Roles of Veneers in Dentistry

There are many factors that can have an adverse impact on the quality of your smile, from tooth crookedness to discoloration to unsightly gaps. Whatever the cause, a less-than-perfect smile can dramatically affect your self-esteem, personality, and ability to communicate with others.
For many, dental veneers (often referred to as porcelain veneers) provide an ideal solution. Formed from ceramic, these custom-made, eggshell-thin coverings are designed to mimic the look and feel of natural enamel. They are placed over the surface of teeth to conceal chips, gaps, cracks, or other problems that can jeopardize dental health or aesthetics. Dental veneers can provide an easy, painless way to achieve a bright, confident smile.
Problems Addressed by Porcelain Veneers
There are several different conditions that can be quickly and painlessly solved by veneers:
Chipped Teeth: Teeth can chip for a variety of reasons, including stress-induced grinding, an accident or trauma, using your teeth for purposes they are not intended for, or a fracture that causes a gradual weakening. Regardless of the cause, chipped teeth can detract from the appearance of your smile while increasing the risk of discoloration, sensitivity, and decay.
Crooked Teeth: In addition to affecting the appearance of your teeth, crookedness can cause dental pain and inhibit good oral hygiene. Those who leave the problem untreated are more prone to tooth decay, tooth loss, and bad breath. It can also be difficult to chew properly with crooked teeth, increasing the chances of jaw misalignment.
Discolorations: The most obvious effect of discolored teeth (a wearing-down or dulling of surface enamel) is a dirty appearance, creating the implication of poor dental health. Noticeable stains on the surface of your teeth can make you look older than your age, while drawing more attention to other issues, such as gaps and crookedness. Varying degrees of discoloration can be caused by numerous factors:
- Genetic predisposition
- Prolonged exposure to certain foods or drinks such as coffee or tea
- Ingestion of or contact with of certain medications
- Smoking cigars or cigarettes
- Nerve damage to a tooth during an accident or fall.
Gaps: Anyone who's ever had extra space between their teeth knows that gaps can have a dramatic impact on self-esteem. Those born with gaps often notice the problem worsening with age. They wonder if people are staring at the gap in their teeth or they find themselves reluctant to talk or smile. In addition to affecting your confidence, the condition can also make it difficult to chew or speak.
Misshapen Teeth: Even if you have perfect dental health, just one misshapen tooth can cause your smile to look flawed or unhealthy.
All of the above: Many folks don't have a single dental affliction. A combination of genetics, lifestyle choices, and normal wear and tear can create a set of unique circumstances.
In most cases, depending on the severity of these conditions, smiles can be aesthetically and functionally enhanced with the use of porcelain veneers.
Benefits of Dental Veneers
Porcelain veneers offer a number of advantages to today's dental patients:
A more natural look: With today's enhanced dental technology, ceramic veneers offer a high degree of translucence, making them virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Custom design and creation: Porcelain veneers are custom-matched to the color of your teeth. If you desire a whiter smile, veneers can be used in conjunction with whitening to create a dazzling smile. Veneers are designed specifically for your mouth, your lifestyle and your individual circumstances.
Quicker results: Unlike straightening with braces, tooth whitening systems, or complex dental bonding, veneers can be applied in just one or two visits, immediately achieving a bright, even smile.
Lower cost: Veneers are typically less expensive than other, multi-step, more complex
treatments including surgery.
Long-term protection: In addition to looking good, veneers are durable enough to strengthen weak or damaged teeth, potentially eliminating the need for a bridge, crown, or other, more invasive procedures. Also, if properly maintained, veneers can last several decades.
There are several different options and brands available for dental veneers, such as Lumineers. Before making a decision about what type or brand of veneer is best, contact a Cosmetic Dentist who is experienced in placing porcelain veneers. Ask the dentist to see examples of their work, such as before and after photographs where porcelain veneers were used. Ask if the dentist offers a no-fee consultation, and never be rushed into making a decision about your smile. You and the dentist should work collaboratively to come up with a treatment that fits your oral health needs, lifestyle and budget.

Dr. Mark Kleive is a Cosmetic Dentist in Minneapolis and has been named Top Minnesota Dentist for the third consecutive year. He will handle any dental problem you're suffering to give you back your smile. Please visit http://www.markakleivedds.com/ for more information and details.

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Sleep and Sleep Disorders

Sleep:
You spend 33% of your life sleeping! We just can't stay alive without it. The proper functioning of many of your body's functions, such as memory, immune system, and energy, are directly related to the quality of your sleep. Approximately 90 million people in North America have a sleep disorder. Are you included in this group?

While sleeping normally, the body temperature, blood pressure, breathing pace, and nearly all of your bodily functions slow down. In contrast to this, the brain maintains the same level of activity as when you are awake. A lot of research has shown that our minds are as busy when we sleep as they are when we are awake. During the eight hour sleep pattern, adults usually change from two completely different patterns: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM sleep.

REM Sleep: Nearly all dreams happen while in REM sleep.
Normal adults spend 20 to 25% of their sleep in the REM sleep cycle.

One of the most well known sleep problems is obstructive sleep apnea.

Is snoring dangerous?

Unless you think about the harm done to the relationship with your mate in bed then, of course not, snoring is basically not dangerous in and of itself. An experienced dentist can treat and eliminate it. Snoring, however, is known to indicate the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious problem that can cause a lot of trouble. Dentist also have the answer for Sleep Apnea - Dental Appliance

Sleep Apnea in kids: Kids who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will snore noisily and will also have brief time periods while they sleep when they stop breathing (known as apnea).

Read more abut Sleep Apnea and the new non invasive dental treatment that is the best way to treat sleep apnea.
http://bonitadelreydental.com/services_and_procedures/Sleep_Apnea_Treatment

3 The Three Teeth Whitening Techniques

A great smile can prove to be a valuable asset, particularly when you first meet someone. However, people who have brown or yellow stained teeth are very conscious of this short.coming. It may also cause social insecurity. One of the best treatment methods available to gain back that white perfect smile is teeth whitening. The basic methodology of teeth whitening is that it reverses the process of discoloration of teeth, bleaching them to reveal the white enamel again.
Teeth generally darken over a period of time. This may be due to consumption of caffeine-containing drinks (like tea, coffee and cola) or tobacco products. Also, excessive fluoride production and use of antibiotic medication can also lead to teeth discoloration. However, the biggest factor contributing to the loss of whiteness is age. Teeth whitening, to counter the process of discoloration, is one of the safest and the most popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry. Studies indicate that almost 96% of the people who undergo this treatment experience visible benefits.
There are three options available to those considering this procedure – you can either undergo professional bleaching, try home bleaching or use whitening toothpastes. Of the three listed, the quickest and the most effective is professional bleaching. It is also referred to as In-Office or Chair-side bleaching. It usually requires two or more visits to a dentist. However, the effects are much long lasting than any other procedure. The dentist will apply a bleaching agent to your teeth. The gums, however, are not harmed. The most common mouth guard is a gel or rubber shield. After the dentist has carefully applied the bleaching agent to your teeth, he might want to use additional heat or light procedures to make the agent work faster. A usual treatment sitting might last from 30 minutes to an hour.
The second option that is available to you is that of home bleaching. You can buy a kit from any certified pharmacist or dentist. This kit would usually contain a hydrogen peroxide based bleaching gel or solution. This is meant to be applied to the tooth enamel. As a rule, a mouth guard is also included in the kit. You are supposed to place the solution or gel in the mouth guard and then follow the directions given with the equipment. The frequency of use and the duration of treatment for home bleaching vary. Overnight treatments work for a much shorter period. However, if you are, say, required to use the kit twice a day, the treatment might be effective for a longer period of time.
Whitening toothpastes work in a different way from bleaching techniques because they do not aim towards a permanent alteration of teeth color. They usually contain polishing agents. They work to remove some of the deeper stains, which a regular toothpaste might not effectively dislodge. You should always consult your dentist before going forth with any of these procedures – he is the best person to guide you and can advise you on the most effective treatment plan suited to your needs.
Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Looking for the best teeth whitening products? Or perhaps you would like to learn more about specific tooth whitening options available such as the Bravo Whitening System. You'll find that and more at Lustrous Teeth.com.

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