When researching solutions in cosmetic dentistry it’s obviously important to choose a material that is not only functional for daily use and maintenance, but it must also be natural looking. Find out why the Provo, UT Cosmetic Dentist uses porcelain as we explain the nature of this material when used for dental veneers.

Porcelain mimics the appearance and strength of dental enamel and is the choice today for many patients when choosing veneers. Porcelain veneers offer solutions for a variety of cosmetic problems, and veneers virtually transform a smile in only a few appointments.

If you are affected by any of these issues -

• Dark or Stained enamel
• Cracked/chipped dental enamel
• Misaligned teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Pitted/grooved teeth

- Porcelain veneers can be successfully used to correct the problem and many others, and may be the solution for you.

Why Choose Veneers?
There are so many cosmetic options available today and many patients want more information and may wonder why choosing veneers rather than another procedure makes sense. The truth is that you should weigh all of your potential options to make the right decision for your specific situation. The primary benefit of porcelain veneers, however, is that they’ll blend with your natural teeth since they closely replicate natural dental enamel.

Appearance
Porcelain reflects and absorbs light similarly to natural enamel and is used for a number of cosmetic solutions. It can be shaped and shaded to fit your natural tooth coloring and is resistant to staining because of its smooth glasslike finish. That same quality keeps them from looking dull or flat and retains its white, bright appearance for years.

Strength
Porcelain is often thought to be a fragile material but at Provo Cosmetic Dentistry we know that it is actually quite strong when used in dental applications. Porcelain veneers don’t put unnecessary strain on neighboring teeth and patients can chew normally and follow their normal routine of oral hygiene. Porcelain is an ideal material for dental restorations and is popular with dentists and patients alike.

Have you been hiding your smile because you’re self-conscious about missing teeth? Maybe you’ve heard about implants but have put off doing anything about it because you’re just not sure what dental implants are exactly?
You’ve probably heard that dental implants are an excellent permanent solution for missing teeth, and that they are being used increasingly in place of traditional tooth replacement methods. But what are they and why do they work? Let’s take a look at the three basic components of a dental implant.

The Dental Implant Fixture
The Dental Implant Fixture is the part of the implant that is embedded in and becomes anchored to the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration”. Osseointegration simply refers to the process where the implant and surrounding tissue grow together, creating a permanent, new structure. This portion of the dental implant lies below the gum line and is sometimes referred to as the “artificial root”. The implant fixture is made of titanium in a screw-shaped design, and the surface is microscopically roughened, increasing its total surface area and creating greater bone-to-implant contact.

The Dental Implant Abutment
The abutment of a tooth implant is the stub portion of the fixture that will sit slightly above the gum line with a protruding surface that the crown or bridgework will rest upon. In order for the implant fixture to have time to fully integrate with the bone, the abutment is usually attached to the implant fixture by your Provo Cosmetic Dentist several months after the titanium screw portion is placed.

The Dental Prosthesis
This is the part of the implant unit that is visible and will become your new tooth. “Prosthesis” refers to the dental crown or dental bridgework that is supported by the implant and the abutment described above. Depending on how this dental work has been designed, it can either be cemented or screwed into place. The placement of the dental prosthesis is the final step in the implant process.

If you are missing one or more teeth you may be a good candidate for dental implants. But each patient has different needs, so schedule a consultation with Provo Cosmetic Dentistry Office to determine if dental implants are right for you.

As new technologies are developed in other industries, modern dentistry has kept pace, utilizing modern methods and materials that were not available even twenty years ago. These new methods not only open new areas of treatment in general and restorative dentistry, but greatly enhance the patient’s comfort and recovery time. A good example is the seeming explosion of the use of dental implants made possible in recent years through the use of titanium.

Dental implants can now be used to replace missing teeth. A titanium ‘root’ is implanted into the jaw and allowed to integrate into the surrounding tissue and bone (referred to as osseointegration). Once the ‘root’ has integrated with the structure of the jaw, a dental prosthetic is attached, creating a ‘new’ tooth.

Some patients are concerned about the safety of titanium because it is a foreign substance, but your Provo Cosmetic Dentist knows that there is simply no other metal in existence that can be introduced into the human body safely and with the benefits of titanium, and it has become the metal of choice within the medical field. Titanium is:

• Strong, yet lightweight
• Corrosion Resistant
• Cost-efficient
• Non-toxic
• Biocompatible (non-toxic AND not rejected by the body)
• Long-lasting
• Non-ferromagnetic (patients with titanium implants can safely obtain MRI’s)
• Osseointegrated (the joining of bone with artificial implant)
• Flexible and elastic rivaling that of human bone

Titanium is also incredibly durable and long-lasting and can last longer than 20 years. Titanium dental implants can be safely used as titanium is judged to be completely inert and immune to corrosion by all body fluids and tissue, making it completely bio-compatible.

If you’re embarrassed about missing teeth, contact our Provo, UT Dentist Office today for a free consultation. It is possible to bring back your beautiful smile safely and effectively with long-lasting dental implants.

There are many reasons for teeth to become dull and discolored. Age, stain-producing food, drink and tobacco are just a few of the causes that can lead to a less-than-dazzling smile. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry provides many options for whitening your teeth and to bring back your radiant smile.

At Provo, UT Dentist Office we use the Sapphire Teeth Whitening System. This is a bleaching process that is very effective in lightening discolored tooth enamel. One of the benefits of this system is that this is one of the few companies that have incorporated a desensitizing agent into their whitener's formulation. This feature helps minimize the patient's potential for post-bleaching sensitivity.

The Sapphire Whitening Process
Treatment begins by protecting the lips and gums, leaving only the teeth exposed. A hydrogen peroxide-based gel is then applied. The Sapphire procedure uses a light bleaching unit that has been designed to filter out infrared emissions. This feature helps to insure that the teeth being treated don't become over-heated, which is important for your comfort.

The whitener is usually applied to the teeth in two 30-minute applications. Upper and lower teeth are treated at the same time, and the total time including pre- and post-treatment is somewhere around 90 minutes.

At-Home Follow Up
You will be given a Sapphire touch-up kit to take home along with instructions on how the kit should be used. We also advise you to use certain stain-producing foods and beverages in moderation to maintain the whitening effects of the Sapphire treatment.

Is Sapphire Whitening Right for You?
Before deciding whether Sapphire In-Office teeth whitening is right for you, your Provo Cosmetic Dentist will conduct a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums to ensure your overall oral health and discuss your at-home oral hygiene and lifestyle. This will help you and your dentist agree on the whitening product or technique that's best for you.

Both veneers and Lumineers are fairly recent developments in Cosmetic Dentistry, and many patients come to me looking for information about both applications. Either application provides an attractive and durable alternative to chipped or discolored teeth, but each has their own distinct properties. Today I'd like to explain the benefits of using porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers look like your own teeth
One of the great advantages of porcelain veneers is that they are very natural looking. Also called dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth to create a cosmetic improvement.

Since porcelain veneers have a glass-like quality they have a unique advantage over other cosmetic bonding techniques because of their translucent nature. When a porcelain veneer is bonded onto a tooth's surface by your Provo UT Cosmetic Dentist it closely mimics the light-handling characteristics of dental enamel, creating a natural-looking, bright smile. In fact, porcelain veneers are so natural-looking that they are virtually undetectable; most people won’t realize that you’ve had any type of cosmetic procedure at all.

Veneers made of porcelain are stain resistant

As an inevitable part of the aging process everyone’s teeth will become worn and pitted to some extent, creating microscopic spaces for stain-producing foods like red wine and caffeine to cling to. This staining builds up over time and can create a dull-looking smile. Because of their smooth, glass-like finish, porcelain veneers have the benefit of being highly stain-resistant. This means you can continue to enjoy all your favorite foods without the worry of staining.

It requires only a few visits to Provo Dental Office to complete the application of porcelain veneers and transform your smile, but your dentist is the best person to determine if this application is right for your particular situation.