Cosmetic Dentist in Sunnyvale: Improving on History

When you visit our clinic to see a cosmetic dentist in Sunnyvale, you are joining millions of Americans who are coming to see a cosmetic dentist with the hope of improving their smile. This is this is because in modern western society we place a great deal of importance on the image. Even more important than your outward image, is your inward image, and a beautiful smile helps with both of these. Think about it. A smile can really change the mood in a room, help you introduce yourself to people you've never met before, and even help make a good impression when you are on a job interview. Because of this high level of importance that is being placed on a great-looking smile, where it is an essential commodity both socially and professionally, the field of cosmetic dentistry has really bloomed and helped many people get the smile that they want.  However, many people who come in to get cosmetic dentistry do not realize the incredible history of our profession.

It is true that as a cosmetic dentist in Sunnyvale, the treatments we offer use some of the most sophisticated  and modern advances in dentistry. This is because cosmetic dentistry is often at the cutting edge of all the dental sciences and arts. However, the idea of improving one's look through one's teeth is not an invention of the modern age. While it is true that our current cosmetic dental technology, like porcelain veneers or dental veneers, have developed over the last few years, people have known that oral health and hygiene with a good-looking smile is an important asset since ancient Rome. You might be surprised to learn that as far back as 700 BC the Etruscans crafted dentures which were made from ivory and bone. They used these dentures in much the same way as dentures are used by a cosmetic dentist today, to replace missing teeth. The Etruscans also practiced cosmetic dentistry, using gold for crowns and fillings.

One of our favorite tools as a cosmetic dentist in Sunnyvale, are dental implants. Dental implants are more durable than bridges and more secure than dentures. While dental bridges are still very popular among some patients, we prefer dental implants because, as a cosmetic dentist, we know that dental implants are a much sturdier and longer lasting solution to tooth loss. Dental bridges were initially invented to hide the gap caused by missing teeth. Dental implants are a permanent solution that replaces the lost tooth with a crown and implant which look and feel exactly like the natural tooth itself.  This is because the implant is a titanium post that is secured to the jawbone.  It essentially replaces the lost root through the process of osseointegration.  This allows your new tooth (dental crown) to have the same benefits that your natural teeth have.  The chewing force offered by your jaw is provided through the implant and so is the security.  When you eat, speak, run, or laugh, your dental implant will remain secure.  For these reasons and more, patients visit our office for dental implants on a regular basis.

Dental Implants  >  Implant Dentist

Questions for a Cosmetic Dentist Regarding Dental Implants

As a cosmetic dentist, we can replace your missing teeth with implants.  Here are questions we are asked about dental implants and our answers to them -

Can you restore my existing dental implant if the crown is damaged?

If you already have dental implants but have damaged the crown (tooth portion) of one of them, you may qualify to have your cosmetic dentist perform a dental restoration that leaves the implanted portion alone. This is the most convenient and affordable way to address the problem. Therefore, find out if a dentist offers restorative solutions before starting the procedure.

What are the requirements to qualify for a dental implants procedure?

We place dental implants in patients for a variety of reasons. If you have any other oral health problems, these will need to be addressed first.  Since this is a surgical procedure, it is important to start the process with healthy teeth and gums.  The other qualify factor is bone density.  We will take x-rays in office to determine if your bone is dense enough for the implant to be securely placed.  If it is not, we can discuss other options such as bone grafts.

How long does the process take?

That depends on how many implants you are having placed by your cosmetic dentist.  It can take up to an hour to place each metal implant.  This is why if you are having a lot of teeth replaced, you may need to visit us several times.  Once the titanium post has been implanted, you will need to wait a couple of months for the process of osseointegration to take place.  This is where the metal and bone fuse together to provide a sturdy, synthetic root system for your new tooth.  You will not feel anything while this is taking place but waiting is important to ensure that your final tooth is as durable as a natural one would be.  When ready, we will attach the new crown (tooth) to an abutment that is secured to your implant.  This appointment will be much shorter.

What is the recovery like?

As your cosmetic dentist, we recommend that you prepare for recovery by putting soft ice packs in the freezer, buying ibuprofen, and soft foods that you can eat.  For a few days, your gums will be sore so the ice and ibuprofen will help to reduce any swelling while eating soft foods will help to prevent discomfort.   After a few days, you should begin to feel better and start to eat regular foods though you should still avoid anything sharp.  Since there is a delay between when the metal implant is placed and when the new tooth is attached, we often provide our %city% patients with a temporary denture to wear so that their smile appears intact while waiting for the procedure to be completed.

From the perspective of a cosmetic dentist are the final results like a bridge or dentures?

Be sure to ask about the final results and what you can expect for your particular situation.  Scientifically, an implant is the most secure and durable tooth replacement solution that you can find because it derives strength from the jawbone.  By comparison, a bridge relies on your other teeth to hold the bridge in place and dentures are removable which means that they can come loose. Dental implants, being permanent also look much better which is why cosmetic dentists prefer this solution.

Visit a Cosmetic Dentist for Implant Dentistry to Replace Your Loose Dentures

Visit our cosmetic dentist office to get rid of your old dentures by replacing them with implant dentistry. If you are tired of worrying about dentures coming loose or feeling restricted to eating only certain foods, now is the time for a change. As an implant dentist, we can give you back the freedom to live life and eat all the foods you love, without thinking about your teeth. Here is how:

Oral Surgery

Dental implants and implant dentistry are the only tooth replacement solution that is surgically placed. Traditional dentures are secured on the outside of your gums, either by surrounding them or using metal hooks and clasps. A dental bridge is also secured in place on the outside of your gums, using two other teeth as anchors. While both cosmetic dentist solutions are practical and effective, they do not replace your missing root structure – an implant does. To start the procedure, we surgically implant a titanium post under your gums and secure it to your jawbone. This is done in each space you are missing a tooth, though, in some cases, we can use a few implants to support dentures.

What makes the process of implant dentistry unique is that the body responds to titanium like it would naturally occurring matter. Instead of thinking you have a foreign object in your mouth, the body accepts titanium, which means your jawbone and the post will fuse together through the process of osseointegration. As a result, your jawbone will provide the same level of stability to an implant as it would to a naturally occurring root. This relationship is beneficial for your new tooth and what makes dental implants the best form of tooth replacement. It is also beneficial for your jawbone because it provides the jaw with the stimulation it needs to prevent resorption. Without stimulation, the body will leach calcium from your jaw for distribution to other areas. This is what gives people a sunken and aged appearance after tooth loss. In this way, replacing dentures with implants is good for the functionality and appearance of your smile, but also your facial structure as a whole.

The process of getting dental implants takes a couple of months because we must first implant the posts, but then we need to wait for osseointegration to take place. Once done, we will have you come back to our cosmetic dentist office so an abutment can be secured to your implant at the surface of the gums. Your new tooth (dental crown) will be secured to this piece for a durable tooth replacement. Since we are a cosmetic dentist office, we will ensure your new tooth looks like a natural one and blends in completely. This is done by making an impression of your mouth and taking measurements, so the dental lab has the information they need to create the crown.

The benefits of implant dentistry by a cosmetic dentist are high. Once they are in place, you do not need to take any additional steps to care for them. Simply brush and floss like normal and schedule regular dental visits. Otherwise, you can go about your daily activities with a secure set of teeth you never have to think about.

Implant Dentist  >  Periodontist

Visit a Cosmetic Dentist If Your Dental Crown Is Loose or Broken

As a cosmetic dentist, we treat patients who are struggling with a variety of oral health issues. Restorations can make it possible to save a tooth that has been infected or damaged, and dental crowns are one of the best restorative options available. Still, they are not immune from becoming damaged, nor is the tooth underneath. While a well-made crown can last 15 years or longer, there are times where a crown or the tooth underneath may become damaged, creating the need for another dental appointment.

If you run your tongue along your teeth and notice that your dental crown feels broken or chipped, you should seek immediate dental care, but remain calm. Typically, this is cause for an appointment, though not an emergency one unless you are also in severe discomfort. You can start by calling our office to schedule an appointment and then place a cold compress on your face for 15 minutes to reduce any swelling. You can also take ibuprofen to reduce any discomfort you may have. Until you can get to our office, be careful with what you eat and stick with foods that are soft and not too hot or too cold. Otherwise, you could create further irritation and damage.

As a cosmetic dentist, we also recommend that you feel how loose the dental crown is. If it feels like it may fall off, there is a risk that it could indeed do so and be swallowed. In this case, you should visit us right away. While scheduling your appointment, let us know how loose the crown is, and we will make recommendations regarding whether or not you should try to remove it on your own. Do not try this without our guidance.

When you visit our cosmetic dentist office, we will examine your damaged or loose crown and your teeth. We will need to determine whether the damage is to the crown, the tooth, or both. Next, we will create a treatment plan to address whatever issue there may be. In some cases, a damaged crown can be smoothed and repaired, while, in others, it must be removed entirely. In this situation, we will either recommend replacing the crown with a new one or replacing the tooth with a dental implant. This is particularly relevant if the tooth underneath is damaged and unable to be restored with a new crown. We are experts at this procedure, so if you do need a dental implant, we can give you a permanent replacement tooth that will function like a natural one, be beautiful, and blend in completely. There is no way to know for certain what the condition of your tooth or crown will be until you visit us for an examination, so delaying is not in your best interest.

While waiting for your cosmetic dentist appointment, be careful with all of your teeth, engage in low-impact activities, and eat soft foods until we can examine and correct the problem.

Implant Dentist  >  Dental Implants

A Cosmetic Dentist Can Improve Your Health and Smile

As a cosmetic dentist, we practice in a field of dentistry that has been around from the very inception of the science. When you consider why man first started looking for ways to care for his teeth, you realize that it was a desire to have better teeth, whiter teeth, or to simply keep natural teeth that lead to the creation of modern dentistry. While much has changed since those first days, cosmetic dentistry is still seen as dental work that works to improve the appearance of teeth, gums, and the bite. This definition is accurate, but we believe that it only tells part of the story. As science is developing a deeper understanding of our teeth, so too is it becoming clearer that the gap between cosmetic and functional dentistry is not quite as wide as once believed. Today’s cosmetic dentist performs a number of vital procedures including crowns, gingivectomies, and bridge that are paramount to the health, hygiene, and functionality in the human mouth. 

For example, cosmetic dentistry encompasses the fitting of a dental crown. Who can imagine a world, today, where we do not have the benefit of a dental crown? A crown is a synthetic tooth that is used to cap a broken or damaged tooth in such a way that no one can tell the difference between the real tooth and the replacement. Crowns are used in cases of an accidental breaking, chipping, or cracking of a tooth and also in cases where the tooth has been damaged by an infection. In either case, we have the option of removing some of the enamel, in a process known as shaving, and replacing it with a full or partial dental crown that takes the place of the natural tooth. We know that this helps with appearance, but it is equally important to note that teeth play a vital role in chewing, biting, and speaking. When cosmetic dentistry replaces a damaged tooth with a crown, we are giving you back the full range of functionality with that tooth, and that is more than just cosmetic in nature.

Think about the fact that somewhere between 30% and 40% of the population suffers from a malocclusion. A malocclusion is the misalignment of your teeth to form an overbite, underbite, open bite, crowded teeth, or even those unsightly gaps some people have between their teeth. Since malocclusion does not pose a direct threat to dental health, the correction of this condition has been deemed to be cosmetic in nature. The challenge with this is that uncorrected malocclusion can lead to serious dental challenges that will impact your mouths functionality.

People who suffer from malocclusion often have a very hard time cleaning every part of their teeth. This is because typically, the teeth are misplaced and have uneven gaps between them. The unevenness creates challenges for the brush to reach every nook and cranny, and often makes it impossible for a person to floss. The plaque that is left behind builds up and eventually leads to dental problems like cavities, bacterial infections, and gingivitis; all of which can be avoided by having  us, as a cosmetic dentist, resolve the malocclusion in your mouth. This is only one of the ways that improving the appearance of your teeth, can also improve your oral health. 

What Oral Surgery and a Cosmetic Dentist Can Do For You

As a cosmetic dentist and oral surgeon we can provide our patients with greater options in what they can achieve in regards to their oral health and appearance.  A traditional dentist typically focusses on preventative care and general dentistry procedures. We handle more complicated cases in order to solve oral health concerns. 

Our first objective is to ensure that our patients are in excellent oral health. With this in mind, we regularly perform procedures like gum grafts and deep cleanings in order to remove bacteria and treat gum disease.  As bacteria cause the gums to become irritated, they will start to recede or pull away from the tooth.  This creates pockets in the gum tissue and the need for a gum graft to be completed in order to seal up the pockets and secure the gums around the tooth.  This type of treatment helps a patient’s appearance and health. 

For those that don’t have a problem with the health of their gums but don’t like how they look, we can help with that as well.  As a cosmetic dentist and oral surgeon, we can remove excessive gum tissue that makes a smile look “gummy”.  This is a common condition that can make teeth appear too small.  We can remove this extra tissue and contour the gums so that they appear more normal in size and shape. 

We can also use our cosmetic dentistry skills to craft an entirely new smile. Those that don’t like the appearance of their teeth or are missing several natural teeth can benefit from having dental implants.  This procedure is becoming wildly popular as a way to create the perfect looking smile.  As a surgeon, we implant a metal post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone.  This is done for every tooth that is being replaced.  The bone and metal will fuse together over the course of several months and by doing so a new root system will be created.  This synthetic root system is just as strong as a natural one, and it allows the new tooth to remain independent of the surrounding teeth.  This promotes long term oral health.

As a cosmetic dentist, we find that our patients love their implants because they look like natural teeth.  It is difficult, if not impossible to tell the difference between an implant and natural tooth because the crown used to replace the natural one, will be created in the size, shape, and shade of the surrounding teeth.  Since the crown is attached to a new root system, it is also durable enough for you to eat all of your favorite foods, run a marathon, sing your heart out and stay active without fear of it falling out.  

When it comes time to replacing teeth or restoring damaged ones, visiting a cosmetic dentist that is also an oral surgeon will provide you with the most options for doing so.  Our expertise allows our patients to love their smile every day.