Chicago Dentist

Cavities (dental caries) are decayed areas in the teeth, the result of a process that gradually dissolves a tooth’s hard outer surface (enamel) and progresses toward the interior. Along with the common cold and gum disease, cavities are among the most common human afflictions. If cavities are not properly treated by a dentist, they continue to enlarge. Ultimately, an untreated cavity can lead to tooth loss. For tooth decay to develop, a tooth must be susceptible, acid-producing bacteria must be present, and food must be available for the bacteria to thrive. A susceptible tooth is one that has relatively little protective fluoride incorporated into the enamel or that has pronounced pits, grooves, or fissures that retain plaque. Poor oral hygiene that allows plaque and tartar to accumulate can accelerate this process. Although the mouth contains large numbers of bacteria, only certain types generate acid, which causes decay. The most common decay-causing bacterium is Streptococcus mutans.

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Artificial – although they look realistic, porcelain veneers are artificial teeth, which may be a problem for those desiring a more natural solution to their dental problem.

High Cost – Veneers, especially porcelain veneers, are expensive. Each veneer can range anywhere from $500 to $1000. When that gets multiplied with the number of teeth that needs veneering, it becomes a costly investment.

Fragility – Although porcelain veneers are relatively tough, they are not impervious to any chipping/breaking when exposed to excessive impact or force, e.g. teeth grinding, eating hard foods, etc. Repairing or replacing veneers then becomes an expensive endeavor.

Permanent Procedure – when its done, there’s no going back.

Side effects: Teeth Sensitivity – Since the veneering procedure requires the removal of enamel, your tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages.

You may not be candidate – If you have unhealthy teeth (for example, those with decay or active periodontal disease), weakened teeth (as a result of decay, fracture, large dental fillings), have an inadequate amount of existing enamel on the tooth surface, or suffer from bruxism (teeth clenching).

Overall, most people find that the advantages porcelain veneers can bring, outweigh the disadvantages. Porcelain veneers are an easy way to attain a perfect smile and a friendlier appearance. The resultant natural-looking, well-aligned, whiter, more evenly-spaced teeth provide for that much sought-after cosmetically perfect smile. That is the reason why veneers are so popular among professionals, actors and actresses and other public performers.

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Realistic Appearance – One of the features of porcelain veneers that is contributing to their rising popularity is their optic properties. Porcelain is a ceramic that has many similar properties to the teeth’s natural covering, enamel. Because of this, porcelain veneers appears very natural and realistic.
Stain-Resistant – Porcelain is a ceramic, and therefore quite ”glass-like”, its surface is extremely smooth and impervious. This makes porcelain veneers quite resistant to permanent stains. No need to worry about the coffee, wine, or cigarette stains.
Durability – Porcelain veneers are relatively long lasting – up to 15 years – compared to plastic (composite) veneers (~7 years).
Color Versatility – The color of a porcelain veneer can be selected such that it makes dark teeth appear whiter.
Ease of Shaping – Compared to crowns, porcelain veneers do not require extensive shaping prior to the procedure.
Improves Appearance & Restores Confidence – Porcelain veneers can help individuals with dental flaws such as teeth that are crooked, discolored, or have small gaps between them. Veneers dramatically change a person’s smile and in the process, help improve their self-confidence.

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Lumineers generally cost a little less than other porcelain veneers. Lumineers is a brand name of the Den-Mat Corporation.  Essentially, they are a tough porcelain that can be made very thin.  Their main marketing appeal is that, since they are so thin, the teeth don’t have to be “ground down” any, and they can be placed directly over unprepared teeth without being too bulky. Since the procedure for doing Lumineers is simpler than the procedure for doing traditional porcelain veneers, their cost may be about 3/4 of the cost of porcelain veneers, though that cost will vary from dentist to dentist. However, a couple of warnings are in order. If the teeth are not prepared any before placing the porcelain veneers, the cosmetic dentist has much less latitude in creating a beautiful smile design.  Great cosmetic dentists, being very passionate about the beauty of the work they create, will resist this, and may refuse to place Lumineers in a situation where they feel that they will not end up looking good.

Lumineers veneers are simply one brand of porcelain veneer. Lumineers veneers are fabricated using the patented ceramic Cerinate and can only be produced in a Cerinate Smile Design Studio. The main characteristic that sets Lumineers veneers apart from other types of porcelain veneers is that they can be made so their thickness is ultra-thin. In their advertising Den-Mat Corporation states that Lumineers veneers can be crafted so they are as thin as a contact lense. In more precise terms, Lumineers veneers can be fabricated so they are as little as .2 to .3 millimeters in thickness. As a basis of comparison, the minimal thickness of a traditional porcelain veneer is typically on the order of .5 millimeters (almost twice as thick).

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Porcelain veneers, alternatively termed dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used by dentists as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are discolored, worn, chipped, or misaligned. Porcelain veneer technique is an offshoot of the basic science of cosmetic dental bonding. Dentists have had materials available to them for decades that are capable of creating a tenacious bond with tooth enamel. Porcelain veneer, incisal view. Porcelain veneer technique utilizes the bonding capability of these materials to securely attach a thin shell of porcelain (the porcelain veneer) to a tooth. Although porcelain is inherently brittle, when it is firmly bonded to a sturdy substructure (a tooth) it becomes very strong and durable.

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For more than a decade, the development and the increasing numbers of whitening oral hygiene products has increased and shows no sign of leaving supermarket shelves any time soon. But what’s the difference and which products are best for you? “Whitening” is any process that will make teeth appear whiter. Technically bleaching falls under this broad category, but by contrast, non-bleaching whitening products contain agents that work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains only. Whitening products may be administered or dispensed by dentists or purchased over-the-counter at most drug stores and supermarkets and can be categorized into two major groups: Peroxide-containing whiteners or bleaching agents; and whitening toothpastes. “Bleaching” is the process of applying a product can bleach the tooth, which means that it actually changes the natural tooth color. Bleaching products contain peroxide(s) that help remove deep and surface stains.

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In the blossoming world of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening reigns supreme. Universally valued by men and women alike, whitening (or bleaching) treatments are available to satisfy every budget, time frame and temperament. Whether in the form of one-hour bleaching sessions at your dentist’s office, or home-use bleaching kits purchased at your local drugstore, teeth whitening solutions abound. Yet only 15 percent of the population has tried the cosmetic procedure, and misinformation on the subject is rife. The long and the short of it is that teeth whitening works. Virtually everyone who opts for this cosmetic treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the brightness and whiteness of their smile. However, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution and requires maintenance or “touch-ups” for a prolonged effect.

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