Cosmetic Dentistry
I want to get my teeth fixed but I'm scared. What should I do?
In modern dentistry the word fear should no longer exist! With proper technique and a gentle attitude on the part of the dentist, pain is eliminated and the dental experience becomes not only tolerable, but often even pleasant.
Often, however, negative experiences of the past have left their mark on the patient's psychology, making it difficult for the patient to trust a dentist again. In these cases, my approach is even slower and gentler, with patience and empathy. I am here to help and heal, not to perpetuate the negative reputation of our profession.
Either way, a first visit where we will simply take a look at your teeth and discuss the most painless solution to your problem is better than an emergency treatment that you may need in the future and that will force you to overcome your fears in a hurry.
Your self is worth more than you think...
I want to get my teeth fixed but I'm afraid of the cost. What should I do?
In general, prevention or treatment at the earliest possible stage is always more cost-effective than any other kind of intervention. Therefore, if you are thinking about the cost, the first thing you should do is a visit to the dentist NOW.
The opinion of most people that cosmetic dentistry always costs more is of course not correct. There are cosmetic procedures that are very inexpensive and simple, and often the small extra charge they have compared to the benefits the patient receives seems minimal and totally worth it.
Finally, especially in extensive treatment plans, more than one alternative is always proposed, so that the patient can choose the one he or she thinks is best for him or her. In any case, fear of the unknown can lead to postponement and therefore to the worsening of oral problems. A conversation with the dentist you trust will help to clarify the questions you have and - why not - to obtain a healthy and beautiful smile. It's never too late to give yourself a gift!
ATTENTION! I personally discourage you from visiting countless dentists on the fly to collect opinions and prices and come up with the most economical one. You will only be confused and often the cheapest solution is not the most economical! It can lead to bigger problems in the long run, where it will take a lot more money to restore, or you may not like it aesthetically and be forced to stay with a smile you don't like, when for a small difference you could have the smile of your dreams.
Also, because in dentistry there is a huge range of materials and techniques, with a chaotic difference in price and results between them, there are many times when misunderstandings occur (e.g. the patient thinks that he/she will do exactly the same treatment plan for half the price, but in reality he/she is doing something completely different in terms of aesthetics and/or quality).
What I recommend is that you visit a dentist with good, generally speaking, references who will get to know you and gain your trust with their general attitude and training. With him or her, engage in a careful and calm approach to your oral treatment plan, knowing that he or she has your best interests at heart and will speak to you with complete honesty. Only in this way will you achieve the best for yourself, your pocket and your psychology.
Yellow Teeth - How does the problem arise?
Yellow teeth are a very common dental problem that makes many people feel uncomfortable when they have to speak or smile because of the color of their teeth. Yellow or discolored teeth can be caused by many different reasons, but the deposition of pigments on the surface of the teeth is the most common cause of loss of natural white color.
The causes that cause discoloration and for which teeth whitening is required are:
Smoking
Chronic accumulation of pigments due to diet (coffee, tea, red wine, etc.)
Yellow teeth due to heredity and genetic factors
Stains on the teeth due to fluorosis (excessive fluoride intake)
Taking tetracycline in childhood
Injuries to the teeth and haematoma or necrosis of the pulp
Old fillings
Endodontic treatments (root canal treatment)
Age
Tooth discolouration is classified into external and internal. External discolorations are the most common and involve the adhesion of pigments on the tooth surface from substances such as nicotine, coffee, tea. As expected, this type of discoloration is easier to treat. If the pigments remain for a long time they start to penetrate deeper into the interior of the tooth creating internal discolourations and become more difficult to remove. Other causes of internal discolouration are those caused by taking medication, tetracycline, due to fluorosis during childhood, or after a tooth has been root canaled.
Regular tooth brushing can only remove some of the external stains from the outer surface of the tooth enamel. Cleaning the teeth every six months combined with a dental hygienist's sodium chloride blasting and polishing can remove the majority of external stains, but unfortunately cannot address internal stains.
Only professional "Teeth Whitening" techniques can truly whiten teeth by removing deep internal stains giving them a brighter color. Depending on the method chosen, the procedure can be done in the dental office or at home.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a technical replacement for the root of the tooth, which is placed in an area where the natural tooth has been lost.
Dental implants perform the same biological function as natural teeth and are most often the most ideal solution for the replacement of missing teeth.
They have the same appearance as our natural teeth and feel just like them. Chewing and proper speech is performed perfectly and comfortably. Once they are integrated into the jawbone they prevent further bone loss and soft tissue recession that often occurs with bridges or, worse, dentures, and furthermore they do not sacrifice the health of the adjacent teeth as is the case with bridges.
Dental implants are small screws made of titanium, which is a fully biocompatible material, i.e. the body recognizes it as its own without unpleasant side effects. They have been used in dentistry for over 25 years with high success rates, as long as all specifications are met.
Removal ( Teeth Cleaning)
What is caries?
Caries is the most common non-communicable disease in the world! It affects the teeth of people of all ages, destroying their normal structure. Its progression is usually slow and insidious, so many teeth don't hurt until it's too late. Pain should not be the benchmark in the treatment of caries, because even teeth where the damage has reached the nerve do not give any symptoms.
Its appearance varies, depending on how advanced it is. It starts with brownish-yellow or bright white spots, the lesions become darker as they progress, and in the end there may even be a fracture of part of the tooth, while there are many cases in which, although only a small black spot or nothing at all is visible, a large part of the tooth has been damaged internally or has reached the nerve. Treatment for caries is fillings, when the damage has not affected the nerve of the tooth, and endodontic treatment (root canal therapy), when the nerve has been invaded by microbes.
In any case, a chat with the dentist and possibly some photos or x-rays will help to understand which teeth need treatment, even if they have never given any symptoms of pain.
Better to have some nice, well-worked fillings in our mouths that look the same as a healthy tooth, than to be left with lots of black-looking cavities that have the risk of progressing and expanding into more serious damage, only to say that we never had any fillings done.
Bad breath?
One problem associated with bad breath is the inability to self-diagnose. The majority of people with halitosis are often unaware that they have bad breath unless someone reports it to them.
It should be emphasised that morning bad breath is normal, as during the night not much saliva is secreted and a closed mouth creates anaerobic conditions where germs grow more easily. However, if there is no specific microbial focus in the mouth (e.g. tartar, caries, etc.), we find that the better the oral hygiene during the last brushing before bedtime, the less bad breath in the morning.
REASONS:
Most bad breath is caused by various reasons, so correcting these problems usually eliminates bad breath as well.
foods that stay between the teeth
defect restorations (fillings, bridges, etc.)
dirty dentures
smoking.
poor diet
eating foods rich in volatile substances (e.g. garlic).
stone that causes gingivitis and periodontitis.
remaining unbrushed for many hours or days.
diseases such as diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, upper respiratory infections or even gastrointestinal problems.
dry mouth that often results from the side effect of many drugs.
The most effective way to manage halitosis is:
the correction of bad previous work in the mouth;
maintaining proper oral hygiene.
regular professional teeth cleaning by the dentist (every 6 months or so).
brushing the tongue.
the right and balanced diet, rich in vitamins.
the contribution of the medical specialist, in order to treat inflammation and control chronic diseases.
Most commercially available products simply mask the odour for a short period of time. Candy (always sugar-free) can help stimulate your saliva flow, just as water helps keep the mouth moist, but gum and candy, as well as mouthwashes will only mask the odor for a short period of time, because they do not treat the cause of the problem, only the symptoms.
SIMPLE TECHNIQUES FOR COOL BREATHING
Brush your whole mouth (even the inner (parietal) walls and the roof of the oral cavity) and clean between your teeth with a floss or interdental brush three times a day.
Clean (scrape) the upper surface of the tongue with the toothbrush or with the specially designed tool. It is advisable to reach the back of the tongue, where most of the odorous bacteria are trapped.
It should be stressed that the special tool is much more effective because it is specially designed to reach the back of the tongue more easily and with less provocation of the vomiting reflex. Rinse with water or mouthwash.
Keep the mouth moist throughout the day by drinking plenty of fluids. If you talk too much, sleep with your mouth open and take certain medications, dry mouth occurs and you create an environment more conducive to bacterial growth.
If you can't afford to brush after every meal, chew a sugar-free chewing gum.
MYTHS ABOUT THE BAD TASTE OF THE MOUTH
Bad breath comes from the stomach. According to medical research, about 1% of bad breath is due to disorders of the stomach, sinuses or lungs.
Brushing your teeth more often will help control bad breath. What should be done for effective cleaning of the mouth is proper brushing and not frequent brushing (e.g. every hour). Cleaning the interdental spaces, tongue and surrounding soft tissues help a lot. Also, if the bad breath comes from poorly done dental work, where no matter how hard the patient tries they cannot clean, then correcting these (rather than frequent brushing) will correct the damage.
Anyone can perceive the state of their breathing. Usually the person who has bad breath does not notice it on their own and those around them do not point it out to them as a matter of courtesy. The best way to find out if one has bad breath is to ask a friend or loved one.
Brushing method?
He's a S.H.I.E.L.D:
Upper and lower jaw brushes separately.
P almic vibrations (not a large circular motion) to clean teeth and gums
Direction of the toothbrush is oblique (facing where the tooth joins the gum at a 45° angle)
All surfaces (inside - outside, top - bottom, right - left, front - back) without exception, following a sequence of
Also, between the teeth I don't forget to floss or interdental brush. Finally, I make sure to clean the upper surface of the tongue.
Humorously to say that even for those who are so bored there is a solution! The ''hands-free'' toothbrush, which fits on the tongue! Think about it! It's better than nothing!
What can I do to prevent my teeth from decaying?
To prevent tooth decay we must do the following 4 things:
Regular check-ups with our dentist, who will intervene early, faster and cheaper if necessary.
Proper daily brushing to eliminate dental plaque.
Adherence to proper dietary rules (avoiding snacks and unnecessary sugar).
Use of fluoride (through toothpaste and mouthwash) to strengthen any problem teeth.
In addition, young children are recommended:
Frequent fluoridation of the teeth (every 6 months) by the dentist, until the age when all the new teeth will be changed.
Preventive coverings of the chewing surfaces of permanent teeth (sealants).
And never forget:
The best treatment is prevention!
How often should I visit the dentist?
When the mouth is generally healthy, one visit to the dentist every six months is enough for a preventive check-up.
The dentist is able to detect incipient damage to teeth and gums and treat them in time to prevent further damage. Sometimes, the problems are so insidious that even the dentist is not able to detect them from the beginning, but if proper oral hygiene is practiced daily by the patient and regular visits are made every six months, such damage is kept to a minimum.
ATTENTION! Visiting every six months does not necessarily mean cleaning the teeth. Stone and pigment cleaning should be done when the need arises. This varies from person to person and depends mainly on how effective their oral hygiene is, but also on other factors. Some people need cleaning every 3 months, while others every 1 year or more.
