Saturday, November 29, 2008

Why Dental Veneers

By James Delapp and H. Candace Delapp

Dental veneers may be for patients who need more that tooth bleaching, Dental veneers are one of many options for the patient who wants to change the appearance of their smile. Dental veneers may help with uneven, crowded or discolored teeth or all porcelain crowns used in conjunction with veneers can replace missing teeth and fill in gaps in your smile.

Why do patient choose to do dental porcelain veneers?

There are many reasons why patients choose to have porcelain veneers placed that to list all the reasons would be an unmanageable number. Truly, everyone is different but as you are aware, the smile is the gateway to the soul. If your teeth are crooked, crowded stained, or chipped you are less likely to smile and others perception of you can be affected. Some of the reasons we have seen include:

  • I dislike the color of my teeth.
  • My teeth are getting shorter as I age
  • My teeth make me look older than I feel
  • My teeth are stained from antibiotics (tetracycline) or minerals in the water.
  • I have contact with the public and my teeth give a poor impression of me.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin tooth-colored strips of porcelain or similar ceramic material that are bonded onto the existing teeth.The advantages of ceramic dental veneers or tooth bonding are numerous and include:

  • The color of the materials is very similar to the color of the teeth, which can create a more esthetic appearance than did traditional bonding.
  • Porcelain veneers maintain their white color because they tend to resist staining.
  • Technology improves almost daily and the strength of veneers is increasing making them more durable and life-like.
  • Rapid smile improvement is possible only with dental veneers. One for the preparation, impressions and the temporaries and approximately 3 weeks to a month later to seat permanent porcelain dental veneers.
  • Occasionally, we use several techniques to design your smile. This may include orthodontic (traditional braces or Invisalign). Very complex esthetics may be addressed in this manner and are rarely solved by only one technique for your best results.

Dental veneers are one method used to enhance your smile.

Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H Candace DeLapp are dentist in the Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Parker area that is part of the greater Denver area. Both doctors teach part-time and the University of Colorado School of Dentistry and maintain a private practice in dentistry with special interests in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. More information about both doctors can be seen at http://www.cottonwooddental.com and a new web site undergoing frequent improvements at http://www.cosmetic-aesthetic-dentistry.com Dr's DeLapp second web site allow more editable content and describes dental procedures in more detail. Please feel free to visit both.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Choosing The Right Dentist For You

When choosing the right dentist for you, it is important that you take your time and find someone that you can trust, that you are comfortable with, and that can provide you with the services you need. After all, if all goes well, you will have your teeth for the rest of your life. As such, you will be spending a great deal of time with your dentist and you want to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

If you have children, one factor you will need to take into consideration is the dentist’s experience with working with children. Young children in particular can be tricky patients, so you wan to be certain to select a dentist that will be able to take care of you as well as your little ones. Find out the dentist’s policies when it comes to working on younger patients and learn more about what the dentist does to make the experience as pleasant as possible for children, such as whether or not the dentist has any special programs or incentives for children that remain cavity free.

If you have a specific problem with your teeth or mouth in general, you also want to make sure the dentist is experienced and knowledgeable in that particular health issue. Take the time to talk with the dentist and get a feel for his or her level of knowledge. If the dentist won’t take the time to discuss the issue with you, then you know his or her bedside manner is poor and you most likely should move on to other options.

Of course, here you live will also play a role in the dentist you select. Don’t limit yourself to just dentists in your town, however. Finding a good dentist that you trust and have a good relationship with is worth driving an hour to see if necessary.


Saturday, July 26, 2008

What to Look for in a Cosmetic Dentist

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you are deciding on a cosmetic dentistry procedure, then you want to make sure that you choose the best cosmetic dentist possible.

A good cosmetic dentist will work with you in order to determine what goals you want to achieve, they will prescribe a treatment plan that will provide you with those goals, and they will provide you with financing options so that your treatment is effective and affordable.

Cosmetic dentists like Dr. Kodish in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, make sure that their patients are informed and have input in every step of their dental treatment. “I want to provide my patients with the results they want,” says Dr. Kodish, “and they can’t get those results without being informed and having a say in their dental treatment.”

A quality cosmetic dentist should not just be concerned with the appearance of your teeth. They should be concerned about your overall oral health. Make sure that the cosmetic dentist you choose offers more than just cosmetic procedures. A good cosmetic dentist should be able to provide you with an array of restorative, preventive, as well as cosmetic services.

Along with good communication and the services they provide, a good cosmetic dentist will have plenty of experience and training. Learning about dentistry should never stop as soon as the dentist becomes certified; a good cosmetic dentist will attend clinics and workshops so that their skill advances along with the procedures they can perform.

Honesty is another quality that you should look for in a cosmetic dentist. A good cosmetic dentist will be honest with you about the procedure they can perform and what results they can provide you with. Always ask for references and before and after photos of the cosmetic dentist’s patients. Many of the best cosmetic dentists have their own websites with ways to contact the dentist and before and after photos that you can view immediately.

Lastly, look at the office. By taking a tour of the facilities, you will be able to look at the equipment and technology that the cosmetic dentist uses. You will also be able to determine if the area is clean and professional, and you will be able to find out about the sterilization techniques the office uses.

A good cosmetic dentist will be able to provide you with a new smile. By making sure your cosmetic dentist is one that will be honest, communicate, and has experience, they can provide results that not only look good, but also work well.