Extreme Makeover Dentist :: Seattle, Washington

Tips and suggestions from an extreme makeover dentist on keeping your smile bright.

Some procedures, like resin bonding, porcelain veneers, and all porcelain crowns can brighten a smile considerably, while also repairing chips and imperfections in your smile, closing gaps, improving contours, and creating teeth that have more ideal size and shape to fit your smile.

PRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT="Tooth whitening has become one of the most requested cosmetic dental services in America, and for a good reason. The tooth whitening procedure is both safe and effective. Although there are several different methods, the preferred method is dentist-supervised at-home tooth whitening system. The at-home systems generally use 10 to 20% carbamine peroxide gels to oxidize stains on the surface of the teeth. The dentist makes impressions (molds) of the mouth, and then has soft, comfortable trays made. The patient is then fitted with the trays, and then is instructed to place a thin ribbon of the gel into the tray, which they will then wear for a few hours during the day, or while sleeping. Patients can expect to achieve 10-15 shades of whitening after two or three weeks. In some cases, tooth whitening alone is not enough to improve a smile. More advanced procedures, like resin bonding (white fillings), porcelain veneers, and all porcelain crowns can brighten a smile, while also repairing chips and imperfections, closing gaps, improving contours, and creating teeth that have more ideal size and shape.

After cosmetic Bellevue dentistry, people should consider following a few recommendations to prevent staining their teeth, bonding, porcelain veneers or crowns. I would suggest people avoid or limit beverages including coffee, tea, red wine, and dark colored sodas like cola and root beer. Foods such as berries, beets, and chocolate can also stain teeth and cosmetic dental treatment. Aside from beverages and foods, activities such as smoking, chewing tobacco and swimming can also cause significant staining. I am well aware that some of these recommendations may be more difficult than others says a Bellevue dentist. For instance, most people could forego beets, but do without coffee or diet coke, forget it. For people who can’t eliminate these drinks, I suggest using a straw which will cleanly bypass the teeth. Smoking and chewing tobacco should be avoided not just for their discoloring effect, but for their well-known health risks as well. Swimmers can use a custom-made air-tight mouthguard to prevent staining. Whitening toothpaste and regular dentist visits are highly recommended.