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

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Cavities Forming Behind Veneers

Many people do not realize that it is possible to have cavities form behind your porcelain veneers. We all know that dental hygiene is very important in maintaining a healthy mouth and healthy teeth. In reality, it is even more important to take good care of your teeth if you have undergone any form of cosmetic dentistry. You have spent good money and time in your dentists' chair to improve your smile. Why wouldn't you take care of it?

Tooth decay is always a possibility. Porcelain won't decay, but any area of the tooth that isn't covered by the veneer is still susceptible to cavities. The area at the edge of the veneer is more susceptible to decay than any other part of the tooth because it is harder to keep that area clean and free of bacteria.

Avoiding Damage to Veneered Teeth
There are steps you can take to avoid damage to your veneers and the teeth they are bonded to. Some of these include:
  • Avoid frequent alcohol consumption. Alcohol can dissolve the bonding material that adheres the porcelain to the tooth. This includes mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
  • Avoid regular toothpastes that may be too abrasive for your dental work. Ask Dr. Huefner which toothpastes are best.
  • Avoid hard impacts and sharp objects and wear a mouth guard if you tend to grind your teeth or take part in contact sports regularly.
  • Be sure to avoid snacking if you cannot brush and floss immediately after eating or drinking anything that can leave food particles on your teeth.
  • Brush and floss regularly and carefully. Take extra care in the areas at the edges of your veneers.

If you plan to have professional tooth maintenance procedures performed on your veneered teeth, be sure your dental hygienist knows the proper procedures and tools to use. Otherwise, your veneers can be damaged. You have invested too much in your new smile to have it ruined. To learn more about cavities and porcelain veneers, please contact Dr. Norman Huefner today.

posted by Patti at 10:46 AM

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Instant Orthodontics

Through instant orthodontics, your cosmetic dentist can transform your unsatisfactory smile into one you will be proud to show the world. If you suffer from teeth that are uneven, crooked, misshapen or discolored, instant orthodontics may be the answer for you.

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain material that are adhered to the fronts of your teeth. They look and feel like your own natural teeth and can even be colored to match the color of your other teeth. Through the use of porcelain veneers, your teeth can be changed in the following ways:
  • Length
  • Width
  • Shape
  • Color
  • Size

Cracks and chips can also be hidden by the use of veneers. Porcelain veneers offer a painless, faster answer to traditional orthodontic practices. Your cosmetic dentist will take an impression of your teeth to ensure that your new veneers will fit precisely. Once your veneers have been created, your teeth are prepared and the veneers are bonded to the fronts of them.

You may experience some mild tenderness in your gums for a couple of days after your procedure that is treatable with traditional over-the-counter medications like anti-inflammatories. This is minor compared to the months and years of adjustments and re-adjustments traditional orthodontics require for optimum results. To learn more about instant orthodontics and porcelain veneers, please contact Dr. Norman Huefner today.

posted by Patti at 10:44 AM

Monday, September 22, 2008

The Art and Science of Porcelain Veneers

Cosmetic dentistry is truly a combination of art and science performed to improve the appearance and quality of life of dental patients. People who have often suffered for years with unattractive and embarrassing smiles are more and more commonly able to do something about it by depending on the skills of their cosmetic dentist and the latest advances in the use of porcelain veneers.

The Art
The creation of porcelain veneers as an art form requires a certain amount of inherent talent and skill on the part of the cosmetic dentist. Creating images of the potential improvements that can be made to a person's appearance through the application of veneers and manifesting those images into actual physical improvements can change a patient's life forever. It takes artistic skill to determine which cosmetic changes will be of the most benefit to the patient once the procedure is completed, and to create a smile design that matches those changes with the shape of the face and style of smile of the person.

The Science
Cosmetic dentistry has evolved over the years as technology has improved and expanded. A skilled cosmetic dentist combines education and technology and uses them to redesign and improve upon the lives of their patients through recommending methods to improve the patient's smile, which in turn improves the person's overall appearance and sense of self-esteem. Today's science offers new advances in cosmetic dentistry technology--including higher strength ceramics and better color matching with dental bonding that binds the veneer to the tooth--that allow Dr. Huefner to offer his patients better smiles than ever before.

To learn more about the art and science of porcelain veneers, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Norman Huefner today to learn how he can help you.

posted by Patti at 10:38 AM

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Veneers vs. Crowns

Veneers and crowns are both dental prosthetics used to correct cosmetic and functional dental problems, but they are otherwise very different.

Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells made of porcelain that are bonded to the fronts of your existing teeth. They are used to improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth by hiding:
  • Stains
  • Discoloration
  • Chips
  • Cracks
  • Wear
  • Misaligned and crooked teeth

The use of veneers offers you natural looking teeth that are resistant to staining and discoloration. Although porcelain is brittle on its own, when bonded to a strong surface such as tooth enamel, it becomes very durable and long lasting, and can even increase the strength of teeth weakened by damage and decay.

Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that is permanently placed over a tooth to cover that tooth and restore its strength, shape, size and appearance. Crowns can be made from different types of materials such as metal, partial porcelain, all resin, and all porcelain. Which material is used depends on your needs and preferences and Dr. Huefner will make appropriate recommendations.

A dental crown is usually recommended for one or more of the following reasons:
  • To cover dental implants
  • To protect a tooth after an endodontic treatment
  • To support and cover teeth that have large fillings without a lot of tooth left
  • To protect weak or cracked teeth
  • To repair worn or broken teeth
  • To cover discolored and misshapen teeth
  • To add strength to a dental bridge and hold it in place

In order to determine which will best suit your needs veneers or crowns, please contact Dr. Norman Huefner today to learn more.

posted by Patti at 10:33 AM

Friday, September 12, 2008

Material of Veneers

Porcelain veneers can be used to conceal a variety of dental woes, creating a more attractive, more confident you. Two primary materials are utilized: porcelain and composite resin. When considering dental veneer placement, take some time to research the materials involved. I would be happy to discuss these alternatives with you and determine the best choice to meet your dental enhancement goals.

Advantages of Porcelain
Porcelain veneers have numerous advantages when compared to composite resin veneers:
  • They are extremely durable and can last for as long as 15 years if you take proper care of your teeth and avoid biting down on hard objects, such as ice.
  • They look very natural. Porcelain is translucent so that when light hits it, it mimics the way an actual tooth responds, promoting a highly natural appearance.
  • They resist discoloration. Porcelain is a smooth surface that does not easily pick up stains from food, drink, tobacco, etc.
  • Porcelain veneers leave a substantial amount of your original tooth structure in place, if not all of it.

Advantages of Composite Resin
However, porcelain veneers do have some disadvantages when compared to composite resin:
  • Porcelain veneers are created in a dental lab, and as such, require at least two dental visits. Composite resin veneers are fitted in just one visit.
  • Porcelain veneers are more costly than composite veneers. Porcelain veneer placement takes more time, skill and materials and thus costs more.
  • If porcelain veneers break, they must be replaced. This is not always the case for composite resin veneers.

If you’re considering porcelain veneers and 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 11:35 AM

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Lumineers vs. Traditional Veneers

While traditional porcelain veneers are still a terrific way to dramatically improve your smile, a new alternative has appeared that also offers fantastic smile enhancement—with some unique advantages.

Lumineers offer the same kind of correction as traditional veneers. In other words, if you have cracked teeth, crooked teeth, chipped or discolored teeth, Lumineers is one painless way to correct them. I can help you sort through the plusses and minuses of Lumineers during a personal consultation.

Less Pain Involved
Lumineers, made from cerinate porcelain, are porcelain veneers that are as thin as contact lenses. Unlike traditional veneers that require your dentist to shave away a portion of your original tooth to allow for veneer placement, Lumineers are placed without the removal of any portion of the original tooth or teeth. Thus, Lumineers eliminate a somewhat painful portion of the traditional veneer placement process. They can also be placed over dental work, such as crowns and bridges.

Completely Reversible
Another advantage of Lumineers is that the procedure is completely reversible. Since your original teeth are still in place and have not been ground down, Lumineers can be removed at any time.

Some Things to Consider
Sometimes dentists prefer to use traditional veneers because they believe the grinding down process allows them to create a better finished product, i.e., smile.
Also, because teeth are not ground down, lumps and bumps can still exist on their surface under the Lumineers; this can lead to gum irritation and even tooth decay.

Finally the Lumineers application process takes just 2-3 dental visits and Lumineers have been proven to last over 20 years—and they cost a little less than traditional veneers.

If you’re considering Lumineers or traditional porcelain veneers and 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 11:33 AM

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