Smile Makeover Burbank, CA
Smile Makeover provided by Lawrence Toomin, DDS
and Mark Bieber, DDS
in Burbank, CA at Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry
What is it that you are looking for in a smile makeover? To improve your teeth's aesthetics or function? For such dental needs, a dentist will recommend an implant, crown, or a veneer.
All of these procedures are considered cosmetic dentistry services. Let's take a look at a look at these smile makeover options and the difference between them:
What Is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants help replace missing teeth. They are considered better than braces as they are permanent. Most implants are made of zirconium oxide or titanium. However, other materials are available, too, including:
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Ceramic
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Gold alloys
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Titanium alloys
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Cobalt-based alloys |
A dental implant surgery involves several steps. The replacement tooth is only placed after osseointegration - when the titanium post fuses with the jawbone.
What Is a Veneer?
Also called porcelain veneers, dental veneers are thin shells that help hide teeth stains. They are custom-made of two materials:
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Resin composite Porcelain |
Your tooth color, size, shape, and length are altered by the shells that are cemented to the front of them. Veneers help brighten teeth that have been discolored from:
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Excessive fluoride
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Stains from medications and beverages (coffee and wine)
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Root canal treatment |
What Is a Crown?
Unlike veneers that are for cosmetic enhancement, dental crowns help address tooth decay. Crowns are usually recommended for tooth restoration. They are around 2mm thick and cover the entire tooth. They come in three materials:
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All-Metal Alloy
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Porcelain
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Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) |
Major Differences Between Crowns and Veneers
Covered Area
The only surface dental veneers can cover to enhance a tooth's appearance is its outside.
In contrast, crowns completely encase the implant or the remaining natural tooth to prevent leaks. However, it must be adjusted to ensure the right fit for proper function.
As for dental implants, it covers the spot of a missing tooth.
Grinding Down the Teeth
This process involves grinding down a tooth's natural shape to ensure a veneer or crown fits properly when the prosthesis is fitted.
Before putting on a crown, the tooth must be ground down to a size of roughly two millimeters. With veneers, this isn't usually required.
Thanks to technological developments, veneers come in very thin sizes. They are similar to contact lenses. As a result, your teeth don't need to be filed down. However, if the fit is a little loose, the least reduction done is between 0.3 and 0.7 millimeters.
A dental implant surgery doesn't involve filing of your teeth. The process includes placing a titanium post and cementing it with an abutment. This connects the replacement tooth and the post.
Purpose
If all you want is a cosmetic makeover, veneers are a better option. They allow you to alter the size, shape, or color of teeth or if you have chipped a few, aiding in smile transformation.
On the other hand, crowns serve a more practical role. They are utilized when a tooth requires replacement due to serious damage, breakage, or loss.
Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth. Crowns are usually fitted after an implant surgery.
Placement
Veneers are bonded to the teeth – the lateral and upper central incisors. They are visible when you smile.
Crowns and implants are functional. Though they are for smile design, they go the extra mile and help with chewing. An implant is an artificial tooth placed in a gap, whereas a crown is a cap placed on molars and premolars.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is purely aesthetic dentistry. It helps address teeth stains and discoloration. There are three ways to whiten your teeth:
Store-Bought Products
Over the counter products are the best remedies to remove teeth stains. These include:
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Whitening strips
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Mouthwash
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Whitening toothpaste (These toothpastes contain a small amount of hydrogen peroxide that gradually removes stains.) |
After a few weeks of consistent application, your teeth could lighten a few shades.
Whitening Trays
Another approach is using whitening trays. The dentist first takes an impression of the teeth. They use this model to make a set of trays containing the whitening gel. The trays go over the patient's teeth, similar to mouthguards. Individuals who opt for treatment must wear the trays at night for a few weeks or months.
In-Office Whitening
Results from this approach come through faster. The patient's teeth can be whitened many shades ligghter. It will only take one or two visits for the treatment, each lasting an hour.
The dentist fills a mouthpiece with a whitening solution. This usually includes carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. The gel's components begin to act as soon as the mouthpiece is applied to the patient's teeth. The molecules in peroxide attack the teeth's surfaces and break down discoloration.
Results
Veneers, crowns, and dental implants can provide stunning, lifelike smiles. However, the outcomes of these treatments vary slightly. Dental implants are made to replace lost teeth, giving those who are missing or have damaged teeth a useful option. Crowns help save a partially decaying tooth and are somewhat similar to implants.
Veneers are generally applied to discolored, malformed, or spaced teeth to improve their appearance. Their primary goal is to improve appearance. However, they also improve dental function.
Safety Measures
It is important to take certain precautions:
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Maintain oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly
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Refrain opening bottles with your teeth (This might crack a veneer or chip a dental implant)
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Keep up with your dentist appointments
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Use mouthwash after every meal |
Making the Decision
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Veneers: Last anywhere between 10 and 30 years
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Implants: Last a lifetime
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Crowns: Have a lifespan of six to 15 years |
Let Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry Perform Your Smile Makeover
Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry offers restorative and cosmetic dentistry services. From restoring your smile to improving dental functions, we use state-of-the-art technology to ensure your smile stays bright and lasts longer. For more information, call (818) 748-9998 and schedule a consultation appointment. |