When Is It Time For a Full Mouth Restoration?

The power of the smile is often not realized until that once beautiful smile is gone. The crooked, chipped, missing teeth has made your smile something to hide instead of proudly and confidently showing off.

Not only are your teeth awkwardly spread out, but the glaring gaps also hinder your ability to speak clearly and enjoy the foods you once loved to eat.

You know you need dental work done, but don't know what procedure your best option will be.

There are numerous restorative dental procedures aimed at tackling localized tooth and gum issues to bring new life into your once lost smile.

However, what if many of your teeth are not aesthetically pleasing? Your mouth needs extensive work done to bring back its proper functioning and beautiful look.

Restorative Dentistry vs. Full Mouth Restoration

This is where restoration comes in. Full mouth restoration refers to the treatment of all a patient's teeth. It can also refer to repairing missing teeth and other structures of the mouth and oral cavities.

Many of the common restorative dental procedures are used in this entire mouth restoration procedure. The only difference between a restorative dental procedure and a full mouth restoration is that one deals with the repair of certain areas of the mouth, while the other refers to restorative dental treatment to all teeth or a whole oral cavity.

What are the common restorative dental procedures involved in full mouth procedures? These include crowns, veneers, bridges, dental implants, and dentures. Sometimes orthodontics are also utilized.

Who are Candidates for Full Mouth Restoration?

A full mouth restoration is a great option for many types of dental patients. Those who can be best treated with this specific dental procedure include:

• Those with multiple missing teeth
• Those who have multiple teeth with failing fillings or show decay under the fillings
• Those with multiple cracked or broken teeth
• Those severely worn teeth due to bruxism
• Those born with dental issues such as Dentinogenesis Imperfecta, Ectodermal Dysplasia or Amelogenesis
• Those with oral cancer or extensive periodontitis

The Benefits of Full Mouth RestorationThere are multiple benefits of a full-mouth restoration, with the most obvious being the resurrection of the patient's lost, beautiful smile.

A new smile does wonders for a patient's self-esteem and quality of life. When a patient gets his or her smile back, they look great and can once again the act of difficulty-free eating and speaking.

After this dental procedure, patients can be confident and happy, showing off their beautiful smile, while being able to talk clearly and enjoy their favorite foods.

An entire mouth treatment goes beyond simply improving the aesthetics of a patient's look but also restores the proper, natural functioning of their mouth.

Multiple missing, cracked or decayed teeth and severe gum disease isn't something any patient should be stuck to live with. 

Call your dentist to schedule a consultation appointment at your dental office to see if a full-mouth restoration is right for you and how it can help improve the look and functioning of your smile.

Get A Great Smile Through Cosmetic Dentistry

Many don't feel they need cosmetic dentistry, as they assume it's out of reach as far as affordability. However, they would take advantage of it if they could. The good news is that many discount dental plans include cosmetic dentistry benefits.

Today, cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever. It includes, but isn't limited to whitening, shaping, closing spaces and completely replacing teeth. Specialists have the know-how and the necessary training to make teeth look perfect.

Anyone looking to get a cosmetic procedure for their teeth should consider the risks versus the benefits, and learn more about the process. They should also know how much it will be, and how long it will last or be successful. A discount dental plan can make these rules much more affordable.

Whitening

Teeth become stained over time, but also from drinking tea and coffee and smoking cigarettes. There are also some foods and medications that can yellow teeth. Whitening is a chemical process that lightens teeth over time. It can be done in the office using ultraviolet light, or at home with a fitted tray and gel.

While taking the process home may seem more convenient, many appreciate the fast results from the office procedure even though it may take a couple of visits to reach the desired level of whiteness. Keep in mind the teeth will become stained again if habits aren't changed, and whitening doesn't take the place of regular oral hygiene. Discount dental plans can cover regular cleanings as well as whitening.

Bonding

Bonding is another procedure that can easily improve the look of one's teeth. It can cut space and cover cracks and chips. Bonding can also fill tiny cavities and give protection to roots that are exposed.

The process involves a tooth-colored, composite resin that is applied to the surface of the tooth, and most dentists can complete it within one visit. The result is flawless and can last several years.

Veneers

Veneers are a plastic or porcelain shell that covers both the sides and front of the teeth and changes the shape and color to make them more uniform. Many discount dental plans cover veneers with little to no out-of-pocket costs. They are a great option other than bonding and tend to last a bit longer.

Anyone whose teeth suffer from the following should consider veneers:

• Spaces
• Chips
• Stains
• Odd shaped
• Crooked

The process involves taking an impression, buffing, and then cementing the veneer in place. The veneer can be hardened into place faster with special tools in the office.

Crowns or Caps

Discount dental plans often cover the cost of crowns. They cover a tooth to bring back its natural appearance. The crown achieves many things to include:

• Protection
• Cover badly shaped teeth
• Cover discoloration
• Repair broken teeth
• Conceal fillings
• Secure dental bridges
• Cover implants or those teeth that have undergone root canals

Enamel Shaping

Enamel shaping is another benefit of discount dental plans. It involves the removal or contour of the tooth's enamel which makes the overall appearance better.

Alteration of the shape, place, and length are included in this procedure which is often combined with bonding.

Implants

Known as being a very expensive cosmetic procedure, implants are a long-term solution and worth the investment. Under a discount dental plan, replacing missing teeth via this method is more than affordable. Implanted directly into the jawline, they are often preferred over dentures and bridges. They are built from a titanium post that's implanted, and once secure its covered by a fake tooth that is built to match and blend with existing teeth for a natural look.

How Do I Know If I Need Cosmetic Dentistry?

When you think of cosmetic dentistry, chances are you immediately think of a famous and/or wealthy person. It makes sense that someone who lives in the public eye undergoes cosmetic dental procedures. After all, he or she must always look their best.

But then there's you.

While you think that it would be nice to rejuvenate, resurrect and restore your once beautiful smile, you think cosmetic dentistry is too extreme a measure. Cosmetic dentistry isn't for you.

Or is it?

What was once a novelty service offered by a few select dentists to their wealthier clients, is now a cheaper, routine procedure that is offered by many dentists and available to many patients.

Everyone, not just the rich and famous, can benefit from a whitened smile.

If you're embarrassed by your smile because of deep, stubborn stains in which you've tried nearly everything else, in-office, professional teeth whitening might be the best cosmetic dental procedure for you.

What about other cosmetic dental procedures?

The following are other cosmetic dental procedures available:

• Inlays
• Onlays
• Porcelain crowns
• Veneers
• Bonding
• Orthodontics
• Implants
• Orthodontics
• Teeth reshaping
• Gum lift
• Gum grafts
• Gingivectomy
• Gum depigmentation
• Invisalign
• Bite reclamation
• Bridges
• Enamelplasty

As you can see, there are many cosmetic dental procedures available. Cosmetic dentistry not only makes your smile look flawless, but it can fix speech impediments, chewing and biting difficulties, and increase self-confidence and self-esteem.

Signs You Need Cosmetic Dentistry

If you think that cosmetic dentistry is only about whitening teeth and smoothing minor smile imperfections, think again. The advancements in cosmetic dental technology have enabled dentists to perform additional cosmetic dental procedures that can dramatically change and improve the lives of their patients.

Here are some signs you may need a cosmetic dental procedure:

Difficulty chewing. Do you experience pain, discomfort, or pressure when you chew? Maybe you don't have any discomfort, but you're physically not able to chew food as well as you should. Difficulty chewing can have a variety of causes, most notably a misaligned bite caused by crooked, missing, or misshapen teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry can fill-in gaps between teeth, replace lost teeth, reshape teeth and straighten teeth so that your proper bite can be restored.

Embarrassing smile. If you're unhappy with your smile, join the crowd. Many patients can find one thing wrong about their smiles. For many people, it's the unpleasant yellowing of their teeth due to poor oral hygiene, smoking, and drinking of coffee, tea, wine, and soda.

While some patients may have the time to have their teeth whitened via at-home whitening kits, others may have deep stains that they'd like to have removed quickly.

If you have teeth staining that won't come out with at-home whitening kits or products and it's causing you to hide your smile, cosmetic dentistry may be the best option for you.

Maybe it's not teeth staining you're most embarrassed about. Maybe you have chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth. Cosmetic dental procedures such as veneers, inlays, inlays, and bonding can help with these dental issues.

Jaw pain, pressure, and discomfort. Dental issues such as bruxism and TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can leave your jaw sore and can lead to excessive pressure on your teeth and gums.

Crowns can help protect teeth from further wear due to the grinding and clenching common in bruxism and Botox can help ease the pain and pressure associated with TMJ.

Chronic headaches. Dental conditions such as TMJ and abscessed teeth can also produce constant headaches which can be severe enough to negatively impact your life. Your oral and nasal cavity are interconnected so a severe issue in one can also affect the other. A problem in the mouth can, therefore, not only cause jaw pain, but it can impact the nasal cavity and produce headaches. Cosmetic dental procedures such as dermal fillers and Botox can help lessen the severity and frequency of your headaches.

Heartburn and ulcers. Patients who suffer from chronic acid reflux and heartburn can not only be staining their teeth but also put their teeth at a heightened risk of decay. The stomach acid that comes up from the stomach can erode the lining of the esophagus and the enamel of teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry can help protect your teeth from further stomach acid damage.

Cosmetic dentistry not only makes your smile look great, but it also offers restoration and prevention treatments to give you a healthy and strong smile.

Cosmetic dentistry isn't anything to be afraid of or intimidated by. Contact your local cosmetic dentist to learn how cosmetic dentistry can help improve your smile and life.

How Do You Know If You Need Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry refers to dental work done solely for improving one's appearance, by altering a person's teeth, bite, and/or gums. It doesn't usually refer to improving the function of one's mouth.

You may or may not have known that definition of cosmetic dentistry. Regardless, when you think of cosmetic dentistry, you probably think that it isn't for you. You aren't famous and need to constantly show off your smile for the world to see. Cosmetic dentistry just seems too excessive.

The good news is that you don't have to be well-known to enjoy the benefits of cosmetic dentistry and the will be more than worth it.

How do you know if cosmetic dentistry is what you need? Here are some indicators:

A less-than-stellar smile. You don't need to be constantly in the spotlight to want a brilliant, white, flawless smile. Your smile is important. It is one of your defining characteristics. When people meet or think of you, do you want them to remember your yellow smile?

A stained smile or a smile with minor imperfections can send a bad first impression with others you meet throughout your day.

Cosmetic dentistry has procedures from teeth whitening to crown lengthening and tooth reshaping that can restore, renew, and transform your smile.

Low self-esteem, lack of confidence, or constant embarrassment. Are you too ashamed to smile? The lack of smiling can have negative effects on your attitude and outlook which in turn can negatively impact your health and well-being. Your social life can also take a hit as your friends and acquaintances will be less enthused to be around someone who never smiles and doesn't appear to have fun.

A cosmetic dentist can help you get that beautiful, youthful, ideal smile that you've either lost with age or in which you've always wanted. After your cosmetic dental procedure, you will not be able to help but show off your smile.

Have missing, cracked, chipped teeth. Having damaged or missing teeth not only ruin your smile, but they can also lead to additional dental health issues that may require more intensive longer treatment.

Cosmetic dental procedures such as bonding, veneers, and dental implants can maintain a correct bite, a straight smile, and healthy, strong teeth, and jaws.

Common Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

With the advent of ever-increasing dental technology, there are many more cosmetic dental procedures available than in the past. The most common cosmetic dental procedures include:

• Teeth Whitening
• Veneers
• Bonding
• Tooth Reshaping
• Crown Lengthening
• Dental Implants
• Full Smile Makeovers

Even if you're not sure which cosmetic dental procedure you need to transform your smile, your cosmetic dentist will be more than happy to help. You don't need to be a famous person always in the public eye to enjoy the benefits of cosmetic dentistry.

Of course, if you are in a position of frequently being in the spotlight, cosmetic dentistry is a must as people who smile will not only look more beautiful, but they also look more trustworthy, confident, and fun to be around.

Why It's Important to Brush Your Teeth Before Going to Bed

You come home after a long day at the office and playing chauffeur for your kids' after-school activities. The day whirled by and now you're exhausted. All you want to do is fall into your bed and get some much-deserved Z's.

After the kids have gone to sleep, now you have your bedtime routine to do: wash your face, change into your PJs, and brush your teeth. Perhaps you also need to take a shower as you slept in and didn't have time in the morning to take one.

You figure you'll wake up extra early tomorrow to shower, so you change and wash your face. While at the sink you contemplate brushing your teeth.

It's only one night, you reason, what's the worse that can happen? So you decide to climb into bed with a clean face, but a dirty mouth.

Why is it important to brush your teeth twice a day, and especially at bedtime?

You may think that because you're not eating or drinking anything other than water while you sleep, that your mouth should be fine until morning. After all, it seems like your saliva has pretty well done away with the lunch, dinner, and snacks you've enjoyed over the day.

Your mouth, however, is quite active at night.

While you're off in dreamland, numerous chemical reactions and compound breakdowns are occurring in your mouth. And not all of them are good.

When you don't brush your teeth before going to bed, your dirty mouth becomes a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. The bacteria in your mouth will feast on the leftover food particles from the meals you had during the day. The bacteria excrete waste, just like any other living organism. The waste from the bacteria is very acidic and it breaks down, weakens and destroys tooth enamel, which makes your teeth and gums susceptible to decay and disease.

To add to the favorable environment for bacteria and plaque to flourish is the decrease of saliva production.

Saliva is your body's built-in mouthwash. During the day, the saliva glands are activated, producing a moist mouth all day long.

During the evening when you go to bed, however, that changes. The saliva production ceases, causing the mouth to get dry. A dry mouth has no way to get clean and wash away germs and bacteria.

The enamel destroying waste is called plaque and its stickiness makes it firmly adhere to the outer surface of teeth. If the plaque isn't removed with flossing and brushing, it will buildup and harden into tartar. Tartar can be removed by a dental professional.

The plaque and tartar buildup not only have a negative impact on your teeth but it also negatively impacts your gums.

Your immune system will get signals from the gums to attack the plaque and tartar. Inflammation is a common symptom of your immune system attacking an infection. The gums will get swollen and inflamed. In the process of attacking the plaque and tartar, some of the healthy, good gum tissue will also be attacked and destroyed. This will lead to receding gums.

Receding gums provide additional spaces for bacteria, plaque, and tartar to accumulate. It also weakens the support of the teeth, making them more likely to get loose.

While cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease won't happen overnight, but rather, will occur over time, just skipping the brushing and flossing of one's teeth for one night can make it tempting to become a destructive habit. 

While you may not always feel like brushing your teeth at the end of a long day, your mouth will thank you. Many gross and nasty things happen in your mouth while you sleep and going to bed with a clean mouth will reduce the nastiness and destructive nature of these natural events.