Monthly Archives: December 2014

Taking Care of Your Dental Implants

dental implants, general dentistry, implant dentistry, , , ,

IF you have just received dental implants, half of the battle is over. Getting them in is one thing, however, maintaining them is more important. Now is the time in which you should practice better oral hygiene than you did before. Good oral hygiene before, during, and after placement of dental implants will ensure the health and longevity of the implants.

Proper care of your implants is important to their continued function and good health. While they are not subject to cavities as our natural teeth are, they can develop gum inflammation, and even infection and bone loss if not properly maintained. Whereas localized inflammation and infection around your teeth is known as periodontal disease, a similar process can occur around implants and is known as peri-implantitis.

Your “new teeth” will require periodic checking by your dentist to ensure the surrounding gums and bone are maintained and healthy. This also requires periodic x-rays to evaluate the level of bone around your implants. The dental restorations attached to your implants will also require periodic checking by your dentist to verify that they are secure and functioning properly.

Implant dentistry can restore your smile and oral health. To see if dental implants are right for you, contact Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit the website www.dentalimplantsindianapolis

Veneers to fix Your Teeth!

Cosmetic Dentistry, porcelain veneers

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth. Veneers are made by a dental technician, usually in a dental lab, working from a model provided by your dentist. Placing veneers is usually an irreversible process, because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell. Your dentist may recommend that you avoid some foods and beverages that may stain or discolor your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine. Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture. But for many people the results are more than worth it.

A veneer is often prescribed for a tooth that is:

  • Discolored or stained
  • Worn down, chipped or broken
  • Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped

It may also be prescribed to “fill the gap” between two otherwise healthy teeth.

After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed upon treatment is a dental veneer, your Dentist will:

  • Apply a local anesthetic to the affected area of your mouth
  • Remove a small amount of enamel from the front of your tooth to make place for the veneer
  • Use 3-D imaging to design and create your veneer
  • Clean and polish the tooth’s front surface
  • Bond the veneer in place to permanently affix it
  • Expose the veneer to special hand-held light to harden the repaired surface of your tooth

For more information on porcelain veneers or to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website http://www.porcelainveneersindianapolis.com/

 

Tooth Whitening Procedures | Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic Dentistry, general dentistry

Zoom Plus Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening can help you achieve a beautifully white smile by bleaching your teeth and removing any deep stains that cannot be removed by brushing or hygiene appointments. Here at our Indianapolis teeth whitening office we use the latest Zoom Plus in-office laser tooth whitening system as seen on hit TV shows such as Extreme Makeover. The Zoom system delivers great results and in about 1 hour we can brighten your teeth by several shades.

Home bleaching

In addition in-office power whitening we also offer professional home bleaching kits. We custom fabricate whitening trays to fit over your teeth and then supply you with a professional grade teeth whitening solution to carry out the whitening procedure in the comfort of your own home. The home bleaching delivers results over a longer time period. Many of our patients choose combination treatment with in-office whitening followed by the home bleaching. This enables you to maintain your beautiful white smile and top it up whenever you want.

Dr. Kirtley is the only dentist worldwide who has the distinction of being accredited by both the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Visit him today for a dental check-up! To make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website smilesbygeorge.com