Archives for October 2019

3 Secrets for a Successful Smile Makeover Even Without Digital Design

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Digital smile makeovers are becoming increasingly popular. It’s exciting to see a digital version of your current smile as it’s progressively becoming exactly what you’ve envisioned. But what if your dentist doesn’t offer digital smile makeovers? How do you know what to expect?

Advanced cosmetic dentists have created beautiful smiles for decades—even without digital smile technology. Did you know? –  Even if a dentist uses digital technology, there are specific steps advanced cosmetic dentists take to achieve a predictable outcome and a smile makeover you’ll gladly show off.

Secrets of a Success Smile Makeover

Your feedback, the opportunity to wear a temporary version of your new smile, and a final try-in are crucial factors to being confident about your smile makeover. Here’s why.

1. Your Feedback

An advanced cosmetic dentist isn’t simply concerned about giving you a beautiful smile makeover. He or she personalizes your smile so well that it looks like it’s always belonged to you. Throughout the process, your cosmetic dentist will carefully listen as you describe your ideal smile, and he or she will ensure the details are there.

2. Trial Smile Makeover

Skilled cosmetic dentists make a wax model of your new smile design.

  • You’ll snap it in over your teeth as a preview of your smile makeover.
  • You’ll be able to examine it closely and let friends and family see it.
  • If you want changes to the way it looks or feels, your dentist will make the changes to align with the smile you envisioned.

This phase is not complete without your approval. When you give your dentist the okay, your permanent smile makeover will be crafted by a master ceramist.

3. It’s Final When You Say So

Your dentist will temporarily attach your final smile makeover to your teeth. This is another opportunity for you to smile with approval or to explain any hesitation you have. If you’ve chosen a dentist who is an artist, the smile design is only acceptable to your dentist if you also love it.

Smile Makeover Satisfaction with or without a Virtual Model

Even if your dentist offers virtual or digital smile makeovers, your feedback, the trial smile, and a final try-in are phases that must be included to ensure you get the smile you love. If you’re left out of the process, you’ll likely end up with a smile that you’ll want to leave behind in the office. And that’s a waste of time and money.

Before-and-after smile makeover patient photos from Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge, LA.

Dr. Brooksher gave this patient a smile makeover that is healthy and natural-looking

Accredited cosmetic dentists consistently provide stunning smile makeovers. Are there accredited cosmetic dentists in your area or within driving distance?

  • Visit their websites
  • Check their credentials and accomplishments
  • Look at their smile gallery of actual patient photos

Select your dentist carefully—digital design or not—and you’ll get a smile makeover you love.

Steven Brooksher, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, sponsors this post.

5 Vital Facts About Porcelain Veneers and a Periapical Abscess

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Porcelain veneers can fulfill your dreams of a perfect smile. But in the hands of the wrong dentist, a periapical abscess on a veneered tooth can be a nightmare. Before you accept treatment, there are several things you need to know.

1. What Is a Periapical Abscess?

A periapical abscess is a pus-filled sac at the tip of a tooth root. It’s usually caused by a tooth infection that spreads through the tooth and into the roots. Depending on which tooth is affected, the infection can spread into your cheeks, jaw, or the floor of your mouth. The pus can drain, get in your airway, and be life-threatening.

2. If You Have Porcelain Veneers and an Abscess

Although antibiotics can treat the infection, your dentist needs to remove the diseased tooth pulp. Leaving it untreated will compromise your oral and overall health. If your porcelain veneer was correctly placed, it should remain intact.

3. What Caused the Infection?

A tooth infection has several possible causes, some of which include:

  • Decay – Untreated tooth decay can lead to an infection and root canal treatment.
  • Aggressive preparation for porcelain veneers – Aggressive preparation of your natural teeth can increase stress on a tooth, irritate the pulp, and cause an infection.
  • Trauma – Impact or trauma to your mouth or teeth can cause internal damage that results in an infection.

4. Retaining the Beauty of a Porcelain Veneer After Root Canal Treatment

Before-and-after porcelain veneers photos of a patient at Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge, LA.

Before-and-after porcelain veneers photos of Dr. Brooksher’s patient. Advanced cosmetic dentists understand how to retain the beauty of veneers.

If a dentist leaves remnants of filler material or cement from a root canal treatment in your tooth, they will show through your porcelain veneer and make it look dark. Your dentist must thoroughly remove any excess filler material that replaced your tooth pulp, as well as any cement.

Many skilled cosmetic dentists prevent the tooth from darkening by lowering a white fiberglass post into the root and filling the remaining space with a light-colored composite.

5. Ask Your Dentist What You Can Expect

Speak with your dentist about his or her process for removing the infected tooth pulp, preserving your porcelain veneer, and ensuring the veneer won’t look dark. If your dentist seems uncertain about the results you can expect, you can seek a second opinion from an advanced cosmetic dentist.

Baton Rouge, LA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is an award-winning cosmetic dentist, and he has many loyal patients who think he is the best dentist in town.

What Can I Expect After Dental Implant Surgery?

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Are you thinking about getting snap-on dentures? Affordable dental implants are a great option for securing your dentures. But what can you expect after surgery?

After Receiving Affordable Dental Implants

If you’re choosing snap-on dentures for affordable dental implants, you’ll receive minimally invasive surgery and minimal downtime.

Bone grafting procedure

Diagram of a snap-on denture. The denture is hovering above the jawbone that has two dental implants in it.

Snap-on dentures are affordable dental implants

If all your teeth have been missing for many years and your jawbone has begun to shrink, you might need bone grafting. Bone grafting builds the bone up to ensure your affordable dental implants have enough support. The grafts will heal in three to four months, after which you can receive dental implants.

Minimal pain

Your dentist will make two small openings in your gums to position affordable dental implants in your jawbone. Soft tissue heals quickly, and bone has little sensitivity. And you’ll receive a local anesthetic so that you won’t feel any pain during the surgery.

You’ll also receive mild sedation to help you stay relaxed. Sedation also lowers your sensitivity to pain.

Mild swelling

During three to four days after surgery, you’ll experience mild swelling. Activity increases swelling, so rest as you heal.

Pain management

Your dentist will give you a prescription or recommend ibuprofen to relieve pain. After a few days, most patients can switch to ibuprofen for pain relief.

Follow-up visits

You will have follow-up appointments to check the progress of the healing process and to ensure the implant sites are healthy.

What to avoid

As you do your part in ensuring the healing process goes smoothly, avoid the following:

  • Strenuous activity for the first few days after surgery
  • Smoking and tobacco products because they restrict blood flow and inhibit healing
  • Sucking on a straw, which can loosen blood clots
  • Touching the surgical sites or pulling on sutures
  • Chewing hard or sticky foods
  • Chewing directly over the implant sites

Permanent dentures

After the surgical sites heal, your dentist will secure your permanent dentures to the affordable dental implants.

Schedule a Consultation for Information Tailored to Your Case

Schedule a consultation with a highly trained and experienced implant dentist. He or she will answer your questions. A review of your health history, an examination, and x-rays will be required to determine if you are a candidate for affordable dental implants.

In Baton Rouge, Steven Brooksher, DDS is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He sponsors this post.