short weeks, your veneers are ready to be tried in for fit and aesthetics. Minor adjustments can be made chairside, if needed. Things to Consider Before Treatment with Veneers Your porcelain veneers are stain resistant, but this means that they will not respond to any kind of whitening. If you plan to whiten your teeth, it is best to do so before your veneers are added so your cosmetic dentist can properly match to your newly lightened shade. While veneers can actually strengthen teeth, the patient may be advised not to use treated teeth to bite into hard or sticky foods. A dislodged or broken veneer usually must be replaced. Patients who bite their nails or grind their teeth need to be aware that these two habits can be problematic. Caring for veneer treated teeth is the same as what you do for all your teeth … brush and floss daily and visit your dentist regularly. As an alternative to braces for issues such as minor misalignments or gaps between teeth, veneers offer a viable solution that can transform your smile in a matter of weeks. Contact the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan today to schedule a consultation.
There are different types of sedation dentistry. The deeper the relaxation you require, feeling groggy following treatment is more likely. Your sedation dentist will make recommendations based on your level of need for the procedure planned. Nitrous Oxide This type of sedation is widely available and generally safe for people of all ages. It works by combining nitrous oxide with oxygen, and is delivered to the patient via a nasal cone or mask. Often referred to as laughing gas, this type of sedation is classified as an inhalational anesthetic … the patient is allowed to inhale nitrous oxide for several minutes before treatment commences allowing the drug to relax the patient into a state of mild euphoria. Nitrous oxide is ideal for helping one to overcome anxiety and to help manage discomfort before and during treatment. The patient remains conscious and able to communicate. As the procedure is being completed, the nitrous oxide is discontinued. Within minutes, the patient is alert and able to resume their day. Unlike many other types of sedation, the patient is able to drive both to and from their dental appointment. Oral Conscious Sedation In the world of dentistry, oral conscious sedation might be considered a newcomer. This type of sedation therapy involves a combination of sedatives designed to relax a patient with the first dose of medication being taken at home about one hour before the scheduled dental appointment. Upon arrival, your sedation dentist will begin to monitor your vital signs. This is standard practice when oral conscious sedation is employed and is designed for your safety and comfort. Based on the level of sedation required, additional sedatives may be administered. As the sedatives take effect, you will become more relaxed. Many patients feel like they slept through treatment and recall very few details. Upon treatment completion, the patient must be alert before leaving the dental office. And since it takes a few hours for drugs to leave the system, the patient may feel groggy; transportation both to and from the appointment is required. The patient is usually advised to go home and rest for the balance of the day. Anxiety, physical, and mental limitations can provide a roadblock to receiving the care required for good oral health. Sedation dentistry provides a means for patients to get the care they need. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our office today.
One of the most common concerns edentulous patients have is whether their replacement teeth will look natural. One treatment option, which provides a beautiful and lifelike aesthetic, is implant-supported dentures. Dentures secured to dental implants are custom made so that they perfectly complement a person’s unique oral anatomy for an attractive smile and comfortable oral function. What are implant-supported dentures exactly? Implant-supported dentures consist of two main components: a full denture and dental implants. Dental implants are biocompatible prosthetics used to replace the root structures of teeth. They are embedded into the jawbone and can support a variety of restorations and prosthetics. A full denture is a prosthesis that replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower arch. They are made from a few types of materials including porcelain to resemble teeth and acrylic bases that are tinted to match the gingiva. When dentures are secured to dental implants, patients enjoy greater stability and control during oral function than they would with unsupported dentures. What are some of the benefits associated with implant-supported dentures? Anchoring dentures to dental implants can improve your oral function and even benefit your oral health. Stabilizing dentures to dental implants will make it easier for patients to eat and speak comfortably. In fact, many people with implant-supported dentures enjoy well-rounded diets that include fibrous and crunchy foods. Another great benefit associated with implant-supported dentures is the fact that dental implants prevent bone loss. After tooth loss, the jawbone can atrophy due to a lack of stimulation from the roots of biological teeth. Dental implants, however, will keep bone active and reduce a person’s risk for losing bone after tooth loss. Tooth loss takes a toll on our mental and emotional wellbeing. This is why it’s important to find a tooth replacement solution that works for you. Implant-supported dentures can make life after tooth loss much easier while improving your appearance. If you have questions about this treatment option, call the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan to schedule a consultation with our implant dentist.
If you’re suffering with a less-than-perfect smile, there is hope. Even the most visibly flawed smiles are no match for our cosmetic dentist. Our practice offers professional teeth whitening, white restorations, and porcelain veneers to help members of our community look their very best. Anyone can improve the appearance of their smile with cosmetic dentistry. Following is helpful information on our most popular treatment options. Professional Teeth Whitening You might have tried to whiten your teeth in the past with store bought products. While these products might lighten surface stains a shade or two, they aren’t nearly as effective as a professional whitening treatment. Professional teeth whitening can lift the most stubborn stains that form beneath the enamel surface of teeth. Our practice provides take-home whitening kits with prescription-strength lightening solutions. Take-home whitening allows our patients to reinvigorate their smiles comfortably at home while they are watching television or doing the dishes. With proper and consistent use, you can expect a dramatically whiter smile that looks healthy and natural. Professional whitening is safe, too, and won’t contribute to permanent tooth sensitivity. White Restorations Metal dental work is obvious. Fortunately, with today’s modern materials, you can restore and protect your teeth without affecting the aesthetics of your smile. Our cosmetic dentist provides lifelike, tooth-colored restorations such as composite fillings and porcelain crowns. This undetectable dental work looks and feels natural so you can extend the lifespan of your teeth without sacrificing your confidence. Porcelain Veneers Those desiring a complete smile makeover can benefit greatly from receiving porcelain veneers. These custom-made cosmetic enhancements are bonded over teeth to conceal problematic smile flaws like chips, stains, and jagged edges. Each veneer is handcrafted to match a patient’s unique dental anatomy. Since they’re constructed from high quality porcelain, they look and feel just like biological teeth. When multiple veneers are used, it produces the illusion of a perfectly uniform, white, and straight smile. Receiving cosmetic dental treatments can change your life. Call our office today to reserve a smile makeover consultation with our compassionate team.
Are you flossing and brushing properly? Your oral hygiene routine is one of the most powerful methods you have for preventing oral disease. Improper or inadequate oral hygiene can literally put your health at risk and lead to the development of conditions that can be time consuming to treat. Here we explain why your oral hygiene routine matters and what you can do about improving it. Bacteria, Plaque, and Tartar Our mouths are warm and wet environments. This combination makes it easy for bacteria to thrive – including harmful varieties that contribute to common diseases. These bacteria can coat our teeth, tongues, and other soft tissues as a substance called plaque. When plaque is not removed with brushing and flossing, it will harden into tartar once it’s exposed to calculus. When tartar forms, it can’t be removed with regular brushing and flossing. This substance is also a major contributor to gum disease. Tips for Effective Brushing and Flossing Since your daily oral hygiene is your best defense against oral disease, it’s important to take a mindful and methodical approach to brushing and flossing. Proper oral hygiene can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and damage to tooth enamel. When it comes to brushing, you should take your time. You will need about two minutes to thoroughly clean your mouth’s surfaces. You should gently brush all surfaces of your teeth along with your tongue, gums, insides of your lips, and the roof of your mouth. Be sure to use products with the ADA seal of acceptance. Although brushing does clean the majority of our mouths, it is not enough. A toothbrush cannot reach deep between teeth. Flossing, on the other hand, will remove debris between teeth and just below the gum line. Be sure to floss once per day, preferably before you go to bed. Even if you practice perfect oral hygiene, you still need to keep appointments for routine checkups and cleanings with our dentist. If you have questions about oral hygiene techniques, need product recommendations, or want to schedule an appointment, call the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan to speak with a member of our team.
Has your dentist recommended that you receive periodontal treatment for gum disease? Gum (periodontal) disease is a serious oral health condition. If this condition is left untreated, it can destroy everything from gum tissue to teeth and bone. Our practice offers periodontal treatment including professional deep cleanings called scaling and root planing along with antibiotic therapy. Symptoms and Causes of Gum Disease Gum disease is characterized by infected and inflamed gingiva. This can present symptoms such as bleeding gums and bad breath. Other common symptoms of periodontal disease include: Tender gums Swelling of the gingiva Discoloration of the gums Loose teeth Pus along the gingiva Receding gums The most typical contributor to the development of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. When we fail to remove daily plaque deposits with brushing and flossing, these deposits harden into tartar within a couple of days. Tartar will build up along the gum line and eventually collect beneath the gums. As tartar accumulates, the gums recede from teeth and become inflamed. Over time, this inflammation will lead to infected gingiva. Scaling and Root Planing Scaling and root planing are two forms of specialized prophylaxis that are commonly performed at the same appointment. Using precise instruments, a dental hygienist will remove tartar deposits below the gum line through a process called scaling. This procedure effectively removes calcified debris from the roots of teeth so that the gingiva can ultimately reattach. Root planing, a separate procedure, follows scaling and involves using small files to smooth the roots of teeth. Smooth surfaces help prevent the accumulation of new tartar deposits. Medication Antibiotic medication might be prescribed to address the infection within the gingiva. These medications may be taken orally or applied topically. Periodontal treatment can involve applying topical medications in gel form between teeth and gums for maximum effectiveness. If patients do not respond to treatment, our dentist may refer those with complex or advanced forms of gum disease to a specialist. A specialist may perform surgical periodontal treatments like tissue grafts and or pocket reduction surgery. If you have questions about gum disease and periodontal treatment, call our practice to schedule a consultation.
Dental crowns serve many purposes. Once a crown is cemented in place, it will look like neighboring teeth and allow you to function fully. While it may feel a little different at first, within a few days you should not notice any disparity. Why Might I Need a Crown? Repair a broken or cracked tooth: Teeth are very hard, but the constant pressure put on them can result in a break or fracture. If this occurs, it is important to have the tooth treated right away. If bacteria is allowed to permeate to the interior of the tooth, infection can occur. At this point, the only way to save the tooth is with a root canal. Complete a root canal procedure: During endodontic therapy, an access point is needed to reach the tooth’s roots to remove their contents (blood, pulp, and nerve tissue). Once successfully completed, this access point must be sealed. Very often a dental crown is the best option for this application. A solution for a deeply decayed tooth: When further repair may do more damage, your dentist may opt to place a crown. There are partial crowns – onlays and inlays – very often used for this purpose. Less of the tooth’s structure is removed when utilizing onlays or inlays. Anchors for fixed appliances: When applicable, your dentist may suggest placing a fixed partial or bridge to supplant missing teeth. For this procedure, healthy abutment teeth are prepped for dental crowns. The prosthesis is composed of crowns on either end and pontics (the interior teeth). Once crowns are cemented into place, this becomes a fixed (non-removable) dental restoration. Final step for dental implants: A permanent solution for tooth loss is with dental implants. A crown completes the treatment procedure serving as the covering for a healed implant. Your Dental Crown Will Look and Feel Natural No matter why a dental crown is required, your dentist will prepare the tooth as needed; have a crown fabricated that will provide the best solution to serve your needs; and will make sure the crown fits and looks great. You may need to avoid sticky foods for a day or two for the crown to firmly bond, but after that you should be able to resume life just as you did before you got your crown. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan today.
Being forced to eat soft foods for a few days due to tooth loss is doable. However, the thought of having to forego fresh fruits and vegetables, a juicy steak, or a piece of chewy bread (and many other great tasting foods) for the long term is intolerable. Tooth loss can impact your ability to chew. One of the best ways to replace missing dentition allowing you to consume your favorite foods is with dental implants. Dental Implant Advantages Once permanent teeth are lost the bones that held teeth in place begin to atrophy. This allows gum tissue to shrivel which can alter your facial appearance. The metal used in most dental implants, titanium, actually promotes bone growth preventing bone resorption While being able to chew is very important, so is being able to speak properly. Words form when teeth and tongue work in tandem. Missing teeth can make pronouncing certain word sounds difficult. Missing teeth can erode self-esteem. You may hesitate to eat, smile, or speak in public. With dental implants, you will never have to worry. You can be confident in your smile and be assured that your dentition will not move or slip while eating, laughing, or speaking. Will I Really Be Able to Eat Anything I Want? Once healing has taken place and the cosmetic restoration has been affixed and cured, your new dentition will allow you to enjoy all your favorite foods. That is because these tooth replacements look and function very much like your biological teeth. The implant itself is a small titanium post that is inserted in gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred. A healing period ensues; during this time bone is encompassing the implant making it a permanent part of your oral structure. This healing time is important … the implant area must be properly cared for to prevent infection, a leading cause of implant failure. Your implant dentist will monitor your progress along the way so keeping all follow up appointments is very important. Once completely healed and the implant is firmly entrenched, the cosmetic restoration can be placed. Your implant journey is completed when a cosmetic restoration is cemented to the implant. It will mirror neighboring teeth providing a great smile and allow complete functionality for a lifetime of eating pleasure. To learn more about your tooth replacement options, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
Once your child has advanced into their teens, you may think your job of overseeing their dental care is over; however, once children are old enough to make some decisions on their own, this may be a bigger source of concern. What they are eating and drinking can have a huge impact on their oral health so overseeing their teeth cleaning habits and maintaining trips to the dentist are probably more crucial than ever. Provide the Proper Tools for Maintaining Oral Health If you instilled good oral health habits during their growing years, teens are more likely to continue these habits. But if a trip to the dentist indicates they might not be brushing and flossing as needed, it’s time to join forces and work together to find ways to make improvements for their oral health. An electric toothbrush might appeal to your teen. After all, this brush basically does all the work. They just need to add some toothpaste and brush (maybe to their favorite music which you will happily provide). Timers on electric toothbrushes will encourage your teen to brush for two minutes as recommended. Toothpaste is important – find a fluoridated paste or gel that your teen likes. Oral rinses may be helpful here as well. Again, let your teens have some input. Flossing is very important, but can be challenging to monitor. You can stress the importance of flossing every day, but this may sound more like nagging than helpful instruction. So, your dentist can be very helpful by explaining what can occur (like bad breath, gum disease, and tooth loss) if your teen fails to floss. Healthy Diet While your teen may eat out more often, what you provide for snacking and meals at home are more important than ever. Crunchy fruits and vegetables are a much better choice than chips and crackers. Soda should be replaced with water. Provide sugar free water options by infusing water with fresh fruit. Sparkling water may be a bit more costly, but may appeal to your teen more, and is a better choice than soda or sugary flavored beverages. Finally, make sure your teen visits the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan twice yearly for teeth cleaning and dental exam.
Tooth loss is a serious problem for many people. Your dentist is your best advocate when it comes to deciding which tooth replacement option is best for you. The choices vary with several things to take into consideration, but dentures are very popular providing a great result. The Importance of Tooth Replacement A denture is a removable prosthetic appliance that is designed to manage tooth loss due to injury, decay, or disease. How many teeth are lost or are to be extracted will dictate the need for a complete or partial denture. When tooth loss occurs, facial changes can occur due to bone loss. While dentures cannot prevent bone loss, they can provide support for oral structures helping the patient to maintain a more natural appearance. The loss of even one tooth can have a serious impact on your ability to chew properly; and can result in other problems like teeth shifting, food debris collecting around the open spot, and aesthetic concerns. Complete or Partial Dentures A complete denture is required when all teeth in the upper or lower arch require replacement. A partial denture is employed when some natural teeth remain that are healthy enough to support the appliance. A partial is designed to be fastened to neighboring teeth using some type of clasp. Both complete and partial dentures are made from lifelike materials designed to resemble the teeth they are replacing. Since they cannot compete with the strength of natural teeth, care must be taken to maximize their longevity. You will need to remove dentures at bedtime. This gives gum tissue some time to rest and rejuvenate. While you sleep, dentures need to be stored correctly. Follow directions provided carefully. Clean your dentures daily. Even though the teeth in dentures cannot get cavities, if not cleaned daily they can still develop plaque that can impact gum tissue. A denture cleaner and brush are best. Never use toothpaste or scrub with a hard bristle brush as this abrasive action can damage the denture. While dentures are out, carefully clean gum tissue. Clean dentures and healthy gum tissue will prevent odor and provide long life for your oral appliance. To learn more about your tooth replacement options, contact our team today!