Cosmetic Dentistry Tooth Bleaching Porcelain Veneers Whitening Your Smile How we look and how we perceive ourselves has much to do with our self-esteem. When the color of our teeth makes us embarrassed to smile, it's probably time to get our teeth whitened (bleached). As one ages, teeth may darken from coffee, tea, smoking, berries and other substances that get into microcracks in the enamel, causing discoloration. Some people have gray or brown bands on their teeth caused by an early childhood fever or tetracycline medication taken when the tooth enamel was forming. In some parts of the country where fluoride is found in naturally high concentrations in the drinking water, some individuals have developed teeth with bright white patches or dark brown blotches (mottled enamel or fluorosis). Not everyone is a candidate for bleaching. Teeth discolored from foods or aging have the best results. If you have tooth-colored resin or composite fillings in your front teeth, they will not change color from bleaching. If you would like to have your teeth whitened, call for an evaluation or let us know at your next check-up visit. If you are not a good candidate we can suggest alternatives such as bonding or porcelain veneers.   We offer an at-home procedure.  In this technique, you wear a thin, custom-made mouthguard filled with a whitening gel for two hours daily, or at night, for approximately two weeks. This achieves the same results as the in-office procedure, but just takes longer.      Some toothpastes have added whitening agents and can be used as an adjunct to the other two procedures. In any case, there is no reason to ever again suffer the embarrassment of discolored teeth. Porcelain Veneers Porcelain laminate veneers are probably the most esthetic means of creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They require a minimal amount of tooth reduction and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown. Porcelain veneers allow us to alter tooth position, shape, size and color. They are not the only alternative for all esthetic conditions, but are truly a remarkable restoration when they are the treatment of choice. Some facts you might want to know about porcelain veneers: Since they require approximately a half millimeter of tooth reduction, porcelain veneers are not considered a reversible form of treatment. Occasionally the preparation of a porcelain laminate veneer does not necessitate the use of a local anesthetic. However, for those patients that are particularly sensitive or anxious, a local anesthetic is advisable. The laboratory time required for the fabrication of a porcelain laminate veneer is approximately two or three weeks. Temporary veneers can be made at the time of treatment which will be worn while the permanent restorations are being fabricated in the dental laboratory. Between your preparation visit and the insertion visit, you may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold. This is normal and is due to the removal of a small portion of the enamel covering of the tooth. This sensitivity should disappear after the placement of your porcelain laminate veneer. Your second visit - the insertion of your laminate - can be accomplished with or without local anesthetic. This visit is usually a little longer in length than the first. The laminates are bonded in place with a light sensitive resin which is hardened by using a special white light. Once placed, your laminates are very strong and will resist most of the forces placed upon them by a normal diet. Porcelain has high crushing strength but weaker tensile strength. Therefore, you should avoid anything that will tend to twist the laminate. Opening pistachio nuts with your teeth, chewing beef jerky, candy apples, or similar types of food is not a good idea. As with most things, common sense should prevail. Maintenance of Your New Porcelain Veneers : The maintenance of your porcelain laminate veneer is relatively simple. A few suggestions, however, are in order: Please brush and floss as you normally would to prevent oral hygiene problems - do not be afraid that you will damage your laminates. Any non-abrasive tooth paste is acceptable. A good home care regimen will insure the esthetic success of your laminate restorations for years. Some sensitivity to hot and cold may be experienced after the placement of your veneers. This relates to the amount of enamel left on your tooth after preparation, the proximity of the nerve as well as several other factors. Some sensitivity is absolutely normal and usually dissipates after one-two weeks. If this sensitivity should remain or concern you at all, please call us. As mentioned before, a normal diet should pose no problem at all. Please avoid anything that will tend to bend or twist the laminates. If you know you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep, please let us know. We will fabricate a soft night guard for you to wear to minimize the stresses placed upon your teeth at night. Approximately one week after the placement of your laminates you will be asked to return to the office for a treatment evaluation. This visit is extremely important. It gives us the opportunity to evaluate the placement of the laminates, the tissue response and to answer any questions you might have regarding your new smile. With proper home care and scheduled evaluation visits, veneers can provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.