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Are Porcelain Veneers Right For Me?

Porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain that cover the front of your teeth, giving them a straighter, whiter, and more beautiful appearance. Veneers can be used to improve the appearance of your smile by hiding common problems such as:

Stained or discolored teeth
Uneven or slightly crooked smile
Small or chipped teeth

How do Veneers Work?

Traditional porcelain veneers require a thin layer of enamel to be removed from the front of your tooth to make room for the veneer. The veneer fits snugly in place to create the look of a perfect tooth. Your dentist will prepare your teeth in one visit, then you will return to have your veneers placed. Once securely placed you will keep your veneers forever, maintaining your teeth as you normally would.

If you would like a more beautiful smile without removing existing tooth structure, “No-Pre Veneers” may be the perfect solution. No-preparation or minimal-preparation veneers reduce, and sometimes eliminate the need, to remove any existing tooth structure. If no tooth structure is removed, no-prep veneers can often be removed if you choose to do so later in life

Both traditional porcelain veneers and no-prep veneers offer beautiful results. It takes a thorough evaluation by an experienced cosmetic dentist to determine which type of veneer is best for you. Your dentist will take into consideration any existing tooth defects as well as your personal goals and preferences when planning your smile makeover. Questions your dentist may evaluate include:

Do you have significant staining?
Are your teeth generally well-aligned?
Do you currently have healthy enamel?
Do you have chipped or broken teeth?
Do you have other restorations such as crowns or bridges?

No-Prep Veneers can cover your teeth with a translucent tooth-like surface as thin as .03 mm. Benefits of No-Prep Veneers include:

Little to no removal of existing tooth structure
Fast treatment time with no provisional veneers
Pain-free treatment with no post-treatment sensitivity
Potentially reversible (although removing bonding without damaging enamel is sometimes difficult)

Depending on the current condition of your teeth, a thicker veneer may do a better job of hiding defects or correctly contouring your smile. Potential disadvantages of No-Prep Veneers:

Significant tooth-staining may still be visible through the veneer
Appearance may not be as naturally translucent as traditional veneers or preferred color may not be achieved
Teeth will have increased contour due to added thickness, which can also cause more lip protrusion
Durability may be compromised if there is not enough supporting healthy tooth structure

Both traditional and No-Prep Porcelain Veneers can give you a beautiful smile, however the best solution for you depends on the existing condition of your teeth and your goals for your smile make-over. Porcelain veneers can give you a beautiful, white, long-lasting smile. See your cosmetic dentist to help determine the best solution for your smile makeover.

By Cecil Lamberton

Sleep Apnea: The Surprise Culprit In Bruxism and TMJ Disorders

New research may be changing the focus of treatment for sufferers of bruxism (grinding teeth), TMD (temporomandibular disorders of jaw muscles, joints and/or nerves) or occlusion issues.

Traditionally, dentists have treated these disorders with mechanical devices such as night guards. These devices are effective in minimizing damage, but they do not address the causes of the behavior.

Now, several studies reveal these problems may be triggered by sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by frequent, brief breathing pauses during sleep.

Some disruption in sleep patterns is normal, but individuals with apnea may stop breathing hundreds of times a night. These microarousals can be caused by medical issues such as an airway blockage or significant increase of acid in the esophagus (obstructive sleep apnea), the brain’s failure to signal the muscles to breathe (central sleep apnea) or both (mixed sleep apnea).

People who have sleep apnea often don’t know it because they don’t awaken during the breathing pauses. They attribute the common symptoms – loud snoring, restless sleep and daytime fatigue – to other origins.

The American Sleep Apnea Association website (http://www.SleepApnea.org) offers screening questionnaires that can help you determine whether you should talk to your health professional.

If are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you have a lot of company. The Sleep Apnea Association reports that more than 18 million Americans suffer from this disorder. Men, especially African American and Hispanic men, are more than twice as likely as women to be afflicted.

Although anyone, even children, can have sleep apnea, there are factors that increase your risk. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these are obesity, being older than 60, using alcohol or tranquilizers, smoking, difficulty breathing through your nose, or a heart problem, stroke or brain tumor.

Sleep apnea is serious. WebMD lists these seven possible consequences of untreated sleep apnea: high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, adult asthma, acid reflux and car accidents caused by drowsiness.

The most common and most reliable method of treating sleep apnea is with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This device keeps your air passages open by delivering greater air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. It can feel cumbersome or uncomfortable at first, but most people do get used to it, and it does offer tremendous relief, as many testimonials reveal. Other treatment options include different airway pressure devices, surgery, jaw repositioning and supplemental oxygen.

You can help yourself, too, by quitting smoking, losing weight and abstaining from alcohol before sleep.

If you have bruxism, TMD or occlusion, this recent information correlating them with sleep apnea may suggest a new approach to your treatment. Resolving your sleep apnea also may resolve, or improve, your dental disorders. It’s definitely worth checking out.

By Cecil Lamberton

Use Your Dental Insurance Money Before Dec. 31st

Don’t leave money on the table!

If you have dental insurance, chances are you have an annual maximum benefit. If you have dental work that you’ve been putting off, and you haven’t used your maximum benefit for 2012, call your dentist right away to get in before the end of the year! This money won’t roll over to next year – it will be reset at your annual amount on January 1st whether you use this year’s money or not. And you’ll have to pay your deductible again in January. Putting off your dental care is like leaving money on the table.

How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Dental Insurance is different from general medical insurance, where huge maximums are allowed in case of major medical issues. With most dental insurance plans, the maximum annual benefit is around $1000 to $1500. With your first dental claim each year, you may be required to pay a deductible. After that, your dental treatment will be covered (up to the allowable amount) for the remainder of the year, until you reach your maximum annual benefit.

If you need any restorative work done, such as implants, bridges, or crowns, you can reach your maximum benefit fairly quickly. If you can’t afford to pay for additional treatment yourself, you’ll want to get the most out of your insurance by using up your maximum benefit each year. Once you’ve reached your max, you can schedule your next treatment for January, when it resets.

Does it Matter if My Dentist is “In Network”?

Some insurance plans require that you go to an “in-network” dentist, but many let you choose your own dentist. If you select an “out-of-network” dentist, you will usually be responsible for paying the difference between your dentist’s fees and the amount the insurance company is willing to cover. This small additional cost is often well worth the benefit you get in higher quality care and a long-term relationship with your dentist and staff.

What Services are Covered?

Each dental insurance plan has their own criteria regarding the types of treatment they will reimburse you for, and the percentage of coverage. Your dentist’s staff can help you determine if a recommended treatment will be covered by your insurance. With some employers, you may have different plans to choose from. If you are planning for major treatment, it may be worth comparing the coverage of your different plan options during your open enrollment period. For instance, you may be able to switch to a plan that will partially cover your dental implants, although the percentage of coverage on basic treatment may be reduced. Be sure to review your options thoroughly to see which one is the best choice for your particular situation.

Are Porcelain Veneers Right For Me?

Sleep Apnea: The Surprise Culprit In Bruxism and TMJ Disorders

Use Your Dental Insurance Money Before Dec. 31st

Don’t leave money on the table!

How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Does it Matter if My Dentist is “In Network”?

What Services are Covered?

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