Harris Dental Cosmetic Dentistry Phoenix Arizona - Blog

Whiten your teeth, help a child

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:13:40 +0000

How often do you get the opportunity to help other people by doing something great for yourself? Not very often, right? Well here’s your chance! Right now you can make a huge difference in the lives of children in our community and around the world just by getting your teeth whitened.

Starting this month and continuing through June, Harris Dental will be participating in the Smiles for Life Campaign. Our team of experienced cosmetic dentists is offering professional teeth whitening services at a greatly reduced cost to you. During the campaign, 100 percent of the funds raised at Harris Dental will be donated to children’s charities. Half will be presented to a local charity here in Phoenix; the rest will be given to the Smiles for Life Foundation to distribute to other worthy causes.

The Smiles for Life Foundation is a charitable program created and run by the Crown Council, an association of some of the top dentists in North America. The campaign spans a four month time period each year. When it is over, all of the proceeds are donated to children’s charities across the United States and Canada. Since the first campaign in 1998, the Smiles for Life Foundation has been able to raise over $27 million, benefitting nearly 500 charitable organizations, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, Smiles for Hope, the Kids Cancer Care Foundation, and more.

How does it work? The entire Harris Dental team is donating all of our services during this campaign. Additionally, all the products that will be used to whiten your teeth have been graciously provided by Discus Dental. That means every penny earned will go toward helping seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children here in Phoenix and across the globe.

If you would like to participate, all you need to do is contact us to schedule a free teeth whitening consultation. At that time, we will take a few minutes to determine if you are a good candidate for a whitening procedure. Then we can get started on brightening your smile right away.

Not only are the professional teeth whitening services offered here at Harris Dental in Phoenix fast, easy, and comfortable, but now you get the added benefit of knowing you are helping a child in need. Whitening your teeth has never felt better!

Even if you’ve already had your teeth whitened, you can still contribute by giving someone else the gift of a brighter smile. Either call our office to arrange for a friend or family member to receive a professional teeth whitening as a gift from you, or simply pass the word along to everyone you know. The more awareness we create about Smiles for Life, the more money we can raise to help the children.

Call us today at 602-955-8600 to schedule your appointment and make a difference in the life of a child.

Becoming a Cosmetic Dentist

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:22 +0000

Some people in Phoenix might wonder how a person gets into cosmetic dentistry as a career. The pursuit this profession begins with obtaining a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Many Phoenix residents who intend to have a career in cosmetic dentistry will choose a science based major, such as biology or human anatomy, while others lean more toward other fields, such as psychology, nutrition, or engineering. Whatever major they choose, future dental students should take pre-dental courses (including chemistry, biology, and physics) in order to prepare for and be accepted by the dental school of their choice. They will also be required to take an entry exam called the DAT (dental admissions test) before they can apply for dental schools. Good grades and a high score on the DAT are important, since dental school admissions can be very competitive. Once accepted to dental school, a new student will spend at least four years learning about dentistry (cosmetic and otherwise) and medicine, both in a classroom setting and through hands on clinical training. After such rigorous training, students will then take a licensing exam. They may also be required to take an ethics exam before being allowed to practice cosmetic dentistry in the state of their choice. If they pass both of these tests, students receive licensure to begin working in their chosen field of study.

Drs. Joseph, Brian, Eric, and

Scott Harris of Harris Dental in Phoenix each attended the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry to receive their D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree. The doctors continue to increase their knowledge about cosmetic dentistry through joining certain dental organizations, taking continuing education classes, and receiving specialized training. You can read more about Drs. Harris under the “Our Team” link on our website.

Dental Implant Vocabulary

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:02 +0000

When Phoenix residents choose to get dental implants, they may not always know what their dentists are talking about when they throw out terms like “osseointegration” or “bone graft.” Here are some important definitions to help you better understand your dentist when discussing dental implants.

Bridge: A bridge is a group of several artificial teeth that are connected to one another. If a Phoenix patient wants to replace or restore a group of teeth, the use of a bridge is usually recommended. This way several teeth can be attached to a smaller number of implanted roots.

Bone Graft: Occasionally a patient will not have enough healthy bone in his or her jaw to support dental implants. When this happens, the patient will need to receive a bone graft. It is a type of transplant, where additional bone (synthetic or natural) is surgically connected to the existing bone to create a more stable foundation for the implant.

Osseointegration: The prefix “osseo” means “bone,” so when we talk about osseointegration, we are referring to something—in this case a titanium screw—being integrated or included into a bone. Bone can grow so closely around titanium that they actually merge together. This is what makes your dental implants permanent.

Restoration: Sometimes when we talk about artificial teeth, we call them restorations. And that is essentially what they are: something to restore your teeth to their most beautiful state.

Titanium: Most metals do not fuse well with living bone tissue. Titanium does. In fact, it fuses so well that it effectively becomes a part of the bone that would be extremely difficult to remove. Titanium is an excellent material to use to create strong roots for individual restorations and bridges.

Harris Dental is proud of the quality implant dentistry work we have done for our patients in the Phoenix area, but don’t take our word for it, read what our patients have to say by visiting our testimonials page. Find out more about dental implants by calling Harris Dental in Phoenix today!

Benefits of Invisalign

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:55:19 +0000

Invisalign does not just straighten teeth; it provides Phoenix patients with other benefits not usually associated with traditional metal braces, including greater comfort and improved dental health. When fixed appliances are adjusted approximately every six weeks they apply a great deal of force on teeth. For many patients, that pressure causes sore jaws, tender gums, sensitive teeth, and/or headaches. This is not usually a problem for Invisalign patients. They transition from one aligner to the next every two or three weeks as teeth are gradually shifted into place. This usually means that less force is applied by a new aligner than by an adjustment to traditional metal braces. Less force means less discomfort for you.

Patients in Phoenix who wear traditional metal braces must learn to brush and floss around the brackets and wires used to straighten teeth. This can be quite challenging, sometimes requiring special tools to clean between and around the appliances. If patients are not thorough and consistent with their dental hygiene, cavities can form between teeth, under wires, and close to brackets. Invisalign users, on the other hand, do not need to make significant changes to their dental hygiene routine. The aligners are removable, allowing for regular brushing and flossing.

The use of Invisalign to straighten teeth may actually be helpful in preventing cavities, since patients are encouraged to clean both the aligner and their teeth every time they remove and reinsert the aligner. Invisalign also allows dentists to take regular accurate x-rays, a procedure not available to patients with fixed braces. Metal appliances can interfere with accurate x-ray readings, masking cavities or weak enamel that might have been detected if the braces were not in the way. Removable aligners allow dentists to evaluate x-rays—and take measures to prevent further tooth decay—without interference. Contact Harris Dental in Phoenix to learn more about how Invisalign can benefit you.

A Makeover for Your Smile!

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:56:47 +0000

cosmetic (adj.): serving to beautify; imparting or improving beauty

Many women in Phoenix use cosmetics such as lipstick and eye shadow to enhance their natural beauty. Cosmetic dentistry can be used to enhance your smile in much the same way. By highlighting the best parts of your smile and tweaking those aspects that might benefit from a few adjustments, cosmetic dentistry can help impart or improve the beauty of your teeth. While you might keep mascara and lip gloss in your makeup bag, dentists use other tools. Individually crafted veneers, Invisalign invisible braces, tooth whitening procedures, and other restoration techniques are all part of the cosmetic dentistry toolkit. But it’s not the tools themselves that make the difference; it’s the way they are applied. Drs. Joe, Brian, Eric, and Scott Harris are experienced “smile beauticians” and know just how to bring out the natural beauty in your smile.

Some traditional makeovers are subtle, involving a dab or two of concealer and a hint of blush. Others are more dramatic, using an entire palette of makeup to contour eyes and cheekbones until you see a stunning face that is almost unrecognizable. Smile makeovers can be similarly subtle or dramatic. While some Phoenix patients may want a simple whitening procedure, others might be interested in a full set of veneers to completely change the look of their teeth. Your smile is one of a kind, and at Harris Dental in Phoenix, the treatment you receive will be too. Our goal is not to create hundreds of identical smiles but to enhance the unique beauty of each one.

Whether you want to straighten, whiten, or otherwise beautify your smile, we at Harris Dental in Phoenix can help you. Call us at 602-955-8600 for a smile makeover consultation today!

Titanium Implants

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:00:11 +0000

In 1952, a Swedish professor named Per-Ingvar Brånemark made a scientific breakthrough that significantly changed the way Phoenix dentists install dental implants. At the time, Brånemark wasn’t thinking about dental implants at all; instead, he was attempting a study about blood flow in the bones of rabbits. He had placed small titanium devices into the femurs of several rabbits for the duration of his experiment. When he had completed his research, however, he discovered that he couldn’t remove the devices. After some close investigation and more experiments, he learned that living bones will grow so closely around titanium that the two substances practically fuse together. Brånemark called this phenomenon osseointegration. He quickly realized what kind of effect his discovery could have on the medical world, particularly in the field of dental implants. Up until this time, they had required extensive surgery and many Phoenix dentists considered them to be hazardous to their patients’ oral health. With the discovery of osseointegration (and the confirmation of this discovery by several independent researchers) dental implants became much safer and more permanent, and are now a standard part of most dental training curriculum.

At Harris Dental in Phoenix, patients still benefit from Dr. Brånemark’s research. When you receive new dental implants, your dentist will first take an x-ray to determine whether there is enough bone in the area to act as a foundation for the artificial root. This root is essentially a titanium screw which serves as an anchor for the restoration tooth, much like the roots of natural teeth do. Once the new root has had some time to heal and integrate with the bone, your dentist will attach a permanent replacement tooth or bridge of teeth to the titanium. Because the titanium root fuses with your existing bone, the replacement tooth will then be a permanent part of your smile.

Invisalign: Better Than Braces

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:00:46 +0000

Brace face. Railroad tracks. Metal mouth. For most people in Phoenix, the word “braces” reminds them of grade school teasing and unkind nicknames. Fortunately for anyone with crooked teeth, braces have changed dramatically since the days of awkward metal brackets and unwieldy wires. Invisalign is a great alternative to that childhood horror. The reason for this is obvious: the Invisalign teeth aligners are both transparent (so nobody will notice you’re wearing them) and removable (so you can take them out as needed). That means you won’t have to try to floss around wires or avoid sticky foods until your teeth are perfect. The Invisalign procedure is especially popular among Phoenix adults who want to avoid the stigma of wearing traditional braces, which is understandable. It’s much easier to take your boss seriously when aren’t reminded of junior high every time she smiles!

The way Invisalign works is simple. Your dentist will start by taking impressions and x-rays of your teeth. These will be used to create a series of clear plastic aligners which are designed to progressively guide your teeth into alignment. You would wear one aligner until your teeth have shifted sufficiently to begin using the next one. The aligners need to be worn for at least 20 hours every day, but should be removed when you eat, drink, and brush your teeth. Make sure you don’t lose your aligner when you take it out, though, because several months of straightening can be undone in a matter of days. Once you have completed the series and are happy with the results of Invisalign, your dentist will probably ask you to wear a retainer while you sleep to ensure that your teeth’s new alignment is permanent. On average, the whole process takes about a year. Contact Harris Dental in Phoenix to find out if Invisalign is right for you!

Nuts and Bolts of Dental Implants

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:00:48 +0000

When people in Phoenix lose a tooth or several teeth, they have a few options. They can leave the unsightly gap alone, they can fill it with removable dentures, or they can get dental implants. The most permanent and natural-looking option is dental implants. Rather than using an unreliable bonding agent to adhere false teeth to gums, dental implants are very similar to real teeth because they are permanently affixed to your jaw. They’re just made of titanium roots and porcelain caps instead of dentin and enamel! The unique properties of titanium make it an ideal material for making dental implants. When this metal is “grafted” into live bone, the bone grows so closely around it that the two are essentially fused together. Dental implants are used by Phoenix dentists as anchors for a single prosthetic tooth, a bridge with several false teeth, or even a full set of dentures.

Circumstances must be just right for dental implants to work. First, there must be sufficient bone in the jaw where the implant will be placed, and that bone must be fairly strong since it needs to both hold and support the implant. If the area is not strong or large enough, a bone graft could be used to supplement the existing bone. Next, the surrounding teeth, gums, and other tissues should be healthy in order to prevent complications. Finally, your Phoenix dentist will need to know if you ever grind or clench your teeth. Because these habits cause undue stress on your teeth and jaws, they could have a negative impact on your dental implants. If this could be a concern for you, be sure to discuss it with your dentist when you come to Harris Dental in Phoenix for a consultation.

Love Your Smile

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:00:07 +0000

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

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:00:29 +0000

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.