What Is The Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth?

 

Is getting your teeth professionally whitened worth it? After all, you’ve got lots of options that don’t require you to make an appointment with a dentist near you. Are you better off pursuing one of those DIY options? Amongst all the options available are four that are particularly common: whitening strips; whitening mouthwashes; at-home whitening tray kits; and professional teeth whitening. We’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of all four options. Which is best for you?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of whitening strips?

Whitening strips that you wear for half an hour at a time every day for a couple of weeks are inexpensive, readily available at grocery and drug stores and are generally safe for people with sensitive gums. (After all, they use very low-intensity bleaching ingredients. On the other hand, those bleaching compounds can’t get into the grooves and crevices of your teeth. You’ll require multiple applications of the strips to see any results, and it may be weeks before you notice any whitening effect at all.

What are the pros and cons of using whitening mouthwash?

Along with possible whitening effects, mouthwashes that contain low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide will also freshen your breath. You’ll only need to make a tiny investment in the condition of your teeth. After all, mouthwashes are very inexpensive and only need to be used twice a day for 60 seconds at a time. Additionally, whitening mouthwashes tend to be very gentle on your enamel. On the other hand, it may take a month (or three!) before you see any whitening results at all considering that the whitening compounds in the mouthwash are in contact with your teeth for just moments. Some people find the alcohol in mouthwashes irritating to their gums.

Are at-home teeth whitening kits a good option?

Whether in some drug stores or online, you can find teeth whitening kits consisting of gel-filled trays to fit over your teeth at home. You’ll wear the trays for ten minutes to half an hour a day for seven days in a row, while also exposing your teeth to a special accelerator light. On the plus side, they offer similar results to professional whitening in the comfort of your home and at less cost. After seven to 12 rounds, your teeth may be as many as ten shades lighter. On the other hand, you need to wear the trays for at least seven days in a row — and as many as 12 to see significant results. These types of kits may not be appropriate for teeth that are stained grey, brown or black and the quality of results varies widely from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Why is professional teeth whitening your best option?

Professional teeth whitening in Longmont happens at your dentist’s office and only after your dentist has thoroughly examined your teeth, customized the bleaching materials to target the type and location of your stains and provide alternatives for stains that can’t be bleached away. On the plus side, professional teeth whitening near you conveniently provides instant results in a professional setting that ensures your comfort and safety. There’ll be no guesses or surprises about the outcome. On the other hand, professional teeth whitening is the most expensive of these four options and is not suitable for every type of stain or discolouration. (Though that’s true about every option on the table.) Keep in mind that professional teeth whitening’s results are not permanent, though they are the longest-lasting alternative. With proper care, your teeth will stay whiter for up to two years.

 

Professional teeth whitening isn’t your only option. But if you’re looking for the option that is safest, most comfortable, most effective, fastest and longest-lasting — and are willing to invest in the health and appearance of your teeth — it is far and away the best option for you to consider. Get in touch with a dentist in Longmont to find out.

Should You Consider Dentures?

 

Dentures may seem somewhat old-fashioned and out of style, but don’t let that fool you. Dentures are still a highly effective method of resolving tooth loss. Statistics Canada’s most recent report on edentulous Canadians — people who have no natural teeth — shows that 22.3 percent of men between 60 and 79, and 21.1 percent of women between 60 and 79 have no natural teeth. Every one of those adults is living lifestyle restrictions and potential health problems. If you’re one of them, a dentist in Longmont can help.

Why not to settle for a life with missing teeth

Avoiding eating foods like meat, vegetables, and fruit because they’re hard-to-chew without teeth means you’re missing out on essential nutrients. Living on easy-to-chew carbohydrates alone is unhealthy. Or, if you’re still eating those hard-to-chew foods, but just not chewing them, you are running the risk of stomach and digestive problems. Getting dentures in Longmont may be a solution.

Someone with missing teeth often smiles less or hides their smile behind their hands because they’re embarrassed. That’s bad enough, but teeth are important for reasons beyond vanity. Your facial muscles may gradually lose definition and shape due to the lack of teeth in your jaw.

Teeth are involved in the pronunciation of words — like the word “teeth,” for example. Consulting with a dentist near you will help to confirm whether getting dentures near you can help solve that problem. If you value your ability to speak persuasively and credibly, dentures can help.

How can dentures help with those problems?

Dentures have been around in one form or another since 700BC. Until the 1700s, they were made of human or animal teeth, then with walrus, elephant or even hippopotamus ivory. Thankfully, progress has continued apace.

Modern dentures are made primarily of resin, acrylic, and porcelain. A dentist near you will follow a three-step process to craft dentures precisely for you.

Step 1: Your dentist in Longmont will take impressions of the ridges of your gums

Step 2: Measurements taken from those impressions will give the information needed to build a plastic resin base that will fit onto your jawline. That resin base will be coloured to look like natural gums.

Step 3: You and your dentist will select the size and shape for your new teeth made of porcelain. To do that, you may want to show your dentist photos of yourself with your original teeth. Once chosen, your teeth will be mounted on the base material.

Step 4:  Your mouth and jaw are constantly moving and changing parts of your living body. Dentures need to be fine-tuned to fit properly, bite and chew precisely and seem entirely natural. By the end of this four-step process, your dentist in Longmont will have set you up with a lasting solution for your tooth loss.

What’s the downside?

Dentures do not bond to your jawbone. One of the serious consequences of tooth loss can be gradual and progressive loss of bone tissue in your jaw. As this happens, you may notice a looser fit, decreased functionality, and some discomfort.

Dental implants can be a permanently effective response to bone loss since they bond to your jaw through a process called osseointegration. Since dentures float on your gums, they don’t have that opportunity to bond.

New techniques that your dentist in Longmont will be familiar with can help with this problem. Your dentist can place small implants along your jaw that will connect securely to fittings in the resin base of your dentures. Your gums will be freed of the pressure of the dentures, and the bond between those titanium implants and your jaw bone may stimulate new bone growth.

Are you ready to take the first step toward a solution for your tooth loss? Contact a dentist near you to find out how dentures can brighten your smile and change your life.

Everything You Should Know About TMJ Symptoms

 

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is made up of bones, joints, and jaw muscles that allow us to open and close our mouth and move the lower jaw from side to side. These joints are heavily used while we speak, chew, and swallow.

What is wrong when a person develops TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorders can be caused by irritation and pain in the muscles controlling jaw function, or by dislocation, displacement, or misalignment of the jaw joint. Trauma, arthritis, or teeth grinding when we are stressed (or out of habit) can also be part of the problem.

What symptoms could indicate that a person has a TMJ disorder?

Pain in the jaw area is the most common symptom. Patients may also experience pain in the face or neck, stiffness of the jaw muscles, limited or blocked movements of the jaw, snapping, clicking, or grinding of teeth when opening and closing the jaw or mouth, ringing in the ears, or a feeling that the upper part and lower jaws do not match exactly.

 How are TMJ disorders diagnosed?

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), it can be difficult to diagnose a TMJ disorder. Our dentist in Longmont usually begins by examining the head, neck, and jaw, noting any clicking, popping, or difficulty moving. X-rays and other images can also help with the diagnosis. TMJ treatment in Longmont will first want to rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms, such as sinusitis or an ear infection, or nerve pain.

 How is TMJ treated?

You can rest easy and be assured that most TMJ disorders are temporary. It should be treated with caution rather than surgery or braces. It is important to see a dentist near you, especially if the discomfort persists for more than three months. The NIDCR indicates that short-term use of over-the-counter pain relievers are helpful, and so are self-care methods such as practicing easy jaw stretching activities and relaxation exercises.

Your doctor may also recommend a night guard to prevent teeth grinding. TMJ treatment near you is individualized and the dentist can refer you to an oral maxillofacial specialist if necessary.

 Here at Longmont Dental, we are of the opinion that regular dental visits are important and vital to not just your health, but also your overall health condition. This is because treatment with preventing dental disease helps keep people healthy. “In addition to the teeth and gums, the mouth also serves as a window to the rest of the body and can show signs of infection, nutritional deficiencies, and systemic illnesses,” as they say.

Things You Should Know About Tooth-Colored Fillings

 

Dental fillings are one of the most common dental procedures to get. This procedure is mostly one of the first to be recommended when it comes to dealing with cavities. Although it may seem scary to go in for tooth-colored fillings in Longmont, it can relieve your anxiety to possess helpful and factual information about the whole procedure before scheduling a visit with a dentist in Longmont.

For people who have recently had a cavity, it was most likely addressed with a tooth-colored filling. The present new type of the former fillings of silver. Tooth-colored fillings are created out of a synthesized resin compound which fills up and covers up a cavity after the infected area has been dealt with. Dissimilar to traditional fillings, tooth-colored fillings fuse aesthetically with your natural teeth, keeping them looking perfect.

Taking into consideration the fact that tooth-colored fillings are one procedure we do so well at Longmont Dental, we decided to go over a few things we think people should know about tooth-colored fillings.

What Does A Tooth-Colored Filling Cost?

Many things determine what a patient will pay for a composite resin filling, but two main factors are the diameter of the cavity and if sedation would be needed or not. Dealing with a cavity is a non-invasive technique, and what this means is that it can normally be carried out with local anesthesia during a quick appointment with a dentist near you.

Nevertheless, if your gag reflex is powerful or you go through dental anxieties, sedatives like laughing gas or a treatment that is oral-conscious is normally a good idea. For folks who possess dental insurance, the dental department should confirm if you are covered before proceeding to charge you for the residual fee.

And for those who do not have dental insurance, many dental practices give a variety of flexible payment alternatives, or they receive low-interest medical financing. For many people, it is affordable to treat a cavity using a composite resin filling than to disregard it until the condition worsens.

What Could Happen If You Do Not Get An Advised Filling

Choosing to ignore the cavity your dentist observed and his or her encouragement for you to get tooth-colored fillings near you can amount to more pain and this could lead to more costly measures as time goes on. When a cavity widens and becomes too big for a filling, the tooth can be repaired with either an inlay and onlay. These procedures are larger than composite resin fillings but less significant than crowns.

These are created differently to seal the decayed part of the tooth as soon as it is done being prepared. But a root canal may be essential if the decay has increased to the pulp of the tooth. Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp that is already deep within the tooth, and then, the tooth is enclosed with a specific crown to seal it off.

If you do not get professional treatment, this can lead to the widespread of the infection from one part of your mouth to the other parts of your mouth, and eventually, it moves into your bloodstream and it will negatively affect your whole health. To keep things simple, the longer you avoid treating a cavity, the slower, more expensive, and more unbeatable the medication will be.

Hence, it is very crucial to make sure that you go for yearly oral health examinations with a dentist in Longmont so that they can discover and deal with your cavities before they become terrible.

The Types of Teeth Whitening

It is safe to say that everyone wants to show a beautiful smile. White and bright teeth are the goal for many people, and we offer teeth whitening treatment near you for it!

What is Teeth Whitening?

Our teeth whitening in Longmont is perfect for people with discolored teeth. It consists of applying a bleaching agent (hydrogen or carbamide peroxide) over the visible surface of them in two applications of 20 minutes. The product will penetrate the enamel and dissolve the pigments that make your dentition look darker.

Why Teeth Get Darker

Teeth are not naturally white. They tend to be more yellowish because the enamel (the outer layer of the tooth) is translucent, and the underlying dentin is usually yellow (and sometimes grayish). 

Over time, the enamel wears away, so aging is one of the causes of discolored teeth. Among other causes, you may find:

- Consumption of colored foods and drinks – These stain your dentition in time, which is why our cosmetic dentist in Longmont advises drinking dark beverages such as coffee, black tea, and red wine with moderation. And the same with colored foods.

- Medications – Antibiotics, such as Tetracyclines, may discolor your teeth if you use them for long.

- A root canal – In some cases, a tooth with a root canal may get darker. You may look for teeth whitening treatment near you if it’s your case.

Types of Teeth Whitening

There are multiple ways of whitening your dentition, such as:

In-office Whitening

We recommend it since a cosmetic dentist near you may supervise that everything is correct. 

First, they will retract your lips with a device to see all the surfaces of your teeth. Then, they will protect your gums with resin because bleaching products burn the gingiva. Next, they will apply the peroxide and leave it for twenty minutes.

After washing it away and dry your teeth, they will repeat this step.

You will see results right away. You may experience tooth sensitivity for the first days, which you will alleviate by taking any over-the-counter painkillers.

At-home Whitening

Before applying it at home, you must visit a cosmetic dentist near you for your whitening trays. They will take a mold of your teeth and confect them. 

Depending on each patient, applications will be every day or every other day. The sensitivity is lower with at-home systems because their concentration is from 3% to 10%, while in-office systems contain around 40% peroxide.

You will see results after a couple of weeks.

Whitening Stripes

These stripes are coated with peroxide that you must use by following the package’s instructions. We suggest consulting with a dental professional before using over-the-counter products to avoid issues like gum irritation. Also, ensure that they don’t contain Chlorine Dioxide, as it wears away your enamel. 

Keep in mind that these will only remove surface stains. For long-lasting results, you should opt for another type of teeth whitening (in a dental office or at home with your customized whitening trays). You will see results after a couple of weeks, and they tend to last about three months.

Don’t overuse the stripes because they may harm your gingiva.

Which One is Best?

It depends on the wants and needs of the patient. If you want a fast, long-lasting result and you may afford it, you may opt for an in-office system. But if, for example, you want a little bit of bright on your teeth and are on a budget, you could use whitening strips. 

And if you have any doubts or want more information, you may contact us today and schedule a free consultation visit.

What Are The Advantages of Tooth-Coloured Fillings and How Long Will They Last?

 

Traditions are wonderful things. But it is entirely another thing to get stuck in a rut, refuse to grow with the times or miss out on opportunities for even better options out of an assumption that what has always been done is still the best thing to do. When it comes to treating tooth decay and cavities, every dentist in Longmont has traditionally used amalgam or “silver” fillings. Amalgam fillings are called that because they’re made out of an amalgam (a combination) of metals including mercury, tin, copper and — appropriately — a small amount of silver. Some version of amalgam fillings has been used for over a thousand years, but you can start a new tradition — getting composite tooth-coloured fillings in Longmont.

The advantages of composite fillings

Composite fillings don’t use any metals to fill cavities in a tooth that has been damaged by tooth decay. Instead, composite fillings use a material made from powdered glass and plastic resins to form a putty that is applied in the cavity in layers to replace lost tooth material. Dentists provide composite fillings near you because they have several advantages compared to traditional amalgam fillings. Those advantages include:

●     The material used to produce a composite filling is coloured to match your teeth. With composite fillings, you don’t need to be concerned about fillings standing out and being glaringly obvious to observers. Composite fillings blend naturally with the colour of your other healthy teeth.

●     Placing a composite filling requires less drilling than required to place an amalgam filling. Less of your own tooth matter will need to be removed. To put it another way, composite fillings allow the preservation of more of your own tooth tissue.

●     The resin compounds used to create a composite fillings harden in seconds

●     The resin compounds bond to your own natural tooth tissue. That bonding lends strength to the tooth being filled to help prevent damage to it.

●     If a composite filling is damaged, it can be repaired.

●     In most cases, composite fillings can be provided in a single appointment (though large fillings may take a longer time or a second appointment because of the way the resins are applied in layers that need to harden).

●     Unlike metal fillings, composite fillings do not expand and contract so the tooth is not exposed to the risk of cracks and breaking.

Five tips for prolonging the lifespan of tooth-coloured fillings

A tooth-coloured filling will last for a decade if well taken care of. No one wants to have a filling repaired or replaced any earlier than absolutely necessary — especially a composite filling that is somewhat more expensive than traditional silver fillings. Here are five common sense tips to prolong the lifespan of your composite fillings for as long as possible:

●     Don’t chew near a new composite filling until it has hardened completely — roughly for 24 hours

●     Avoid biting on ice, hard candy and other hard objects that can fracture composite fillings

●     Make sure to attend dental check-ups regularly so your dentist can keep an eye on the condition of those fillings

●     Remember that composite fillings are not as stain resistant as silver-fillings. To keep white fillings white, minimize your consumption of strongly coloured foods and beverages, brush your teeth thoroughly when you indulge and, when drinking strongly coloured drinks, use a straw when possible.

●     Don't skip a single tooth brushing session! That will keep your white fillings white and the bacteria that produces tooth decay at bay.

Getting tooth-coloured composite near you is not your only option if you’d prefer not to have silver or amalgam fillings. Gold and porcelain fillings are two other options. Composite fillings from a dentist near you are more durable than porcelain options and much less expensive than gold fillings. The biggest advantage of composite fillings, though? They’re tooth coloured, subtle and discreet. We hope you never get another cavity or need a filling replaced. But if you do, ask your dentist to confirm the availability of tooth colored near you.

The Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry

In recent years, patients have given aesthetics a lot of importance. For example, decades ago, dental professionals would restore a cavity with a metal filling (amalgam); today, rarely someone asks for an amalgam. They prefer to look better.

Due to this reason, our cosmetic dentist in Longmont offers a wide range of procedures to patients. 

Keep on reading if you want to know how a cosmetic dentist near you can improve your smile and lifestyle!

The First Impression

How many times have you seen someone with discolored teeth and made up a conclusion about them? And I’m sure not a positive one. You might think that a person that doesn’t care about their teeth is irresponsible and undisciplined.

On the other hand, people with bright smiles tend to have better social interactions and even good luck at their jobs because they show that they can commit to something.

So if you have dark teeth, you may visit a dental office near you for dental bleaching. It is a simple procedure, and it can be done in a single appointment or even at home!

Increases Your Self-Esteem

Studies show that people with bad teeth have lower self-esteem and lack self-confidence. I mean, feeling confident when talking, smiling, and eating with an unappealing smile must be difficult. And it gets worse with young patients. Adolescents already struggle with many issues, even more, if they don’t have a beautiful smile.

Among cosmetic dentistry, you may find orthodontic treatment. There is a low profile system that moves your teeth to the correct position, and you won’t even notice it! We are talking about Invisalign.

Invisalign consists of a set of transparent plastic aligners that straighten your teeth, and you must change the trays every two weeks. You may visit our orthodontics dentist in Longmont for more information.

Motivates You to Improve Your Habits

Believe it or not, people that leave our dental clinic in Longmont get a boost in their motivation to take care of their teeth. Once you undergo a cosmetic dental procedure, you feel better, and you want to commit to keeping up with an excellent oral care routine.

We will remind you what it should include:

- Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.

- Flossing daily.

- Avoid sugary snacks.

- Visit your dental professional every six months.

Your Body Releases Endorphins

Endorphins are happiness hormones, and when people have a beautiful smile, they are not afraid to show it to the World. Individuals who often smile release endorphins; hence, they feel more content and reduce their stress levels.

As you can tell, a beautiful smile is much more than White teeth!

Build Better Relationships

When a person has an appealing smile and shows it, they attract more people to their atmosphere. Usually positive people. If you visit our professionals and undergo a cosmetic dental procedure, you will develop more confidence and establish better relationships. People will even make comments about your self-care, and that is always a positive thing. Not to mention that you will encourage others to smile more and take care of their teeth. You can be an example to other people to take better care of their oral health.

Schedule Your Appointment

If you made it this far, now you know the many perks of cosmetic dentistry. And if you have questions about it or want more information, you may schedule a visit with us at your earliest convenience. Our consultation visits are free of costs, and our team of professionals will evaluate you and offer you many options to make your smile even more beautiful.