Patient Education

We identified the most commonly used terms used in Cosmetic Dentistry. Building your knowledge base about cosmetic dentistry empowers you to make informed decisions regarding your smile.

 

Bleaching/Whitening

Most commonly referred to as Bleaching. Bleaching involves placing a solution onto the surface of the tooth that lightens the color of the teeth. The only part of the tooth color affected is on the surface. The Bleach will lighten only natural teeth. Important facts to know regarding Bleaching: Bleaching will not change the color of existing Crowns or Porcelain Veneers/ Laminates. Bleaching will not change the color of any "Bonding" that you have on your teeth. The Bonding typically remains the same original color. Bleaching is "semi-permanent" and is the most conservative way to whiten your teeth. "Semi-permanent" means that only some of the color change is permanent. No Bleaching method will keep your bleaching result forever. To keep the brightest of smiles requires maintenance. There are several methods of bleaching: Bleaching Trays, BriteSmile, Zoom, Laser, and OTC.

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Bleaching/Whitening - Bleaching Trays

One of the most reliable ways to bleach is the "Tray " or "At Home" method. A tray is a custom- made, clear mouthpiece similar to a sports mouthpiece that contains the bleaching solution. This method requires a visit to the dental office for impressions of your teeth. From the impressions, a technician fabricates the bleaching trays for both the upper and lower teeth. The bleaching trays come complete with the bleaching material. Your Cosmetic Dentist will provide you with the bleaching solution that will best fit your needs.

To ensure optimum results, follow your Cosmetic Dentist's recommendations closely. Most ask that you wear the trays for at least one hour a day until your teeth reach their full potential. This usually takes one to two weeks. However, you should begin to see results in just a few days. People like this method because it allows them to bleach wherever and whenever they like. When they need a touch up, they can bleach their teeth again with the solution they already have without going back in to see their Cosmetic Dentist.

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Bleaching/Whitening - BriteSmile

BriteSmile is one of the newest methods of Bleaching. BriteSmile is Bleaching done in one appointment. The Cosmetic Dentist places a bleaching solution on your teeth and activates the bleach with a heatless light. This procedure usually takes 60-90 minutes. The advantage is that this is a one step procedure. When you leave the Cosmetic Dentist's office, you have noticeably whiter teeth. Like all Bleaching methods, the result changes with time. Most people have the BriteSmile procedure done once every year or two to maintain their smile. You can also have the Cosmetic Dentist make bleaching trays for you to use when you want to refresh your BriteSmile result. BriteSmile offers specific products such as toothpaste, mouth rinse and a recommended toothbrush to help keep your teeth white. These are only available through Dental Offices that use the BriteSmile system.

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Bleaching/Whitening - Zoom

Zoom! Whitening can brighten teeth up to eight shades in just one convenient appointment. If you want to erase years from your image and enjoy the positive attention a white, sparkling smile draws, call to schedule your one-visit Zoom! Whitening visit with Dr. Fitzgerald today.

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Bleaching/Whitening - Laser

"Laser" Bleaching is also synonymous with "Plasma Arc Light". These are different techniques but clinically deliver the same results. This type of bleaching involves one appointment and when you leave, your teeth are whiter and brighter than before. The treatment consists of using a heat generating light source to activate the bleaching solution on your teeth. In most Dental offices, you complete treatment in one appointment. As with other Bleaching methods, the results change over time. You need to Bleach again within one to two years to help maintain your lighter smile. If you want to touch up your teeth over time you may elect to have your Cosmetic Dentist make Bleaching trays for you to use.

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Bleaching/Whitening - Over The Counter (OTC)

The over-the-counter bleaching systems are the least effective of the teeth Bleaching alternatives. Some people achieve results in best-case scenarios. Most Cosmetic Dentists will tell you that these products are not equal to that of the Tray, BriteSmile or Laser methods. Crest recently introduced their "Whitestrips". These are one of the most promising of all the over-the-counter products.

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Bonding

"Bonding" has come to mean the use of a tooth colored composite resin material "bonded" on the front surface or the inside of a tooth.

There are five basic indications for "Bonding": Correcting a broken edge of a tooth, Conservatively changing the color of a tooth, Cover sensitive, open or decayed root surfaces on teeth, and In extensive cases bonding can re-shade or reshape many teeth at one time. In addition, "bonding," describes the use of tooth colored composite material as fillings in the front and back teeth.

Bonding vs. Porcelain Veneers - "Bonding" is relatively quick to apply and gives an immediate result. It is also more conservative and less expensive than veneers. It is not the solution for every situation. With the ease of application and low cost comes less longevity and weaker materials. Porcelain is superior in strength, beauty and reliability. In most cases, it can cost you more in the long run to do Bonding versus Veneers.

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Bridges

When tooth loss has occurred, your dentist may recommend the replacement of the missing tooth/teeth with a bridge. A bridge is a replacement tooth/teeth anchored by teeth on each side of the missing tooth. The anchor teeth require crowns to support the bridge. Other options to a bridge may include dental implants or bonded bridges.

Few incidents have greater impact on dental health and personal appearance than tooth loss. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can drift out of position. If this is in your smile line, it may be very unsightly. Tooth loss can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay and gum disease. These are some of the reasons a bridge or other tooth replacement may be necessary.

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Crown Lengthening / Gum Lift / Gum Re-contouring

What happens if your teeth look too small, too wide, too short or are not symmetrical in size? Do you have a "gummy smile"? This is a very common problem. Most of the time, the real issue is too much gum and not enough of your tooth showing to give your smile the best proportions. In most cases, there is a simple solution called "Crown Lengthening " and sometimes called "Gum Lift " or "Gum Re-contouring." In this procedure, your Cosmetic Dentist adjusts or moves the gum to a better position. This makes your teeth, smile and lips more esthetically pleasing and youthful. It can make all the difference in getting the best cosmetic result for your smile.

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Dental Implants

Few advances in Cosmetic Dentistry have been as great as Dental Implants. Briefly stated, Dental Implants replace single missing teeth or anchor multiple teeth together like a bridge or a denture. Dentures are necessary whenever all the teeth are missing in either upper or lower jaw.

An Implant is a titanium screw or root placed in the jaw. After the implant heals then your Cosmetic Dentist places a single crown, a bridge or denture over the implant(s).

Whether you are a candidate for implants is on an individual basis. If you are missing teeth, your Cosmetic Dentist will explain all tooth replacement options with you.

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Porcelain Crowns

For most people, the thought of having a porcelain crown placed means accepting a tooth that may not look real. The good news is that day is gone. Today crowns are esthetically pleasing. They look and feel natural. The porcelain crowns of today's Cosmetic Dentists are pieces of art-hand made and contoured to look beautiful. Porcelain crowns, made three ways, each has its own indication (or place).

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Crowns

A crown is a covering to replace the top part of your tooth above the gum line. Crowns are necessary when teeth are broken down due to decay, fracture, bite problems or they just need to look better. A Cosmetic Dentist can replace the structure of your teeth with a crown. Most crowns used in cosmetic dentistry are made of all porcelain.

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Porcelain Veneers/Laminates

A Porcelain Veneer sometimes referred to as a Laminate, is a thin covering of Porcelain placed on the front of a tooth. The Porcelain Veneer is a hand made piece of art custom designed for you. The Veneer redefines your smile by making your teeth look more beautiful. Veneers can make your teeth whiter, especially in situations that are resistant to the Bleaching process. They can also reshape your teeth to a more youthful natural appearance if the teeth are not straight or if you have spaces in between your teeth.

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Diastema

Refers to excessive space or spaces in-between the teeth. Lauren Hutton, Madonna and David Letterman all have Diastemas in-between their two front teeth. Porcelain Veneers, or Bonding close these spaces. If you have spaces in-between existing crowns then new crowns may be required. If the spaces are excessively large, your Cosmetic Dentist may recommend Orthodontic treatment.

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Empress

Empress is a type of Porcelain Crown and Porcelain Veneer/Laminate. The advantage Empress has is that it blends very nicely with the surrounding teeth and it is highly cosmetic. It is one of the strongest all porcelain crowns used on front teeth.

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Sonicare

Sonicare is an electric toothbrush. It brushes your teeth at 31,000 brush strokes per minute. It has a two-minute timer that tells you when you're done. Most people brush for longer than the recommended time. Many Cosmetic Dentists keep Sonicare brushes in their office for your convenience.

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Gingivoplasty/Gingivectomy

Gingiva is the technical term for your gums. A Gingivectomy or Gingivoplasty is the sculpting of the gum tissue around your teeth to create a more cosmetic pleasing gum line. When your teeth are too small, too short, too wide or you think you have a gummy smile then changing the gum tissue is an option. After the tissue is changed, your smile will be more full and more beautiful than before.

This treatment differs from Crown Lengthening, Gum Lift and Gum Re-Contouring in that the later can include minor changes in the bone levels around the teeth to get the correct tissue height. Gingivoplasty and Gingivectomy involve the gum tissue only.

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Invisalign

Invisalign is a way to move teeth without doing conventional orthodontics. Invisalign works the best for minor tooth movement. It is not for complex or extensive orthodontic treatment.

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Smile Design

When a Cosmetic Dentist looks at your smile, they evaluate all the components of a smile. What is in a Smile will review the basics for you. The Cosmetic Dentist takes it a step further. They review each individual tooth shape, size (Golden Proportions) and color to create your beautiful smile.

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Asymmetry/Symmetry

A smile is different in symmetry from the rest of your body. From your head to your toes, each body part that has a matching part is asymmetrical from the other side. The best examples are your eyes. Both of your eyes are not the same in size, shape or position on your face. Smiles are different in that they are symmetrical in many ways. Tooth Size, shape and gum contour should be the same from one side of your smile to the other as long as they follow the contour of the upper lip. Tooth position is the one way in which a Cosmetic Dentist may add asymmetry in the smile to achieve a natural and beautiful appearance.

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Gingiva

The Gingiva is the technical term for the gums.

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Composite

A Composite is a tooth colored material used for tooth colored fillings, bonding and to bond all porcelain crowns and veneers/ laminates onto your teeth.

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Porcelain Fillings

Porcelain Fillings are actually fillings made with composite and not porcelain. Please see Porcelain Inlays/Onlays for further information.

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Bonded Bridge

A Bonded Bridge differs from a conventional bridge. A conventional bridge requires placing crowns on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth site. The adjacent teeth are called abutments. A Bonded Bridge bonds a replacement tooth to abutment teeth. The advantage is that you can have a replacement tooth where you are missing one without using crowns over the abutment teeth. This technique is very conservative and requires healthy natural abutment teeth. Natural meaning that they have never had a crown or large filling. This type of bridge is used to replace front teeth. In rare instances, it is used on back teeth.

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Porcelain Inlays/Onlays

A Porcelain Inlay or Onlay is a custom-made tooth shaped piece of porcelain that fits in (Inlay) or fits On (Onlay) your tooth. Inlays and Onlays replace missing tooth structure when a tooth will not hold a filling and a crown is not necessary.

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Maryland Bridge

A Maryland Bridge is a type of Bonded Bridge.

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Procera

Procera is a type of Porcelain Crown. It is one of the strongest all Porcelain Crowns available. Procera's framework is computer generated and porcelain is then added to the structure.

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Golden Proportions

Golden Proportions are the guidelines Cosmetic Dentists use to determine the correct size of teeth for your smile. Teeth have certain height to width ratios that are in the most beautiful of smiles.

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