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teeth whitening

26-09-2019

How do Teeth Look Before and After Veneers?

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Looking for options that can improve your smile and make you confident? Dental veneers are here…

Do you have poorly shaped teeth or a gap and want them to look better? Well, “dental veneers are a possible solution to help you achieve the look you desire.” Typically, veneers are used to treat a number of different cosmetic concerns. They usually last for more than a decade, depending on the type of veneer you choose, making them a good investment that can make you more confident in your smile. Simply put, “Veneers are thin coverings that are placed over the front (visible) part of the tooth, giving the teeth a more classic look. The best part is they look natural”.

Dental Veneers

Sometimes, people want something simple, such as improving a smile. Dental veneers help in improving the look and smile. Veneers are made of either porcelain or composite resin material. They are used in a number of cases. Veneers can be used to correct a wide range of dental issues, such as:
  • Whitening stained teeth 
  • Rectifying chipped or worn teeth, crooked or misshapen teeth
  • Correcting uneven spaces or a large gap between teeth

What are the different types of veneers?

There are few options and each type of veneer has its own benefits. However, your dentist will help you choose the material that is best for you. 

Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer is made up of a thin shell, which is custom-made to fit on the tooth. With porcelain veneers, there are many advantages: 
  • They are durable and fit for long-term wear
  • They look natural 
  • The tooth enamel that needs to be removed is less for the procedure
  • They are stain-free, mostly

Composite Resin Veneers

“A composite resin veneer is made from a tooth-colored filling material bonded to the tooth.” Advantages of composite resin veneers:
  • Less tooth enamel is removed 
  • The entire procedure takes less time, sometimes just one visit shall do.
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to manage and fix.

The Pros of Using Veneers

The most obvious benefit to veneers is the improved confidence that comes from having a flawless smile. With veneers being specifically molded for your teeth, its natural look is something that many prefer. Veneers also mean no additional drilling or shaping is needed and no special maintenance is required  Veneers can make any set of teeth appear bright white! These pros make veneers sound pretty great, right? Well, there are a few other things to consider before making the decision. 

Points to Remember

While the rest of your teeth will naturally change over time, the veneer will not, which can lead to awkward differences in your smile. This can be dealt with regular visits to the dentist. With this, you can ensure your smile stays consistent for as long as you have veneers. Veneers are also more prone to chipping and cracking. They are not recommended for people with habits like biting their nails, grinding their teeth, or chewing on ice. It is advisable that people correct such habits that can harm dental health in the future. Finally, teeth can still decay while they are under a veneer. Regular dental visits are a must for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Before one decides to get veneers done remember to treat any mouth disease for a complete effective procedure! Also, discuss all your expectations and treatment options with your dentist. 

Once the Veneers are Fixed:

  • Avoid biting your fingernails and chewing on hard objects.
  • Inform your dentist know if it does not feel right after the veneer has been placed. 
  • Keep your teeth and gums clean by brushing and flossing each day. 

Other Factors

The cost of your veneers depends on factors like the type of veneers you’re choosing, what brand name your dentist has available, etc.  Unlike other dental procedures, the recovery process doesn’t take an extended amount of time. A preliminary appointment with your dentist to discuss which options are right for you and how many veneers you want to have placed is a great idea.  We at Bellevue Dental Health believe that a beautiful and healthy smile helps build the foundation for overall dental health and confidence. Our team will offer their best care to help you find your perfect smile. Discover how dental veneers will enhance your appearance and self-confidence with us! Schedule an appointment today by calling (425) 641-3311 or by visiting https://www.bellevuedentalhealth.com/
7-most-popular-cosmetic-dentistry-treatments

7 Most Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

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Cosmetic dentistry is becoming increasingly popular, with more and more people wanting to improve their smile and the overall appearance of their teeth. Cosmetic dentistry is a combination of science and art and can work wonders in improving a person’s appearance, smile, and self-confidence.

Cosmetic dentistry has improved and advanced rapidly in recent years, with cosmetic dentists adopting the very latest in technology in their field. Many people suffer from chipped, stained, broken, or crooked teeth, and need cosmetic dentistry to set things right. In this article, we’ll outline and describe the 7 most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments.

1)  Porcelain Veneers: These are customized for each patient and are porcelain shells that fit over a prepared tooth. These are used to fix dental abnormalities and can last several years if well taken care of. These are an alternative to teeth whitening and are beneficial for those patients having an uneven gum line. Porcelains veneers can make teeth look neater and more orderly. Veneers can also make chipped and discolored teeth look natural again.

2)   Teeth Whitening: This is a non-invasive cosmetic dentistry procedure, which is a convenient and affordable treatment. It can restore your smile without complicated surgeries. If you want healthy and sparkling teeth, a professional teeth whitening procedure by your dentist is a great option. Laser treatment and deep bleaching are now a part of the teeth whitening procedure.

3)   Dental Bridges: These consist of artificial teeth fused to a frame. These can be used to replace several missing teeth. Dental bridges help restore your bite and also help retain the shape of your face. They also enable proper speaking and chewing and stop the remaining teeth from shifting out of position.

4)   Porcelain Crowns: These porcelain crowns or “caps” help restore damaged teeth to their natural state. Porcelain crowns are durable, agile, and look natural. They are used to protect a weak tooth or restore an already broken tooth. Porcelain crowns are also used to hold a dental bridge in place and to cover a dental implant.

5)   Dental Bonding: This is an alternative to veneers. A tooth-colored, composite, plastic resin is bonded to the surface of the tooth using a laser or ultraviolet light. Dental bonding can be used to repair decayed teeth. This is one of the simplest cosmetic dentistry procedures and can be completed in a single visit to your dentist. However, these don’t last as long as veneers do.

6)   Invisalign: These are invisible braces that are a very real alternative to wires and bracket braces. If you are looking for a procedure to straighten your teeth, you should consider Invisalign. There are several different types of invisible braces, such as ceramic, tooth-colored brackets, inside braces, or clear aligners. You should consult with your dentist to understand the best option for your teeth.

7)   3D Tooth Printing: 3D Printers are revolutionizing tooth creation by fabricating teeth from scratch. 3D printers create teeth that are natural looking and perfectly made for you. This technology is being continuously perfected and will be available quickly and at a lower cost soon.

These are just some ways to restore your smile. The field of cosmetic dentistry is evolving very rapidly and soon technology combined with artistry will offer patients advanced procedures that they can only dream of today.

At Bellevue Dental Health, Dr. Libbi Finnessy has perfected the art and science of cosmetic dentistry and offers her patients only the very best of treatments at an affordable cost. Dr. Finnessy practices a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry, with expertise ranging from porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, and oral surgery. Dr. Finnessy can correct a wide variety of cosmetic dental problems and can help redesign your smile.

So, the next time you need to have a cosmetic dental procedure done, look no farther than Dr. Libbi Finnessy at Bellevue Dental Health. Get the right procedure done and enjoy your new million-dollar smile!

For more information about different cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact Dr. Libbi Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at contact@bellevuedentalhealth.com or visit our website at www.bellevuedentalhealth.com.

smoking

How Smoking Effects Your Teeth

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We’ve all heard about the detrimental effects of smoking on your health. However, did you know that smoking also adversely affects your oral health? Well, it’s true! Smoking causes many oral health problems and the longer you smoke the more severe these problems become.

With there being about 36 million smokers in the United States, (according to the Centers for Disease Control), this amounts to about 15% of the population. That’s a huge number of people risking their oral health by smoking. So, how exactly does smoking affect your teeth? That’s what we’ll talk about in this article…

  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for oral cancer: Smoking or chewing tobacco can cause cancers of your mouth, tongue, lips, gums, and throat. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. An estimated 80% of them are smokers. If you are a smoker as well as a heavy drinker, your risk for oral cancer substantially increases. I screen all of my patients at their dental appointments for oral cancer. It often begins as a white or red patch in the mouth and is not symptomatic. It later can be accompanied by difficulty chewing or swallowing, numbness in the jaw, and pain in the ear. If you have these symptoms for more than two weeks, visit your dentist, as the earlier oral cancer is detected, the more effective will its treatment be.
  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for gum disease: Smoking adversely affects your gums in two ways. If you smoke you are more likely to produce more bacterial plaque in your mouth, which puts your gums under steady attack. Second, smokers have lower oxygen levels in their blood, therefore delaying healing. This means that when your gums become infected, your body is less likely to be able to deal with it. Gum disease progresses at a very rapid rate in people who smoke. Losing teeth is a very real consequence in people who are heavy smokers.
  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for cavities: Due to the plaque and gum problems caused by smoking, smokers are at higher risk for tooth decay. If you smoke, you’re putting your mouth at risk for cavities three times more than non-smokers.
  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for bad breath: Smokers have a greater incidence of halitosis or bad breath. This is because about 4000 chemicals pass through your oral cavity every time you smoke. Many of these end up collecting on the surfaces inside your mouth. Smoking also contributes to bad breath by drying out your mouth. This can trigger gum infection and can irritate your sinuses, resulting in post-nasal drip.
  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for stained teeth: Smokers typically have stained teeth, with unattractive yellow stains that tar and nicotine leave on your teeth. Over time, this discoloration can leak into tiny cracks in your tooth enamel, leading to permanent discoloration and staining.
  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for delayed healing: Smoking results in the increased possibility of tooth extraction and oral surgery. However, at the same time, it results in delayed healing and slows your body’s ability to recover from these procedures. It also lowers the rate of successful dental implant procedures. The more you smoke, the more vulnerable you are to developing further complications.
  • Smoking puts you at greater risk for altered taste and smell: Smoking results in an altered sense of taste and smell. This interferes with your enjoyment of food and is also likely to make you add more salt or sugar to your food to make the taste stronger. Research shows that about one in five smokers have a less precise sense of taste and smell. However, this can be reversed if you stop smoking.

So, now you know how smoking can adversely affect your teeth. At Bellevue Dental Health we can help you manage the effects of smoking on your teeth. We work individually with each patient and take a detailed patient history to determine what treatment options each patient has.

If you are a smoker be sure to have regular dental care and a regular exam. As always, we are here to help at Bellevue Dental Health!

For more information about a dental consultation and different dental procedures,
contact Dr. Libby Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.

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Dental Phobics: Ways To Ease Your Dental Fears

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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.

myths-and-facts-about-teeth-whitening

Myths and Facts about Teeth Whitening

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We all love the look of a bright, white smile. In fact, in most cultures through the ages, sparkling white teeth have been a sign of good health and prosperity. The color of your teeth can affect how you feel about yourself and how others perceive you.

However, there are several myths that exist about teeth whitening. Here we want to address some of these myths and present the truth about the whitening process.

Myth #1: Teeth whitening weakens your teeth.

Fact #1: This is untrue. Although tooth whitening can be completed with products for use at home, it is best to consult with a dental professional first. Often teeth have fillings or crowns that alter the effects of bleaching and Dr. Finnessy will determine what is best. Use of a professional product like Zoom whitening is fast, easy, and safe to your teeth and can be completed in one appointment.

Myth #2: If you have sensitive teeth you cannot undergo a teeth whitening procedure, as the sensitivity will get worse.

Fact #2: This is untrue, but again with sensitive teeth, talking with Dr. Finnessy first is even more important. She will assess the level of your sensitivity and then design a teeth whitening treatment that will reduce its impact on your sensitive teeth.

Myth #3:  You can whiten your teeth with baking soda.

Fact #3: This should be avoided as it simply does not work and moreover, will disrupt the ratio of good to bad bacteria in your mouth. Furthermore, the abrasiveness of baking soda is harmful to your teeth.

Myth #4: Teeth whitening is permanent.

Fact #4: Once you see the effect of bleaching the length of time until the staining recurs is dependent on exposure to use of these products. . After an initial treatment, patients can go in for a additional procedures every 6 months, or reuse their bleach trays every 3 months. However, exposure to coffee, smoking, red wine and some medicines may darken teeth again so the best treatment is to reduce exposure to these factors.

Myth #5: You can use whitening toothpaste, which is as effective as teeth whitening by a dentist.

Fact #5: This is simply not the case. In fact, because these toothpastes use abrasive ingredients to scrub off the stains on your teeth, they can wear away the protective layer or “pellicle” that forms over your teeth. This makes your teeth sensitive and more prone to staining in the future.

Myth #6: Teeth whitening works for everyone.

Fact #6: Teeth naturally darken with age. Some teeth become yellow, while others are gray and bleaching may not have the desired outcome. You should consult with Dr. Finnessy before beginning any teeth whitening procedure. She should be able to predict whether bleaching will deliver the results you’re looking for. In most cases, anyone with gum disease, broken or damaged teeth, restorations, exposed roots, or incomplete dental work should not attempt whitening unless these problems are first remedied.

 Myth #7: Zoom whitening can alter the structure of your teeth permanently.

Fact #7: The Zoom in-office teeth whitening procedure uses the Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp. This accelerates the bleaching process by activating the Hydrogen Peroxide whitening. As the Hydrogen Peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin to bleach the stains, leaving the structure of the tooth unchanged. It is safe and quick.

There are many other questions you may have about teeth whitening. Dr. Finnessy performs Zoom whitening and other whitening procedures daily so don’t hesitate to ask her about this today. She is even offers free Zoom teeth whitening for new patients to get them excited for their new smile!

 

For more information about teeth whitening or other dental procedures,

consult Dr. Finessey at (425)641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.