Category: Dentures

Thinking About Lumineers – Here’s How You Can Make Your Investment Last Long

Lumineers are a unique kind of dental veneer, and except for the fact that they are also used to make your imperfect teeth look better than before, there is nothing common between them. While dental veneers require cutting a small portion of affected teeth to make a base for veneers, Lumineers don’t need any such modifications. This does make many wonder – how long do veneers last, or are they worth the price?

Let’s discuss.

What Exactly are Lumineers

Lumineers are ultra-thin veneers made of porcelain, a material known for its sturdiness and durability. Their thinness allows them to be placed and bonded right in the front of your affected tooth without the need for any support. This also means that unlike conventional dental veneers, Lumineers can also be removed or replaced as and when needed. The procedure also takes less time and is rather convenient to undergo. Those who have uneven teeth, misaligned teeth, or discolored teeth are the ideal candidates to undergo this unique and effective cosmetic procedure.

How Long Can Lumineers Last?

Depending on how you care for them, Lumineers can last anywhere between a few years to about 20 years. While lasting for a couple of decades isn’t what Lumineers are made for, given their ultra-thin structure, with proper care and a strict lifestyle you can actually make it happen too. Discuss your needs with your dentist who can always suggest if Lumineers are the way to go for you, and how you can make the best use of these amazing marvels.

How Can You Make Lumineers Last Longer

Take Proper Care of Your Oral Hygiene: Caring for your oral health is paramount not just for Lumineers but for your entire set of teeth too. You just have to keep brushing and flossing as usual, along with an antiseptic mouthwash, which will do more than enough to keep your Lumineers clean and going for a long while.

Eat and Drink Healthy: Not biting your nails or gritting once in a while is strongly recommended with Lumineers. With that, you must also ensure that you eat foods that aren’t too hard to chew, or drinks that do not stain your Lumineers. These require you to make some tough lifestyle changes, but in time you will find that these efforts will be worth the sacrifice.

Get Regular Check-ups Done: Lumineers need to be assessed for any kind of damage every once in a while. These visits will also give your dentist to determine the overall health of your teeth and gums, and if there is anything that needs to be fixed. All of these also contribute greatly towards making your Lumineers last longer.

Trust Only the Best Dentist: The expertise and skills of your dentist will matter the most, especially when dealing with something as fragile-looking as Lumineers. Always ensure that you get only the best dentist to work on your teeth and bond the Lumineers with them. The outcome will certainly be over and above your expectations.

When Must You Replace Veneers

There are signs that can show up despite your best care after a few years. These include noticeable stains that just won’t go away, cracks or breaks on the surface, or Lumineers coming off altogether. Even then, you must not attempt to take them off yourself. Visit your dentist, consult them, and then decide if it’s time to get them replaced, or if there is still some time for you to keep using them.

Lumineers are indeed a worthy investment if you take proper care of them. All you have to do is ensure that you do not eat or drink anything that can harm or stain their surface. You must also get them checked on time, which will help you know if anything is harming them and how you can avoid that. These alone will let you keep the same set of Lumineers for several years. Also, get them replaced when they have taken enough surface damage, because ultimately you will not want to compromise your dental health above anything.

Speak to your dentist and give your teeth an uplift with the new age Lumineers today.

How Dental Veneer Care Kits are Better than Standard Oral Care Products

It takes something as little as a gentle push to lose your balance and hit the ground or some other hard surface face first. That one little incident can end up breaking a tooth or two of yours then and there. These chipped broken teeth never heal, making you lose that charming smile. But this is exactly why you can go for dental veneers that hide affected teeth and restore your smile within a few weeks!

Dental veneers come in all shapes and sizes. These are based on your very own teeth, which is why they also look and feel the same. They do have certain limitations, though, which is why it becomes necessary for you to take proper care of them. You could always use conventional oral care methods for the upkeep. But, veneers are special devices that need special care, which is why you have to get yourself veneer care kits.

You may be thinking, how are the two different? Let’s discuss.

Maintaining Oral Hygiene

Brushing with regular fluoride toothpaste and flossing conventionally may work wonders for your natural teeth and gums. However, for veneers, these very conventional dental care products would be too rough to handle. What you would need instead would be some specialized dental care products that can specifically clean porcelain surfaces (veneers are mostly made of porcelain), and can even remove any stains accumulated on the surface. A non-abrasive toothpaste that prevents wear and tear of dental veneers over time would be the most ideal pick to go with.

Whitening Your Teeth

One of the reasons why you would get veneers for your affected tooth will be to make sure that your entire set looks perfect when you are ready to show it. This means you will need sparkly white teeth, which are very difficult to maintain anyway. You can go for conventional teeth whitening procedures for your actual teeth, but for veneers, you will need gentle cleaners that only intend to make their surface appear polished and shiny. That is all you will need the whitening agents to do for your veneers. Nothing more, nothing less!

Using Specific Toothbrushes

Just like toothpaste, you will need non abrasive or softer brushes to clean the surface of dental veneers. Veneer care kits come equipped with specialized silicone-based brushes along with certain polishing tools that work softly on the veneer surfaces and leave no scratch there despite repetitive usage. So, if you want your dental veneers to last for a long in their perfect shape, these brushes and tools are exactly what you will need.

Retaining Gum Health

Conventional dental care products have just one purpose most of the time – clean the tooth and the gums and do away with any cavity and plaque build-up. They do nothing for gum health, which starts receding over time due to a lack of proper care. When you use dental veneers, you have to depend a lot on the health of these very gums, which is why you get specific gum care products that cause no damage or irritation despite using them over and over.

Maintaining for a Long Time

Dental veneers are a great way to hide all your dental imperfections. However, they need an equivalent amount of care from you to stay in their top shape. Dental visits are definitely necessary now and then, but what you need more of is to take proper care of them and ensure that you use them correctly. You could always look for polishing and protective agents that prolong your veneers’ lifecycle, while also making them appear just like your wonderful natural teeth.

Dental veneers are indeed worth every penny you spend on them. They do need special care for the upkeep, but the cost difference isn’t too high to burn a hole in your pocket. Your dentist can always advise you on how you can use these veneer care kits to get the best out of them. You can ask your dentist for recommendations, and they are certain to oblige.

Go ahead and get your set of dental veneers along with the veneer care kit today. You won’t regret it!

Why These Five Potential Dental Veneer Risks Should Not Concern You

Dental veneers give you a great option to hide any problems related to your teeth with something that makes your entire set of teeth appear perfect. These resemble your natural teeth, and are always based on their natural appearance. Dentists put in all the efforts to ensure that you can always accept veneers as an upgrade for your broken, stained, chipped, or gapped teeth, and not as any regular dental accessory. Besides, dental veneers also give more strength to your teeth, aiding in biting and chewing and enjoying your food to the fullest.

At the same time, because they aren’t your natural teeth, you could very well have your reservations about that. You are not alone in thinking along those lines. As a matter of fact, there are many concerns that people around the world have regarding dental veneers. The truth is, none of those concerns hold weight. Here’s how.

· Tooth Sensitivity: Tooth sensitivity is real and can affect anyone who has weak tooth enamel. Since dental veneers require shaving off a small bit of this enamel, many believe that this harms your teeth. The reality is that this small shaved portion is next to negligible and does not harm your tooth at all. Instead, this helps set up the base for dental veneers that will improve your teeth’s overall functionality. Having said that, you would experience some form of sensitivity because your teeth will be operated upon, but it will be bearable and will subside within a few weeks, if not sooner.

· Irreversible Procedure: People believe that since dental veneers require removing a portion of enamel, it’s irreversible. While this is true, your teeth are instead covered by a porcelain-based dental veneer that will be sturdier and will continue to serve you over the next several decades. After that, even if you have to replace the veneers, you can get that done easily for the next several decades again. With your teeth getting an enhanced sense of strength, why would you even want to consider losing a small portion of your affected teeth anyway?

· Veneers Getting Damaged: Some also believe that dental veneers can get damaged rather easily, and so have to be taken care of at all times. This is not true, for despite their thin shape, dental veneers are made of porcelain, which is a very sturdy material and can easily withstand normal chewing and biting. You must only not try to bite certain hard materials that you wouldn’t do with your other teeth too anyway. Other than that, you just have to brush and floss your teeth as always, which will also help keep your dental veneers in their best shape over several decades.

· Gum Irritation: Dental veneers are an external enhancement, and so if not fitted correctly can cause a lot of gum irritation. This is one of the most important reasons why you must approach a highly experienced dentist to install dental veneers over your affected teeth. With their understanding of the right material and how to execute the procedure to perfection, you will not have to worry about gum irritation at all.

· Teeth Color Not Matching: Dental veneers are manufactured after careful assessment of your teeth. So, unless your dentist doesn’t understand the very process of installing them, there is no way they would not base them on your actual teeth, in terms of shape, size, and color. Once you have them in your mouth, even you won’t be able to tell the difference after a while.

 

While it’s good to have your doubts about something you have never used before, dental veneers definitely do not fit into that category. These amazing dental cosmetic devices have been devised after a lot of research and trials. All these alone make them a great choice for all those who are not happy with how their teeth look and want to enhance their appearance. Dental veneers give you that one-way ticket to get your smile back and flaunt it like you don’t care anymore.

Speak to your dentist about any other concerns you may have about dental veneers today. By the end of the day, you would come to appreciate the many benefits associated with dental veneers instead. Give your dentist a call today to get started.

Cosmetic Dentistry – What It is and Everything You Must Know About It

As the name suggests, cosmetic dentistry is all about making your teeth and smile look flawless. Over the years, this field has evolved rapidly, diversifying into multiple procedures that cater to one’s specific needs. The most commonly known cosmetic dentistry procedures include teeth whitening, restoring lost teeth through dental implants, and even implanting dental veneers to hide all teeth imperfections.

All in all cosmetic dentistry works on your teeth and gums and ensures that you never have to face any issue related to them. It must be noted that while cosmetic dentistry involves surgical invasions, it is all elective and not mandatory at all. Only those who willingly wish to undergo the different procedures to make their teeth and smile look great can choose to undergo these.

Some of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures include:

1. Dental Implants: Those who are missing a tooth or two can always choose to get new artificial teeth installed in their jaw. The best way to get that done is through dental implants. Once installed, these dental implants look just like your natural teeth and have a rather high durability too.

2. Dental Veneers: Dental veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover the chipped, gapped, broken, or discolored teeth from the front, making your entire set of teeth look visually appealing. These often last for a long time too with some level of care.

3. Invisalign: Invisaligners are one of the most advanced modern-day dental solutions that have completely replaced conventional braces. These teeth aligners are invisible and can be custom-made to fit right above your teeth. While on the outside no one can even notice that you are wearing invisaligners, they will continue to work their magic, aligning your teeth to perfection one by one.

4. Gum Reshaping: It is not so uncommon to have uneven gums or more than necessary gum tissues. Gum reshaping procedure, also known as gum contouring, works towards correcting these gum issues, while causing minimal discomfort to you.

5. Teeth Whitening: There are many ways to whiten your teeth – you can use in-home DIY kits, or you can visit a clinic and have your dentist do it for you. You can also follow certain dentist-recommended measures, as well as use specific teeth whitening toothpaste to obtain desired results. The results and time taken to get them will always vary.

6. Dental Bonding: A rather less expensive procedure than dental veneers, dental bonding also works towards applying resin to repair cracks, chips, or gaps in your teeth. This resin is tooth-colored and can be applied within a single dental visit. While the result may not be long-lasting, the immediate results are quite impressive.

Why Cosmetic Dentistry is in Demand

· The Wish to Look Great: Everyone wants to look great, and teeth play a major role in making that possible. With cosmetic dentistry, you have an option that can actually make this a reality.

· Minimally Invasive Procedures: The procedures deliver the results you want, without doing any of the extensive surgical procedures. The procedures are safe, resourceful, and can deliver long-lasting results within fewer visits.

· Proven Results with Advanced Technology: Cosmetic dentistry makes use of modern technology to deliver exceptional results. You can always ask your dentist to show you how it’s done before getting started.

· Social Media Promotions: Social media has also played a major role in ensuring that everyone knows the pros and cons of such procedures, and why the former outweighs the latter by a mile.

Cosmetic dentistry empowers you to make your teeth and smile look great again just like that. Your dentist can always help you identify the best measures to fix your tooth imperfections and deliver the desired outcome as soon as possible. For a few, the procedures may take a bit longer, but the results will definitely be worth the wait.

Speak to your nearest dentist today to learn more.

How to stop gagging with dentures?

Getting adjusted to new dentures can be a roller coaster, and gagging is a common bump on that ride. But fear not, fellow denture wearer! Here are some tips to help you quell the gag reflex and enjoy a more comfortable experience:

Fit First:

  • Consult your dentist: The most crucial step is ensuring your dentures fit properly. An ill-fitting denture can irritate sensitive areas in your mouth, triggering gagging. Schedule regular checkups with your dentist to assess the fit and make adjustments as needed.
  • Embrace the relines: Over time, your jawbone naturally shrinks, causing dentures to loosen. Don’t hesitate to get relines – they’re essential for maintaining a snug fit and preventing gagging.
  • Find your tongue’s sweet spot: Experiment with different tongue positions when inserting and wearing your dentures. Sometimes, simply adjusting your tongue can significantly reduce gagging.

Desensitization Techniques:

  • Gradual exposure: Start by wearing your dentures for short periods, gradually increasing the duration as your mouth adjusts. This helps desensitize the gag reflex.
  • Tongue tickles: Gently brush the area of your tongue that triggers the gag reflex. This can help desensitize it over time.
  • Numb it down: Consult your dentist about using a safe, temporary topical numbing agent on the sensitive area before inserting your dentures.

Learn more: Can you eat with temporary dentures?

Lifestyle Adjustments:

  • Mindful eating: Start with soft foods and cut your food into small pieces. Chew slowly and deliberately, focusing on using your back teeth. This reduces the need to push your tongue far back, a common gag trigger.
  • Saliva saviors: Sucking on sugar-free candy or lozenges can help manage excess saliva that sometimes accompanies new dentures and contributes to gagging.
  • Distraction tactics: Find activities that take your mind off the dentures, like listening to music or watching a video, while practicing wearing them.

Beyond the Basics:

  • Denture adhesives: Using an adhesive can improve denture stability and reduce gagging by minimizing movement and irritation. Discuss options with your dentist.
  • Implant-supported dentures: If traditional dentures trigger persistent gagging, consider implant-supported dentures. These anchor to implants in your jawbone, offering superior stability and eliminating the need for adhesives, often reducing gagging significantly.

Remember: Adjusting to dentures takes time and patience. Don’t be discouraged by initial hurdles. By working with your dentist and trying these tips, you can overcome the gag reflex and enjoy the benefits of a confident smile and improved oral health.

If you are looking for a Weymouth dentist near you, please visit Comfort Dental Weymouth, 47 Washington St, Weymouth, MA 02188, (781) 337-3300.

Can you sleep with dentures?

For many denture wearers, the question of sleeping with their dentures in is a common one. While it might seem convenient to skip the cleaning routine and keep your smile intact through the night, dentists generally recommend against this practice. Let’s delve into the reasons why and explore the best approach to denture care while you sleep.

Why Sleeping with Dentures is a No-No:

  • Gum health: Your gums need time to rest and breathe just like any other part of your body. Leaving dentures in overnight can trap food particles and bacteria, leading to irritation, inflammation, and even infection.
  • Denture health: Dentures themselves require proper cleaning and soaking to prevent warping, discoloration, and the buildup of harmful plaque. Leaving them in your mouth overnight hinders this essential cleaning process.
  • Choking hazard: Loose dentures can shift during sleep, posing a potential choking hazard, especially for those with restless sleep patterns.

Learn more: Can you eat with temporary dentures?

Exceptions to the Rule:

  • New dentures: In some cases, your dentist might recommend wearing new dentures for the first night or two to aid healing and tissue adaptation. However, this is a temporary measure, and you should transition to nighttime removal soon after.
  • Personal preference: Some individuals find comfort and security sleeping with their dentures, especially if they experience facial collapse or sagging without them. If this is the case, discuss it with your dentist to ensure they fit securely and won’t cause any harm.

The Best Approach to Nighttime Denture Care:

  1. Remove your dentures: Before bed, gently remove your dentures and rinse them thoroughly under running water.
  2. Clean and soak: Use a soft-bristled denture brush and a specific denture cleanser to remove plaque and debris. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for soaking time and solution.
  3. Clean your mouth: Brush your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste to remove any remaining bacteria.
  4. Store your dentures: Place your clean dentures in a denture case filled with fresh cleaning solution.

Additional Tips:

  • Schedule regular dental checkups: Your dentist can monitor your oral health and ensure your dentures fit properly, reducing the risk of complications.
  • Talk to your dentist: If you have any concerns about sleeping with or without your dentures, discuss them openly with your dental professional. They can provide personalized advice based on your individual needs and situation.

Remember, taking care of your dentures is crucial for maintaining good oral health and overall well-being. By following these guidelines and consulting your dentist regularly, you can ensure a comfortable and healthy sleep, both with and without your smile!

If you are looking for a Weymouth dentist near you, please visit Comfort Dental Weymouth, 47 Washington St, Weymouth, MA 02188, (781) 337-3300.

Can you eat with temporary dentures?

Yes, you can eat with temporary dentures, but it will take some getting used to. They are not as stable or well-fitting as permanent dentures, so you may need to be careful about what you eat and how you chew.

Here are some tips for eating with temporary dentures:

  • Start with soft foods. This will be easier on your gums and will help you get used to the feeling of dentures in your mouth. Some good options include soups, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and applesauce.
  • Cut food into small pieces. This will make it easier to chew and will help prevent the dentures from slipping.
  • Chew slowly and carefully. Don’t bite down too hard, and chew on both sides of your mouth.
  • Avoid sticky foods. These can be difficult to remove from your dentures and can also cause them to loosen.
  • Avoid hard foods. These can damage your dentures or break them.
  • Use denture adhesive. This will help keep your dentures in place and prevent them from slipping or moving around.

Learn more: Can you sleep with dentures?

Additional things to keep in mind:

  • Your temporary dentures may need to be adjusted or relined as your mouth heals from the tooth extraction.
  • It is important to see your dentist regularly for checkups and adjustments.

With a little practice, you should be able to eat most foods with your temporary dentures. However, if you have any problems, be sure to see your dentist.

If you are looking for a Weymouth dentist near you, please visit Comfort Dental Weymouth, 47 Washington St, Weymouth, MA 02188, (781) 337-3300.