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Get The Smile You’ve Always Wanted With A Smile Makeover Treatment!

Smile Makeover, ,

 

pearly whites

They say that first impressions last, and few, if any, makes more of an impression than your smile. This is why it’s important that your smile make as good of an impression as it can.

If you are, however, like most people, you’ve likely dreamt of having a better-looking smile, one that’s straighter, and preferably, whiter.

To get that smile, a process known as a smile makeover may just be what you need.

What Is A Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover is a process whose main goal is to improve the appearance of the smile through a combination of various cosmetic dentistry treatments or procedures. The list of treatments includes, but are not limited to, dental veneers, composite bonding, tooth implants and teeth whitening.

It is similar to a full mouth reconstruction where multiple procedures are involved. However, the two differ in that a smile makeover is elective, while a full mouth reconstruction is necessary.

Smile Makeovers and Your Life

Your smile is an investment whose benefits you’ll be reaping for the rest of your life, and this alone is reason enough to consider getting a smile makeover.

More than being a cosmetic procedure, though, a smile makeover carries a lot of functional and health benefits as well.

For example, those with malocclusions may find it hard to brush and floss their teeth, making them prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Correcting malocclusions through orthodontics can help solve that problem, as well as the other possible complications that come with malocclusion, such as speech impediments, accidental chipping and so on.

This is just one of the many benefits brought about by a smile makeover treatment, making it one of those things that you can do to help significantly change your life for the better!

Is It Worth It?

The fact that a smile makeover can make a huge positive impact on your life alone makes it worthy of, at least, consideration. However, making the choice is quite complicated because getting a smile makeover is far from cheap.

Cosmetic dental treatments alone are expensive enough, which makes it safe to say that a series of such treatments is bound to cost a lot – something that happens in a smile makeover. In fact, it would not come off as a surprise for patients to spend well over thousands of dollars just to get the smile they’ve always wanted.

Thus, this begs the question, is it worth it?

Well, you are the only one who can answer truly that question because you’re the one who’s wearing your smile. If you’re perfectly content with what you have, then good for you. However, if you’re like many others whose personal and professional life is and has been suffering because of how much trouble they have smiling, then you may want to really consider getting a smile makeover treatment.

Yes, a smile makeover is expensive, but as long as you see your smile as something that you’ll own and wear for the rest of your life, it should be easier for you to decide whether it is a worthy investment or not.

If you’re interested in transforming your pearly whites with a smile makeover, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 317-841-1111 to schedule a consultation today! Or visit www.smilesbygeorge.com for additional information.

Chew on This: The Good and Bad of Chewing Gum

Gum Chewing, ,

Chewing Gum

Ever since we were old enough to have candy, we have been more than delighted by the offer of a stick of gum. As kids, it was a sweet treat to chew on as we challenged each other to blow the biggest bubbles. As adults, we pop in a stick when we have a hot date and want fresh breath. But regardless of our ages, chewing gum has been a go-to candy staple we’ve loved as far back as the Neolithic period. Yes, the actual Neolithic period! It isn’t exactly what we now know as chewing gum. Originally, it was made from trees and thought to have medicinal benefits. Today, chewing gum is more of a confection than it is a medicine. So is it still good for us? While sugar is never going to be considered an all-around good thing for us, you’d be surprised just how good gum actually is.

Of all of the reasons we decide to chew a stick of gum, fresh breath is one of the main ones. Something that may surprise you is the fact that lots of gum contains natural oils that fight bad breath causing germs, instead of just covering them up. Some of the best odor-fighting flavors are cinnamon, citrus and any minty flavor you can get your hands on. But beyond the fresh burst of flavor, chewing gum also perpetuates saliva production. Saliva helps fight against dry mouth and the odors created as it helps clean your teeth and stave off sugary snacks in between meals, thus further combatting bad breath.

While there is lots of sugary gum is available on the market, there have also been advances in chewing gum production that can help PREVENT cavities and promote other health benefits than the more cavity-inducing versions. The substitution of Xylitol for sugar has not only reduced cavity production, but it also attacks micro-organisms that damage teeth so our teeth can re-mineralize faster. Add calcium lactate to the mix and now Xylitol has help in the re-mineralization of our tooth enamel.

If you want to go even further with the health benefits of chewing gum, doctors have also used chewing gum to help patients with their cognitive brain functions, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and even abdominal or gastrointestinal surgery recovery time. So not only is gum good for your oral health, it can also help out lots of other issues!

Of course, what goes up must come down and chewing gum is no different. But I will say that the down sides of it aren’t quite as harsh as you may think. Yes, chewing sugary gum is bad for you and will give you cavities and other issues with your teeth if you don’t take care of them. Yes, some artificial sweeteners they swap out to make sugar-free gum (like aspartame) aren’t great for us either. They can cause diseases we would never even link with chewing gum. And yes, you can also develop issues with your jaw from chewing it so much. But these are all issues of excessive use. To deflect these issues, don’t make chewing gum an obsession. Just look at what happened to Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory…

While chewing gum can prevent oral problems, it can also cause them as well. To prevent oral problems, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 317-841-1111 for a checkup or professional cleaning or visit www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Telling the Difference Between Lumineers, Da Vince Veneers and Mac Veneers

Veneers, , ,

ThinkstockPhotos-146796980Have you ever found someone with a beautiful smile not smiling often? Chances are, you haven’t and it’s because there’s just no reason for them to hide their beautiful smiles. But, for those who aren’t exactly blessed with perfect teeth and have to deal with chips, discoloration, misalignment and other complications, smiling can be a bittersweet experience.

It’s good because it shows you’re happy and confident. But, it’s also a source of embarrassment, as your smile may not be as beautiful as you’d like it to be.

Fortunately, dental medicine offers plenty of solutions for those with imperfect smiles, with one of the most popular treatments of choice for adults being porcelain veneers.

What is a Porcelain Veneeer?

A porcelain veneer is a medical appliance that’s applied as a cosmetic dental treatment. It’s thin and made out of pieces of porcelain that’s shaped to fit on the front of the teeth.

Veneers are made to be strong and durable. They also have the added benefit of looking natural, custom-made to match both the shape and color of the patient’s teeth.

Now, deciding to have porcelain veneers isn’t the end of it all, because you also have to choose which brand you’re going to go for.

In total, there are three popular brands carried by most cosmetic dentists – Lumineers, Da Vince Veneers and Lumineers.

  • MAC Veneers – Exclusively produced by the Microdental laboratory in California, which also happens to be its inventors, MAC Veneers are made with pressed ceramics. This makes this particular brand different from others, which use layered ceramics.  MAC Veneers are also widely preferred by celebrities and athletes alike. This mainly due to the realistic and translucent appearance it creates, which it owes to how it’s able to add colors from the inside out using as many as 16 hues.
  • Da Vince Veneers – Fabricated at the Da Vince Laboratory in California, Da Vince Veneers are very thin and as a result are rarely noticeable. The brand has been around for over 25 hours and is the brand of choice in Extreme Makeover, a television program from ABC where individuals are given the chance to receive an all-expensive paid Hollywood makeover treatment.
  • Lumineers – This particular brand of veneers is made from a special patented cerinate porcelain that is both very durable and at the same time, very thin. It is so thin that it’s been compared to contact lenses. Lumineers are widely considered as the brand of choice for patients who’re looking to attain that “Bright, Hollywood smile”.

Making the Right Choice

As the consumer, it’s best that you do not get fixated on pursuing a single, particular brand. This is because there’s not a single brand that stands out from the others, as each one carries its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

When it comes to veneers, it’s best to listen to the assessment of your cosmetic dentist about what will benefit your esthetic goals best and what the best course of action is for long-lasting results.

As long as you’re working with a cosmetic dentist that you trust and has the credentials to warrant your trust, rest assured that esthetic goals will be met.

If you would like more information on these different types of veneers, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beach Grove and Warren Park.

Why Do I Need Fluoride Treatment?

Dental Health, general dentistry, , , ,

ThinkstockPhotos-146796980The enamel is the hard, protective shell that covers much of the surface of your teeth. It is strong and durable. It also happens to be your teeth’s natural, built-in defense system against various dental problems, such as cavities and tooth decay.

Unfortunately, regardless of how strong the enamel is, bacteria, especially when allowed to build up, can slowly eat away at it. This can result into cavities and tooth decay, among many other things.

To prevent this from happening, dentists recommend using fluoride toothpaste and receiving regular fluoride treatments to help improve the strength of the enamel and even reverse the tooth decay and its effects.

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that’s found naturally in different kinds of food, as well as in water.

By receiving fluoride treatments, the strength of the tooth enamel is restored and improved. The treatment also helps make the teeth become more resistant to acid, making them less prone to tooth decay down the line.

Why is Fluoride So Important?

Of course, the main benefit of fluoride is that it helps in preventing tooth decay. However, fluoride can also reverse the effects of early gum disease, as well as replace the minerals in the enamel that plaque has eaten away.

To put it simply, fluoride is vital in keeping teeth healthy and making sure it stays that way.

In children, especially those under the age of six, fluoride treatments is important because it can help prevent bacteria from building up in areas like the gums. This helps tremendously in establishing long-term dental health early on, while at the same time, it also improves the child’s chance against gum disease.

Those who have been fitted with orthodontic braces and other orthodontic treatments can also benefit from fluoride treatments as it helps prevent bacteria from building up and being trapped.

Can Adults Benefit From Fluoride Treatments?

While you’ve probably heard about how fluoride can help in strengthening developing teeth, which basically means that children benefit the most from fluoride treatment, such a treatment is just as important when it comes to fighting off tooth decay.

Fluoride, whether coming in the form of a fluoride treatment, a mouth rinse or wash or a toothpaste, can improve the average adult’s chance against tooth decay and other dental complications.

Certain conditions can also benefit from fluoride treatments, including but not limited to:

  • Xerostomia. Certain diseases or medications can cause Xerostomia or dry mouth. However, regardless of what exactly caused it, having a dry mouth means there’s little saliva in your mouth, which is a major risk factor for gum disease.
  • Gum recession. Gum disease, in its worse stages, can cause the gums to recede and teeth to appear shorter. While this is not pleasing to look, the recession of the gums can eventually lead to the roots being exposed and prone to tooth decay, or eventually, tooth loss.

 

Patients whose teeth have deep pits and grooves, as well as those who’ve had dental work done on them in the past can also potentially benefit from the presence of additional fluoride in their mouth.

Then again, it is up to your dentist to decide whether or not your oral health could use the additional fluoride and just how much extra it needs.

Request an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to know how you could provide your teeth with additional protection, whether it is through fluoride treatments or other means.

If you feel that you would benefit from a fluoride treatment, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 317-841-1111 to schedule a consultation today or visit www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Dr. George Kirtley welcome patients from Spring Hill, Beach Grove and Warren Park.

How Smiling Affects Self-Esteem

general dentistry, , ,

teeth whiteningIn both sociology and psychology, self esteem is defined as the “reflection of an individual’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or her own worth”. It is also their judgement of their own selves, as well as their attitude toward their selves.

Self-esteem is also one of the deepest of all the core emotional needs of the human being and one of the key components of maintaining healthy relationships with other people. The higher your self-esteem is, the more people will be accepting of you, which in turn makes you feel important – another deep need of the human being.

The Effect of Self-Esteem on Human Relationships

In a healthy relationship, each person likes the other and accepts them just the way they are, regardless of the differences in opinion, beliefs and perspectives. However, forging ideal and healthy relationships with people you meet isn’t easy, as there’s always the risk of rejection and the lack of acceptance from other individuals or groups. And, this rejection is often the cause for the development of antisocial behaviors in those that are rejected.

The best way to lower the risk of being rejected and disliked, both at home and outside, it’s important to express unconditional acceptance of other people, a behavior which usually is reciprocated by others.

Now, you may wonder, where does smiling factor in all of this?

Well, for starters, smiling is widely considered as one of the best ways to project one’s desire to express unconditional acceptance to people they meet.

Wearing a Smile

It’s been said that it takes just twelve muscles to smile, while it takes 113 muscles to frown. And, when you smile at other people, you project to them your own self-confidence, which in turn helps make them feel better and make you more likable.

Smiles are so powerful that many people have married and stayed married simply because of a single smile that they both shared across a room. And, as cliché as that may sound, it simply just proves just how valuable smiles are.

Improving Your Smile

Unfortunately, though, making an effort to smile takes more than just developing a positive attitude. For one, regardless of how proud you are as a person, it’s not that easy to flash a smile when your teeth are missing, crooked, chipped, discolored or basically, not the pearly whites that you want them to be.

Fortunately, modern dentistry has many ways to help you fix your smile and make you more confident to flash it more often. Though, it’s important to keep in mind that while dental procedures can help you a lot, the best way to improve your smile and therefore, your self-esteem, is to start doing so at home.

At home, make it a point to practice a good oral routine. Preferably, this should include brushing twice a day for two to three minutes each session. Flossing should also be done at least once to prevent bacteria and plaque build-up in the gaps in between teeth that brushing alone won’t be able to remove. Rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash can also help.

A good oral routine at home and frequent trips to the dentist for dental checkups, as well as professional cleaning, are the keys to maintaining not just a better-looking smile, but one that’s unarguably much healthier.

If you’d like to improve your self esteem starting with your smile, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit www.smilesbygeorge.com to learn morea bout his practice.

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beeach Grove and Warren Park.

What Can You Do About Missing Teeth?

Restorative Dentistry, , , ,

lots of smiles

If you don’t have a full set of pearly whites, don’t worry because you’re not alone. In fact, most adults have lost a couple of teeth already, either to decay or some form of accident. But, then again, you wouldn’t know, considering that most adults often sport complete smiles.

If you’re wondering how some adults have managed to hide their missing teeth quite well, then you’ve come to the right place.

Listed below are some of the tooth replacement options that you can avail at the dentist’s office.

  • Dental Implants – Dental implants are surgically implanted into your mouth, offering a sturdy and long-term solution for your missing teeth. The process typically involves three stages and can take several months to finish. However, despite how long the procedure takes, a lot of people are willing to wait because dental implants are considered to offer the best mix of both durability and comfort out of all the other tooth replacement options available.

 

  • Bridge – Bridges come in different types, but they’re generally dental appliance used to bridge the gap left by your missing teeth. Unlike dental implants, which are simply surgically attached to your mouth, bridge uses the adjacent teeth from your missing teeth for support, like an anchor of sorts.

 

  • Dentures – Dentures, basically, are removal appliances that mimic how a full set of teeth looks, as well as functions. You may be fitted with full dentures, which will basically replace all of your teeth, both the remaining and missing ones. Or, you can be fitted with overdentures, which just fit over your few remaining teeth. Either way, dentures are often recommended only to those missing just a couple of teeth. It is not uncommon for those wearing dentures to complain for the first few weeks or even months, as it takes time to adjust to these appliances.

Prevent Teeth From Falling Out

Save from the accidental trauma that may knock out a tooth or two from your mouth, it is possible to prevent the loss of teeth. And, judging by how much of a hassle either one of the three procedures stated above can be, it’s best that you try and shape up your oral routine.

For starters, you can start by thinking that age is the predominant factor, because it isn’t. Like so many other complications, lifestyle, diet and healthy practices play much bigger factors than the year we were born.

In the case of missing teeth, healthy practices via good oral hygiene is the best way to maintain good oral hygiene and in more ways than one, prevent teeth from eventually falling out. This is likely because missing teeth are usually the result of severe gum disease, a dental complication that can be prevented with regular and daily brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash.

It’s also best to remember that missing teeth just isn’t bad for your look. It’s bad for your health in general.

That being said, it’s best to remember to take proper care of our teeth and give it a good “workout” every day. After all, unlike going to the gym, keeping our teeth in tip-top shape doesn’t require you to go out of your house –it may not even require you to go out of your room!

If you have missing teeth that need replacing, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website to learn more about the dental services Dr. George Kirtly offers.

Dr. Geroge Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beach Grove and Warren Park.

Porcelain Veneers – A Minimally Invasive Way To Rebuild Your Smile!

Cosmetic Dentistry, porcelain veneers, , , ,

ThinkstockPhotos-146796980

Gaps, stains, misshaped and crooked teeth are all something that we’re either born with or a result of trauma or injury, and all of them are easy to correct via dental medicine.

Veneers, for one, have long been known as one of the main options to solve each one of the said problems above. The knock on them, though, is that they’ve had a history of being an irreversible procedure since the procedure involves the removal of a certain amount of tooth enamel for the veneer to be placed.

Porcelain veneers help solve that problem by being much thinner, making it no longer absolutely necessary for tooth enamel to be altered.

How Are Porcelain Veneers Placed?

In terms of placement, porcelain veneers are no different from the conventional, resin-type. Though, as mentioned earlier, porcelain veneers have the added benefit of needing a much smaller amount of the tooth’s surface to be removed for placement to be possible. In fact, there are cases where none of the tooth surface may have to be removed at all.

After this, the dentist will take an impression of the tooth, which then will be sent to a dental laboratory. The veneer is then custom-made, including aesthetic details to make sure that it blends well with the rest of the teeth.

Once the veneer is finished, it’s bonded to the tooth’s surface using a special type of cement.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Caring for porcelain veneers should be no different from how you take care of your own teeth.

Flossing once a day and brushing twice are still both important. Rinsing with mouthwash can also help remove additional food debris and plaque bacteria that flossing and brushing may have missed.

Disadvantages of Using Porlceian Veeners

Of course, porcelain veneers aren’t perfect and there are certain things that you’ll want to take note of, such as:

  • It is possible for your dentist to recommend that you stay away from certain stain-causing foods and beverages. This includes coffee, tea, red wine and so on.
  • Veneers usually chip or fracture much more easily than natural teeth, so they may not be recommended for those who habitually bite their nails or grind their teeth while they sleep. Though, in cases such as the latter, porcelain veneers may still be used, provided that the patient wears a night guard while they sleep to protect their teeth and veneer from damage.
  • Porcelain veneers can be very expensive, costing around $1,000 per tooth on average in the United States.

Improve Your Smile With Porcelain Veneers

Fixing mild to moderate tooth discolorations almost instantly, correcting minor misalignment issues, and re-shaping of misshapen teeth are just some of the few ways porcelain veneers can help you improve your smile. And, while it’s certainly not the cheapest dental treatment out there, many who’ve tried it will attest to how porcelain veneers are more than worth the investment.

Of course, no single dental treatment is universal, so if you’re considering veneers, you may want to have a lengthy discussion with your dentist first. This way, your dentist can tell you what options are available for your particular dental problem.

For more information regarding porcelain veneers, contact Dr. George Kirtley at 371-841-1111 or visit his website at www.smilesbygeorge.com to learn more about the services Dr. Kirtley offers.

Dr. George Kirtley welcome patients from Spring Hill, Beach Grove and Warren Park.

Two of the Best Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

Teeth Whitening, , , , ,

teeth whitening

Some people are just born with much more yellowish teeth compared to others. That’s a fact. It’s also a known fact that our teeth also become yellow as we age. Though, there are also other factors affecting the color of our teeth, such as:

  • Smoking or chewing tobacco.
  • Drinking certain beverages such as red wine, tea, coffee and others.
  • Eating cherries, blueberries and other highly pigmented types of food.
  • The hardening of plaque resulting from the lack of proper oral hygiene.

Whitening Your Teeth

Frequent dental cleanings can easily remove most of the stains caused by certain food, drinks and tobacco. Using a whitening toothpaste can also help remove such stains in between visits to the dentists. Though, if your stains have been present for years, simply cleaning and brushing just won’t cut it.

Stubborn stains will have to be removed either by bleaching, bonding or capping. All of these methods are considered by dental care experts as very safe and effective. However, it’s usually up to your dentist to determine which type of treatment is based on both the results you want to achieve and the current state of your teeth.

How Teeth Whitening Works

Bleaching requires the use of tooth-bleaching gels to oxidize out the stain and can be done either by the dentist or at home.

A common side effect during the process is for teeth to become slightly more sensitive than usual.

  • At-home whitening. This is usually the preferred method by many people since it’s much more convenient. This is done by letting your dentist take an impression of your teeth and making a custom-fitted tray. You’ll then have to fill the tray with whitening gel and wear it for two hours a day for as long as two weeks. If done correctly, at-home whitening can be a very effective teeth whitening solution.
  • In-office whitening. This type of procedure is done in the dentist’s office. Each visit takes somewhere around 30 minutes to one hour and multiple visits are usually required to achieve the desired results.

Of the two, in-office whitening is considered the most effective solution, but it’s also much more expensive.

Tooth Bonding

Bonding is another dental procedure that relies on the use of composite resins and porcelain/composite veneers to cover the surface of stained teeth. This procedure can help not just in whitening teeth, but also giving broken and misshapen teeth a better appearance.

There are generally two types of bonding techniques:

  • Composite bonding. In this procedure, the front teeth are usually reduced so that once the composite resin is bonded or fitted, the teeth will not look too bulky. The composite resin is carefully matched with the color and shape of the surrounding teeth, so you don’t have to worry about them standing out.
  • Veneer bonding. The process is generally the same with veneer bonding, but with minor differences. Though, the biggest difference between the two is that porcelain veneers are considered to be much more durable and may last for as long as 10 years.

Taking Care of Your Newly Whitened Teeth

Whether it’s been whitened in the office, or at home, or if you’ve had veneers or bonds, your teeth can and will stain over time. The best way to prevent that from happening is to avoid smoking, heavily colored foods and generally, practicing good oral hygiene, including frequent trips to the dentist.

 

In-Office and Home Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening, , ,

teeth cleaning

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. This is why it’s important that you invest in them to make sure that they always leave a good, lasting impression.

Chances are, though, that your pearly whites aren’t exactly as white as you’d like them. This may have caused you to become conscious about them and as a result, your self-esteem has suffered because of this.

Now, while white teeth aren’t the only ingredients of a bright and radiant smile, they are one of the most important, which is exactly why you should take the time to learn about teeth whitening treatments.

Teeth Whitening Treatments

Generally, there are two types of teeth whitening treatments – home tooth whitening systems and in-office teeth whitening.

The former is widely considered as more popular because there are plenty of available tooth whitening systems out there that are easy to use and very cheap.

Even without the prescription or the supervision of a dentist, anyone can use over-the-counter teeth whitening products. The most common are paint-on tooth gel, mouth trays, whitening gum and toothpaste, as well as whitening strips.

Safety is very rarely an issue with these products as well, but if you’re having reservations, you can ask your dentist first.

In-office teeth whitening

Less popular compared to home tooth whitening systems, in-office teeth whitening is the preferred whitening method by most dental professionals. This is because these types of treatment are just much more effective and safer too.

Generally falling under the category of cosmetic dentistry, it’s important that you find a certified and experienced cosmetic dentist before you undergo such a treatment. Otherwise, you may just end up wasting your money.

Once you’ve found the right cosmetic dentist, the fun starts.

There are various ways dentists can professionally whiten your teeth, but what’s widely accepted as the most effective is the use of a buffer in the gel, which protects the tooth enamel from any kind of damage. The use of such a gel makes the procedure not only safe, but also very effective and has been known to transform teeth many shades lighter in just a single visit.

As effective as in-office teeth whitening treatments are, it does have its limits.

This type of treatment can only affect the front teeth, usually the eight that are most evident when you smile. But, still, eight much whiter teeth are still better than none at all and is a great way to jump start your whole teeth whitening program, something that you can or, rather, should continue at home.

Have a brighter smile today

While it is impossible for you to have a totally brighter smile immediately, you can at least rejoice in the fact that it will happen, so long as you work at it.

With your cosmetic dentist’s help and proper oral care, as well as the use of dentist recommended home whitening products, not only will you have whiter and better-looking teeth, but they’ll also be much healthier too.

Learn more about teeth whitening today by calling George Kirtley D.D.S. at 317-841-1111. Learn more about Dr. Kirtley by visiting his website at www.smilesbygeorge.com.

 

Why Cosmetic Dentists Are Different From Your Average Dentist

Cosmetic Dentistry,

close up smile red lipstick

When people hear the word “cosmetic dentists”, most would say that they’re no different from your average dentist or that they mainly dabble and are only interested in the aesthetics of their patient’s smile. Either way, it’s usually one of the two.

Of the two, neither is totally correct. Yes, cosmetic dentists are concerned about the beauty of their patient’s smiles, but they do also treat the same dental problems that your average dentist does.

What makes them different, in particular, is just how they pay attention to the maintenance and improvement of the natural beauty of the smile of their patients.

Take metal composite fillings, for example. The average dentist will usually recommend this particular dental restoration method because it’s been around for centuries already. However, most cosmetic dentists disagree with this.

While gold crowns and dental fillings are quite effective, they’re not particularly safe. Criticism about them containing traces of mercury aside, metal composite fillings tend to expand and contract over time, causing unnecessary damage to the teeth. And, of course, they don’t exactly look all that good.

For cosmetic dentists, porcelain is their material of choice when it comes to repairing any type of damage to their patient’s teeth because they’re malleable, easy to use, safe and most important of all, aesthetically pleasing.

The Key Difference

Cosmetic dentists also treat many of the same dental issues that general dentists deal with, such as:

  • Chipped or damaged teeth.
  • Misaligned bites.
  • Missing and/or decaying teeth.

However, the key difference here is that cosmetic dentists prefer methods that focus on both treating the problem, while at the same time, addressing the aesthetical aspect.

The keyword here is aesthetics.

Cosmetic dentists, unlike general dentists, make it their job to protect both the structural integrity and aesthetics of their patient’s smile. And, while elective, there are many cases where the treatments offered by cosmetic dentists provide much better restorative benefits compared to conventional methods, such as:

The Different Benefits Offered By Cosmetic Dentists

  • Correction of any physical flaws. The procedures preferred by cosmetic dentists can help conceal, as well as correct plenty of dental problems, from misshapen teeth, chips, cracks, unsightly gaps and stains, and so on.

 

  • Improved self-esteem. You yourself would probably agree that the one thing that’s stopping you from smiling more often is that your teeth aren’t exactly something that you’re proud of. Well, cosmetic dentists can help fix that for you so that you can smile away all you want and be prouder of the way you look. This, in turn, can help give your self-esteem a much needed boost.

 

  • Prevention of damages in the future. While most of the procedures are designed to help make teeth look beautiful, they can also affect it positively in other ways. For example, porcelain bonding can help improve the structural integrity of the teeth. Also, cosmetic dentists can cover up hairline fractures or worn edges to not only improve their appearance, but also to prevent further damage to these problem areas.

 

 

If you’re interested in taking your oral care a bit further and focus on improving your smile, be sure to schedule an appointment with George Kirtley DDS at 371-841-1111 today to see how he can transform your smile! To learn more visit our website at www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Dr. George Kirtley welcomes patients from Spring Hill, Beech Grove and Warren Park.