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Cosmetic Dentistry

Jun 10

What is the cost per tooth for cosmetic dentistry?

By Cosmetic Procedures

What is the cost per tooth for cosmetic dentistry? And did you get a loan to have your teeth done? – Max

Max – The cost of cosmetic dentistry depends on what type of treatment you need. Small chips or gaps in your teeth can be fixed with dental bonding.

Major flaws or teeth that are misaligned can be restored with porcelain veneers. Broken down or damaged teeth can be protected with porcelain crowns.

Your submission to us didn’t identify the problem with your teeth, but you should have them examined by a cosmetic dentist. He or she will let you know your treatment options.

Many cosmetic dentists accept various forms of payment, and offer payment plans or financing.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Feb 27

Can you get Zoom teeth whitening if your 16?

By Teeth Whitening

Can you get Zoom teeth whitening if your 16? – Melodee

Melodee – The manufacture of Zoom!® recommends that patients under the age of 13 consult a medical doctor before receiving whitening with Zoom. Individual dentists may have an age requirement for treating with Zoom.

If you are 16 years old, you may be a candidate for Zoom, but first, your teeth need to be examined by your dentist to determine if Zoom is right for you.

It may be that take-home teeth whitening will work best for your case. Speak with your dentist about your desire to have your teeth whitened. He or she will make a recommendation based on your individual circumstances.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Feb 12

I was told I only needed a filling in my tooth

By Dental Crowns, Dental Fillings

I have a tooth that has been sensitive for about 2 mo. now. Not just to hot or cold. It’s just been plain sensitive. So my dentist took xrays and said there is some decay and I needed a filling. Yesterday I went for the filling and after all of the drilling and prep work now he says I need a root canal treatment. I made the appointment to get the root canal treatment next week but I am wondering how could I go from needing a filling to a root canal treatment all in the same day.I just want to know if this is unusual . thanks – Jamel

Jamel – Dentists use x-rays to determine the appropriate treatment plan. At times, when a dentist begins to work on a tooth and drill to eliminate tooth decay, it’s found that the tooth decay is deeper than the x-ray revealed. In that case, a dental filling in the cavity won’t be enough to save the tooth.

When a dentist sees that the decay has reached the pulp of your tooth, a root canal treatment is needed to remove the infected pulp. The root canal treatment prevents the infection from spreading to your jawbone or other teeth.

Although a root canal treatment takes longer to complete than a dental filling, it can be painless procedure. You will receive antibiotics to ensure that the infection is completely gone. And a dental crown may be used to protect your tooth.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca

Dec 27

Could my toothache cause my cheek to swell?

By Dental Crowns, Toothache

A toothache can cause swelling in your cheek if there is an abscess. When you have a tooth infection, a collection of infected material, or pus, can form in the middle of the tooth. This collection of infected material is called an abscess.

The abscess can spread into your jawbone and cheek. The infection will continue to spread until it’s treated, so recommend that you promptly make an appointment with your dentist. The tooth will likely require a root canal treatment.

If your tooth is weak or cracked, a crown may be used to protect it. But there is no need for concern about the crown. Porcelain crowns are made to have the characteristics and color of your natural teeth. You will be given a prescription of antibiotics to prevent further spread of the infection.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Nov 14
adult-teeth-are-small-blog

Adult teeth are small

By Dental Crowns, Porcelain Veneers

I am 42 years old and my teeth are extremely small. They are the size of a child’s teeth. When I am talking to people—particularly new clients—invariably their eyes are drawn to my teeth, even if it’s only for a moment. My lips are full, so maybe that helps draw attention to my teeth. I have read about dental bonding, porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers. Is there a preferred treatment for small teeth? – Melanie

Melanie – Dental bonding is often used to make small repairs in teeth, such as gaps or cracks. Bonding is somewhat soft. In time, it can wear, stain, or get scratched. It is not ideal for enlarging all of your teeth.

Porcelain crowns cover the entire tooth. It is an excellent means of preserving teeth that are badly broken or worn, and that might otherwise me extracted.

Porcelain veneers cover the front of your teeth. They are an excellent way of enlarging your teeth. Thin layers of porcelain will be bonded to the front of your teeth. A cosmetic dentist will provide you with veneers with color and translucency that looks natural. For a beautiful smile makeover, the cost is approximately $1000 to $2000 per tooth, depending on where you live.

Avoid finding a bargain price for porcelain veneers. Find a few experienced cosmetic dentists, look at pictures of their smile designs, and make a decision that includes quality as a factor—not price alone. If you find that the cost of veneers is not within your budget at this time, don’t opt for a cheap veneers. Wait until your budget allows you to get a beautiful smile makeover with porcelain veneers.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

 

Aug 07

Should I get a metal foundation crown if I’m allergic to metal?

By Dental Crowns

Hi,

My dentist wants to give me a porcelain fused to metal crown for my recent root canal. The problem is I’m allergic to metal. What about Zirconia? Would that be a better option?

Denise L. – Colorado Springs

Denise,

If your rash comes from things like cheap jewelry, than you are more than likely allergic to the nickel.  Any good dentist will include a question about metal allergies in your health questionnaire. Hopefully your dentist asked you about that. If not, I would consider a different dentist for your oral health needs.

If your allergy is to nickel, than you don’t have to worry about any precious metals in your mouth. There are three categories of metals used in dental crowns.

  • Base metals (non-precious metals)-Base metals are still and inexpensive. They are very likely to have nickel in them.
  • Noble metals (semi-precious metals)-These are softer and more workable. They have  have at least 40% of a combination of gold, platinum, and palladium. The rest will be silver and very tiny amounts of indium, gallium, copper, tin, zinc, and others.
  • High-noble metals (precious metals)-High noble metals are even softer and more workable. These are more accurate than the other two. They’re made of at least 60% noble metals, usually more, with most of that being in gold and platinum.

You shouldn’t have any problems with a nickel allergy with either noble or high noble metals in your dental crowns. If your dentist is familiar AND experienced with using Zirconia then that will be fine. However, if he isn’t, than I wouldn’t push him. It is a fairly new technique and he’d need training with it.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

May 26

Bad smell around my veneers

By Porcelain Veneers

I had some porcelain veneers done about six months ago. I LOVE how they look, but I’ve developed a horrible smell around it. Whenever I floss, or rub the gum around the area, it smells like vomit. I have a hard time not getting sick from the smell. Even my boss has mentioned it. My dentist said I’m just not cleaning it well enough, but I’m very faithful with my oral hygiene. I’m using Supersmile Toothpaste, as well as Dr. Katz’s products. I’m brushing and flossing after each meal, but within 20 minutes the smell is back. Is there anything that can be done? I’m desperate.

Mercedes- Orlando, FL

Mercedes,

This is a serious situation. It is important to get it taken care of right away. I would go to a different dentist. Though you like how the porcelain veneers look, something was done incorrectly. I suspect you have overhangs or some other marginal defect under there.  You were fortunate to have a bad smell that warned you of the situation. This will lead to gum disease, or even your teeth coming loose. Get it looked into as soon as possible.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Mar 13

Can you get cavities with veneers?

By Porcelain Veneers

I was considering getting porcelain veneers and wondered if I would still be able to get cavities if I got them?

Thanks for the help,

Cassie H. – Washington D.C.

Cassie,

Yes, you can still get cavities if you have dental veneers. Though you won’t get them under the veneers, it is possible to get one on the  edge or at another  part of the tooth. The cavities can be filled with white composite filling materials, just like any other cavities. Composite fillings require special bonding techniques, so you’ll want to be sure your dentist knows how to do those.  As a cosmetic dentist, I discourage people who don’t take care of their teeth from getting veneers. If you’re going to invest that kind of money, you want to have good oral hygiene habits in order to insure your investment will last.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Nov 22
Naperville-General-Dentistry-blog

What amount of dental work can be done in one sitting?

By Sedation Dentistry

I have a TON of dental work that needs to be done. I need several root canals. I also have a few cavities and need some cosmetic work done. I don’t want this to drag out and have to keep taking time off work. How much work can I get done in one appointment?

Bill K. -Draper, Utah

Bill,

You will get a variety of answers to this question depending on the dentist you choose. Each dentist has a different comfort level when it comes to this issue. You will find that dentists who do sedation dentistry are comfortable with the most amount of work in one sitting. You can easily find one by doing a google search for “draper sedation dentist”.

If you are not comfortable with sedation dentistry, then it also depends on your endurance level with treatment. If you are not bothered by dental treatment, you could do as much as four hours at a time and get a great deal done depending on how fast your dentist works.

Something else to bear in mind.  It can take a general or cosmetic dentist one and a half to two hours to do a molar root canal, but a root canal specialist (an endodontist) is able to get the whole thing done in an hour without a problem. So if your root canals are all on front teeth, you’re fine with a general dentist. However, if they are on molars you’ll need a specialist to get several done in one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville cosmetic dentist Dr. La Vacca.

 

Nov 07

Teeth Whitening Systems

By Teeth Whitening

A few years ago my dentist gave me a whitening tray called Opalescence. I’m wanting to bleach my teeth. Do I have to only use the opalescence brand with this tray? Could I also use other brands, or could I just use Crest whitestrips without the tray? What about Brite Smile To Go?

Thanks,

Todd M.- Florida

Todd,

Opalescence is a good whitening gel, but it is not the only one you can use with your tray. It is one of several brands that cosmetic dentists use to whiten their patient’s teeth. Another popular brand is Nite White. The benefit of the tray is it should have been custom made for your teeth, so you’ll get better coverage.

Brite Smile to Go is an over the counter paint on whitener. I have not seen any studies on its effectiveness, so could not give a definitive answer. However, looking at the ingredients and the instructions, it appears to be a mild whitener that is safe to use. Crest White Strips have been around for years and have a number of studies on them. They are perfectly safe and will whiten your teeth, but it is a much milder form of whitener and will take a while.

If you’re looking for a faster teeth whitening system, you might consider Zoom Whitening. It is administered by a dentist and can give you a brilliantly white smile in just one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist, Anthony LaVacca.

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