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Harris Dental
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Harris Dental

Archive for December, 2009

Love Your Smile

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Many people in Phoenix think cosmetic dentistry is only for two groups of people: those with hideously disfigured teeth and those who are extremely vain. They couldn’t be more wrong! The idea of cosmetic dentistry is not to cater to the conceited or to make “ugly” people more beautiful, but to help every patient love his or her smile. Sometimes that means correcting a minor flaw in a single tooth; other times it means a complete dental makeover. Whatever the situation, there are many procedures the dentists at Harris Dental in Phoenix use to assist their patients in feeling more confident about their smiles.

The most common and least invasive procedure in the field of cosmetic dentistry is tooth whitening. This covers everything from cleaning stains off tooth enamel to lightening teeth by several shades. With several options to choose from, you can brighten your smile in whatever manner is most convenient for you. Some patients choose a take-home tooth whitening product, while others opt for a whitening procedure done at the dentist’s office. Either way, you can get exceptional results.

Veneers are another staple of cosmetic dentistry. Custom made veneers can be used to mask extreme discoloration, close gaps, and cover broken or chipped teeth. While some people choose to have veneers bonded to every tooth to completely change their appearance, most people get one or two veneers at a time to correct a minor misalignment or restore teeth that have been damaged.

Phoenix residents with serious dental concerns may be interested in another area of cosmetic dentistry: dental implants. These are an option for people with severely damaged, disfigured, lost or broken teeth, as well as for anyone who wants to dramatically change the look of their smile.

Regardless of the procedure used, cosmetic dentistry gives many people in Phoenix something to smile about!

Not Your Ordinary Veneers

Friday, December 18th, 2009

At Harris Dental in Phoenix, we use two different types of veneers to enhance our patients’ smiles. The first kind—traditional porcelain—is probably the most familiar. These are like porcelain facades for your teeth, and are used to cover up discolorations, chips, and many other dental issues. To apply them, your dentist must first prepare your teeth. That usually requires the removal of some tooth enamel by grinding or drilling in order to create a rough surface for the adhesive to cling to. Because veneers usually add some thickness, a tooth may also need to be slightly reshaped or thinned out so the veneer doesn’t overlap or protrude too far beyond the surrounding teeth. This prep work is usually done at the same time your dentist will take impressions from which the veneer will be created at a professional dental lab. Phoenix dentists have been using porcelain veneers like this for years, and until recently, they were the best option available to patients. Now there is an exciting new alternative for Harris Dental patients in Phoenix: DURAThin veneers.

DURAThin and traditional porcelain veneers are similar in many respects. Both types are hand-crafted specifically to match your own teeth, both in shape and color. Both are made of very strong, durable porcelain that is unlikely to stain or wear down. Both are intended to enhance your smile. The difference is that DURAThin, unlike other options, does not require the same prep work before application. That means your dentist can apply the veneer directly to your tooth rather than roughing up the tooth’s surface ahead of time. And because DURAThin veneers are so thin—similar to contact lenses—they add very little bulk to your original teeth. Schedule a consultation at Harris Dental in Phoenix to see how DURAThin can benefit you.

Why veneers?

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Veneers are a great choice for people in Phoenix who wish to correct dental issues such as slightly crooked teeth or permanently discolored enamel, especially for those who are squeamish about most dental procedures. Because very little of the tooth’s original structure is removed in preparation for applying veneers, the procedure requires minimal drilling and little or no local anesthesia.

While some orthodontic procedures can be extremely invasive and often take months or even years for teeth to be realigned, veneers provide a quick fix for smiles that are slightly uneven. They can be used to change the appearance of teeth to make them look straighter. For example, a gap between two teeth can sometimes be closed by applying veneers that are only slightly larger than the original teeth. In fact, in some cases where gaps have been created by undersized teeth rather than by misalignment, veneers are actually a better corrective option than traditional orthodontics. Chipped, broken, or teeth that have worn down over time can also be repaired through the use of veneers when the damage to the tooth is not too extensive.

Teeth that do not respond well to whitening procedures might also benefit from veneers. When teeth become discolored from the inside, or when heavy staining or color damage has occurred, traditional bleaching methods might not be effective. In such cases, a full set of veneers can be used to brighten smiles by several shades. Occasionally this happens to only one tooth instead, making it appear darker or more yellow than the other teeth. This kind of problem can be easily remedied by a single veneer that has been carefully matched to the surrounding teeth.

If you are looking to make your smile even more brilliant, call Harris Dental in Phoenix at 602-955-8600 to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. Find out if veneers are the right choice for you.

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