Everyone wishes to have whiter teeth and now, more than ever, it’s possible for everyone to get that smile they’ve been dreaming of.
There are many factors which cause tooth discoloration. Some substances will cause what we call extrinsic stains (surface stains) these can be removed by a professional cleaning. However, certain substances such as tea or coffee stain the inside of the tooth (over time) and cannot be removed with a simple cleaning.
Trauma to a tooth can also cause it to change color. A tooth which has died or has had a root canal will often tend to darken. Certain medications if taken at an early age while the teeth are developing can create teeth which will be yellow, gray or brownish in appearance.
Whitening can dramatically change the color of your teeth. The whitening gel can penetrate within the enamel and whiten the inside of your teeth. Almost anybody’s teeth can be whitened, some more than others. However, when the discoloration is too pronounced we may have to place something on top of the teeth to mask the underlying discoloration. Bonding or porcelain veneers can be used if the teeth are not responding well to tooth whitening. In extreme cases when the teeth are extremely dark, porcelain crowns may be the best solution.
Each tooth represents a piece of a puzzle in terms of creating a beautiful smile. The shape and size of each tooth must be harmonious with the rest of the teeth and must be the mirror image of its partner found on the other side of the mouth. A tooth which is broken, short, worn down or disproportionate to the other teeth will quickly grab someone’s attention in the same way of a stain on a white shirt.
Nowadays, these problems can easily be fixed with the use of bonding, porcelain veneers or crowns.
Even when the teeth are nice and white and beautifully shaped, they won’t result in a beautiful smile, unless they are properly positioned.
Mild problems such as a space between your teeth can be masked with the use of bonding or porcelain veneers.
More severe problems will require orthodontics. This branch of dentistry may also correct occlusal problems (problems with the bite) and the relationship between the upper and lower teeth.
New invisible aligners and lingual braces can render the process totally invisible.
For those who want straight front teeth without correcting every detail we offer Accelerated Treatment.
Visit our orthodontics site at www.dentsdroites.com to see what orthodontics can do for you.
With time the natural function of the teeth causes the enamel to wear down. Grinding and clenching dramatically speeds this process up.
Prevention is usually best and your dentist may recommend that you wear a night guard if he finds your teeth to be abnormally worn down.
The more that your front teeth wear down, the more their length will appear identical. The central incisors should be slightly longer than the lateral incisors and the canines should appear more pointy. Constant wear will tend to flatten the contour of these teeth and result in a premature
aged look.
If the teeth are already damaged by this wear and tear, porcelain veneers or crowns may be needed to restore the teeth to their original shape.
The gums are very important in the aesthetics of the smile. As a painting needs a frame, a tooth needs the support of beautiful healthy gums . Beautiful teeth can have a bad appearance when they are surrounded by red, swollen and unsightly gums. Worse still, are the gums that have receeded because of gum disease. The teeth then appear longer and there is creation of spaces ( 'black holes') between the teeth.
Sometimes the gums show too much when a person smiles, they call this a gummy smile.. A "gummy smile" can be the result of disease, the presence of a very short upper lip or excess gum covering the teeth. Another problem is when the gums are uneven. Often the solution in these cases is a slight remodeling of the gums that can be done in one appointment.
Finally when multiple teeth are missing, there is a loss of tissue which can make replacement of those teeth difficult aesthetically. It is sometimes necessary to rebuild the gum to provide the right level prior to implants or bridge work. Missing gum can be replaced with acrylic or porcelain restoration, or with bone and/or gum grafting.
Sorry no before or after photos here:
When things get this bad there’s really nothing we can do.
In fact , we can restore teeth as long as there’s a root and we can replace a tooth as long as there is bone.
But gum problems remain dentistry’s greatest challenge.
The only true advice that I may give you is :
1- Once gum problems are diagnosed: Don’t delay treatment
so problems don’t get worse.
2- If you lose a tooth : get an implant as quickly as possible
to preserve the bone at the extraction site.
Missing one or many teeth is not always an aesthetic problem but it can make chewing food much more difficult affecting your digestion and even your health! Healthy teeth and a healthy bite can, according to the Mayo Clinic, add years to a person’s life.
Teeth that are missing at the back of your mouth can cause occlusal and gum problems. Obviously
missing front teeth will effect your appearance.
There are many different ways to replace missing teeth. Some of them are fixed while others are removable.
FIXED:
An implant is made of titanium and replaces the root of your tooth. It can be made to support a crown, a bridge or a denture. A fixed bridge replaces one or many teeth with porcelain teeth which are supported by your natural teeth on either side.
A Maryland Bridge is a false tooth which is glued to the two adjacent teeth from behind.
REMOVABLE:
A removable partial or denture replaces missing teeth and gum with acrylic teeth and is entirely supported by your gums.
