Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered! PART 3

This four-part article series answers the questions frequently asked by patients interested in cosmetically improving the symmetry, color or shape of their teeth.

Welcome back to this, the third installment of a four-part article FAQ series on Arlington cosmetic dentistry. So far, we have answered some of your pressing questions concerning ceramic crowns, dental whitening and veneers. In this article, we shall continue addressing more of the questions frequently asked by patients who feel that their teeth and/or gums could benefit from the procedures or treatments offered by Arlington cosmetic dentistry.

FAQ: Why pay more money for a professional teeth whitening treatment when there are plenty over-the-counter products to choose from?

Answer: You need only check out the dental hygiene and healthcare aisle of the supermarket to appreciate the sheer diversity of teeth whitening products on the market. And with so many to choose from, why would you spend that little extra money on having a professional Arlington cosmetic dentistry treatment done? The answer is very simple: the concentration of bleaching agent (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) in these over-the-counter products is legally restricted. This is to protect the companies that manufacture these products against liability cases involving customers that have accidentally overused the product and have damaged their teeth and/or gums.

Professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry use whitening gels that contain a much higher percentage of the bleaching agent, but because they are qualified and experienced at administering such treatment, they can do so completely safely and with minimal side-effects. The bottom line is that a professional Arlington cosmetic dentistry teeth whitening treatment is going to give you much better, faster and more natural results than any over-the-counter product.

FAQ: What causes teeth staining in the first place and how can I prevent stains from re-accumulating after a teeth whitening treatment?

Answer: Our teeth become stained from the foods we eat and the liquids we drink, say professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry. Certain substances, such as coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, beetroot and dark sodas contribute to dental discoloration, especially if consumed frequently over many years. While many of these indulgences aren’t bad for you, avoiding gradual tooth discoloration or preserving the results of a dental whitening treatment will require you to limit your intake of substances such as coffee, tea and red wine. Tobacco smoking is also one of the top tooth staining offenders, say professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry, so you should kick that habit… but that goes for many more reasons than just your smile aesthetics.

FAQ: My gums have grown right over the crowns of my teeth making them look short and stubby. What Arlington cosmetic dentistry procedure would it require to make them look normal again?

Answer: If the gums have grown abnormally over the crowns of your teeth, it could be because they have swollen in response to infection. You could have gingivitis, in which case professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry would either take the necessary steps to treat you for a gingival bacterial infection, or they would refer you to a periodontists; a gum specialist. If a little extra gum tissue is something you were born with, or something you’ve had for as long as you can remember, then there is a very straight-forward Arlington cosmetic dentistry procedure that could improve your smile aesthetics. It’s called ‘crown lengthening’ and it involves the removal of a thin strip of excess tissue at the gum line in order to reveal a greater and more natural-looking portion of the underlying tooth crown (see image below).

Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Stay Tuned

To read some final FAQ on Arlington cosmetic dentistry, stay tuned for the last installment of this four-part article series!

Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Saving Smiles

"This article describes the many treatments offered by cosmetic dentists to patients that aren’t happy with the color, shape or quality of their smiles."

Your smile is one of your most important personal assets because it provides the most intimate insight into the full spectrum of emotion. A single smile can make amends, can lift a friend’s spirits or arrest a future-lover’s heart. But with the incredible power your smile gives you as a social being, comes the risk of self-consciousness and low self-esteem when you are unhappy with the quality of your teeth. Not all of us are born with perfectly white, even and symmetrical teeth, says the Arlington cosmetic dentist. But this doesn’t need to stop you from flashing your pearly whites with pride and confidence! Arlington cosmetic dentistry offers a whole host of treatments and restorative procedures designed to improve symmetry, even out flaws and brighten the luster of your teeth. And the difference is incredible. Patients leave the office of Arlington cosmetic dentists with a brand new lease on life because all the self-consciousness they formerly felt has been replaced with a confident, beautiful and healthy-looking smile.

So, what are the various procedures and treatments available for the cracked, worn or dulled smile?

Treatments Offered by Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Dental Bonding

It only takes a single cracked, chipped or discolored tooth to distract your audience from your smile. But for many patients, aesthetic problems go a little further than having a single marred tooth! Whether one of your teeth has become accidentally chipped, or you were born with large gaps between all of your teeth, Arlington cosmetic dentistry professionals can make use of bonding to improve their shape, color and symmetry. The procedure itself involves the application of a durable resin material (the same color as dental enamel) to the surface of your teeth. It is subsequently hardened with a special light, thus ‘bonding’ the material in place. This enables the Arlington cosmetic dentist to:

• Even out the appearance of jagged, chipped or cracked teeth
• Reduce large spaces between teeth
• Improve the overall cosmetic appearance of teeth
• Protect worn and sensitive teeth from cavities

Treatments Offered by Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Porcelain Caps/Crowns

While bonding is generally used to improve the appearance and health of teeth that have minor flaws in them, such as cracks, chips or fractures, Arlington cosmetic dentists will make use of porcelain caps or crowns to restore teeth that have sustained substantial damage or decay. When a large amount of the tooth structure needs to be removed due to decay, or has already been removed as a result of accidental trauma, a ceramic crown offers a fantastic aesthetic and functional solution. For people born with teeth that just aren’t red-carpet worthy (Tom Cruise is an excellent example), crowns can be placed by Arlington cosmetic dentistry professionals to provide a whole smile make-over!

Treatments Offered by Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or bleaching is perhaps the simplest and least expensive of all the procedures offered by the Arlington cosmetic dentist. You don’t need to be a smoker or drink an excessive amount of coffee, red wine or dark sodas to have pearly whites that aren’t, well, that pearly white! Some people are born with darker, more yellow enamel. A teeth whitening treatment can be performed by the Arlington cosmetic dentistry to brighten and lift years off the quality of your smile!