Cosmetic Dentistry

How Small Aesthetic Dental Repairs Can Make A Big Difference

Posted on: 08.24.15 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

For many patients, their perceived happiness with their teeth has a lot to do with the color and symmetry of their smile. In previous posts we discussed the best options for brightening a smile to the desired level of whiteness and the significance of flossing in your oral hygiene regimen. What many patients do not realize though is how cost effective other small aesthetic dental repairs can be in providing them with their ideal smile, whatever that may look like.

A common aesthetic issue that many people have is a chipped tooth. The tiny nick may not be particularly noticeable or upsetting, but just that little bit of imperfection can be a frustrating insecurity during a job interview or a meeting with a client. Our patient Jenna had much the same feelings about two decalcification spots and a chipped corner on one of her front teeth.

Here was how her teeth looked before treatment (click to enlarge):

That slight asymmetry in Jenna’s smile (in this picture: the front upper right tooth, known as the upper left central to the dentist) made her self-conscious, but Desert Sun Smiles dentist Dr. Lee Ann Brady was able to repair the issue with ease. Dr. Brady used composite filling material to fill in and even out the teeth where needed.

Here is Jenna’s perfect smile post-op:

Now Jenna’s smile is not only white from a recent whitening treatment at the Desert Sun Smiles office, but her front teeth are symmetrical. The entire process of repairing the spots and chip took less than an hour and can be reasonably priced depending on the number or complexity of the issue (Bonus: It will also be covered by most dental insurance plans). Cosmetic dental fixes provide bang for your buck and can leave you with a lasting sense of confidence in your smile.

Tips and Tricks: The Most Effective Path To A White Smile

Posted on: 08.3.15 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

One of our preferred whitening brands at Desert Sun Smiles.

If you’re looking in the mirror and feel dissatisfied with the color of your teeth, you may also find that there are too many confusing options for turning them into genuine pearly whites. The market is flush with attractive and easy products such as Crest 3D White Whitestrips, whitening toothpastes, brightening mouthwash, and more. You may even consider that trip to the dental office for a professional whitening or a more advanced version of the “Whitestrips” phenomenon. But what method to whitening teeth is truly the most effective when considering time, cost, and end result?

1. Let’s Start With The Basics

Before you shell out the big bucks or devote hours in the dental chair, consider these facts that may be contributing to dull or yellow teeth:

Did you know fruits and vegetables can stain your teeth? Not many people do, but according to Webmd, even apples and potatoes can be contributing to a lackluster smile.
Coffee, coffee, coffee. Are you a caffeine addict? A Starbucks connoisseur? Consistent espresso consumption may be gradually discoloring your teeth.
Lighting up that cigarette is a sure fire way to turn your teeth into a dentist’s worst nightmare. Plus, it can cause massive oral health issues, cancer, and a smile worthy of a 16th century monarch or a caveman.
The dermatologist! Using antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline for clearing up acne? Teeth looking more and more like you smoke two packs of cigarettes a day and single handedly keep your local coffee shop in business? This medication may be the culprit.
Be honest with yourself. If you’re not brushing twice a day and flossing regularly than your solution may be as simple as upping your daily dental game.

2. Are The Famed Crest Whitestrips Effective?

The short answer is: Yes and no. Yes, they will whiten your teeth, but the trays will only make a difference in the incisor (front) teeth. What this means is that if your smile happens to be larger than life (or at least wide enough that it exposes more than these common front teeth), then you may be left with an only partially brighter smile.

3. Bringing Out The Big Guns

If you’re interested in the quickest way to achieve Fabio or Jennifer Aniston level whiteness, a trip to the dental office for in office professional whitening might be very appealing. There are pros and cons to this approach.

Pro: The dentist can use a professional whitening formula and decide using a shade matching method where your teeth are currently and what color you would ideally like to reach. For busy professionals this method can generate the same results in one hour as one month of at home approaches.

Con: This option costs more than over the counter methods, requires a dental visit of 90 minutes, and can cause sensitivity for those with overly sensitive teeth. If you continue habits such as excessive coffee consumption, smoking, and/or don’t brush or floss effectively, you may need to repeat whitening every 6-12 months.

4. The Best At Home Approach

Don’t let yellow or discolored teeth prevent your from making a good first impression or feeling confident on a blind date. The best approach that combines the comfort of Whitestrips with the effectiveness of the dental office is to set up an appointment with your dentist to make personalized whitening trays. The dentist will make these trays by creating molds of your teeth and will provide whitening gel and instructions for their use. Then, achieving a white smile is simply a matter of wearing the trays while doing chores around the house or watching Netflix.

Does Tooth Bleaching Damage Teeth?

Posted on: 10.1.13 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

Venus White Professional Tooth Bleach

A common question patients ask who are considering professional tooth whitening/bleaching is whether it damages the teeth. The answer is a resounding NO. The active ingredient in professional tooth bleaching products is either Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide. It is the oxygen molecules that actually lighten the color of your teeth by both removing stain on the outside and lightening the internal color of the tooth.

The bleaching chemical is absorbed into your tooth and liberates oxygen which bleaches the tooth structure on the inside. This same chemical is also used to treat gum disease as it kills some of the bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontal disease. It can even help prevent cavities. So contrary to hurting your teeth, it is actually beneficial to your overall dental health.

Excessive bleaching, which is the use of at home trays continuously over extended months or years can cause minor pitting to the enamel, but even this has been shown to be minor and easily reversible once bleaching is discontinued.

Tooth bleaching is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing. At this tine we do not have enough information to confirm it is safe.

Am I Too Old For Invisalign Clear Braces?

Posted on: 09.20.13 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

Most of our patients are adults and yet we do quite a bit of Invisalign Clear Braces, or “aligners” as they are often called. So if you think you are too old to move or straighten your teeth, think again.

There are may reasons to straighten your teeth. Of course we commonly think about improving the appearance of your smile with braces. This is one of the most common reasons someone chooses Invisalign. For our adults patients however, at least half decide to straighten their teeth for health reasons. When your teeth are crowded and overlap one another it is much harder to keep them clean. Your toothbrush is less effective on crooked teeth and flossing becomes much more important. As we age and we become more at risk for cavities and gum disease, having worn braces pays back benefits.

Some adults have their teeth straightened to help correct problems with how their teeth meet, their bite (or “occlusion” as we like to call it). Bite issues can cause the teeth to wear prematurely, muscle pain and headaches and problems with your TMJ (jaw joints). Whatever the reason you are interested in wearing Invisalign, there is no age limit.

If you are simply curious, please call the office for a complimentary consultation.

I Have a Black Line Around My Crown

Posted on: 08.26.13 By Dr. Lee Ann Brady

Photo of teeth with black lines around crowns

Black Lines Around Teeth

Have you ever noticed a black line around the edge of a tooth that has a dental crown? If so, you may be concerned that this is a new cavity or that something is wrong with your tooth or the crown. Anytime you notice something new or different in your mouth you should consult with your dentist to determine what may have caused the change. Often a black line around a crown is nothing to be concerned with. An older method for making dental crowns used a layer of metal that fit over your tooth and was covered with tooth-colored porcelain.

Photo of teeth with no black lines around crown

Black Lines Eliminated

The porcelain was tapered down close to the edge of the metal underneath, but did not cover it completely. Originally the point at which the crown and your tooth met was placed under the edge of your gum tissue to hide this thin band of metal. Over time as you have aged and your gum tissue has receded the thin band of metal may have become visible. Today most dental crowns can be made without this thin band of metal so that they stay beautiful over time.

If you have any questions or concerns about your own teeth or gums, let us know. We can tell you if the black line you see is simply the band of metal, and rule out any other issue or cavity that would need attention.