Even if porcelain veneers aren’t a good tooth-straightening approach for you, it’s possible that Invisalign braces could be used to move your teeth into proper position without anyone ever noticing your braces. When the degree of movement required is not extensive or overly complex, the Invisalign system can be a great choice. Invisalign is actually a system of removable aligners. That means that you can remove them to clean your teeth or to eat.

For some, the straightening needs will be such that neither porcelain veneers nor Invisalign is a good solution. Clear braces are another possibility, making them far less noticeable – a concern for many adult patients. With more and more adults wearing braces these days, it may not be as much of a concern as you’ve been led to believe in the past.

The staff here at Raleigh Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry is glad to help you learn more about porcelain veneers, as well as other options such as cosmetic bonding, composite veneers, Invisalign, and braces. Many of our patients are surprised to learn about the different possibilities available to them. Even if porcelain veneers aren’t a good approach for you, we’ll help you understand which ones are possibilities for your personal smile-enhancing treatment plan and budget.

Many people don’t realize that being a Raleigh NC cosmetic dentist doesn’t require any special certification by the NC Dental Board. And even the American Dental Association (ADA) doesn’t provide a definition for a cosmetic dentist, even though they do provide useful information about the various technologies and dental procedures that are used by cosmetic dentists.

In a nutshell, being a Raleigh NC cosmetic dentist means that you’ve been licensed by the state of North Carolina to practice general dentistry, have a DDS degree, and have a special interest in providing cosmetic dentistry services. This is why it’s especially important for consumers to do their homework when choosing a Raleigh NC cosmetic dentist. Having interest in something is not an indication of skill level. If you’re comparing your options, look closely not only at before/after pictures, but also at the dentist’s specific depth and breadth of experience in performing cosmetic dentistry procedures. Ask about specific experience as it relates to the cosmetic dentistry treatment plan being recommended for you.

Begin your approach to finding a good Raleigh NC cosmetic dentist for your needs much like you would approach buying a car. You may not make the best choice if you are swayed only by looks (before/after photos) and cost. Performance/function must be considered, too. To consistently achieve a great look and function requires experience. The biggest difference between buying a car and buying cosmetic dentistry services is that with smile enhancement every case is different. Cars of a specific model/year can typically be expected to perform the same, and there’s a “standard” way to service them. Some cosmetic dentistry cases are “easy,” some are much more challenging. Before/after photos don’t tell the whole story!

Depth of experience helps to increase the chances that you’ll be satisfied not only with the look of your teeth, but also with the way your teeth function. Beyond assessing experience, you may also want to look for a Raleigh NC cosmetic dentist who will be concerned about your happiness with your smile long after you walk out of the office door. Our practice is in it for the long haul – we want to service your long-range general dentistry needs, too. Our goal is to help you preserve the healthy, beautiful smile we create!

1. Do you think that dental veneers are the best approach to getting the smile I’m looking for?  What are my options?
   Be prepared to discuss your goals. Tooth whitening and orthodontic devices may factor into the discussion, either in conjunction with or as alternatives to veneers. Different dentists may have different viewpoints on what is the best plan for you.  Veneers may or may not be a realistic approach to your needs. You tooth color itself can be a factor in determining the best approach for your situation. You may also need to assess the dentist’s experience level with veneers – Raleigh dentists’ experience with cosmetic dentistry procedures can vary widely and factor into their recommendations.
2. What type of veneers do you think are best for my situation and why?
   In the broadest terms, there are composite veneers and porcelain veneers to consider. The location, size, and extent of the “issues” you want to address, as well as your budget, are all factors in answering that question.
3. What type of preparation is required for veneers, and when will the process be complete?
   The type of veneers being used as well as your specific situation will be factors in determining the answer to this. Remember, speed does not always produce superior results.
4. How will I need to take care of my veneers, and how long will they last?
   Porcelain veneers are quite durable, but a reasonable amount of care must be taken with them, as with your natural teeth. Your dentist can discuss this in more detail. If you choose a cosmetic dentist for veneers in Raleigh who will also provide your regular dental checkups, the dentist has a vested interest in your ongoing happiness. He or she can also monitor and counsel you as part of those routine visits and answer any ongoing questions that you might have about your veneers.
5. How much experience do you have with veneers and with situations like mine?
   In some ways, it is helpful to think of your cosmetic dentistry provider as an interior designer for your mouth.  Experience matters, especially since there are no simple “do-overs” for your smile when it comes to porcelain veneers. You’ll need to decide whether you want a beautiful smile that still looks natural, or if you’re looking for something a bit “over the top” in terms of your smile makeover. Not every dentist will agree with the latter approach.

   If you have photos (from magazines or online sources) that help to illustrate what you want, it may useful to bring those with you. They can be a good basis for discussing your wants and how what the dentist recommends will compare to those. Always ask about how much experience the dentist has with using veneers in similar situations to yours.  Dentists with experience are more likely to know what is or is not reasonable to achieve and still provide a highly functional end result. Looks aren’t the only thing that matters!

Many people don’t understand that the results of tooth whitening are influenced by the underlying tooth color, and that tooth whitening (bleaching) only affects the outer (enamel) layer. In fact, a cosmetic dentist can show you the basic system that is used to classify tooth color. We can help you understand, based on that classification system, what type of results you might expect. This is one of the key reasons that the results you get aren’t quite as bright as the results that your best friend received – even if the treatment was identical.  (By the way, tooth whitening treatments should ALWAYS be adapted to the individual patient!)

While there are many types of classification systems for tooth appearance (hue, chroma, value indicators), the “classic” system involves identification of four different hues for the underlying tooth color – A for brown, B for yellow, C for grey, and D for red-grey. These systems are used not only for tooth whitening, but also for making porcelain veneer decisions. It takes a trained eye to determine which color your teeth are – and we use comparative ceramic teeth samples in each color to guide us. It’s not something you’ll determine from just looking in your mirror! Patients often can’t discern the difference between some of the 16 ceramic samples in the classic system, although a well-trained eye can. Tooth whitening for grey (or C) colored teeth can be more challenging than it is for yellow (or B) teeth.

The underlying tooth color is only one of several factors that we take into account in discussing with you what tooth whitening results are reasonable to expect. The “classic” system from Vita is one of the simpler ones, and using even that system goes beyond the four simple (A, B, C, D) categories. We’ll be glad to explain to you our assessment of the tooth whitening effects you’re likely to achieve, along with your aspirations. As with many health-related issues, heredity plays a big role in what we have to work with.  If you’ve been considering tooth whitening and discover that you truly have yellow teeth, heredity may have worked in your favor!

The human body – and the composition of every part of it – is absolutely amazing when you study it. Your tooth enamel – which porcelain veneers essentially replicate but don’t completely replace – are no exception. Many people know that tooth enamel is the outer covering of the tooth, but few have really thought enough about it long enough to understand how amazing tooth enamel truly is. At best, most people know that it is hard and has protective properties for the rest of the tooth.

One of the most interesting and amazing things about tooth enamel is its light refraction properties. If you recall from your science classes, materials fall into three basic categories – transparent (see-through), opaque (can’t see through), and the perhaps more sophisticated and complex category – translucent.

Your tooth enamel is a translucent material – meaning that light passes through it, but it also bounces off it in some rather unusual ways. To some extent it has its own color; to some extent it takes on the color of what is behind it; to some extent it takes on the color of the light hitting it. The best material currently available for “mimicking” your tooth enamel is porcelain.  It is a hard material with translucent properties – meaning that porcelain veneers refract light much the same way that your tooth enamel does. Composite resins, sometimes used for veneers, are semi-transparent, but do not have that translucent property that makes healthy tooth enamel sparkle in a very unique and eye-catching way. There may, in fact, be some real scientific grounding before the idiom “flash a smile.”

One advantage to porcelain veneers is that they are generally stain resistant. Think of fine porcelain china dinnerware – it is very hard and has a shimmering glow. It generally does not stain, but will pick up stains if it is cracked or abraded. But it takes relatively serious abuse to abrade it (and have resultant staining!)  There are some precautions you’ll need to follow if you’re getting porcelain veneers – in Raleigh or anywhere else!  Using your teeth as bottle openers is certainly not advised – nor is it advised for your regular teeth/enamel. Biting down on anything hard is never a good idea because it can cause a fracture in your tooth or its enamel, as well as in a porcelain veneer.  Certain teeth cleaning materials used in some dental offices can also abrade the surface of porcelain veneers and destroy some of their luster.

Similar to fine porcelain china, porcelain veneers are both lovely and durable. With reasonable care and avoidance of strong abrasives, they both can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. (Although you probably won’t be passing your porcelain veneers on to the next generation.) If you’re considering porcelain veneers in Raleigh, let us explain your options and why porcelain veneers may be the best choice in creating the smile you want to achieve!

If you’re considering cosmetic dentistry, you may have heard the terms bonding and veneers. The basic intent of both cosmetic dentistry procedures is the same, but the materials used are quite different.

Bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin – a putty-like material that we apply over a chip in a tooth or to cover over some other type of deformity. Once the material has “set,” we then contour it to either mimic the original shape or the desired shape. Bonding is not an option in some cases – the extent of the damage to a tooth can be such that neither a composite filling nor bonding is appropriate. In that case, a crown may be needed to restore your tooth and provide good oral health. The same is true for veneers, although there are cases where a veneer will work when bonding is not a viable option.

Veneers are made of porcelain, and can provide a more natural tooth appearance – especially when larger areas of the tooth are being treated.  The natural enamel on your teeth is actually translucent, and the porcelain veneer is also translucent.  That means that light tends to react the same way to both surfaces, and that is why veneers can look more natural than the solid composite resin materials that are used in the bonding process. By now, you may be wondering how veneers can help with severely discolored teeth if they are translucent. That’s where the skill of your dentist really comes into play.

Well-fitted veneers are generally more durable than bonding, although both procedures require that you practice good oral health practices (brushing, flossing) and avoid bad habits like chewing ice or other excessively hard materials.  (That’s not good for your natural teeth, either!) Not sure what you need?  We’re here to provide all your Raleigh cosmetic dentistry needs, in addition to our general dentistry services. We’ll advise you on what treatment is most appropriate for you and answer all the questions you have about the personalized treatment plan we will develop to help you restore or create the smile of your dreams.

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Reduction, Reshaping, and Stabilization

Crowns are used when a tooth has been damaged in a way that makes other forms of repair, such as a filling, impossible or unreliable. Broken teeth, severely cracked teeth, or teeth with underlying inflammation may warrant treatment with a crown. We begin by reducing, reshaping, and otherwise preparing what remains of the tooth to accept the crown (cap).  One guide in determining how to reshape or reduce the tooth is the removal of the damaged or diseased portions of the tooth, so that further damage doesn’t continue to occur underneath the crown once it has been placed.  Teeth with underlying inflammation get a root canal before they have a crown placed over them. A root canal involves removing the tooth’s pulp (the core of the tooth that contains the nerves and runs down through canals into the roots) and replacing it with a rubbery filler.

A second guide in reduction and reshaping is removing enough of the tooth to allow the crown to be thick enough to be strong and durable as well as cosmetically pleasing. Usually, a crown needs to be about a sixteenth of an inch thick, although our measurements in preparing and designing crowns are far more precise than that. A third guide is to create a certain tapered shape that permits the crown to easily but snugly slip over the top of the remaining tooth.  The more of your tooth we can leave, the more stable the finished product will be. Sometimes, we apply special materials to “build-up” what remains of a severely damaged tooth in order to increase the strength and durability of the end result. This overall reduction and health restoration results in the tooth being properly stabilized to receive a crown.

Off to the Lab

Once we have created a stable base to work on, it’s time to begin the “design” of the crown (cap).  We place a putty-like substance into your mouth and create an impression of the prepared base, the surrounding tissue and adjacent teeth. This impression is sent off to the lab where a stone-like mold is created that allows the lab to precisely model a crown to fit into your mouth as naturally as possible.

The lab will return the custom-designed crown to us within one or two weeks. Meanwhile, we select and place a temporary crown over the prepared tooth to protect it and allow you to chew with relative ease until the precisely fitted crown is ready.

Perfecting the Fit

While the lab delivers a precisely crafted crown back to us, we will always perform our own quality checks and minor, but exceedingly precise and important adjustments to the crown. To give you a great fit and appearance, we will:

•    Verify that the overall shape and coloration of the tooth is as close to natural as possible
•    Confirm that there is a precise marginal seal between the prepared tooth base and the inner surface of the crown (This preserves the health of the live tooth base.)
•    Verify and adjust as needed the contacts between the crown and adjacent teeth
•    Check the way your bite fits with the opposing teeth, adjusting as needed to ensure a good balance

Just as with your natural teeth, you need to exercise care to keep the crown intact. Avoid chewing ice and other hard substances like popcorn kernels that could cause the crown to develop cracks. Even with good care, your crown may not last a lifetime. For this reason, many dental insurance companies will permit replacement of crowns – usually after five to eight years, depending on the policy. Our staff can help you verify your benefits should you ever need a replacement.

A New Outlook on Life…

Smiling does a lot more than just move the muscles in our face; it changes the way we see the world and the way the world sees you. Simply by contracting those muscles and showing a beautiful white smile, we instantly feel more attractive. As a result, so does everyone else. This attraction doesn’t just mean to the opposite sex either. When we feel attractive, we give off that confidence and positive energy that automatically draws others towards us. A teeth whitening treatment is one of the easiest ways to improve your teeth so that you are less reserved when it comes to showing them off.

The World Looks a Whole Lot Better…

How many times have you been down, frustrated, or anxious about something only to have someone smile at you? And before you knew it, you were smiling too. When we aren’t afraid to smile, others will smile more at us, and the world will take on a more positive feel for everyone. Because stained enamel often gets in the way of this, a teeth whitening treatment is often the best solution.

You’ll find your emotional state also begins to improve. When the world looks happier, we feel happier and all of the trials and headaches are just a whole lot easier to deal with. You can feel the stress leave your body and all of the negative feelings with it. Try it for yourself and see.

When your smile doesn’t shine as brightly as it should and you are in need of a teeth whitening treatment, you’ll find these benefits don’t come as easily to you. Once you start showing off those pearly whites, however, you’ll notice you feel happier, those around you are happier, problems don’t seem as large, and you might even feel healthier. Never underestimate the power of a great smile that’s used often!

For More Information on Teeth Whitening contact Dr. Robert Williamson Today!

Self-Esteem

When a patient has a miss-aligned smile, they know it. They see it and spend hours worrying about. They remember it when they smile or laugh. They think about it when meeting someone new. They may become terribly uncomfortable as soon as a camera comes out. When you consider how many times you might encounter these situations in a day, you’ll quickly come to realize that those with a miss-aligned smile worry an awful lot.

Once the Invisalign treatment is complete, they can go through these seemingly simple things without worry. There’s no more trying to hide their smile or staring in the mirror wishing things would be different. They can hold their head up and begin to truly enjoy themselves and feel better about their appearance because of it.

Confidence

Not far behind a lack of self-esteem comes the result of that issue: a lack of confidence. When someone is self-conscious about their teeth, they may often feel inadequate towards others. This single feeling leads to a whole host of missed opportunities and second guesses. It’s a sad fact, but in a society that places outward beauty so high on the scale of importance, it makes up a large portion of our self-worth.

With an Invisalign treatment and straight teeth, these patients see themselves and the world in a whole new light. ‘If only’ becomes a thing of the past, and suddenly they feel like they can ‘compete’ with the rest of the world. They don’t worry whether or not they’ll get the job, if the person they’ve had their eye on will ask them out, or whether they should wear a certain outfit.

Invisalign does more than invisibly straighten teeth. Patients receive a new smile, a new outlook on life, and new opportunities they didn’t know they had. It’s much more than a dental treatment; it’s a life changing experience.

For More Information on Invisalign Contact Dr. Robert Williamson Today!

What Happens During an Extraction & Why Do I Need to Have One?

Without being too graphic, a tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. Usually, whenever you have a cavity or some other type of damage to your tooth that’s the result of decay, the dentist will try to fix it by filling in the cavity or using a crown or doing a root canal. However, sometimes the damage is simply beyond repair which means that the tooth needs to come out. The reason that you cannot simply leave the tooth in is because the already infected tooth can actually spread bacteria to the rest of your mouth as well as to your gums, thus getting into your blood stream and making you sick.

There are also several other reasons that your dentist may suggest a tooth extraction:

• Overcrowding: Sometimes extractions are necessary due to “overcrowding” in your mouth (ie. you have a lot of teeth and a tiny mouth).
• People Getting Braces: Sometimes teeth need to be extracted to make room for teeth that will be shifting.
• People Receiving Radiation Treatment: Any teeth blocking the radiation may need to be removed.
• Wisdom Teeth: At times, wisdom teeth may become impacted under the gums, causing pain to the individual. Additionally, because they are so far back in the mouth, wisdom teeth tend to decay-at which point they must be removed- otherwise you risk gum disease as well as other health-related issues due to bacteria entering your blood stream.

For more information on comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry, contact Dr. Robert Williamson today!