What Are the Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry?

What does a perfect smile look like? Whether you think the perfect smile means having sparkling white teeth or you think it means having perfectly straight ones with healthy pink gums, you’re right. Your definition of the perfect smile is up to you, and with modern dentistry, the ability to achieve that perfect smile is more within your reach than you might think. With advanced solutions such as Invisalign and porcelain veneers, correcting smile imperfections is easier and more convenient than ever before.

Why Choose Cosmetic Dentistry?

Every smile is a unique work of art, and no two are ever the same. Aesthetic, or cosmetic, dentistry is versatile and uses a variety of techniques and solutions to work magic on your smile by correcting imperfections and revealing a healthy, functional and beautiful smile. Cosmetic dentists can close gaps between teeth, straighten them, make teeth appear shorter or longer by adjusting gum tissue or simply whiten the teeth for a brighter smile. Whatever your goals, cosmetic dentistry can provide a solution. From the smallest of corrections to complete and complex life-changing transformations, the services cosmetic dentists offer can perfect your smile and improve your life.

The Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry

When you choose to achieve your perfect smile with aesthetic dentistry, you change more than just the look of your teeth. Having a healthy, functional smile can quite literally change your life. When you go from having an overbite, underbite, crossbite or other misalignment to having a straight, aligned smile, you can bite, chew and speak more comfortably. If you elongate your smile, whiten it or address minor cosmetic flaws such as chips with solutions like porcelain veneers, you can smile and laugh freely with the confidence that comes from knowing your smile is a good representation of you feel. The benefits of cosmetic dentistry are endless, and they can enhance your life with:

1. Improved smile functionality
2. Enhanced confidence and self-esteem
3. A healthier, more youthful appearance
4. Prevention of future dental damage
5. A more aesthetically pleasing smile

How to Get Started

If you’re ready to change your life with a new smile, contact us today. Our cosmetic dentist, Dr. Joseph Spina, has unique training and experience to bring you the best solutions cosmetic dentistry has to offer. By perfecting your smile, we’ll help guide you on the path toward improved health and confidence.

Grapes, Wine, and Dentistry

Great wine always starts with great grapes. They give the wine flavor, color, character and complexity. Much in the same way, great dental laboratories with great dental laboratory technicians are vital for great dentistry. They provide the expertise in materials, design, and fabrication that brings our dental restorations to life.

Your mouth is a hostile environment. The temperature can range from freezing cold to boiling hot. The force placed on teeth when chewing can vary from soft to brutally strong depending on the food. Then, some people grind and clench their teeth in unique and unnatural ways. For a restoration to survive even for a short amount of time, it must be resilient, fit with precision, and be adaptable to demands placed on it. The skill of the lab technician and the quality of the material used are key factors in creating a restoration that can survive in such an environment.

Myself and my team of technicians, who work in Baltimore MD, use only the best and most researched materials. I only work with technicians with a long history in the industry and who have a proven record of success. If your goal is great dentistry, you can never compromise quality. From crowns to bridges or implant and veneers, quality is our most sacred value. Much like grapes are to wine, dental laboratory technicians and materials are the building blocks of great dentistry.

3 Benefits of Routine Dental Maintenance

You use your teeth every day to smile, speak, bite, and chew–but how often do you think about your dental health?

Your teeth are a critical component to everyday life and keeping them healthy is often as simple as brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting your dental professional for a routine cleaning as often as they recommend (usually every 6 months on average). With the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is easy for these appointments to get set aside unless a dental problem arises. But, if you wait until there is a problem, you already risk scheduling your visit too late.

The following are three benefits of routine dental maintenance:

1. Catch Dental Problems Early

When you visit a dental hygienist for a routine cleaning, they are doing more than just cleaning your teeth. During these visits, your dentist can detect any early signs of dental concerns, such as fractures, broken dental fillings or early signs of oral cancer or gum disease. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, but when caught in the earliest stages, its effects are completely reversible. This saves you the time-consuming struggle of additional appointments, which can quickly become expensive.

2. Save Time and Money

When you schedule your routine dental maintenance, you are giving your dentist the opportunity to not only catch these problems early, but stop them as well. As disease progresses, fillings break or fractures become cracks and you are suddenly looking at a list of expensive dental procedures that will cost a lot more in terms of time and money than routine appointments ever will.

3. Keep Your Smile Healthy Long-Term

By having your dentist fix small dental problems as they arise, instead of waiting for a larger repair when you have no other options, your dental care will be time effective, virtually painless, and much less expensive. Fixing these small dental problems also elongates the life of tooth restorations so you can invest in more long-term dental solutions. If any teeth become diseased or damaged, early treatment can save them and the health of your entire smile. The longer dental problems are allowed to persist, the more at risk you are of losing teeth when repair is no longer possible.

Keep Your Smile Healthy for a Lifetime

If you have recently experienced dental trauma or have not scheduled a routine dental appointment in a while, time is of the essence. By maintaining a regular relationship with your dentist, you can save yourself time and money and ensure that your dental visits stay comfortable and convenient. If you have a dental concern or need to schedule a routine appointment, call us today.

Why Dental Veneers Are Your Solution to a Beautiful Smile

Staining, discoloration, cracks, chips and otherwise imperfect teeth can impact more than just your self-confidence – they can also make everyday life uncomfortable. Uneven spacing and other smile imperfections can significantly change the way you bite, chew, and speak. They often make these normal activities difficult, requiring diet changes and other measures to counteract the effects of the dental irregularity.

Previous restorative solutions have offered some relief from these challenges, but often come up short in terms of offering a comprehensive, long-lasting dental solution that not only improves the functionality of the smile, but its beauty as well. Fortunately, these solutions have paved the way to a modern cosmetic dental solution that really works: dental veneers.

What Can Dental Veneers Do For You?

Dental veneers are a minor, minimally-invasive cosmetic dental solution that may be recommended for the following smile concerns:

• Staining and discoloration from tobacco use, coffees, teas, medications, or natural aging

• Teeth that have been worn down

• Broken or chipped teeth

• Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth

• Teeth that are too far apart (gaps between the teeth)

Dental Veneers Are a Natural-Looking Cosmetic Dental Enhancement

Dental veneers are a thin piece of high quality porcelain that is cemented onto the front, outer-facing portion of your tooth. They are custom designed to replicate the shape, size, length, and color of your natural teeth. This means they blend naturally into your beautiful smile for a virtually undetectable cosmetic dental enhancement.

Choose Dental Veneers for a Lifetime of Benefits

When you choose to improve your smile with dental veneers, you are making the decision to invest in more than just a cosmetic dental enhancement. Your dental veneers will help you bite, chew, speak, and smile normally again, making these everyday activities convenient, all while increasing the confidence you have in yourself.

Dental veneers also offer the following benefits to you and your smile:

• Custom fit and design blends naturally with your smile

• High quality porcelain is designed to last with proper care

• Stain-resistant protection keeps your smile brighter and whiter

Your Beautiful Smile is Possible

If you have been dreaming of a beautiful, functional smile, there has never been a better time to take action with modern dental solutions like dental veneers. This minor cosmetic enhancement offers significant, long-lasting improvement that will leave you with the beautiful smile you deserve. To get started, schedule your personal consultation with a dental professional to discuss your smile needs and desires, and how dental veneers can be the solution you have been waiting for?

Benefits of Replacing Teeth

When a tooth is lost, why replace it? This is common question when a tooth is lost. To understand why you need to replace a tooth you need to understand the function of teeth.

Everyone knows that teeth are used in chewing. Without proper chewing, proper digestions cannot occur.

Teeth are also important for speaking. Your tongue depends on your teeth to help make complicated letter sounds.

Aesthetics is another major function of your teeth. Teeth maintain the size and shape of your lower face. Without teeth, the form and function of your mouth can be effected.

Once again, why replace a lost tooth? When a tooth is lost, the patients ability to chew, speak, and smile can be effected.

Preventing tooth loss is our goal as a dental practice. However, if a tooth is lost, replacing it to maintain all the functions of your teeth and mouth is important.

This is Essential When You Experience Tooth Loss

You might not expect it. But it happens.

Tooth loss!

Aside from oral trauma, the loss of a tooth or multiple teeth can set in motion a number of threats to your oral health. Delaying treatment enhances your impact risk.

One is all it takes

Depending on where your tooth loss occurs, your appearance is the first to suffer. Next is your tooth function.

One tooth might not affect your ability to eat or chew significantly. Yet the loss of more than one tooth will increase your functional challenges.

One missing tooth is one too many. Your teeth are designed to function as a unit in each arch (upper or lower) of your mouth.

Alignment, bone health, gum tissue health plus daily function are affected when a tooth gap exists.

The deeper issue

It’s not as much the loss of a tooth that causes long-term problems (there are solutions).Your problems mount when you delay tooth replacement (ignore solutions). Each tooth is more than what you see or utilize on the surface. Your tooth roots create stability within your jawbone and how each tooth aligns above your gum line.

Teeth that shift will weaken each root. Weakened tooth roots will begin to impact the health of your bone and gum tissue.

A solution to consider

Since tooth roots are a significant part of your tooth’s anatomy wouldn’t it make sense to replace them at the “root level?” A dental implant does that.

Implants from root to tip provide a secure, natural-looking, and naturally functioning new tooth. A dental implant:

Restores your tooth function and appearance

Adapts to your bone and gum tissue

Preserves the health of your jawbone and gums

Remains stable and will not shift or move

Tooth loss happens

It helps to be aware of the impact…and how to restore it when it does.Contact our Wayne dental office about your missing tooth or missing teeth. Schedule an examination to diagnose your tooth loss condition and discuss your tooth replacement options including dental implants.

What to Do the Next Time You Hear the Word “Gingivitis”

You might recall hearing the word a time or two. It’s likely you’ve heard it during a TV commercial or an infomercial.

Gingivitis gets a fair share of media attention. And there’s a basic reason.

Gingivitis is the earliest condition and most common form of periodontal (gum) disease. It can impact your oral health, as it does millions, when it attacks your teeth and gum tissue.

The top of the downward spiral

Good dental health relies on maintaining the health of your teeth. It also depends on keeping your gums healthy.

Gingivitis begins the downward trend associated with gum disease. Untreated gum issues can have a long-term and irreversible affect on your oral health.

The bacteria that multiply within the plaque and tartar build up on your teeth can progress into your gum tissue. More specifically, it deep dives into those hard to reach pockets between your teeth and gums.

If the hardened tartar isn’t removed bacteria can begin to cause tooth decay and gum tissue damage. Once the infection sets in and gum disease starts you can ultimately experience tooth loss.

What it helps to notice and what to do

Gingivitis can be treated. The earlier the better.

Color changes in your gum tissue and gums that are swollen, inflamed, and bleeding should be examined. It’s vital to schedule a dental examination when you notice any of these symptoms.

Prioritize your at-home dental care. Routine brushing and flossing can remove and dislodge plaque from building up and hardening into tartar.

Schedule teeth cleanings two times per year to keep your tooth surfaces free from plaque, tartar, and bacteria growth. Once gingivitis has begun a deep cleaning can help eliminate the risk of gum disease progressing.

Ask us about laser dentistry for periodontal treatment. And contact your Wayne dentist to schedule your next dental examination and with your questions about gingivitis.

How to Improve Your Dental Health in the Next 12 Months

There’s something more important, in a way, than your New Year goals. It’s maintaining consistency in what matters ALL year long.

Your dental health is certainly one of those areas that deserves consistent attention. Now that your mind is fresh with thoughts of the New Year why not include some oral health essentials among your priorities?

Four Dental Health Solutions to Prioritize All Year

Consistent preventive dentistry

The longterm health of your teeth and gums depends on routine dental care habits. Your lifestyle choices and common neglect can cause your oral health to decline.

Do this:

Monitor your diet. Prioritize good nutrition by asking about and including teeth “friendly” foods and beverages.

Brush and floss everyday. This is a fundamental for keeping your teeth and gums free from decay and disease.

Calendar you and your family’s dental examinations and teeth cleanings. These twice yearly appointments go a step beyond your at-home dental care to assure that your teeth and gums stay healthy and disease free.

Attack any signs of gum disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is responsible for adult tooth loss. In fact, it’s the number one cause for it plus gum disease can lead to other health risks including heart disease.

Do this:

Stay up to date on your dental examinations and teeth cleanings. These appointments are essential to remove the build up of plaque and tartar from your teeth.

Be aware of any signs of gum infection. Inflamed, bleeding, or infected gums can indicate that something is wrong.

Schedule a deep cleaning when it’s recommended. Scaling and root planing remove the bacteria that multiply within the hardened plaque and tartar on your teeth and beneath your gum line.

Treat your missing and damaged teeth

Missing or damaged teeth can begin a chain-reaction of oral health problems. Misalignment, decay, and bone tissue loss can result from delayed treatment.

Do this:

Get informed about your tooth replacement solutions. Dental implants are a secure, long-lasting missing tooth solution that restores your tooth function and appearance.

Schedule a dental examination following tooth loss or tooth damage. Chips, fractures, or broken teeth can be diagnosed and restored with dental crowns, dental fillings, dental bonding, and veneers.

Know and use your available dental insurance benefits

Your dental insurance should renew each calendar year. This provides you a new amount of benefits for reducing your out-of-pocket costs for treatment.

Do this:

Communicate with your insurance provider about your annual renewal and available benefits.

Schedule the dentistry that’s been treatment planned for you or that you’ve been postponing. Use your benefits before the end of each year.

Contact your Wayne dentist about your dental health goals. Schedule your next dental examination and teeth cleaning to stay current on your treatment.

Does Your Dental Implant Treatment Need a “Lift?”

Some things require a “team-effort.” For example, dental implant treatment relies on a supportive environment from top to bottom to be successful and long-term effective.

One factor that impacts your procedure involves your sinus cavity. It depends on the structure of your anatomy in the upper quadrant of your mouth.

The roots of your upper molars can be located too close to your sinus area. If this is the case, you will experience an opening into the sinus cavity following the loss of an upper molar.

This would also cause a problem for the implant post being placed in that location.

Your all-around health

Your dental implant (wherever it’s located) requires healthy bone tissue. The bone near your sinus is thin and is therefore not adequate to support an implant.

When replacing a missing upper molar the lower sinus area will need to be lifted or augmented. A sinus lift makes it possible for your new tooth structure to be placed.

About your lift

A sinus lift will add thickness to your bone structure. It’s common on occasion to experience some congestion following the procedure.

Your congestion will clear up during the healing procedure. Once healed you will have normal breathing function, voice clarity, and no additional complications to any allergies you might have.

A sinus lift procedure ultimately improves the success of your implant treatment and allows you to enjoy solid, restored tooth function with a dental implant.

Contact your Wayne dentist about dental implant treatment. Schedule an examination to access the health of your bone tissue to prepare for a successful procedure.

The Advantages of White, Tooth-Colored Fillings Over Metal Fillings

Restorative or reconstructive dentistry can almost seem like a super-power. It’s where your tooth damage, decay, and cavities meet their match.

What’s more convincing?

Treatment for cavities once relied solely on metal fillings. Mercury based materials were the go-to solution until their safety among other issues was questioned.

A healthier choice

White, tooth-colored fillings are now the “gold-standard”. They’re above all a safer alternative to metal.

Silver, amalgam fillings have a tendency to darken over time. It’s also common for metal fillings to require the loss of more tooth structure during the procedure.

This increases the risk of weakening your tooth. Metal fillings can “leak” or open the door to the potential for additional tooth decay to affect your treated tooth or your surrounding teeth.

In addition to being safer

Tooth-colored fillings are less noticeable. The materials used closely match the color and shade of your natural tooth surface.

The composite or resin used for your filling will maintain a white color. Unlike metal fillings, the composite substance will fade less and not darken over time.

Your new tooth-colored filling will restore your tooth to it’s natural appearance. The procedure can be completed most often in one appointment.

Contact our Wayne dental office about restorative or reconstructive dentistry. Schedule an examination to discuss replacing your silver or metal fillings with safer, more attractive tooth-colored, white fillings.