Five Things to Ask Yourself Before Visiting a Cosmetic Dentist

When you visit a cosmetic dentist, this is your opportunity to transform the appearance of your smile and correct anything that you don’t like. With most things in life, you can fix some problems but not all.  This is not the case with a cosmetic dentist.  You can have a complete smile makeover if you want one, or you can simply whiten your teeth.  The range of options available to you are vast so it is important to understand what it is that you are trying to accomplish so that we can create a customized treatment plan for you. 

Start by considering what you do like about your smile.  For example, you may like the current size and shape of your teeth.  If you do, let us know so that we can focus on other areas instead of addressing things that you already like.  Next, make a list of everything that you don’t like about your smile and would like to improve.  This can include your “must have” list and a secondary list of things that you would like to accomplish.  During your consultation, we will want to discuss all of this so that we can address each problem individually or as a group.  

Some of the things that we will want to know are:

How white do you want your teeth?  This is based on personal preference so what works for one person may not for someone else.  You have to live with your smile, so it is important that it is a shade of white you are comfortable with.  While some people like brilliantly white teeth, others do not so it helps to look at samples.  This will give us a benchmark for how white to get your teeth.  

Are you comfortable with the shape of your teeth?  It is common for teeth to be too large or too small for a person’s mouth.  This creates problems with appearance as teeth can look immature like baby teeth or too large like rabbit teeth.  If you have either of these issues, they can be corrected in our cosmetic dentistry office.

Do you have anything that needs replacing?  If you have had a restoration in the past few decades, it may be worn out and need to be replaced.  Things like dental crowns, for example, are only supposed to last for up to fifteen years.  Once they reach that point they can start to wear away, and your teeth can become sensitive again.  Let us know if you are experiencing any irritation or sensitivity so that we can look at your old restorations during your dental exam.  Simultaneously, if you have any new health concerns, we want to know so that we can address them. 

Are your gums the right size?  If your gums are too large, you will see more of your gums when you smile than is visually appealing.  If this is happening to you, we can correct them with a cosmetic dentistry procedure. 

What don’t you like about your teeth?  Make a list that you can share with us when you visit our dental office so that we can plan for how to address each issue. 

As a cosmetic dentist, we can transform your smile but it starts with a dental exam and good communication.  Think of us as your teammate in good oral health, one that can take you over the finish line as long as we know what the finish line is. 

Here Are Common Causes of Gum Recession

Gum recession is a very common dental problem that occurs in a large number of Americans. Described as the process whereby the gum tissue gradually pulls backward or wears down, gum recession can leave you with hyper exposed teeth or even have the gum exposed to the surface. In addition, this problem can cause there to be pockets and gaps in between the teeth, which make it easier for infections to occur due to the bacteria building up within these gaps or pockets. Most people do not realize that they are experiencing gum recession since it is an extremely slow process. However, it is strongly advised to seek dental, or orthodontic, treatment for gum recession as left untreated it will result in repeated infections that can ultimately damage the structure of the teeth, bone, and gums. 

Periodontists treat gum recession and know that seeking treatment is critical to your mouth's overall health. Unlike many gum diseases, gum recession can occur naturally and is often caused by habits that erode the gums over time. There are other factors as to why gum recession occurs, some more serious than other, and there are a number of treatment options that you should consider and go over in depth in our dentist office.

So what causes gum recession in the first place? 

Gum recession can be caused by a number of factors. Some of these are – 

•    Aggressive tooth brushing can cause the gums to start to wear away. People who have a tendency to brush their teeth too hard or use an extremely hard toothbrush run the risk of rubbing away their gums that can ultimately lead to the gums receding. Excessive or overly aggressive brushing can also lead to the enamel on the teeth being worn away, which can also lead to gum recession.
•    Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that will attack your gums. The direct result of this is that your gums will start to recede, leading to gum recession along with a host of other complications. This bacteria will destroy the gums and the bones that hold your teeth in place making it imperative that you seek treatment immediately if you suspect that you have gum recession as a result of periodontal disease.
•    Just like aggressive brushing of the teeth can lead to the gums starting to recede, getting insufficient dental care can also lead to this condition. If the teeth are not cleaned enough, tartar builds up on the teeth. Also known as calculus, this build up can only be removed by extensive professional dental cleaning which can also lead to the gums receding.
•    Bad habits like the use of tobacco are direct causes of gum recession as well. Tobacco users are more likely to have sticky plaque on their teeth that can result in the gums being affected and ultimately wearing down. In a similar manner, people with tongue or lip piercings are at a higher risk for gum recession. The stud in a piercing will constantly rub  against the gums, causing irritation and ultimately a level of erosion which leads to the gums receding as well. 

To learn more about how to prevent or treat gum recession, call and schedule an appointment with our dental office.