Cosmetic Dentistry Orange County | Huefner Sensational Smiles Blog

Serving Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Santa Margarita, and Surrounding Areas Of Orange County, California

Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Veneer Process

Porcelain veneers are a great option for those seeking a rapidly transformed smile. Customized shells of natural-looking material placed over the existing tooth, veneers can turn a so-so smile into a magnificent one through a relatively uncomplicated procedure. The dental veneer procedure generally requires three dental visits, one for a consultation with your dentist and two to create and place the veneers. The actual procedure requires several key steps: diagnosis and treatment plan, preparation and bonding. One tooth or many teeth may undergo the dental veneer process at any one time.

Diagnosis and treatment plan – During this stage, your dentist will perform a thorough dental exam to determine if dental veneers are the right solution for you. He or she will discuss all of the parameters surrounding dental implant placement. X-rays may also be taken at this time, and impressions might be made of your teeth and mouth.

Preparation – In preparing your tooth to receive the veneer, your dentist will remove about one-half millimeter thickness from the outside layer of your tooth or teeth. The veneer will be about the same thickness as the amount your dentist will remove. Often, a local anesthetic is used to keep you comfortable. Next, your dentist will make an impression of your tooth and send it to the dental lab where your veneer will be created. After 1-2 weeks, your dentist will have your veneer. Temporary dental veneers are available at an additional charge.

Bonding – After a careful fitting and placing process to make sure your tooth or teeth are positioned correctly, a special beam of light will activate chemicals in the veneer’s cement to cause it to rapidly harden. The final stages focus on removing excess cement and making certain your bite is perfect.

If you would like to learn more about porcelain veneers, please call (949) 495-6322 today to schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Norman Huefner.

posted by Patti at 9:55 AM

Monday, August 25, 2008

Why Teeth Darken

In my practice, I have noticed that most patients experience tooth discoloration as a natural part of aging. Sometimes this discoloration can even begin before we are born. But thanks to a host of modern cosmetic dentistry options, we can counteract the discoloration process.
Discoloration falls into to two general categories: intrinsic (inside the tooth) and extrinsic (outside the tooth). Intrinsic discoloration usually can’t be removed, but porcelain veneers are a great option to cover the discoloration.

Extrinsic Discoloration

Extrinsic staining is the “garden variety” of staining that most of us will experience in our lifetimes. Thankfully, this type of discoloration can be easily corrected with tooth whitening treatments and procedures. Sometimes, an extremely thorough, professiona1-level cleaning is all that is in order. Some causes of extrinsic staining include:
  • Getting older
  • Drinking and eating pigmented food and drink, including coffee, tea and berries
  • Some topically applied medications
  • Smoking
  • Plaque build up

Eroding Teeth Can Accentuate Staining

Tooth erosion can accelerate extrinsic staining by eroding tooth enamel and making it resist stains less effectively. Substances that erode or wear away tooth enamel include high chlorine in drinking water, soda drinks and stomach acids. Dental veneer placement and bonding procedures can correct areas that are worn.

If you would like to learn more about teeth whitening and you live in the Laguna Niguel, California area, please call (949) 495-6322 today to schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Norman Huefner.

posted by Patti at 9:53 AM

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Natural Smile Aesthetics

Natural smile aesthetics include a variety of cosmetic dentistry options that can give you the smile of your dreams. All of these techniques are available at my dental offices. As the nationally recognized dentist for both the Mrs. Globe Pageant and Mrs. U.S. Pageant, I am skilled at implementing the most leading-edge solutions available to create a more beautiful, confident you!

A few options include the following:

Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are shells placed over teeth and bonded to each tooth’s surface. Generally, dentists use porcelain veneers because they are durable and look very natural. Porcelain veneers don’t involve as much removal of the tooth’s surface as crown placement, so they are a bit more of a conservative approach. Veneers can be a solution for uneven, cracked and chipped teeth, delivering a great smile in a short period.

Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is a term that is used to refer to any type of material used to bond to an existing tooth. Bonding procedures can expertly correct cracked or chipped teeth, hide discolored teeth, or lessen gaps between teeth. While porcelain veneers or crowns remove varying degrees of the original tooth, bonding removes little to none.

Teeth Whitening
Inevitably, over a period of years, our teeth discolor and become yellowish. Substances like coffee, tea and tobacco can also play a key role, as can nerve degeneration. A host of whitening options exists, from in-home treatments to the very latest laser-whitening treatments performed at your dentist’s office.

These and other natural smile aesthetic treatments are available at my Laguna Niguel, California office (Dr. Norman Huefner). Please call (949) 495-6322 today to schedule an appointment with me. As a dental artist, I will work with you to identify the right treatment to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.

posted by Patti at 9:49 AM

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Different Smile Types

One of “the fundamental things in life,” smiles exist on this planet of ours in millions of unique varieties. From these, my field, dentistry, has managed to identify three basic smiles types; the vast majority of us fit into one of these three categories:

The Commissure Smile

Around 67%of the world’s population has a commissure smile, the most prevalent of smile types. To spot an individual with a commissure smile, note that the mouth’s corners pull up and outward and the muscles that raise the upper lip contract to reveal the front teeth. Some celebrities with easy-to-spot commissure smiles are Kate Hudson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mel Gibson and Dennis Quaid.

Cuspid Smile

Thirty-one percent of the world’s population manifests a cuspid smile. The shape of the lips can be associated with a diamond shape. The cuspid teeth appear first in a “cuspid smiler.” Next, the corners of the mouth pull up and out as in the commissure smile. However, the corners of the mouth are often lower than the top lips’ height. Celebrities exhibiting cuspid smiles are: Tiger Woods, Sharon Stone, Drew Barrymore and Tom Cruise.

The Complex Smile

Two percent of our planet’s population has the rare complex smile. The muscles of the upper lip, the muscles of the corners of the mouth, and the muscles of the lower lip contract simultaneously, showing all the upper and lower teeth at the same time. Celebrities that display this brilliant smile include Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.

If you are dissatisfied with your smile and live in the Laguna Niguel, California area, please call (949) 495-6322 today to schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Norman Huefner. As a dental artist, I will settle for nothing less than achieving the smile of your dreams.

posted by Patti at 9:44 AM

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Celebrities and Smiles Makeovers

Smile makeovers have turned attractive people into the beautiful people—the celebrities we all know and love. As a dentist to beauty pageant contestants, I’ve personally witnessed some remarkable transformations. It’s obvious that these makeovers can have a tremendous impact-- from increasing confidence in the average person to actually helping create movie stars. Here are just a few examples of celebrities who’ve undergone smile enhancements:

Elliot Yamin: Porcelain Veneers

An American Idol contestant once known for a fabulous voice and horrendous teeth, Yamin has now corrected the problem with porcelain veneers. His career has never soared to greater heights. Now, the total package is a much more attractive one.

Miley Cyrus: Porcelain Veneers

“Hannah Montana” is perhaps the biggest star for young girls these days. As she grew more and more popular, she decided to improve her less-than-perfect smile. She apparently has had both dental veneers placed and surgery to make her teeth appear longer and to show less gum when she smiles.

George Clooney: Porcelain Veneers, Crowns and Crown Lengthening

Clooney was a tooth grinder which was one reason he sought out cosmetic dentistry. In addition to having dental veneers placed, Clooney has also had crown lengthening surgery to raise the gum line and expose more teeth.

Keith Urban: Porcelain Veneers

Before stardom and his marriage to Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban’s teeth were anything but perfect. Urban had porcelain veneers placed to correct a large space between his front teeth. While the veneers did a great job enhancing his look, his dentist kept a little bit of his signature gap in front.

As the nationally recognized dentist for both the Mrs. Globe Pageant and Mrs. U.S. Pageants, I can help you attain a smile that can match those of the stars. If you live in the Laguna Niguel, California area, please call (949) 495-6322 today to schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Norman Huefner.

posted by Patti at 9:41 AM

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Problems Veneers Fix

In my dental office, I pride myself on performing dentistry for some of the world’s most beautiful people—beauty pageant winners! As the nationally recognized dentist for both the Mrs. Globe Pageant and Mrs. U.S. Pageants, I settle for nothing less than the smile of your dreams, and dental veneers are one great alternative for achieving this kind of smile.

Dental veneers are custom-designed shells of tooth-like ceramic material that, when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment, discoloration, or spacing and chips or cracks.

A tool of cosmetic dentistry, dental veneers are customized tooth coverings made from a ceramic substance. This material can correct a host of unsightly tooth problems, generally during the course of about three dental visits. Today’s veneers are more translucent and natural looking than veneers used in the past. Nowadays, veneers are created from a substance that mimics the way an actual tooth reflects light—so there’s no better time to make yours a beautiful smile!

If you are interested in improving or perfecting your smile and live in the Laguna Niguel, California area, please call (949) 495-6322 today to schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Norman Huefner. As a dental artist, I will settle for nothing less than achieving the smile of your dreams.

posted by Patti at 9:36 AM

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