Thinking about getting porcelain veneers?? Choose carefully.....



A new smile with porcelain veneers done
by Dr Todd Snyder (top photo),
replacing the poor quality veneers
that were done by a different dentist (bottom photo).



Everyone wants to look good and have an amazing smile, but if you are thinking about altering your smile with porcelain veneers there are some things you need to know, and the process is not reversible. First is that a veneer is a custom made piece of art hand crafted as a one of kind piece of glass. Every dentist does them differently, and every office uses a different ceramist to fabricate the veneer. Custom craftsmanship has lots of variables. Take extra time to talk about a doctor's previous cases when interviewing an office. Ask to see plenty of photographs demonstrating the quality of the work, make sure it is their work and not just stock photographs of someone else's work. Find out about how the veneer process works in each dental office you interview as it is not the same in all offices. Ask about how the teeth and gums will be handled during the procedure as well as any temporary restorations while waiting for the final veneers to be completed. Veneers can be done in many ways and on one tooth or many teeth. Veneers when done well can look every bit as natural as the tooth next to it. More importantly veneers need to look believable and unperceivable as shown here by Dr Todd Snyder's work at Aesthetic Dental Designs®, in Laguna Niguel, California where he has replaced six existing veneers with new ones. In replacing the bulky white veneers shown in the bottom photo, notice how the lip position was able to be enhanced as well as creating healthier gum tissues, and a more symmetric smile. To replace existing work that has damaged tooth structure and gum tissue can be a lot more costly and challenging, so take the time to interview and ask many questions. At Aesthetic Dental Designs® we always offer complementary consultations.

What are you Blowing??

Everytime you talk you are potentially offending someone.  It could be what you are saying, but more importantly its what your talking or blowing over.  Dr Todd Snyder, DDS of Aesthetic Dental Designs® in Orange County, California states that your tongue has millions of bacteria on it and when they digest food they give off a biproduct made of volatile sulfur compounds.  These compounds smell horrible!!  SO when you talk you are actually blowing the smelly waste product of these bacteria out of your mouth at people in your vacinity. 

Death from gum disease?

Yes it is possible that you or anyone else can die from complications that arise from gum disease.  Gum disease has been linked to overall health in many ways.  Gum (periodontal) disease has been shown to cause an increased risk of blood clots, which could lead to the onset of heart attacks and strokes.  Inflammation that occurs in the mouth due to the bacterial invasion of the oral tissues creates a measurable effect in the bloodstream which is sent througout the body thus potentially compromising other organs.  The pancreas is another organ that can be damaged which increases the risk of diabetes or can worsen the status of existing diabetics health condition.  According to some reports, more than 70% of the population suffers from periodontal disease.

Pregnant women are at risk as well in that they could potentially have premature births and or low birth weights.  This is again due to the oral bacteria that are present in periodontal disease which often flourish in the second trimester due to hormonal changes in the mother.  This bacteria travels through the blood stream which can compromise the baby and give rise to premature births and low birth weights.  Expecting mothers with periodontal disease have a seven times higher risk of premature births than expectant mothers that do not have periodontal disease.

Brushing and flossing properly and meticulously after each meal is the only way to irradicate the disease from your mouth in addition to seeing your dental professionals regularly for checkups and cleanings.  You will live longer and be happier by taking a few extra minutes in your day to protect yourself and those around you.  Yes it is a disease and it is transmisable to others. See some of my other blogs on this topic and more informative dental topics.

For further information you can contact Todd Snyder, DDS, Laguna Niguel Dentist at Aesthetic Dental Designs®. 

 

Acidic Foods and Liquids, linked to Tooth Health

The current typical Western diet is largely composed of acidic foods and liquids (coffee, sodas, energy drinks, some bottled waters and many types of foods). Alkaline foods such as milk, cheese and vegetables are eaten in much smaller quantities. Many foods are alkaline by nature, but many manufactured processed foods are acidic.

Many people will often consume acidic liquids and foods consistently throughout the day while working or going to school.  This process does not allow the body's salivary glands enough time to neutralize the acidity in the mouth which will lead to tooth erosion, damage, and tooth decay over time.  It is important to rinse out the mouth after a meal or eat alkaline type foods at the end of a meal to assist in neutralizing the acidity of the mouth.  Think of eating a piece of cheese after a meal. 

There are some other products that can help reduce the acidity of the mouth as well.  Chewing gums that have Xylitol and Recaldent are excellent sugar free sources that can assist in neutralizing acidity in ones mouth by stimulating the salivary glands to naturally secret saliva that will buffer acidity.  Products like MI Paste can also help to diminsh the effects of acidity on our teeth when applied to the teeth daily.

Brushing and flossing also helps to remove remaining food and bacteria that cause increased levels of acidity to remain while the natural body defense of saliva is trying to counteract the acidity.  It has been noted after eating or drinking very acidic foods and liquids that the teeth may be more susceptible to toothbrush damage.  Allowing the acidity of the mouth to diminsh or be reduced prior to brushing may take about 15 to 30 minutes based on salivary flow, stimulation and other factors.

Todd Snyder, DDS of Aesthetic Dental Designs in Laguna Niguel, CA. states that anyone from children to elderly should try to minimze the acidic attack on their teeth daily by chewing sugarless gum and rinsing with water after meals followed by brushing and flossing.  By doing so the protective enamel coating will last longer and teeth will have their health and pretty white exterior for many more years.

Dental Tourism and Drug Cartels

You might want to avoid both of them. Thousands flock to Mexico and other countries, annually to pay foreign dentists to fix their teeth.
They make the trek because the savings seem enormous. But is it safe?
Dentists in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico all agree no country has a monopoly on good dentists.
However, there are significant differences in the training of dentists in Mexico and other countries compared with Canada and the United States, and much different standards with regard to infection control and materials used for fillings and crowns. There are also differences in licensing and liability.
The key question is what happens when something goes wrong?
You are putting your health at great risk when you have complex dental procedures done in a distant clinic, the obvious concern is that, if there are subsequent problems, you will have logistical difficulties obtaining the followup care. However, it is also very possible that the dental work may appear esthetically acceptable, but still be of poor quality with health-care ramifications, which might not be evident for months, or even years.
While reputable dentists in Mexico offer warranties of their work and/or materials, it's a long and costly trip back to have the dental work repaired and problems corrected.  The rise of drug wars across the border may also have untold effects on ones journey.

If the main motivation of patients is to get the work done as cheaply as possible during this economic down turn, they are taking a risk with their health. Unless you know what the standard of care is, you have no idea what you will be getting.  Price is not the only thing to consider when you think about oral health.  Quality, health risks and longevity should also be weighed heavily.
"I can give you many examples of patients who have permanent damage in some shape or form, and there's no recourse," Dr Todd Snyder, (Orange County, CA). "The amazing thing is the patients know it before they go, but they are willing to take that risk. Patients often dont realize or undertand that some dental treatment is irreversible. Some poorly handled cases would result in legal claims for millions in damages in the United States, but dentists in Mexico may be very difficult to go after if something is done incorrectly. If you have crowns, bridges and implants done and it doesn't work, then what? It's different than getting your hair cut. .If it's not done well, it may not be something anybody can fix afterward.
Not only is there a risk of permanent damage, but if infection control isn't rigidly followed, patients could end up with life-threatening infections. Hepatitis and systemic diseases can be transferred. An infectious disease like hepatitis or potentially AIDS won't happen in North America, but in other countries, who knows?

There are quality dentists in many parts of the world, but impossible for a patient to determine. Be careful and understand the potential life changing risks that saving a few dollars may cause and know that you may have no legal grounds to stand on when you return to the states.