Jun
25
Cosmetic Dentistry
June 25, 2011 | 107 Comments
Definition
Cosmetic, or aesthetic, dentistry focuses on improving appearance and facial self-image by correcting the alignment, shape, and color of teeth. Dental professionals who offer cosmetic options can improve the appearance of stained, chipped, and misshapen teeth, and correct uneven gums and replace old fillings with nearly invisible filling materials. Cosmetic dentistry procedures are elective and, therefore, often not covered by insurance.
Description
The most popular option in cosmetic dentistry is tooth bleaching, an area that is experiencing a 15 to 20% growth a year. Most dental practices offer tooth bleaching, which involves the use of at-home and in-office supervised whitening systems that brighten stained, discolored, or dull-looking teeth.
Veneers are the second most popular cosmetic dentistry option. Used to correct chipped, cracked or worn teeth, veneers are ultra thin tooth coverings, sometimes made of porcelain or composite materials. Bonding is another process also used to correct chipped, cracked, or worn teeth.
Crowns, dental bridges, and dental implants can be used to replace missing teeth or correct bite dysfunction. Today’s newer technology includes porcelain and ceramic tooth replacements that look real and blend with existing teeth.
Cosmetic dentists can correct excessive or uneven gums with cosmetic surgery. Many patients with old or unsightly fillings also can opt to have them replaced by a dentist, who can use resin and porcelain filling materials or crowns to eliminate the look of the previous fillings.
Causes and symptoms
Anyone who is unhappy with his or her smile is a candidate for cosmetic dentistry. The reason might be a general displeasure with the look of one’s teeth or a specific aesthetic dental concern. While the reasons for improvement vary, the most common causes are staining due to aging, tobacco use, coffee intake, fluorosis, and tetracycline use. Patients also often want to improve the shape and position of their teeth. Diastemas (spaces between teeth), slight rotations, and malformation of the teeth (e.g., peg laterals, barrel shape teeth) are common reasons for correcting the shape and the position of the teeth.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of an aesthetic problem involves looking at the entire face; the color of the eyes, skin, and lips often influence the appearance of teeth. The face evaluation is usually divided into imaginary thirds: the first section goes from the hairline to eyebrows, the second from eyebrows to the base of the nose, and the third from the
base of the nose to the lower border of chin. Aesthetic smiles are diagnosed by the dentist, who looks for asymmetry and mobility of the upper and lower lips; midline in relation to the front teeth; gumline; tooth and gum contours; tooth color; tooth to length proportion and relationships; and, finally, restorations. Several factors must be taken into account when assessing these variables, including age, gender, race, and personality.
When examining the tooth shade, specifically, certain factors should be considered, such as the light source and surrounding colors. Bleaching of teeth will change the shade of the tooth structure only, which can pose a problem if the patient has several tooth-colored restorations.
Mar
28
The Risks of DIY Dentistry
March 28, 2011 | 58 Comments
The lore of do-it-yourself home dentistry used to involve a string wrapped around a tooth on one end, and to a door knob on the other. Swing the door closed, and voila, you saved your self a trip to the dentist.
Feb
10
Arthritis
February 10, 2011 | 108 Comments
Definition
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.
See also: Joint pain
Alternative Names
Joint inflammation
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
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