To Bond or Not to Bond? Is it even a Question?

Have you ever wanted to change anything about your smile? Chipped, pointy, uneven teeth? Stains, brown spots, uneven smile line? Old fillings that have discolored or cracked over time?

Most people don’t realize that a smile can go through a dramatic improvement in one or a couple of dental visits. Even more interesting is that fact that this kind of dental work might be less costly than what many expect to pay.

A simple process called Dental Bonding can restore and dramatically improve a look of a smile in less than two hours. This is done by adding white composite material (same as used for white fillings) to edges of teeth and molding it to look like part of the tooth. This process is usually done without anesthesia and, as there is no tooth drilling involved, causes absolutely no pain.

To prime the tooth surface and ensure that the bonding material will stay on the tooth, we start by applying a blue gel to the tooth surface that will etch it. This gel is washed away a few seconds later and the tooth gets dried. A special bonding agent is then cured on the tooth. Then it’s time for the most creative part of the process: actually molding the composite material on the tooth surface. This requires precise dexterity and using a number of dental instruments to shape the material to the desired shape. The mold gets cured (hardens) using a light of certain wavelength.

After the basic shape is given to the tooth it gets filed and polished to achieve the final result: a more attractive, even, symmetrical and smooth tooth structure. When 4 or more teeth are bonded the entire smile can improve in a dramatic way.

Bonding process is usually preceded by tooth whitening. Then the color of composite material bonded to the tooth is chosen to match the new shade of teeth.

Dr. Greene is a Cosmetic and Anti-Aging Dentist in New York. If you have a question or would like to start creating Your Perfect Smile feel free to get in touch with her office at 212.832.0004 or patients@truimagedental.com

Did You Know? How Long does a Wedding Smile Makeover Take?

Deciding to spend your life with that special someone is a very meaningful, one of a kind moment. In the months following ‘I will’ till the moment you say ‘I do’ there is a multitude of decisions to make, both big and small.

There is of course the choice of dress, veil, venue and flowers. Also, a photographer will be chosen to capture all those fun and emotional moments of the day: every joyful tear and especially every smile.

Having that beautiful smile on your wedding day is everyone’s dream. In the last two decades the importance of a beautiful smile has become more evident with advances in technology, aesthetic standards and promotional campaigns through print and visual media. 

Couples who are getting married have shown significantly more interest in having that perfect smile for their wedding day than ever before. This is regardless of age, gender or cultural background. After all, who wants to have memories of their special day through photos of stained, chipped, missing or yellow teeth? 

Recently the premier dentistry magazine called ‘Dear Doctor’ conducted a poll asking prospective brides and grooms whether they were planning to visit their dentist prior to their special day. A whopping 77% answered yes. For some this will include simply a professional cleaning, whitening and dental bonding to brighten up their smile. These are usually non-invasive one to two visit procedures.

For others, the treatment may be more comprehensive and multifaceted consisting of a range of options including dental implants, porcelain veneers or even dental laser work. A growing number of brides, grooms and parents of the couple are now seeking complete smile makeovers to transform their smile for their special day and beyond.

If this describes your situation, don’t put it off and take the first step towards the smile you have always wanted. Doing a comprehensive smile makeover may take anywhere from one to six month depending on the amount of work involved. Also, it is advisable to complete all the comprehensive work at least four to six months before your wedding day to make sure that you are completely happy with every aesthetic element of your new smile.

Below is a Wedding Smile Checklist that will help you plan out Your Perfect Smile makeover.

9-12 months before the wedding:

Visit your dentist to let him/her know that you want to have a smile makeover done

Your dentist should explain all options and give you a time table for each

Your dentist should also explain benefits of each option and let you know how long each treatment may last after it is completed. For example: dental bonding takes in stain faster and breaks easier. Dental veneers, on the other hand, are made of porcelain. They last much longer and do not stain. However it is usually more difficult to treat only one tooth with a veneer as the color match becomes a very complex process

9 months before the wedding:

Start your smile makeover

Be sure to take care of your teeth with flossing, brushing and getting professional cleanings

3-6 months before wedding day:

Your smile makeover should be completed

Have your dentist do any final adjustments

Get all post treatment instructions from your dentist

2 weeks before your wedding day:

Have your dentist do a check up of all the work that has been done

Get a dental cleaning

Your Wedding Day…show your beautiful smile to your family and friends and be sure to smile for the camera!

Dr. Greene is a Cosmetic and Anti-Aging Dentist in New York. If you have a question or would like to start creating Your Perfect Smile feel free to get in touch with her office at 212.832.0004 or patients@truimagedental.com

Did you know? Some Fun Facts about History of keeping those teeth Pearly White.

In the last two decades cosmetic dentistry has made huge steps forward in a way of technology and aesthetic standards, affording patients a greater range of options when it comes to creating that perfect smile.

Teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and dental implants are cutting-edge procedures that are becoming more and more common every day.

But wanting that perfect smile is a concept that actually dates back to ancient times.

There are findings that as early as 3000BC people were using sticks to clean their teeth.

Around 700BC the Etruscans made dentures with ivory and bone, and by 200AD they learned to use gold to make dental crowns.

The Egyptians made toothpaste of pumice stone and vinegar to remove stains from their teeth.

In the 1100s a very unlikely group of people became involved in dental assisting (can you guess who they were?) 

Actually a group of Barbers became very heavily involved in dentistry and by 1210 they had formed a guild consisting of dental surgeons and hygienists.

In the Middle Ages Cosmetic Dentistry became more of an experiment than a practice.

In the 15^th century Europeans started carving dentures from bone and ivory. In the 18^th century they were using human teeth as dental implants. In the 19^th century they started placing metal in the sockets of lost teeth. Needless to say, none of these worked very well.

In the 19^th century dental economy experienced a revival due to use of porcelain teeth in dentures. As decades went by more and more porcelain was introduced into dentistry giving rise to invention of the ‘porcelain jacket crown’ in 1903. In the 1950’s porcelain started being fused to metal making it much stronger and more durable.

MODERN DAY PRACTICES

Teeth Whitening:

In the 19 and 20^th centuries various bleaching agents, including hydrogen peroxide, were used to whiten teeth. These usually required several applications.

Then, came a huge leap in the science of teeth whitening. 1989 was the year when Drs. Haywood and Heymann introduced carbamide peroxide as whitening agent, giving rise to the take home whitening products we use today.

Then, in 1996 FDA approved the use of dental lasers for teeth whitening which allow the procedure to be reduced to about an hour. Since then millions of in-office professional whitening procedures have been performed successfully.

Dental Fillings and Dental Bonding:

These came onto the scene as early as 1955. The first composite dental filling often failed due to leakage. But in 1962 Rafael Brown invented a thermo-set resin complex used in modern composite restorations. White fillings became very popular in the 80’s when a special curing light was developed to harden them quickly.

Dental Veneers:

These ultra thin wafers of porcelain designed to create that perfect smile were invented as early as 1930. Introduced into the acting world by Charles Pincus as a temporary fix for movie stars, they were held in place by denture adhesive, and often fell off at the most inconvenient time.

In 1982 the dental world saw a revolutionary advancement in the methodology of porcelain dental veneers. A special porcelain bonding technique was introduced to allow for permanent retention of veneers in place. Current porcelain dental veneers are very durable and should last for 15 years or more.

Dental implants:

These were introduced into dentistry in 1937, but it was in 1952 that a Swedish implant specialist, Dr. Branemark, discovered osseo-integration, a process where titanium fuses to bone. In 1981, after years of intense research, he was finally ready to take his invention to the mass market. 1990’s saw the surge in the use of dental implants and today they are a very common procedure.

Dr. Veronica Greene is a Cosmetic and Anti-Aging Dentist in New York. If you have a question or would like to start creating Your Perfect Smile feel free to get in touch with us at 212.832.0004 or patients@truimagedental.com

Happy Saturday!

 

Are you using the right toothbrush?

When it comes to choosing the right toothbrush a myriad of questions come to mind:

Hard bristles? Soft bristles? Electric or manual? Short or long toothbrush head? There are so many options to choose from. How do you know if you have the information to make the correct decision? Well, here are some helpful guidelines:

1. Dental research has shown that toothbrushes with soft bristles can clean dental plaque and food debris just as well as medium or hard bristled ones.  Medium and hard bristles, however, can cause gum recession and tooth erosion.
2. A medium or small sized toothbrush head allows you to easily reach all areas of the mouth, especially those wisdom teeth and second molars that are hidden all the way in the back.
3. Bristle design, toothbrush head and handle design are mostly a personal preference and do not change the effectiveness of brushing.
4. Manual toothbrushes do a great job when used correctly and for the appropriate amount of time. For a person with limited dexterity, an electric toothbrush is a great alternative.  Also, some electric toothbrushes offer a timer that can help you brush for the recommended three minute period.
5. Latest research suggests that at least 3 minutes of brushing twice a day is the optimal amount and frequency.

And remember: replace your toothbrush at least every three months.

Happy Brushing!

I hope this information has been helpful. If you are not completely happy with your smile or simply want to make a few changes get in touch with us. I’ll be happy to meet with you and work on Creating your Perfect Smile!  Contact me, Dr. Veronica Greene at 212-832-0004 or log on to: www.truimagedental.com.  You can also email me at: patients@truimagedental.com