Patients today have more options than ever when it comes to whitening teeth and transforming the overall appearance of the smile. Cosmetic teeth whitening treatments are so popular because they are easy, effective, and fast. Our Boca Raton cosmetic dentists are able to whiten enamel several shades, for instance, in just one or two appointments.

Patients often want to know the differences between over the counter whitening treatments and professional bleaching formulations. Both home and professional whitening treatments are actually bleaching products—they utilize hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to bleach dental enamel and stains. Here I provide a brief overview of some of the pros and cons of professional and at-home whitening products, respectively.

Effectiveness

Professional whitening treatments are more effective than at-home products because they utilize a higher concentration of whitening agents. Because they are applied by a professional, these more potent concentrations deliver more predictable and reliable results.

Time

Patients generally see results from professional whitening treatments in only one or two appointments. Self-administered whitening treatments may not work for weeks or months, and they still wont deliver the same level of whitening that professional treatments do. You can use over the counter products, however, at your own pace when it is convenient for you, while professional treatments require a dental appointment.

Cost

Professional whitening treatments are more expensive than at-home treatments, though they are increasingly less expensive. The cost is commensurate with the effectiveness and fast acting results.

Long-Term Results

A dental professional can help you maintain your white smile for a long period of time. After your initial treatment your dentist can provide you with home maintenance kits to keep your smile white at home.

Professional whitening treatments will give you faster, more effective, and more reliable results than over the counter formulations. While at-home products generally cost a little less than professional formulations, and they can be used when it’s convenient for you.  Regardless of how you choose to whiten your enamel, check with a dental professional to make sure that whitening your teeth is appropriate for your oral health. Give our Boca Raton cosmetic dentists a call if you have any questions or you’d like to schedule an appointment— (561)705-0249.

Taking care of your smile involves partnering with a dental health professional to prevent cavities and dental decay. Your dentist also counts on you to take care of your smile every day at home. Brushing at least twice a day will help you prevent plaque build-up and bacterial infections. However, many patients don’t know how to brush the right way—they simply aren’t getting the most out of their daily oral hygiene routine.

Making the most of your daily brushing routine begins with picking the proper tools.

• Make sure that your toothbrush is small enough that it can reach comfortably to the back corners of your mouth.
• Don’t use firm, abrasive bristles—these can wear enamel down prematurely and irritate gum tissue.

Then pay attention to your brushing technique. Taking the time to assess your brushing habits may improve your dental health.

• Brush at least twice a day.
• Brush in small circular motions, making to sure to clean the top, front, and back of each tooth.
• Brush for at least two minutes.
• Remember to thoroughly brush your tongue and surrounding tissues to prevent bacteria buildup as well as bad breath.

The truth is that many adults begin to brush without thinking about their technique, or how they should be cleaning their teeth every day. Brushing becomes so routine that we stop doing it as effectively as we could. Take the time to implement these changes into your brushing routine to maximize you oral health and decrease your likelihood for dental decay.  Combining effective at-home care with regular professional cleanings is the best way to maintain a healthy smile. Give our Boca Raton dentists a call if you have any questions about at-home dental hygiene, professional dental care, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment—(561) 705-0249.

The goal of our Boca Raton general dentist office is to preserve the natural structure and health of each layer of the tooth. Teeth are comprised of different substances and layers that fulfill different tasks. When these components begin to degrade, they can destroy the subsequent layers eventually leading to tooth loss and bone loss.

Oral bacteria can cause erosion of dental material, leading to infection and painful teeth and gums. The outside layer of dental material is called dental enamel. This is the hard, white, outer layer that we often associate with teeth. If bacterium is allowed to sit on dental enamel it can result in holes in the dental enamel, allowing the infection to infiltrate the next layer of dental material called dentin.

Dentin sits below the enamel—it is more porous than dental enamel. Dentin provides nerve pathways into the core of the tooth, and it also protects dental pulp from invading pathogens. Bacteria—once it has infected the dentin—can rapidly move through the dental pulp.

Dental pulp is the inner core of the tooth. The inside of the tooth is full of nerves and blood vessels, which feed the tooth’s growth and development.  Infected pulp is very painful, and compromises the tooth’s integrity. Bacterial infections of the core of the tooth can further infect the jawbone—leading to tooth and bone loss. Once the inner nerves and blood vessels are infected it is likely that the patient will require root canal therapy in order to preserve some of the tooth.

The goal, therefore, is to prevent initial cavities and decay of the dental enamel. Additionally, it is important to maintain regular professional dental appointments so that infections of the enamel and dentin can be treated early, before they lead to serious complications. If you’d like more information about preventative dental care or you’d like to schedule an appointment, give our Boca Raton general dentists a call at (561) 705-0249.

Having an attractive smile, that truly enhances your face, is about more than just having white dental enamel. A stellar smile is balanced and proportionate, and works with rather than detracting from the overall symmetry of the face. In years past, if a patient had teeth that were too short, too long, or misshapen it would be difficult to actually adjust the structure of the smile. Now, however our Boca Raton veneers dentists are able to literally reshape the smile with porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain that your dentist affixes directly to existing teeth. These veneers can be custom shaped and shaded to match a patient’s existing teeth. Porcelain is ideal for dental restorations because it is multi-dimensional, so veneers reflect and absorb light similarly to dental enamel.

Dental veneers go over existing teeth. Consequently they can cover a variety of imperfections completely, including teeth that are not ideally shaped. This means that veneers can be used for naturally misaligned teeth as well as dental enamel that may have been damaged—either shortened or asymmetrical—as the result of  a dental trauma. Veneers completely wrap around teeth, so they give the appearance of resurfaced, white, shiny enamel.

Many patients choose to utilize dental veneers because they’d like to have an expedient option for making their teeth appear in proportion and balanced. Rather than undergoing years of orthodontic treatment and other cosmetic treatments, dental veneers can completely transform the look of patient’s smile in just a few appointments.

If you are unhappy with the current balance or symmetry of your smile, you have options with innovative dental veneers. This versatile cosmetic option has helped patients realize their dream smiles. To get started give our Boca Raton veneers dentists a call at (561) 705-0249 or schedule an appointment here.

I met with a new patient of mine, Seth, recently. Seth had been avoiding the dentist for many years—he was experiencing dental anxiety, and he found it easier to simply avoid going all together. When I met with Seth, he had advanced gum disease; his gums were pulling away from his teeth and forming deep periodontal pockets. Seth explained that he initially thought that he could manage his dental care on his own—he brushed and flossed regularly—but as his condition deteriorated he decided he needed to seek professional treatment.

Unfortunately, Seth’s assumption is a common one. Many patients believe that with diligent flossing and brushing they can avoid dental decay all together and maintain a sparkling smile. However, the truth is that without semi-annual professional dental cleanings you’re more likely to experience cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.

Professional dental cleanings provide a number of services that you just can’t replicate at home. For instance, although you can clean plaque off or you teeth, you will inevitably miss some plaque in hard to reach places. This plaque hardens into tartar—which is mineralized bacteria on the surface of the tooth. Tartar can only be removed in a professional dental cleaning. Left untreated it will cause dental decay and gum disease.

Additionally, professional cleanings allow you to treat gum disease before it causes serious complications such as tooth and bone loss. The early symptoms of gum disease are generally invisible to regular patients, but a dental professional can diagnose this condition before it is serious. Another vital screening that our Boca Raton general dentists provide is an oral cancer screening.

Don’t try to do everything by yourself! When you partner with a dental professional and combine good daily oral hygiene habits with semi-annual professional cleanings you maximize your ability to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Don’t wait as long as Seth did—give our Boca Raton general dentists a call if you have any questions at (561) 705-0249.

Darcy is a regular patient of ours, and for years she has been nothing short of a model patient. She maintains an exceptional daily hygiene routine, and she always makes time for semi-annual professional cleaning. However, when I last saw Darcy she reported that she was starting to dislike the appearance of her smile! Although she was cavity-free, she found that regular brushing and flossing just weren’t getting her smile as white as she wanted it.

Our Boca Raton cosmetic dentists hear this concern often. The truth is that as we age our teeth change both physically and in appearance. Darcy was experiencing something we all go through; due to the natural ageing process her smile was beginning to look duller and darker.

Many patients know that some common foods and drinks can cause enamel staining. Tea, coffee, and wine can all discolor teeth. Also, tobacco products make teeth look dark and dingy.  These common stains can compound over time, and patients may find that it’s harder to return their smiles to their original white states.

Along with environmental staining, structural changes in dental enamel can make teeth look darker with age. Dental enamel is the top layer of the tooth, and when it’s young and healthy it is white and bright. Below the dental enamel, however, is a layer of dentin, which is darker and yellow in color. As we age dental enamel thins and becomes more translucent. Consequently, the dentin begins to show through dental enamel and teeth look discolored as a result.

We may not be able to control these natural processes of tooth staining, however, thanks to cosmetic dentistry we can rejuvenate smiles using professional teeth whitening or dental veneers. Give our Boca Raton cosmetic dentists a call if you want more information or to schedule and appointment— (561) 705-0249.

Many of our patients are diligently on the lookout for cavities—they call us at the first signs of tooth sensitivity, pain, or enamel staining. However, too many patients don’t realize that gum disease can be just as problematic as cavities—affecting both your dental health and overall wellbeing. Gum disease problems can sneak up on you and quickly advance into a serious condition.

There are ways, however, to identify gum disease in its earliest stages so that you can seek timely treatment and prevent long-term complications. Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for. If you notice these problems give our Boca Raton periodontal dentists a call:

Bleeding gums: One of the most common symptoms of periodontal problems is bleeding gums. You may notice bleeding when eating, or brushing and flossing. Your gums may also feel tender or sensitive.

Swollen gums: Gum disease is essentially an infection, and predictably it causes swelling at the infection site.  Swollen gums may look redder than normal and irritated, they may also be painful.

Bad breath: Periodontal disease can actually cause your breath to change for the worse. You may experience more odorous breath than normal, or you may find that a bad taste lingers in your mouth throughout the day.

These are some of the first sign of periodontal problems. These symptoms are indicative of gum disease, but they can most often be effectively treated with thorough cleaning and proactive oral hygiene habits. A dental professional can clean your teeth and gums and design a daily oral hygiene plan to actively fight gum disease and keep it from progressing.

Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about periodontal disease, or treatment for gum disease. Our helpful Boca Raton periodontal dentists can assess your situation in more detail when you come in for a consultation—just call (561) 705-0249.

More patients than ever are realizing that cosmetic dentistry can truly transform not only their teeth, but how they feel about themselves as well. One such patient, David, had put off cosmetic treatment for years. Although he had never really been satisfied with his smile, he thought that all cosmetic options would be too difficult or take too much time to fit easily into his life and schedule. Rather than working toward his dream smile, David, embarrassed by his teeth, tried to hide his smile from the world.

OurBoca Raton veneers dentists explained to David that he had a variety of cosmetic options at his disposal—he didn’t have to live with a smile he didn’t love anymore! Because he had a large number of cosmetic issues he wished to correct—dark stains, chipped teeth, and large gaps between his teeth—David opted for dental veneers. This versatile option can correct a number of problems at once, including:

• Chipped and cracked teeth
• Stained teeth
• Worn down teeth
• Misaligned, uneven teeth
• Large gaps in the smile
• Irregularly shaped or pitted dental enamel

Dental veneers are thin layers of white, bright porcelain that are affixed directly to existing teeth. They are personally shaped and shaded to fit seamlessly with a patient’s smile and natural teeth. Consequently, they can be used to fix a single tooth or transform an entire smile. Patients can eat, drink, and speak naturally with dental veneers—they simply give the appearance of smooth, white, clean dental enamel.

David loves his dental veneers—he says his only regret is that he waited so long to complete his cosmetic treatment! In just a few visits, he was able to transform his damaged teeth into a sparkling smile. If you’ve been considering cosmetic treatment, feel free to give our Boca Raton veneers dentists a call to get more information about dental veneers or other cosmetic procedures—(561) 705-0249.

If you’ve been looking in the mirror and wishing that your teeth looked a little whiter and more luminous, you’re not alone. Many patients come in to our Boca Raton dental office looking for ways to rejuvenate dull or dark teeth. We offer a wide number of cosmetic options to whiten and perfect teeth, but there are also steps you can take at home to minimize or lessen the severity of dental discoloration.

Environmental dental stains accumulate on teeth due to staining foods, drinks, or plaque build-up. As many people know, drinks like coffee and tea can stain teeth. Additionally colas and red wines may discolor teeth over time. This discoloration an be exacerbated by aging, because as dental enamel thins it discolors easily, and stain accumulate in small cracks in the enamel.

Here are some steps you can take to try and combat dental stains:

1.     Remember to brush and floss at least twice daily—this helps prevent discoloring stains and plaque build-up.

2.     Rinse your mouth with water after consuming discoloring substances—this will prevent discoloring substances from sitting on your teeth and penetrating dental enamel.

3.     Maintain a schedule of semi-annual professional dental cleanings. Only a professional dentist can clean tartar (calcified plaque) off of your teeth, preventing cavities and dark spots.

4.     Pursue cosmetic teeth bleaching treatments. Bleaching treatments utilize hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to bleach stains off of dental enamel. At-home formulations are weaker and take longer to work, while in-office professional formulations can deliver results in just one or two visits.

You no longer have to live with dark or discolored teeth. Our Boca Raton cosmetic dentist offers a number of dental rejuvenating treatments to help you love your smile again! Give us a call for more information or to schedule a consultation.

You can’t turn on the television or look in a magazine these days without seeing an advertisement for teeth whitening products. The truth is, white, bright teeth can take years off of a patient’s smile. Last week we had a regular patient of ours, Laura, come in for her semi-annual appointment. Laura told our Boca Raton cosmetic dentists that she was concerned—her smile was starting to look dull and dingy.

These days, patients have a variety of options for teeth whitening. Today I’m going to talk a little bit about what teeth whitening treatments are out there, and how you can minimize teeth staining at home.

Teeth whitening: Teeth whitening treatments aim to restore dental enamel to it’s natural base shade. Technically, cleansing products like toothpastes and mouthwashes are teeth whitening products, because they remove dental debris. Not all teeth have the same “base white” natural shade—some people naturally have a darker shade of enamel. For those patients, they may want to pursue a bleaching treatment that does more than simply restore the enamel’s natural shade.

Teeth bleaching: Bleaching treatments attempt to whiten teeth beyond their natural shade of white. Many patients refer to teeth bleaching treatments as “teeth whitening.” Bleaching products utilize hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to actively whiten dental enamel. Bleaching treatments are commonly gels or pastes, and they can be formulated for at-home or in-office professional use.

These whitening and bleaching treatments are especially effective when used in conjunction with diligent home maintenance. At home, patients should be sure to brush and floss at least two times a day, in order to remove dental plaque before it hardens on enamel. Additionally, patients can brush or rinse after consuming staining foods such as red wine, dark berries, coffee, and tea.

Luckily for Laura, we were able to brighten her smile quickly with professional teeth bleaching treatments. Teeth whitening and bleaching treatments are generally non-invasive, gentle, and fast. Feel free to contact our Boca Raton cosmetic dentists if you have any questions about teeth whitening or bleaching—just call (561) 705-0249.