For many years, gold fillings were considered literally the gold standard in dentistry. There were good reasons why they were a better choice than metal amalgam, the main alternative for more than a century. Now, it's important to have a {{{{link id='1474' text='beautiful smile'}}}}, with a tooth-colored filling or crown. Compared to metal amalgam, [...]
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the results of its periodic review of the safety of metal amalgam fillings. Their conclusion? There was no evidence to suggest that metal amalgam fillings represented a health risk. But just because the FDA has said these fillings are “safe,” that doesn’t mean you should [...]
We know that metals aren’t the most biocompatible material to use for restorations. But now a new German study confirms just how commonly they cause problems for dental patients. In this study, about 60% of patients reported an allergy, and more than half of all patients with allergies reported that they had allergic responses to [...]
If you have metal fillings, sometimes you will have the bad experience that a tooth with a large metal filling will crack. When this happens, you need to repair or replace that tooth. But what about your other metal fillings? Should you take this opportunity to replace them, too as part of a ? [...]
Do you have metal fillings? If so, now is the time to get them replaced. Have any doubts? Let us help you understand why you should upgrade old metal amalgam fillings with . Unattractive Appearance One of the most basic reasons to is that they are very unattractive. These fillings are so [...]
It’s a common : not getting enough teeth treated. It may not even have been a mistake at the time--you may have been happy with your results at first. But over time, you may become less enthusiastic about your smile makeover. One possible solution to this is to extend your smile makeover and [...]
If you needed any more evidence that people understand the , the European Parliament provided it. In mid-March the EU approved a partial ban on the use of metal amalgam fillings. Their recent action follows on the heels of a December 2016 agreement in principle to follow the protocols [...]
If you have gotten metal amalgam fillings, you’re probably unhappy with them. That’s because they just aren’t like your natural tooth enamel, and this difference can cause many problems. Here are some of the ways that metal amalgam isn’t like your natural teeth and how that can result in problems. Metal Amalgam Doesn’t Look Right [...]
If you got cosmetic dentistry many years ago, the restorations you got then, such as porcelain veneers, crowns, or dental implants, may no longer match your natural teeth. There are many reasons why these and may benefit from . Your Teeth Are Stained It’s ironic, but sometimes the very [...]
Metal fillings have been used for hundreds of years in the US, but that may be coming to an end. Whether we’re talking about gold fillings or metal amalgam, this may be the . Here’s why. Some Are Expensive There are two main materials used for metal fillings. Gold fillings have been used for [...]
We know that a smile can have many positive effects. It can help you get a job. It can help you feel younger. It can help you . But it turns out that smiling can make an even bigger impact: it can help you overcome prejudices and stereotypes. That’s according to a recent study [...]
can be serious illnesses that can make it hard for you to continue to enjoy a fulfilling life. That’s because it can dramatically impact your quality of life through its numerous symptoms and their effects. Fortunately, with treatment, many TMJ sufferers can come to live normal, fulfilling lives again. Before TMJ Treatment After [...]
Do you shudder every time you look at your smile in the mirror? Do you think that there’s no way that your smile can be made beautiful? Whether you used to have an attractive smile, or you never enjoyed one, it’s easy to get trapped into thinking that there’s no way to save your smile. [...]
Sure, a can make you look younger. That’s easy. We will whiten your teeth and restore their youthful proportions--longer and less worn. But what about feeling younger? Can a smile makeover do that? Yes, it can. Here’s how. A Younger Self in the Mirror How old are you? Your age is less [...]
When we are planning your procedure like a , we will probably choose ceramic restorations. But that doesn’t necessarily make the decision much easier. One of the great advances in cosmetic dentistry technology has been the explosion of advanced ceramics that are available to us. So when it comes time to make [...]
There are a few days that come up regularly in our memories. These days are bright and sharp in our minds because they are so wonderful. People report many days as the happiest in their lives: getting married, the day a child was born, or maybe graduation from college or a professional achievement. And the [...]
Although it’s frequently the subject of humor, a midlife crisis is no joke, it’s real. And it’s not just something we in America face--it seems that in countries around the world, people experience a drop in happiness around age 40. There’s no way to guarantee your happiness, but a can have many [...]
The emotions people experience when they get their first set of dentures can be very negative. Losing your teeth can be very hard. Not only do you have the sense of loss associated with losing a part of your body, and, really, a part of your identity. But many people also feel that losing their [...]
There are many things can do, including resizing and reshaping your teeth. But if you want to make your teeth longer, you should make sure you’ve chosen your carefully, because there are several potential challenges that your dentist must address carefully. They Can Impact Your Natural Teeth When you change [...]
We have sometimes talked about how Americans learned to in the 20th century, but what we didn’t really know is how much smiling increased over the course of the 20th century. Now a new study looking at yearbook pictures shows that we are not only comfortable with smiling today, we smile much larger [...]
Pregnancy is a wonderful time, but it puts a lot of demands on your body, including your mouth. Unfortunately, as a result your smile may end up looking a little worse for wear after your baby is born. Fortunately, damage done to your smile can be corrected with a . Receding Gums One [...]
There is a great deal of uncertainty about the magnitude of health risks posed by mercury amalgam fillings, also called “silver fillings.” Although the world is trying to get an international agreement to --a treaty the US is technically a signatory to--there are many people who say that the fillings are safe and effective [...]
If you are considering cosmetic dentistry, and you’re trying to find the best for you, you might have difficulty trying to decide whether you should work with a local dentist or travel to work with an out-of-town dentist. You think the local dentist is good, but you think the other dentist is better. [...]
As well as , missing lateral incisors are a significant defect in your smile, and most people opt to have them corrected as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many people are unhappy with the results they get from their lateral replacement procedure. The good news is, though, none of these results are irreversible, and we [...]
One of the things that sometimes keeps people from getting a or other procedure is that they think it’s selfish. We imagine that cosmetic dentistry is just for us, but we neglect the fact that our smile has a dramatic impact on those around us. If self-consciousness is keeping you from [...]
One of the things about the past is that it can be hard to leave it completely behind, especially if you have a constant reminder about it every time you look in the mirror. But can erase those signs of your past and help you fully become who you are in the present. [...]
Having metal in one's mouth is not a normal situation. We're not really adapted to it, and many of our body's natural processes can interact with the metals to create less than ideal conditions. One example of this is the way that the electrolytes in our saliva can create an electric current between different types [...]
We often talk about how important a smile is to your first impression. Now the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) has put together a first impression guide that shows just how important your smile is to making a great impression. Your Smile Is Remembered The first impression guide starts by talking about the role [...]
There are many reasons to . They’re unattractive. They’re toxic. And they can make your teeth sensitive. Metal Amalgam Fillings Conduct Heat Metal amalgam filling conduct heat better than your natural tooth enamel. This means that when you drink hot or cold liquids, the temperature change has a shortcut deep into your tooth. [...]
Like it or not, we are frequently judged on our physical appearances. Unfortunately, as we age, our looks can deteriorate, causing us to feel less confident and more introverted. Recently, Allure magazine conducted an aging survey to get the lowdown on how most of us feel about aging, and the results weren't particularly uplifting. The [...]
The primary structural component of human skin, collagen plays a key part in the development of age-related flaws. Genetic traits and UV-exposure each contribute to a sustained loss of collagen, which ultimately leads to wrinkles and fine lines. New research indicates that aloe vera supplements may have the power to reduce the appearance of wrinkles [...]
