Menu

Bellevue Dental Health

pros-cons-dental-veneers

Pros And Cons Of Dental Veneers

, , , , , , , , ,


If you’ve admired your favorite celebrity’s smile, chances are it’s because of a dental veneer. So, what is a dental veneer? Well, veneers are thin pieces of porcelain, resins, and other composite materials that are molded to fit your teeth, and which attach to the front of the tooth in order to improve its appearance. The goal of a dental veneer is to change the size, color, and possibly the shape of your tooth.

Dental veneers are typically used if teeth are discolored from root canals, fillings, or other procedures; if teeth are chipped or broken; if teeth are irregularly shaped; if teeth have gaps between them, and for any dental issue that results in a loss of self-confidence. Veneers typically last for about 5 to 7 years and the cost can vary but are more economical than most crowns.

There are four main types of dental veneers. These are porcelain veneers, composite veneers, instant veneers, and removable veneers. While dental veneers are increasingly popular, there are certain pros and cons of dental veneers.

It is important that patients make an informed decision about whether to go in for a dental veneer and consult their dentist after knowing all the facts. In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of dental veneers…

Pros of Dental Veneers

Here are some of the pros of dental veneers:

Pro #1: Great effect on your smile: Dental veneers can have a transformative effect on your smile. They can also improve the color and appearance of your teeth and can fill in any gaps and crooked teeth.

Pro # 2: Resistant to stains: Dental veneers, especially porcelain veneers are highly stain resistant and will remain as white as when they were new.

Pro #3: Long-lasting: If cared for properly, porcelain veneers can last as long as 20 years. Other veneers, such as composites can last for as long as 10 years.

Pro #4: Easy to maintain: You should look after your veneers the way you look after your regular teeth. Regular brushing and flossing with scheduled dental visits should keep your veneers in fantastic shape.

Pro #5: Rapid results: Orthodontic treatments like Invisalign can take months to correct slightly misaligned teeth. However, dental veneers are effective as soon as the treatment is complete.

Cons of Dental Veneers

There are some cons of dental veneers too. Here are some of them:

Con #1: High cost: Porcelain veneers along with dental implants are some of the most expensive cosmetic dental treatments. Also, they may not be covered with your dental insurance as it is considered to be a cosmetic procedure. However, if you find porcelain veneers too expensive, you can opt for composite veneers or then, instant veneers.

Con #2: Does not suit everyone: Most people can have dental veneers fitted over their teeth. However, some patients cannot have veneers fitted. These include those with weakened or decayed teeth, those who regularly grind their teeth, those with severe cases of periodontal disease, and those with bad tooth enamel. Also, dental veneers can cause heightened tooth sensitivity to extreme hot and cold temperatures. However, this goes away after some time.

Con #3: Expensive to repair: If a porcelain veneer is chipped or cracked, it needs to be fully replaced. However, composite veneers can often be repaired or patched up. With proper care, dental veneers are extremely durable, but if looked after poorly, or if they are accidentally broken, they are expensive to fix.

Con #4: Long fitting process: While fitting veneers is fairly straightforward, it will require multiple visits to the dentist. The visits will require an initial consultation, doing the prep work, having a temporary veneer fitted, and then, the final fitting itself.

Con #5: Non-reversible process: Veneers are more or less permanent, because your dentist changes the structure of your natural teeth to properly place them. In such cases, the outer layer of your enamel may be removed to make room.

So, now you know a bit more about dental veneers. Consider making an appointment with your dentist to find out if dental veneers are the right choice for you. At Bellevue Dental Health, we place dental veneers after a thorough consultation and I love the difference it makes in my patient’s smile. If you have fractured or broken teeth, discolored teeth, gaps between your teeth and more, you can schedule an appointment to know your options.

For more information on dental veneers and whether they are right for you, contact Dr. Libby Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.

benefits-custom-fitted-mouthguard

The Benefits of a Custom Fitted Mouthguard

, , , , , , , ,

If you are an athlete or parent of one, you’ve probably heard of a mouthguard. If you haven’t, you should have! A mouthguard is a mouth protector, and is a flexible device worn over the teeth during athletic and recreational activities to protect them from damage.

If you play ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, and football, you absolutely need to wear a mouthguard, as mandated by the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association. However, besides these sports, the American Dental Association recommends the use of a mouthguard for 29 different sports and activities.

Some of these include the ones mentioned above, as well as acrobatics, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, volleyball, squash, wrestling, weightlifting, and many others. Whenever there is a chance of contact with other players or contact with a hard surface, wearing a mouthguard makes sense.

There are three different types of mouthguards:

  • Pre-formed mouthguards: These can be bought in sporting goods stores and drugstores and are pre-formed and ready to wear.
  • Mouth-formed mouthguards: These can be either a shell liner, or then a boil-and-bite kind. Both these types mold themselves to the contours of the teeth, using the fingers, lips, tongue, and biting pressure.
  • Custom fit mouthguards: These provide the greatest degree of comfort, fit, and protection, because they are made from a custom model to precisely fit over your teeth. Your dentist creates an impression of your teeth, and a dental laboratory technician then uses the impression as a mold to create the custom-fitted mouthguard.

 

While all of these mouthguards have their own uses, custom fitted mouthguards are the most efficacious when it comes to protecting your teeth. Custom fitted mouthguards are better than off-the-shelf mouthguards at preventing injury, such as concussions or brain damage, jaw dislocation/fracture, fractured or lost teeth, cuts or bruises to the mouth and face, and stress to the neck. In this article, we’ll talk a bit more about the benefits of custom fitted mouthguards. Some of them are:

  1. Customization and proper fit: A poorly fitting mouthguard can do more damage than good. A custom fitted mouthguard is made to properly fit over your teeth, however irregular they may be. Custom fitted mouthguards are designed with your dental history in mind, as well as the sport you are playing. This means that any braces or appliances you have, will be protected as well!
  2. More comfortable than other mouthguards: A custom fitted mouthguard is made from a direct impression of your mouth, so there isn’t any unwanted or unnecessary bulky material left over. This type of mouthguard is more comfortable than other off-the-shelf mouthguards. This makes breathing, talking, and swallowing a lot easier.
  3. Increased protection: A custom fitted mouthguard will cover and protect all your teeth. If impact takes place, this mouthguard will absorb the shock and distribute the impact properly. Custom fitted mouthguards also prevent concussion and other brain injuries.
  4. Correct thickness depending on the sport: If you are planning on playing heavy contact sports, such as boxing, hockey, and football, your dentist will design a custom fitted mouthguard that will have the appropriate thickness to handle the impact and absorb the shock. For low contact sports, such as tennis and racquetball, the custom fitted mouthguard can be thinner.
  5. Available at the right cost: As with more injuries, prevention is key. Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard is better than going in for dental reconstructive surgery after a sports injury to your teeth and mouth. Rather than opting for an off-the-shelf mouthguard, do consider a custom fitted one, as the latter will protect not only your teeth and mouth, but also appliances you may have, such as dental implants and braces. Moreover, this will turn out to be less expensive in the long run.

 

So, these are some of the benefits of custom fitted mouthguards. Consult your dentist and consider getting a custom fitted mouthguard if you need to do so. At Bellevue Dental Health, we design custom-fitted mouthguards for athletes and others, depending on their need and the sport they play. Play hard but play safe!

For more information on custom fitted mouthguards as well as other dental questions, contact Dr. Libbi Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.

dental-phobics-ways-ease-dental-fears

Dental Phobics: Ways To Ease Your Dental Fears

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Do you avoid going to the dentist until you absolutely have to? Do you tense at the thought of a cleaning appointment? Do you experience intense fear when in the dentist’s chair? If you’ve answered “Yes” to these questions, you are a dental phobic and let me try to help you.

Dental phobia is more common that you think. In fact, it is one of the top 10 fears that people experience. Some studies have concluded that 75 percent of people experience at least a little fear regarding dental visits and that 10 to 15 percent experience intense fear that prevents them from seeking dental treatment. Also, about 8% of Americans avoid dentists all together due to fear.

There are various reasons that patients can suffer from dental phobia. These could range from a bad dental experience you may have had as a child to a pre-existing anxiety disorder. It could also be due to a feeling of lack of control or a biological mechanism. The latter is because our ancestors had a deep-seated desire to protect their noses and mouths, as this helped them survive predators. We have evolved since then, but we still have that deep-seated desire to protect our mouths and noses.

So, what can be done about the dental phobia? Well, there are certain tried and trusted techniques that can help you cope with your fear. That’s what we’ll talk about in this article…

  1. Involve your dentist: The most important solution is to choose a dentist is who will listen to your fears then talk to them about a strategy to overcome it. They need to know that you suffer from dental phobia so that they can work with you to help you overcome your fear. We, at Bellevue Dental Health, listen to our patients who are dental phobic and ensure that we talk to them in detail about the treatment needed and do not rush them in any way. Visit us here.
  2. Acknowledge that you suffer from dental phobia: This is the first step on the way to overcoming your fear. You need to accept that you are afraid of dentists but acknowledge that there are friendly dentists that can help you!
  3. Seek professional help if you need it: If you have a mild anxiety disorder you can cope with it yourself. However, if you suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you need professional help. This is especially the case if you are having dental implants, oral surgery or a more extensive dental treatment plan.
  4. Seek distraction when in the dentist’s chair: I have found that when I have patients listen to their favorite music while in the dentist’s chair or watch TV in the office, the distraction makes a huge difference. Try anything that will take your mind off the procedure.
  5. Try breathing and relaxation techniques: Doctors recommend relaxation techniques, such as controlled breathing, which means taking a long breath, holding it, and then releasing it very slowly. This will slow your heartbeat and relax your muscles. You can also try progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in turn.
  6. Review with your dentist which sedatives are available and appropriate: The vast majority of patients I see with dental phobias do well with some TLC. However, for those that don’t, we can use other methods such as nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, or even intravenous sedation (with a specialist).
  7. Bring a family member or friend with you: Most patients go to dental appointments alone. However, if you bring a family member or friend with you, they can help distract you away from your fears. Knowing that someone is there waiting for you can help you cope with your dental phobia better.
  8. Use noise-cancelling headphones: With these headphones, you can cancel out all the noise in the dentist’s office that can cause anxiety. This can include the sound of a drill or any other instruments. This will help you in relaxing that tad bit more and help ease your fear.
  9. Visit a psychologist: If you still cannot overcome your dental phobia with these simple techniques, you may need to see a psychologist. The latter will provide specialized treatment and intervention to help you cope with your dental phobia.

 

So, now you know how to deal with dental phobia. It’s helpful to remember that you are not the only one suffering from dental phobia. There are many like you out there. So, do recognize that fact and work with your dentist to overcome your fear…Here’s to comfortable and fear-free dental visits!

For more information on dental phobia and how it can be overcome, contact Dr. Libby Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.