It Aims to Prevent Gum Disease

Depending on your particular stage of gum disease, non-surgical periodontal therapy may or may not be the best choice for you. You can talk with your dentist about if you would be a good candidate for this procedure. It’s not for people who have advanced stages of gum disease, but rather for those who are in the beginning stages and can try to turn around their dental health by removing bacteria and plaque.Non-surgical periodontal therapy removes and controls the bacteria that cause gum disease. The procedure’s goal is to help you halt the progression of periodontal disease and get your oral health back. Let’s look at what you can expect during the procedure and how you determine how successful it will be!

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

During non-surgical periodontal therapy, you’ll be under local anesthesia. Your dentist will then perform a detailed cleaning of your roots, teeth surfaces, and even under your gums if necessary to remove plaque and bacteria. Plaque is scraped away in a process called scaling, and roots are leveled in a process called planing. Plaque and tartar (the hardened form of plaque) are often under the gums as well and need to be removed, which will be done during the procedure as well. This allows the gums to reestablish their healthy connection with your teeth. Gum pockets may also need to be cleaned in order to get rid of bacteria that may be trapped there.

You Determine Your Own Success

During non-surgical periodontal therapy, your roots are thoroughly cleaned, bacteria is removed along with any plaque or tartar, and your mouth is ready to be healthy again. However, after your dentist has properly cleaned your mouth, you determine how successful the outcome of the procedure will be. If you don’t brush and floss, visit your dentist, and change your eating habits, the bacteria can come back in as little as a few weeks and the process of gum disease will begin all over again. You determine how effective your treatment will be. It’s vital to prevent the bacteria from coming back and colonizing in your mouth. Talk with your dentist about how to properly care for your mouth after treatment!

Consider non-surgical periodontal therapy if you’ve been diagnosed with periodontal disease. Talk with your dentist about the procedure and what to expect and well as healthy practices that you can adopt to enhance the outcome of this type of therapy. Remember, your gums and teeth should last for life—this treatment can get you ready to take control of your dental health and reestablish your healthy smile!

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Who Should Get Lumineers or Veneers?

These products are both used for the same purpose: correcting imperfections in a person’s teeth. If teeth are damaged, crooked, short, or in another way do not match the teeth around them, veneers and lumineers are ways to make a smile symmetrical and more visually appealing. So which one is right for you?

Benfits of Veneers

Some refer to veneers as porcelain veneers, but this is merely one type and composite veneers are also available.

Veneer Pros:

– Aesthetic Appeal – This is a great way to even out your smile and create a more aesthetic appearance.

– Natural Coloration – Veneers can be color matched to the rest of your teeth providing a natural appearance without the need to cover every single tooth.

– Strength – Composite veneers are extremely strong and can last for 20 years if cared for well.

– Stain Resistant – Porcelain veneers will actually resist stains better than your natural tooth

enamel, so you can drink your coffee, tea, and wine without regrets.

Who Should Get Veneers?

– If you grind your teeth composite veneers are the right choice for you.

– Veneers are the right option for those seeking a permanent cosmetic solution.

– If a tooth is misshapen or discolored and you want all of your teeth to match.

Benefits of Lumineers

Lumineers are another way to instantly improve your smile. Consider the following benefits.

Lumineer Pros:

– Reversible Procedure – If you ever decide that you no longer want lumineers, you can go back to your regular teeth. This is the primary advantage of lumineers over veneers.

– A Perfect Fit – There is no need for any drilling or numbing. Lumineers are painless.

Who Should Get Lumineers?

– Those who do not want their cosmetic dentistry to be irreversible.

– Individuals with slightly extra space between their teeth since lumineers add a very thin layer to the teeth.

Veneers and Lumineers are two great ways to spruce up a smile. Your dentist can help you determine which is better suited to your needs.

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Ten to Fifteen Years

Your veneers, with proper placement, care, and maintenance, will likely last ten to fifteen years. This will depend on your oral health habits as well as the placement of your veneers. Getting your veneers installed by a dentist who takes the time and care to understand your mouth and give you the perfect placement of your veneers is important. You have a role to play in the lifespan of your veneers, too, though. With proper care, your veneers could last up to twenty years or maybe even longer! How can you extend the lifespan of your dental veneers?

How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Veneers

You can maintain your veneers by keeping up with regular oral health practices—you’ll still need to brush, floss, and visit your dentist. It’s important to brush properly and not brush your teeth hard. Hard brushing could damage your veneers (as well as your natural teeth) over time. Gentle brushing with a quality toothpaste is important. Avoid drinks that can be destructive to your veneers, namely soda and alcohol, as much as possible. You can also protect your veneers by not misusing your mouth. Your mouth was meant to bite, chew, and grind up food—it’s not meant to chew ice, crack nuts, or bite on inedible objects like pencils and pens. Engaging in all of these practices can be very damaging to your dental veneers.

You and Your Dentist Make a Good Team

While you can engage in healthy oral practices to make your veneers last longer, you’ll also need to team up with your dentist in order to create a longer lifespan for your veneers. Your dentist can give youthe care you need during regular checkups, and ensure that your veneers are doing fine. Your dentist may look for cracks or chips, and your dentist should also check whether or not you’ve been grinding your teeth. An improper jaw bite can be very damaging to dental veneers, therefore creating grinding or improper use of your veneers. If you grind your teeth, your dentist should be able to tell, and can talk with you about how to protect your teeth from grinding and even help prevent it. Grinding can cause headaches, jaw pain, and it can crack or chip your veneers, leading to early replacement.

Your dental veneers were meant to last at least ten years, but could last as many as twenty! By taking care of your oral health and visiting your dentist, you can ensure that your dental veneers last a long time, and keep your smile looking great for years.

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