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Cosmetic dentistry is any dental work performed to improve the appearance of your smile. It mainly concentrates on dental aesthetics such as alignment, color, size, position, and shape of the teeth. There are different procedures involved in cosmetic dentistry to enhance the appearance of your smile. The cost of cosmetic dentistry in Des Moines, Iowa varies depending on the procedure you need to correct your problem.

Here are some modern-day cosmetic dentistry procedures available:

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a natural and affordable method to restore discolored and stained teeth, especially those teeth that are damaged due to smoking, medications, or certain beverages.  These stains can be removed at your dentist's office or home, using your dentist recommended teeth whitening products. 

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are delicate, custom-built shells of tooth-colored resin or porcelain that cover the superficial area of the teeth. These shells get cemented to the front portion of the tooth and enhance the color, size, and shape of your teeth. 

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is performed by applying a tooth-colored, durable, plastic, putty-like resin to the tooth and then hardening it with laser or ultraviolet light which bonds the material to the tooth. Your dentist then shapes, trims and polishes it. Dental bonding can repair chipped, decayed, cracked, or disproportionate teeth. 

Dental Crown

A dental crown or cap covers and replaces the whole damaged tooth above your gum line. It helps to restore the size, shape, durability, and appearance of the tooth. Dental crowns can be constructed from metal, resin, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or ceramic materials. 

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and Onlays or indirect fillings, are made from substances such as gold, porcelain, or composite materials, and are used to fill damaged teeth. Unlike dental fillings, these are created in a dental laboratory and later bonded into their place by your dentist. 

Dental Implants

With dental implants, natural tooth roots are replaced by titanium screws that are inserted surgically into the jawbone of the misplaced tooth. Once the jawbone heals after the procedure, the metal post can anchor a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, securely in the jaw. 

Our expert dentist in Des Moines, practice these methods with advance dental technology. 

In the past, orthodontics was routinely an early teen event that began once all of the baby teeth were gone and permanent teeth were in. Recent advances in the understanding of a child development as well as modern materials have re-evaluated the time for orthodontic treatment to an earlier age. It is now recommended by the American Association of Orthodontiststhat every child should receive an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. But Why?

Common Orthodontic Problems Found At Age 7

1. Buck Teeth. Do the upper front teeth stick way out of line?

2. Deep Bite. Do the upper teeth cover the lower teeth?

3. Underbite. Do the upper teeth fit inside the arch of the lower teeth?

4. Open Bite. Do only the back teeth touch when biting down?

5. Crowded or overlapped teeth. Do the teeth have too much or too little space in certain areas?

6. Misaligned front teeth. Do the spaces between the upper two front teeth and lower two front teeth not line up?

7. Crossbite. Do the lower teeth fit properly inside the upper teeth?

8 .Missing teeth. If there are baby teeth that never developed, there will not be a permanent tooth to follow. Jaw x-rays may also find that certain permanent teeth are not  presently formed or are unable to come down on their own.

9. Extra teeth. When there are double teeth, extra teeth or malformed teeth.

Generally, orthodontic treatment does not begin at age 7 but it is good to get a head start to avoid any complications down the road. However, early orthodontic treatment may be necessary before age 7 if the following appear:

-Problems Speaking

-Proper Chewing Is Difficult

-Abnormal bite development

-Clicking or popping in the jaw

-Permanent teeth that are erutping into the mouth crowded or overlapped

-A thumb sucking problem

-A teeth grinding problem

-Issues biting cheeks or biting into the roof of the mouth

Benefits Of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early orthodontic evaluation provides both timely diagnosis of problems and increased opportunity for more effective treatment. Early intervention gives the ability to guide growth and development, preventing more serious issues later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.

Early orthodontic treatment is also referred to as interceptive treatment or Phase I treatment. Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment include the following:

-Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth

-Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth

-Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth

-Preserving space for teeth that are coming in

-Reducing the need for tooth removal

-Reducing Phase II treatment time with braces

Phase II orthodontic treatment begins when all of the permanent teeth erupt and usually involves a full set of braces and not just a localized treatment plan.

Orthodontic Conclusion

While not every child will need early orthodontic treatment, it is best to know in advance what the options will be going forward. It is important to remember, orthodontics is not strictly a cosmetic endeavor, bite alignment is the ultimate goal. The issues presented above can all be corrected fairly easily if done in a phased approach. However, allowing this early intervention time to pass can complicate treatment requiring more extreme measures (i.e. teeth removal or surgery) to fulfill the same goal.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

Periodontal Disease – is a progressive inflammatory disease, that affects the tissues that support and anchor the teeth. These support tissues include, gums, bone, cementum, and ligament attachments.

The main area in which periodontal disease is diagnosed and treated is in “the pocket”. The pocket is the unattached tissue between the tooth and gum, measured with a tiny ruler-like instrument called a periodontal probe. A healthy tooth generally has pocket measurements of 0-3 mm, whereas diseased tissue can be 4-15 mm deep, ( The deeper the pocket, the more difficult to fully clean). The measurements vary in what they measure, for example, in Gingivitis measurements indicate how swollen the tissue is, while in Periodontitis, the measurements indicate the loss of bone and gum tissue. If  left untreated,periodontal disease results in the destruction of the support structure, bacteria growth down into pockets, toxin release (to breakdown attachments),  loosening of teeth, and subsequent tooth loss.

Stages of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is said to affect over 50% of all Americans. Periodontal disease advances in 4 stages:

1. Gingivitis- Swollen, red, inflamed gum tissue. There has not been loss of attachment at this stage. Reversible with proper hygiene.

2. Early Periodontitis- Less than 25% attachment loss, as determined by x-ray and measurement with a probe.

3. Moderate Periodontitis-25-50% attachment loss as determined above.

4. Advanced Periodontitis-50% or more attachment loss.

Periodontal disease can be reversible in its earliest form. This form of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. But if the periodontal disease progresses to periodontitis then the damage is not reversible by the body on its own. Patients and dentists alike are always looking for ways to combat periodontal disease with newer and better ways to treat the disease and maintain good oral hygiene at home. The tried and true home methods have generally consisted of varying types and techniques with  tooth brushing, flossing, and antibacterial rinses. All of these methods have the same limiting factor, none of the at home methods could target the deeper pockets of 5 mm and above, until a new product was formulated in conjunction with the waterpik utilizing a special tip which places a tartar dissolving liquid  directly where it is needed. This new rinse is called Periogen.

What Does Periogen Do to Fight Against Periodontal Disease?

Periogen is a patented oral rinse that has been proven capable of dissolving tartar buildup between professional cleanings and dentist visits. Periogen works by exploiting a weakness (discovered by the research team at the Periogen Company) in the fundamental structure  of oral tartar, and its adhesive nature.

Tartar (or calculus as it is sometimes called) can be found above and below the gum line. Tartar above the gum line is referred to as supra gingival tartar and tartar below the gum line is referred to as sub gingival tartar. Dental Tartar is comprised almost entirely of Calcium Phosphate Salt. Calcium Phosphate is the basic component of tooth material. Calcium phosphate salt differs from calcium phosphate in its electron structure. The calcium phosphate salt has two less electrons than the calcium phosphate which makes it electrically unstable. This process of losing electrons happens in nature all the time. The best comparison is the buildup of lime deposits in water pipes and faucets. Microscopically, tartar is layer upon layer (can be in the tens of thousands layers) of fossilized bacteria trapped between the calcium salts.

The tartar causes periodontal disease by toxins released by the bacteria in plaque and tartar on teeth. The toxins cause the body to react by starting the inflammatory

Periogen Oral rinse for Dissolving Tartar Between Professional Cleanings

process thereby destroying healthy gum tissue and supporting bone structures. Periodontal disease is progressive and without periodontal disease treatment will lead to tooth loss and infections throughout the mouth.

Periogen is used as an oral rinse 1-2 times per day between professional cleanings to reduce the level of tartar buildup and stain. This will in turn make for an easier dental visit but also maintain a healthier state in your mouth for your teeth and gums to heal. Periogen should in no way replace brushing and flossing, or visits to the dentist but just works as an accessory between professional dental cleanings to give you a more effective way to reduce tartar and fight periodontal disease .

Periogen Conclusion

As you know, there are many methods and products on the market to aide you in your dental hygiene and combat periodontal disease. Remember this, “The best  offense is a good defense!”.   It is up to you to find and decide what works best for you to prevent periodontal.disease. Visit your dentist regularly for dental examinations and professional cleanings to ward off dental problems and stay healthy.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

Reposted From Dentistry IQ

A beautiful smile is important to many. With so many adults in our practices with misaligned teeth, shouldn't cosmetic orthodontics become a bigger part of your treatment planning? In the past, many adults were afraid to wear orthodontic braces because they were either embarrassed to wear brackets or did not want to spend the time and money. Cosmetic orthodontics has addressed these concerns. Below you will see some common questions and fears about cosmetic orthodontics, which can help you help your patients with their concerns.

“I’m just too old for braces. Braces are for kids.”
When your patients make statements like these, they expect you to agree with them. Instead, you should take this opportunity to reassure your patients that it is never too late to have the smile they have always wanted. There is no age limit for adults with a healthy periodontal condition to undergo orthodontic treatment. Cosmetic orthodontics lets you have the perfect smile you have always wanted without putting your life on hold. These new options allow you to look great throughout treatment. FACT: One out of every five orthodontic patients is an adult.

“I’ve already had braces; won’t they just move again?”
Explaining to a patient the importance of retention after movement is key. If they understand why that fixed retainer or clear stent needs to be worn during bone fill after movement and that they need to be continually monitored at each recall appointment, they are more likely to be compliant with their retention. For many, they need to understand retention as a protection of their investment.

“Braces take too long.”
For many adults, cosmetic orthodontics can be completed in as little as six months. Depending upon the appliances used and the amount of movement required, treatment can be quite short in length. When addressed in this manner, a patient should understand that treatment may be completed by the time of the next recall visit.

“Orthodontic treatment is painful.”
There is a huge difference between discomfort and pain. All appliances take some getting used to, but it is only for a matter of months. Most of the discomfort is short-lived, lasting a few days after an adjustment appointment. Some of the discomfort has to do with the metal aspects, which may poke or pinch, but this can be reduced drastically with a quick application of wax. In general, the discomfort does not get past the point where a Tylenol does not bring relief.

“Orthodontic braces make it more difficult to keep your teeth clean. Will this cause cavities?"
Good oral hygiene will take a bit more attention than it did before appliances were in place, but is very manageable with the right tools. Waterpiks, electric toothbrushes, fluoride rinses, and threader floss can make it much easier to keep everything clean and cavity-free.

“Isn’t it expensive?”
Your patients need to understand that cosmetic orthodontics is usually the most conservative way to fix a cosmetic issue. Very often, the need for full bonding or veneers may reduce to just a few teeth or none. It may also be the only way to achieve optimal cosmetic dentistry results. The cost factor can be overcome using payment plans through your dentist or using a third-party provider such as CareCredit.

Cosmetic orthodontics conclusion
Whether you practice limited orthodontic movement in your office or not, cosmetic orthodontics should be offered as a treatment option for patients who would benefit from it. Orthodontic treatment can transform your patients' smiles and attitudes about their dental health. You will be surprised at the positive results and referrals!

Marielaina Perrone DDS, is a family, cosmetic, and implant dentist creating and enhancing beautiful smiles in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Cosmetic Dentist Las Vegas