Dental veneers are very thin wafers of porcelain or dental composite material that are bonded to the surface of your teeth to give them a uniform, attractive, natural appearance. They can cover such tooth issues as misaligned, short or crooked teeth, discolored, dingy or stained teeth, or smiles with missing teeth or gaps between teeth.
With a typical dental veneer, your dentist will prepare your natural tooth by removing a portion of your natural tooth. This allows the wafer of the veneer to sit on top of the natural tooth without appearing puffy, bulky, or unnatural. Because the tooth that is removed will never return, some patients are reluctant to pursue what is a permanent change to the natural tooth.
As a result, a new kind of veneer has been developed known as “no-prep” or minimal preparation veneer. These options do not typically require the dentist to file down and remove any (or as much) of your natural tooth to ensure proper placement and natural appearance. Patients receiving “no-prep” veneers often require little or no anesthesia for the procedure, allowing them to have a faster and more comfortable dental visit.
The level of natural tooth that is removed depends entirely on the condition and position of the specific teeth being treated. Typically, if the existing teeth are shaped and spaced well, modifications to the tooth surface are minimal and affect only the enamel layer. There is no alteration to the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel).
Your dentist must examine your teeth before determining whether you are a good candidate for no-prep veneers. Your teeth must be in good condition to begin, and any treatments such as fillings or root canal therapies must be completed prior to pursuing any kind of veneers.
Talk to your dentist in Toronto today to determine what steps you can take to achieve your smile goals. Your dentist will discuss your specific dental and cosmetic issues, and will help you determine what dentistry options are available to you.
Your tooth pain may leave you worried about what treatment you need from your dentist. Do you have minor decay, or is something more serious going on? It’s possible that you may benefit from root canal therapy.
Root canal treatment at our Toronto dental office is performed on a seriously decayed or infected tooth to repair the natural tooth and save it. During root canal treatment, the tooth pulp and nerve are removed and the interior of the tooth is cleaned and carefully sealed to ensure proper healing and to prevent infection. Several signs are often present that can be clues that you need root canal treatment.
Do you:
- have swelling, pain or sensitivity when using a particular tooth?
- have moderate to severe pain that does not abate, while or immediately following the consumption of very hot or very cold liquids or foods?
- have tooth pain that radiates out from an individual tooth to other parts of your jaw, face or head?
- have a pimple-like bubble on your gum? Does it release foul-smelling and tasting pus or blood?
- have tooth pain that affects your life, disrupting your sleep and preventing you from moving through your daily routine without taking pain medicine?
- have a darker tooth that is distinct from your surrounding teeth, indicating a “dead” tooth?
- have a damaged, cracked tooth that has immediate signs of decay?
Your visit to the dentist could reveal a problem indicated by X-rays and can confirm the signs you have seen at home. Your dentist may tap on the affected tooth to evaluate its pain response, also known as percussion testing. The dentist may also utilize thermal testing, and apply hot or cold stimulus to ascertain sensitivity.
It is possible to have a tooth that needs a root canal procedure but that has no discernible symptoms to the patient. Regular check-ups and evaluations by your dentist can ensure that you are receiving the correct diagnosis and any necessary treatment you need to maintain your oral health for years to come.
Neglecting your dental health can cause complications such as cavities, tooth loss, infection or gum inflammation, also known as gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis risks turning into periodontitis – acute gum disease. Poor oral health has been linked to an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. Too many times, patients will put off treatment due to anxiety or fear of the dentist. Sedation dentistry can be the solution, allowing a patient to undergo necessary procedures in a relaxed state.
Some patients experience fear that is based in their childhood experiences with a dentist. Even the sights, sounds and smells in a dentist’s office can trigger unwanted feelings of fear. Other patients are fearful of the possibility of experiencing pain or discomfort during the treatment. These kinds of apprehensions can lead to panic during a routine dental visit, feelings that worsen with the extensiveness of the necessary dental therapies.
Sedation dentistry offers many options to patients in these positions, allowing them the opportunities to receive the dental care they need free of the sensory issues that lead so many patients to postpone treatment. The longer and more involved the procedure is, the greater the patient will benefit from sedation dentistry at our Toronto dental office.
Conscious sedation can be administered through nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas.” Nitrous oxide leaves you comfortable and relaxed while remaining responsive. Conscious sedation can also incorporate oral sedatives, which can be administered up to an hour prior to the procedure to aid in relaxation and comfort before and during your dental treatment.
Your visit to your dentist should be stress and anxiety-free. Maintaining your dental health no longer has to be a struggle with your emotions. Talk to your dentist today to learn the ways sedation dentistry can benefit you.
Dental porcelain or composite material used to fabricate a wafer-thin shell and placed over a tooth is called a dental veneer. In dentistry, veneers are utilized to correct a variety of problems including:
• Teeth with gaps
• Uneven or irregularly shaped teeth
• Worn enamel
• Discolored teeth
• Chipped or broken teeth
Porcelain veneers are most often used for more severe cases of chipping, cracking, dullness, discoloration, spacing, or uneven teeth. While porcelain veneers resist stains and mimic the properties of natural teeth better, they do require removal of more tooth surface than composite veneers. For this reason, dentists may suggest the less invasive option of resin veneers for small chips and cracks, or milder discoloration. Resin veneers require the removal of less of the tooth surface and are thinner.
Dental veneers are an attractive, long-term solution to dental imperfections with the following advantages:
• Stain resistant
• Well-tolerated by gum tissue
• Natural tooth appearance
• Color can be selected to make teeth appear whiter
• No extensive tooth shaping prior to the procedure
Veneers are generally considered a more conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color and shape than other alternatives such as bonding or crowns.
Dental veneers usually have a life of five to ten years, after which time they need to be replaced. Veneers do not require any special oral care. Good hygiene practices should be maintained, including brushing and flossing normally. Dentists can help patients considering a more perfect smile determine if dental veneers are the best way to achieve that goal.
Dr. Cruz is a dentist in Toronto. Using dental veneers can dramatically improve your smile. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
Just like hair and skin color, people are born with varying shades of tooth color. Over time, the shade of your teeth can also be affected by a host of factors including:
- Food and drinks: Wine, coffee, colas, juice, tea, and sports drinks contain dyes and tannins which can change the color of your teeth. Berries, candy, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, pickles, and popsicles are just a few examples of foods that can wreak havoc on the whiteness of your teeth.
- Tobacco use: Both cigarette smoking and chewing tobacco cause discoloration of teeth.
- Medications: Antibiotics such as doxycycline and tetracycline have shown to cause tooth discoloration when given to young children. Certain antihistamines, high blood pressure medications, and antipsychotic drugs have also been noted to cause tooth darkening.
- Disease: Both chemotherapy and radiation treatments, as well as certain infections in pregnant mothers, can cause changes in coloring of teeth.
- Age: As you age, enamel wears away and teeth accumulate tartars and stains, causing them to discolor and darken.
- Environment: Excess amounts of fluoride that can often be found in your water effects the coloration of teeth. Additionally, excessive use of fluoride supplements, toothpaste, and rinses can cause unwanted yellowing.
- Trauma: A fall or blow causing damage to the nerves can cause discoloration in both children with developing teeth and adults with permanent teeth.
- Poor oral hygiene: Infrequent or ineffective dental hygiene or neglecting regular dental cleanings can cause teeth to turn gray, yellow, brown, or even black.
When determining if teeth whitening is right for you, consider that the color of your teeth should closely match the whites of your eyes. If your teeth have darkened due to any of these factors, professional teeth whitening may be the path to achieving a whiter smile. A visit to your dentist can help you determine both the cause of your tooth discoloration, and the best and most effective means of treatment to achieve the brightest, most natural smile.
If you are looking for professional teeth whiting in Toronto, contact our dental office today to learn about our whitening options. We look forward in seeing you.
Teeth are a vital part of the body and require proper care, which includes regular dental checkups and necessary treatments. Many people neglect that portion of their oral health, and one of the reasons is anxiety or fear of dental work. This occurs with people of all ages and walks of life. Luckily, sedation dentistry has been developed to handle this problem.
Dental sedation involves administering sedative medications to patients to induce relaxation, a carefree attitude, and pain management. Conscious sedation depresses the level of consciousness so that the patient is still able to speak and follow commands, but feels completely relaxed.
Sedation dentistry in our Toronto dental office offers a number of benefits to patients who typically avoid visiting the dentist. These include:
- Minimizes pain or discomfort during treatment
- Allows the dentist to work more efficiently
- Enables multiple dental treatments to be performed in a single office visit
- Produces a level of amnesia so that the patient does not remember the treatment
- Promotes return dental visits because the patient has a good experience
- Enables treatment for small children
- Has minimal side effects, if any
- Allows patients who have a strong gag reflex to obtain treatment comfortably
- Provides the ability for patients to communicate and respond to verbal instructions throughout treatment
- Allows normal heart and breathing functions during treatment
- Provides the ability to easily monitor the patient at all times while under sedation
No matter what the reasons are behind dental anxiety or fear, sedation can help patients get through treatment without ill effects. It allows dentists to provide the best possible treatment, often in a single appointment, and patients are able to come away with better oral health and a positive experience.
Dental veneers are very thin wafers of porcelain or dental composite material that are bonded to the surface of your teeth to give them a uniform, attractive, natural appearance. They can cover such tooth issues as misaligned, short or crooked teeth, discolored, dingy or stained teeth, or smiles with missing teeth or gaps between teeth.
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