Kannur Dental Care

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Cosmetic / Aesthetic

What is Whitening / Bleaching in Dentistry?

1. WHITENING / BLEACHING

Teeth whitening is generally considered as the most common cosmetic dental procedure sought by people primarily to remove the accumulated stains on the teeth. After a thorough examination your dentist will recommend suitable treatment or combination of treatments. The stains on the teeth can be removed quickly, safely and with less discomfort by using In-Office whitening systems or custom home trays.

IS IT SAFE?

It is safe and very effective for those who wish to have healthy smile…The safety and effectiveness of this procedure is directly related to the dosage given, the frequency and duration of treatment, the concentration and type of the material used, and the type of tray or system utilized.

WHICH IS A BETTER WAY TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH- IN-OFFICE OR AT-HOME?

For people who have limited time and want instant results, In-Office whitening is a better choice. Most patients do the In-Office whitening in combination with custom home trays in order to continue the whitening process, or to help lock the shade that was achieved. With the Zoom whitening system, the treatment time is shorter and more comfortable because the system allows us to vary the intensity setting accordingly, to accommodate patients with more sensitive teeth. The entire chair-side whitening process, including preparation, can take up to 2 hours.
While At-Home whitening includes custom trays delivered to the patient along with the whitening material and proper instructions for use, this method lasts about 7-14 days, and may vary according to the result that the patient wants. This method provides a steady result for about 2 years. Patients can keep the product in the fridge and use it later on for a touch-up before a special event or to just maintain the result.

HOW LONG DOES THE WHITENING LAST BEFORE I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN?

With good oral care, the procedure’s results may last over two years. Of course, those patients who smoke, drink dark teas and coffee are more likely to relapse sooner and require additional whitening sessions. These patients can benefit more from the At-Home system which provides steadier results.

ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVES TO IMPROVING MY SMILE OTHER THAN WHITENING MY TEETH?

We recommend you to consult your dentist if you have tooth-colored fillings, crowns or bonding in your front teeth, as it will not change the color of these materials, causing them to stand out in your newly whitened smile.

What is Veneers / Non Prep Veneers in Dentistry?

2. VEENERS/NON PREP VEENERS

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials intended to cover the front (facial) part of the teeth for improved appearance.

WHAT TYPES OF PROBLEMS DO DENTAL VENEERS FIX?

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

  • Discolored teeth that can be caused by root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; like the presence of large resin fillings.
  • Teeth that are worn down
  • Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
  • Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

Several visits are necessary to complete the treatment but the tooth preparation is minimal and confined to the enamel structure. The veneer is bonded to the tooth structure with tooth-colored resin cement. Patients should be aware that this is usually an irreversible process because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.

NO-PREP VENEERS

As the name indicates, this is a type of veneers which requires little or no preparation. There are two types of No-Prep Veneer:

  1. Lumineers
  2. Willie Geller Veneers – more natural looking and needs a highly skilled and well trained dental technician.
ADVANTAGES OF NO-PREP VENEERS

One session/sitting is enough for the completion of procedure as there is no need for you to undergo the preparation of tooth in readiness for the veneer. It preserves the tooth as well as saves you both time and money.

What is Fillings in Dentistry?

3. FILLINGS

Kannur Dental Care offers tooth colured fillings instead of usual silver/mercury fillings. It gives you a more natural look. Porcelain inlays and composite resins create fillings that are not only more attractive, but also add strength to the weakened teeth. These restorations are also quite durable and long-lasting.

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER WHITE FILLINGS ?

Rather than silver/mercury fillings, white filing has become more popular for its natural look. Many people choose this for aesthetic reasons when it comes to their dental treatment.

ARE WHITE FILLINGS AS GOOD AS SILVER AMALGAM FILLINGS?

White fillings have always been considered less long lasting than silver amalgam fillings. But now, there are new materials available with properties comparable to silver amalgam, which are proving to be very successful. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is placed in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. You can ask your dentist to explain about the life expectancy of your fillings.

IS IT WORTH REPLACING MY AMALGAM FILLINGS WITH WHITE ONES?

It is usually best to change fillings only when your dentist advises you to. If such a situation arises, you can ask to have it replaced with the tooth-colored material. White fillings are not always appropriate for teeth with large cavities. An alternative would be to place porcelain restorations such as inlays or crowns.

What is Crowns / Bridges in Dentistry?

4. CROWNS / BRIDGES

A crown or a bridge is a cap that is placed over a tooth and held in place by dental adhesive or dental cement to treat problems of decay, fractured teeth and malocclusion, as well as to protect teeth which have undergone root canal treatment or large fillings. They can also be used to change tooth color and shape.

PROCEDURE

The procedures of Crown tratments are completed in two visits.
On the first visit, the tooth will be reshaped by filing down the tooth so that the crown can be placed over it. You will be given a local anesthetic before this part of the procedure so that no discomfort is experienced. Next, a mold will be taken of that tooth and of the surrounding teeth to be sent to the lab for the crown fitting. A temporary crown will be placed until the permanent one is ready.
The second visit sees the placement of the final restoration and the permanent crown will be fitted comfortably into the mouth. Every effort will be made to ensure that the new tooth feels exactly like one of your natural teeth before going to the final step, which is to cement the crown into your mouth. Sometimes there needs a third visit to ensure that it is properly fit.

BRIDGE/FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE AND ITS TYPES

A bridge or fixed partial denture is planned when one or more teeth are missing and there are healthy teeth on both sides of the open space.

1. A FULL GOLD BRIDGE

The primary benefit of a full gold bridge is its durability. A full gold bridge is composed of gold and looks gold. We only use high noble metal for our gold bridges (about 72% gold or 18 carat gold, 3.5% platinum). High noble metal fits better and is much less likely to result in allergies or sensitivities. Full gold bridges are indicated on back teeth with low visibility.

3. PORCELAIN FUSED TO METAL (PFM)

Porcelain fused to metal (PFM) is a tooth-colored bridge with high strength. Unlike an all-ceramic bridge, the metal core of the PFM makes it stronger. Tooth-colored porcelain of the highest quality is baked on the outside of the metal core. But because there is metal under the porcelain, it blocks natural tooth translucency and is not as pretty (aesthetically) as an all-ceramic bridge.
However, ceramic bridges do not enjoy the longevity of PFMs. There are many different marginal configurations (the area where the bridge meets the tooth) of a PFM. How well the margin of the bridge fits, affects the health of the gums and ultimately the longevity of the bridge. We choose to do a porcelain butt margin, which is the most aesthetic option (also the most challenging for the dentist and the laboratory technicians to perform well). A porcelain butt joint, when done well, is aesthetic, healthy for the gums, and durable.

2. ALL-CERAMIC BRIDGE/ PROCELAIN WITH CERAMIC SUBSTRATE

An all-ceramic bridge or porcelain with ceramic substrate is the most aesthetically pleasing among all the bridges. As there is no metal, the translucency is usually excellent. These bridges are usually indicated on front teeth or teeth that are highly visible. We use only the best materials (a combination of beauty, biocompatibility, and strength) for our all-ceramic bridges.

What is Aesthetic Inlays / Onlays in Dentistry?

5. AESTHETIC INLAYS / ONLAYS

Nowadays, Aesthetic inlays / onlays are the common preference over traditional amalgam filling. Most people tend to choose natural coloured inlays and onlays as a replacement to their fillings for aesthetic reasons. An inlay or onlay is a type of material which is placed inside or over the surface of a decayed or damaged tooth and are seen as a good alternative to a crown. Placed to cover the top surface of the tooth, they are made from a variety of materials which resembles the natural color of your own teeth to make it more visually attractive.

BENEFITS OF AESTHETIC INLAYS AND ONLAYS

The main benefit is that they fit in very well with the rest of your teeth. The material used is ‘tooth coloured’ and has a realistic appearance, which is good news from a cosmetic point of view. This procedure is often part of an overall ‘smile makeover, in which various procedures are performed to enhance the appearance of teeth and provide a huge confidence boost. There is no risk of the inlays and onlays becoming discolored over time. They are also easy to clean as part of a daily dental routine and provide extra support for a tooth.

What is Anti-aging Cosmetic Dentistry?

6. ANTI-AGING COSMETIC DENTISTRY

A happy beginning is always associated with a healthy smile…Our teeth play a huge role in that. A perfect healthy white teeth closely related to your youth and vitality. It gives a perfect face frame and support. But as time passes, our teeth go through some wear and tear, and naturally turns yellow. Aging and tooth deterioration can lead to a shortened vertical face dimension, as the distance between the tip of our nose and the bottom of our chin gets smaller, resulting in wrinkles and compressed lips that can make you look older than you really are.
The loss of teeth also results in bone absorption, making your cheeks flat and inclined; giving you a bony look. The muscles are also weakened, and the temporo-orbital arches disappear. In the case of tooth bruxism during sleep, the wearing out of the teeth is much faster!

DENTAL FACE LIFT WORK

A dental face lift is an anti-aging method that focuses on your teeth to give you a much more youthful appearance. The process involves teeth restoration and a smile reconstruction, which involves improving the facial shape, profile and jaw line. Thin lips can appear fuller without artificial fillers, as they will be supported by your teeth. The face is lengthened, which automatically smooths out the wrinkles around your lips and the corners of your mouth.
All old fillings, crowns and decays are removed, your teeth are cleaned, and missing teeth are replaced with dental implants. Porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are also placed on teeth, offering impressive and lasting results.
A dental face lift will restore your cheerful smile, while assuring that your new teeth look completely natural; overall forming a much more youthful and attractive appearance, and offering all-important self-confidence.