Dental Veneers: Whitening Teeth for a Winning Smile
In existence for over 30 years, dental veneers are still not commonly understood or utilized by many dental patients in Vancouver.
While most people have heard of whitening teeth with bleach treatments, they are not aware that they are being exposed to the bleaching alternative almost daily. In fact, dental veneers are worn by actors, models and professionals and play a huge roll in the cosmetic dentistry industry.
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| “Dental veneers do more than just make your smile look beautiful, they can also help fix for biting problems, help fill in gaps between teeth, or straighten overlapping teeth.” |
Dental veneers are similar to acrylic fingernails, where a replacement is shaped and placed on the natural nail. Veneers are made of a thin layer of custom-made porcelain or composite material, which are then placed over the natural tooth.
However, unlike an acrylic nail, veneers are incredibly tough. Patients with dental veneers are still able to bite into carrots, eat fudge, or enjoy anything else they would normally. Dental veneers are completely sealed against the natural tooth, lasting for several years without regular maintenance.
While professional teeth whitening may have a few limitations, veneers are used to solve a variety of oral health issues. Bleaching is typically used only to lighten teeth, without the ability to change the position, size or shape of teeth.
Dental veneers do more than just make your smile look beautiful, they can also help fix for biting problems, help fill in gaps between teeth, or straighten overlapping teeth.
Dental veneers also allow you to keep much of your natural tooth, which is always ideal. Veneers are custom-made to cover just the front and biting surface of your teeth, which leaves the back area untouched.
Don’t forget, if you are interested in any cosmetic dentistry solutions from Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry Clinic, it is incredibly important to maintain proper oral health.
For more information on dental veneers, or to book an appointment at our Vancouver dental clinic, contact us today!
Read MoreHalloween Oral Hygene: Keeping Your Child’s Smile Healthy
Halloween is on the horizon and your health partners at Kerrisdale Dental Clinic want to help you protect your kids from something even scarier than zombies, ghosts and goblins this Halloween. There’s something even more bone-chilling called tooth decay!
We all remember the joys of trick-or-treating, and coming home to unload our sugary spoils and eat candy until our tummies ached. Parents are in the scariest position at Halloween, predicting the cavities, temper tantrums and hyperactivity that will result from the copious candy intake by their youngsters.
The best way to avoid any of these truly tricky consequences in the aftermath of Halloween is not to consume any candy at all. However, we know that’s highly unlikely and that’s why your experts at Kerrisdale Dental have created a Halloween candy guide to help protect your kids from tooth decay and thereby ensure their optimal oral health for life.
Below is a listing from most harmful to the safest treats your kids should be choosing from their trick-or-treat bag:
Sour Power – Sour candies are the absolute worst in that studies have revealed that the acids in sour candies are so destructive because they dissolve enamel on contact!
Hardly Harmless – Hard candy needs to be sucked on for an extended period of time and very chewy candies are harmful in that they get stuck between the teeth. Both hard and chewy candy allow bacteria to wreak havoc on your child’s teeth for a much longer period of time.
Resist Raisins – Don’t be fooled by their natural derivative. Raisins easily damage dental work because they are very sticky and do not mix well with fillings, braces or retainers.
Candy Bars Get Four Stars – While we can’t say candy bars are good for your oral health, they are less harmful because they are eaten quickly allowing less time for the sugar to damage with acid.
Dissolve Your Worry – Powder candy is fairly safe as the sugar dissolves quickly and makes little contact with the teeth.
Eat Two or Three if They’re Sugar Free – As obvious as it seems, sugar-free candy is the most highly recommended Halloween treat for your children’s teeth. You can even prevent cavities by chewing sugar free gum! Sugar free gum promotes increased saliva which neutralizes harmful bacteria.
If your little monsters will be in need a routine dental cleaning after Halloween give us a call and book an appointment today!
Read MoreSmile Correction 101: Fixing a “Gummy Smile”
Cosmetic Dentistry has become increasingly more accepted for patients thanks to popular reality shows that focus on dramatic smile makeovers. Dental patients in Vancouver are beginning to understand how easy it is to create their ideal smile with the available cosmetic dentistry solutions.
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| “Cosmetic Dentistry in Vancouver, BC has come a long way in providing smile correction. Dental patients can benefit greatly by taking advantage of gummy smile treatment and other cosmetic dentistry solutions.” |
We are often asked questions about what a cosmetic dentist can accomplish at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry Clinic, and many patients are surprised at all the smile correction solutions we provide.
One popular cosmetic procedure is “gummy smile” treatment or correction. A gummy smile occurs when a large section of gums appear when the patient smiles or laughs. In some cases, there will be more gum area visible than teeth.
Patients complain about their “gummy smile” because they seem to resemble an adolescent, with prominent gums and small teeth. Generally, this smile comes from genetics, which causes the typical gum development to stop early, leaving teeth shorter than they should be.
A gummy smile correction can be treated in a few different ways. First, patients with less severe or moderate gum problems can be treated by lifting the gums and utilizing dental veneers. This “gum-lift”, similar to a face-lift, sculpts the gums to a natural height, allowing veneers to be affixed to the teeth to allow for a beautiful, new smile.
Second, for severe gum disproportion, treatment can include the physical breaking and repositioning of the upper jaw. This can require a healing time of up to two months and the jaw will be wired shut.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Vancouver has come a long way in providing smile correction. Patients at Kerrisdale Dental Centre are able to benefit greatly by taking advantage of gummy smile treatment and other cosmetic dentistry solutions.
For more information on cosmetic dentistry in Vancouver or to book an appointment, contact the expert team at Kerrisdale Dental Centre.
Read MoreDental 911: Recognizing the Need for Emergency Dental Treatment
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| “Always consider the options available and the gravity of your situation before phoning any local emergency dental clinic.” |
Emergency situations occur all the time in Vancouver. Medical emergencies are typically treated in emergency room facilities at the hospital, but how about emergency dental treatment?
If you have ever experienced a broken or knocked out tooth, you know that treatment is needed IMMEDIATELY. However, if a patient is not covered by dental insurance or cannot see a dentist, often they resort to taking emergency dental measures. It is important to understand what is an important dental emergency, and what can wait for a few hours or days.
Examples of “Not as Serious” Dental Emergencies:
- Lost fillings
- Chipped tooth
- Wisdom teeth issues
- Toothache
- Root Canal problems
- Loose Crowns
- Mouth Ulcers
With these problems, you will be able to wait until a time when you can make an appointment with us at Kerrisdale Dental Centre. Take some painkillers in order to experience temporary relief.
Examples of “Serious” Dental Emergencies:
- Severe, unstoppable bleeding
- Swelling in the face or neck
- Dislocated, broken or fractured jaw
- Loss of consciousness
- Infections
In these cases, emergency dental treatment is required. These injuries may commonly occur in sporting accidents, car crashes, or children and should be taken immediately to an emergency dental facility.
These serious dental emergencies are also the only problems that require a visit to the emergency dental room. Always consider the options available and the gravity of your situation before phoning any local emergency dental clinic.
Contact us today to learn more about what to do in the case of a dental emergency.
Read MoreDoes Invisalign Work? Straightening Teeth with Hidden Braces
Many patients at Kerrisdale Cosmetic & General Dentistry are still confused about the relatively new Invisalign technology, we are frequently asked: Does Invisalign work? Is Invisalign for adults or teenagers? What are hidden braces?
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| “Invisalign can help you fix crowding, spacing issues, crossbites, overbites and underbites. Soon, you will have a beautiful, healthy and straight smile!” |
Today, more and more teenagers and adults are being introduced to the innovative Invisalign technology. Patients who are seeking an invisible, aesthetic treatment for crooked teeth are looking for a alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment.
How does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign utilizes an innovative, 3-D computer imaging system, which works to create a complete, customized treatment plan for each patient. You will be able to see your initial position of your teeth, along with the final preferred position.
From there, the team at Kerrisdale Dental work to create a series of custom-made aligners, which work to move teeth gradually over a two-to-three week period. After this set, the aligner will be replaced until you reach the desired teeth position.
Why should I invest in Invisalign?
More and more adults and teenagers are choosing Invisalign over traditional braces for a variety of reasons. Due to the fact that Invisalign is removable, you are able to eat or drink whatever you like during treatment. In addition, patients are able to brush and floss teeth without trouble, allowing for better oral health.
So, does Invisalign work?
Yes! Invisalign can work for you to correct a wide range of dental or orthodontic problems. At Kerrisdale Dentistry we can help you fix crowding, spacing issues, crossbites, overbites and underbites. Soon, you will have a beautiful, healthy and straight smile!
To learn more about Invisalign options from Kerrisdale Cosmetic & General Dentisty contact us today.
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