6 Practical Dental Treatments for a Smile Makeover

A healthy smile does much more than enhance your appearance and boost your confidence. It also plays a vital role in your dental and overall health. If you've determined your smile needs an upgrade for health or cosmetic purposes, getting a smile makeover could be the way to go. 

Every makeover is original because every smile is unique.

When you come into South Charlotte Dentistry, we'll assess your oral health and help you choose the ideal treatments for your smile upgrade. We'll also look for signs of any underlying dental issues while we're at it!

 

What Does It Take to Get a Smile Makeover? 

Most smile makeovers incorporate multiple dental procedures to enhance a smile's appearance. Your dentist will use design software to show you how your new smile will look once they've performed the treatments. The improvements can also make it easier to clean your teeth and encourage a regular oral hygiene routine.

 

What Are the Different Smile Makeover Treatments?

Whitening, bonding, fillings, alignment, and veneers are a few of the most common treatments used for smile upgrades. Let's take a closer look at these procedures and a few others:

1. Teeth Whitening   

Professional teeth whitening is the least invasive and most popular treatment for smile makeovers. This treatment eliminates discoloration and brightens teeth; the process is quick, and the results are dramatic! Some clients choose to get their teeth whitened in the dentist's office, while others use a take-home kit.

You can expect superior results when you come to a dental practice like South Charlotte Dentistry. If you plan to get other dental restorations, it's critical to undergo teeth whitening first so your dentist can match the restorations to the shade of the surrounding teeth, leaving a natural look.

 

2. Bonding and Fillings

Dentists often use composite bonding and fillings to fix fractures, cracks, or discoloration in teeth. Bonding can correct various flaws, even slightly crooked teeth. 

If your teeth are damaged by decay, your dentist can put in composite fillings to restore them to their natural appearance. Fillings bond to your enamel while helping them maintain their structure.

 

3. Teeth Alignment     

If your teeth are moderately or severely misaligned or crooked, you may need an orthodontic procedure like braces or clear aligners. Correctly aligned teeth will enhance your smile while helping you chew more efficiently and maintain consistent oral hygiene.

Traditional braces consist of metal wires, elastic bands, and brackets that gradually shift teeth into their ideal positions. This is an excellent option for severe malocclusion, and your dentist will know how to get you the results you're looking for.

Clear aligners have emerged within the last couple of decades and can also be used to straighten your smile. Products like Invisalign are more comfortable than braces, practically invisible, and highly effective for mild to moderate misalignment.

 

4. Gum Contouring     

Some clients have too much visible gum tissue, making their teeth appear smaller than they are. Your dentist can use laser gum contouring to reshape your gums for a better gum-enamel balance and a more attractive smile. The laser technology also makes for a quick procedure with minimal discomfort.

If you have receding gums, your teeth could be exposed to bacteria and eventually cause tooth decay and tooth loss. A professional can remove any damaged tissue with lasers, leaving room for new cells to grow.

 

5. Crowns and Veneers   

Crowns and veneers are used to correct similar dental problems, including teeth that are misshapen, discolored, chipped, broken, or fractured. They can also fix unwanted gaps and decay-damaged teeth.

The primary difference between crowns and veneers is that crowns fit over damaged teeth to restore them to the appropriate size, shape, and function. Veneers are bonded to the front surface of your teeth to boost your smile's appeal.

 

6. Dental Implants    

Dental implants are the most intensive treatment on the list. Dentists use implants to replace missing teeth, enhancing your smile while preventing bone loss. Neglecting to address missing teeth can even lead to a change in your facial structure and appearance. Moreover, getting the necessary implants will keep adjacent teeth in line and help you enjoy full bite function. 

Dental implants are the most effective treatment for missing teeth because they replace the entire tooth rather than just the surface. Your dentist will surgically place the implant on your jawbone, promoting bone health and superior stability.

 

Conclusion     

If you're looking for a smile makeover, it's worth discussing the treatments above with your dentist. A professional can closely examine your teeth and gums to determine which procedures will help you achieve your desired smile. And remember that maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine and going to checkups at South Charlotte Dentistry can help keep your smile beautiful and healthy!

Millennials Spending More Money on Treatments

 

83 million people in the United States belong to the millennial generation, born between 1982 and 1996. Fondly labeled as economy and industry killers, millennials are also described as self-involved, self-expressive, and receptive to new ideas and ways of living. These common characteristics have enabled millennials to shape the face of nearly every industry and practice in the U.S., including dentistry!

Since June 2019, millennials have officially overtaken the Booomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964) as the largest portion of adults in the U.S. population. Millennials are setting the standard for what it takes to attract and retain patients to dental practices. Millennials dentists and patients alike are shaping the future, technology, and trends of dentistry. At South Charlotte Dentistry, we know firsthand the influence of the millennial population on dentistry, and what a bright, exciting future lies ahead.

 

The digital world and dentistry

Millennials were born into a digital world that rapidly transformed before their eyes as they came of age. With high tech literacy, technology permeates every corner of life for millennials, and as a result, they have high expectations for what tech will deliver. Millennials expect seamless, painless technology, with fast results, and don’t necessarily need the recommendation of a professional; the age of the Internet means information travels fast, and marketing is around every corner.

The dental industry still remains dominated by boomers, with 42% of current dentists being 55 years or older. In the next few years, we will see more and more practices begin the transition of handing off the dental industry to millennials, who will usher in the next wave of the best and latest practices.

Practices have already begun to shift to accommodate millennial demand. Research from the Oral Health Foundation found in June 2020, that millennials in the United Kingdom are spending three times the national average on dental treatments. That comes out at about £750 a year, per person! In 2015, Americans spent nearly $16 billion on cosmetic dental procedures, and millennials made up 60 % of the clientele. Millennials outspend every other generation so far when it comes to working on their smiles. 

The self-involvement and confidence to seek and try out new ideas have made the millennial population more receptive to and in the demand of the latest oral health trends and technologies. When a millennial has an oral health problem, instead of calling the dentist, they may be more inclined to Google for an answer, seek out an FAQ, or turn to blogs, like this, for advice. A millennial may be more inclined to read practice and product reviews, and cost comparisons; maximum convenience and low cost are key. 

 

What are millennial patients spending money on?

Well, in the spirit of convenience and efficiency (and maybe a bit of self-involvement, but we prefer to call it self-care – why shouldn’t you invest in yourself and your healthcare?), millennial patients spend more on cosmetic dentistry treatments. The generation that grew up on the internet is more than aware of how Adobe Photoshop, Face Tune, or even at home-whitening kits can’t cut it when there’s always a chance of someone else posting a photo or video of you without editing. Pearly white teeth and celebrity Instagram smiles are in demand, and millennials are willing to make the change and pay the price for a perfect first impression. 

Some of the most popular cosmetic density solutions for millennials revolve around smile repairs, such as:

• Professional teeth whitening (one hour)
• Porcelain veneers (one hour)
• Same-day crowns (one dental visit)
• Teeth reshaping (one dental visit)
• Tooth-colored fillings (one dental visit)
• Cosmetic tooth bonding and contouring (one dental visit)
• Porcelain tooth inlays and onlays (one dental visit)
• Invisalign (faster and less invasive than braces)

Teeth whitening is by far the most popular dental treatment, with at least 4 in 10 people under 35 having a tooth whitening treatment 

Brief procedures with little to no pain, and fast, visible results are very popular. With the rise of self-care lifestyles among the millennial population, smiles are associated with beauty as much as health. 

In turn, millennial patients generally experience fewer oral health problems like tooth decay or tooth loss than older generations, simply because of better access to dental care as a child and through young adulthood, and the age of their teeth overall. This means that the majority of money millennials choose to spend on their dental care is for cosmetic treatments, and less about treating clinical problems. 

However, on the flip side, many younger millennial Americans suffer from lack of consistent, quality dental care (resulting in the need for later cosmetic treatments), with reports from the American Dental Association citing:

• 35% report embarrassment related to their mouth and teeth
• 35% report problems chewing
• 30% experience anxiety about their oral healthcare
• 33% avoid smiling
• 38% say life, in general, is less satisfying due to the condition of their mouth and teeth

A barrier to dental care for many millennials is insurance. While millennials have higher standards about the appearance of their smile than other, older Americans, the strain remains between the inaccessibility between dental healthcare and cosmetic perfection. However, when millennials have secure job footing and benefits, they quickly seek out dental work, resulting in the influx of cosmetic treatments. 

 

Let South Charlotte Dentistry help you strike a balance between baseline oral healthcare and cosmetic treatments.

South Charlotte Dentistry can help you achieve your ideals of a beautiful, healthy smile, at a reasonable cost, with a team of dental professionals that are there for you every step of the way. If you’re looking for a new dentist to build a lifelong relationship with and to set up a plan for achieving your dream smile, contact Dr. Wells and his team at (704) 759-0908.

Is Whitening Toothpaste Worth It? Why You Might Want to Explore Other Options

All of us like the thought of having a mouth full of glistening white teeth. Along with being a sign of good oral health, whiter teeth can enhance your appearance and boost your self-confidence, among other benefits. Plus, you’re likely to smile more often when you have a set of shining ivories to back it up, and smiling comes with its own set of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. But are we risking our health when using whitening agents?

That brings us to how one can achieve a darling smile with whiter teeth. Since you use toothpaste on a daily basis anyway, shouldn’t you use whitening toothpaste so that you can kill two birds with one stone—better oral hygiene and whiter teeth?
The answer is yes and no. Whitening toothpaste can remove certain amounts of surface stains from your teeth. However, if used incorrectly, it can also damage the enamel of your teeth in the process. Therefore, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into when you pick that tube of whitening toothpaste off the shelf.
To decide if whitening toothpaste is right for you, it’s worth considering a few factors: how it works, how to use it, what damaged enamel entails, and what alternatives there are to achieve whiter teeth.

How Whitening Toothpaste Works 
Most toothpaste has gentle abrasives, fluoride, and other ingredients to keep cavities and gum disease at bay. Whitening toothpaste typically has more abrasives, similar ingredients, plus low levels of bleaching chemicals. Some of the most commonly used of these mild abrasives include hydrated aluminum oxides, silica, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). These abrasives work to scrub surface stains caused by coffee, tea, tobacco, and so on.
Additionally, common bleaching agents used in whitening toothpaste include hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. These chemicals usually come in such a low dose that the whitening toothpaste is unlikely to cause sensitivity or irritation. However, any brightening of the teeth is relatively minor and takes a significant amount of time.

How to Use Whitening Toothpaste
It’s likely that how you use whitening toothpaste is more important than if you use it. Any ADA-approved whitening toothpaste you find on the market is considered safe for teeth, as long as you apply proper brushing techniques and frequencies.
For instance, it’s advisable to use a soft-bristle brush and not to brush too vigorously. Also, you should never brush your teeth more than the toothpaste label or your dentist suggests. Some people may feel the need to scrub harder than necessary, thinking that it will help remove more stains, when in fact this can lead to the erosion of your enamel.

What Happens When Your Enamel is Damaged  
Enamel is a substance on the outer layer of your teeth, and it’s your teeth’s first line of defense against chemicals from food, drink, and bodily fluids. Fortunately, it’s also the toughest tissue your body has. Nonetheless, it can still experience wear and tear over time, especially if you fail to brush regularly (or brush too hard and frequently with whitening toothpaste). Once the enamel has eroded, it cannot grow back, but proper dental hygiene can prevent erosion from escalating.
Short-term symptoms of tooth enamel erosion include discoloration, heightened sensitivity, and cracks. Long-term erosion can lead to stains, rough edges, and shiny spots on your teeth. The most advanced enamel erosion can result in severe tooth decay and fractured teeth.

Alternatives to Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste, when used properly, can make teeth appear slightly whiter over time. But it’s important to remember that it can only remove stains on the surface of your teeth and that the results will likely not be very noticeable.
If you want your smile to be significantly brighter and reduce the risk of enamel erosion, you are better off to go with a teeth-whitening system. You have two primary options here: over-the-counter products (e.g., gel trays, strips) or those administered by your dentist. Whitening gel can be especially effective, as it flows through the enamel tubules to reach the dentin—the tissue beneath the enamel that absorbs most of a stain.
Both over-the-counter and dentist-administered whitening systems contain higher concentrations of peroxide than whitening toothpaste, and either can provide more noticeable results. Generally speaking, over-the-counter products have 5-15% peroxide and professional dental-strength products have 25-40%. Before choosing a whitening product, be sure to consult your dentist.

The Verdict
ADA-approved whitening toothpaste may not be harmful in and of itself, but it can lead to enamel erosion if not applied properly, and it likely won’t yield the results you’re looking for. When it comes down to it, there are safer, more effective options on the market worth considering. Come by South Charlotte Dentistry to discuss your options with our team!

The Future of Teeth Whitening: Dental Whitening Lamps

When it comes to brightening that smile, using LED lighting for whitening teeth seems to be the wave of the future.

With its popularity quickly growing, due to spectacular results, dentists and patients are beginning to take a closer look at this advanced method of removing coffee, nicotine, and wine stains from the teeth. But is using LED lighting—or, blue lighting, as it is often called—for whitening teeth a safe practice? Though the results of this particular whitening method are positive, patients are still citing some enamel loss and increased sensitivity. Luckily, doctors have just recently discovered an even newer method, still using LED lighting, to whiten teeth but without the negative effects.

For a lot of people looking to whiten their teeth, they find the strips and gels and paints too damaging and painful. You don’t need to have sensitive teeth to feel the sharp pain of some of the modern whitening plans. The increased sensitivity we have seen rise right along with the sales and popularity of take-home whitening products is due to a lethal procedure: hydrogen peroxide robs your teeth of electrons and enamel begins to break down. The result is that hateful sting that comes at first contact of cool air or liquid.

LED Lighting

Here’s how it works: A gel is applied to the teeth then LED lights are used to trigger photocatalysts in the teeth, which then brighten and whiten. The gel is used to speed up the process and make the LED light more effective.

Though the chemicals in the gel used in conjunction with the LED lighting may not be quite as powerful as what’s used in other strips or gels, this process can still be harsh on the teeth—especially sensitive teeth. This has caused a bit of backlash, but this method is still seen as a step in the right direction, as it is not as intense as other take-home whitening products. But, new developments have been made, and the results are quite impressive.

A New Way of Whitening

According to the American Chemical Society, “researchers have now developed a new, less destructive method” of whitening. A gel is still applied to the teeth, and LED lights are used, but the effect is much more impressive.

Dr. Xiaolei Wang and colleagues have found an alternative compound to use in conjunction with LED lights to effectively brighten teeth, but without the negative side effects. Dr. Wang and his team wanted to eliminate the use of the hydrogen-peroxide base due to its damaging agents, so they took titanium dioxide nanoparticles and modified them so they could be triggered by blue lighting. The result? The team found that there was no significant enamel erosion and the teeth tested were significantly whiter.

Before You Whiten

Though it is tempting to buy the most popular take-home whitening products on the market—I mean, they must work if people are buying them, right?—be careful. Just because your friend has found a product that works without causing sensitivity and enamel loss, it doesn’t mean the results will be the same for you.

Your first step is to come in and meet with Dr. Wells and his team. They can successfully assess your teeth and gums to forecast which method(s) might be best for you. But, if you absolutely must start the whitening process immediately, follow these tips until you can come see us at South Charlotte Dentistry:

1.      Keep away from trays and gels. The problem with this method is that it can take weeks for results to show. And, most people who use the tray and gels report having teeth sensitivity afterwards. 

2.      Use caution with whitening strips as well. Though results can show in about a week, over time, this can cause irritation. Also, if you use the strips too often, your teeth can become sensitive.

3.      When you have the time to wait, use paint-ons. The paint-on method solves the problem of the whitening agent interacting with interior soft tissues, such as the gums and inner cheek. You simply brush the whitening gel on each tooth and let it sit for a short period of time. The only down side to this method is it can take months before results can be seen, and you have to be diligent in getting the gel on each tooth daily.

4.      Whitening devices are your best option. Go ahead and do a little research and find an LED lighting kit to order—you can get them off Amazon.


Andrae Bergeron
CCP Web Design
South Charlotte Denistry
 

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Charcoal Toothpaste, Yes or No?

At South Charlotte Dentistry we are up-to-the-minute on all of the newest toothpaste trends. The latest fad seems to be the popular charcoal toothpaste. Although, you might want to think twice before you jump on this bandwagon. Bloggers and social media public figures are raving about how this black gooey toothpaste will make your smile shine, but what they don’t know is the health risk involved. 

Active charcoal toothpaste has actually been around for years. This reoccurring trend was very popular in the 19^th century and was used as a key ingredient in toothpaste. Especially the DIY homemade toothpaste recipes. 

Despite what everyone is saying, charcoal toothpaste provides very little whitening advantages but rather brings a slew of not-so-great reactions. The American Dental Association informs users that charcoal toothpaste is too harsh on the teeth and will wear away the tooth enamel.  Tooth enamel is the outer most layer of the tooth. It is the shield that protects your teeth and is actually the whitest part of your teeth. Once the enamel is gone, well, it won’t come back. Once the enamel is gone you are left with the next layer. The Dentin is the layer that will be present. This layer is actually a naturally yellowish color. 

If you are looking for a whiter and brighter smile there are a number of things you can do. From simple and healthy toothpaste to in-office whitening treatments, there is a whitening technique for everyone’s budget, level of whitening desire, and time availability. 

To get started, we recommend you started by scheduling and appointment at South Charlotte Dentistry. We can examine your teeth and help you pick which whitening method works best for you. Schedule an appointment by visiting our website or calling our office at 704-759-0908.Also, take a look at why flossing is so important.