A beautiful, healthy smile can make a great first impression, but if you have crooked or uneven teeth, you may be less than confident about your smile. If you’ve been putting off having this corrected because you don't want to endure the process and time involved in wearing traditional braces, you are not alone. But there are options to correct alignment issues and give you back your beautiful smile. Today, let's take a look at some of the advantages of using the Invisalign™ system.

What makes Invisalign aligners preferable to traditional braces?

• Easy Treatment Plan: Your Invisalign™ treatment starts when we take the X-rays used to create a 3-d digital image of your mouth.  Next, you’ll be given a series of custom-made aligners that you will take home and change about every two weeks. You will see the difference in your smile every time you change aligners! You will be scheduled for checkups every six weeks or so at San Bruno Dental Medicine so we can monitor your progress.
• Convenient: Simply wear your aligners throughout the day, removing them to eat. This allows you to eat foods you love without the worry of particles getting stuck in wires and brackets.
• Easily removable: You will continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. Your Invisalign™ aligners can simply be brushed and rinsed in lukewarm water.
• Adaptable to your active lifestyle: Since Invisalign™ aligners are nearly invisible; most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them. You don’t have to worry about the discomfort of metal braces and wires that can poke and irritate your mouth, and if you’re involved in contact sports, Invisalign™ aligners are easily removed, enabling you to wear a protective mouth guard if necessary.

How long does the entire process take?
It’s difficult to say exactly how long you will need to wear your Invisalign™ aligners since everyone is unique. Contact the San Bruno General Cosmetic Dentist for a free consultation to evaluate your individual situation. Generally speaking though, Invisalign™ treatment usually takes about a year for adults. For teens, the length of treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces, with less discomfort and the added advantage of seeing the improvement every time you change aligners!

Modern cosmetic dentistry has brought about so many innovative and smile-enhancing procedures that it’s sometimes difficult to sort it all out. You’re smile is just not as appealing as it once was, and you know that you need some kind of enhancement in addition to your routine oral care. But which procedures will treat your underlying oral problems as well as create the smile you desire? Today I’d like to speak to you specifically about crowns, their uses and benefits.

What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns ("caps") are one of dentistry's most versatile types of restorations. Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully cup over the portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface. There are several types of crowns but porcelain is the most popular.  Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth. They are highly durable and will last many years.

When is a dental crown used?
A crown may be used to strengthen broken, fractured teeth, cover large or fractured fillings or for cosmetic enhancement. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed.  This protects the tooth, prevents it from breaking, and restores it to its full function.

What does getting a crown involve?
A crown procedure usually requires two appointments.  Your first appointment at CA Restorative Dentistry will include the taking of several highly accurate molds (or impressions) used to create your temporary crown as well as your permanent custom crown.  The tooth is prepared by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown.  Your temporary crown is then placed.

During your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed so that we can ensure proper spacing and an accurate bite. You will receive instructions for care and cleaning before you are sent home with a beautiful, enhanced smile.

Are you less than happy with the appearance of your smile? Do you shy away from business situations and social interactions because you’re self-conscious about your appearance? You may be surprised to learn that many issues that people think are purely cosmetic can also have an impact on your overall oral health.

Teeth that are cracked, decayed, missing, or incorrectly aligned not only mar your appearance and make you feel self-conscious, but they can lead to a variety of other problems including periodontal disease, jaw pain, and difficulty with chewing. Cosmetic dentistry can correct these issues, restoring your oral health and beautiful smile.

Cosmetic Dental Solutions

At San Bruno General Dentist we understand that every patient’s needs are unique. When you visit our office, we will work closely with you to find the solution that is right for you, correcting potentially harmful dental issues and giving you a smile you can be proud of.

Cosmetic dentistry offers several solutions for perfecting your smile:

• Porcelain Veneers can cover discolored teeth and correct problems like uneven spacing, gaps, and crooked teeth
• Dental Implants can be used to replace missing teeth and offer additional support against shifting teeth and jaw collapse
• Porcelain Crowns offer a strong, aesthetically pleasing solution for patients with cracked or chipped teeth
• Tooth-colored fillings prevent further decay while appearing natural, unlike amalgam fillings
• Tooth bonding corrects the appearance of broken, misaligned, or crooked teeth

There are almost unlimited options for creating a smile you can be proud of. In addition to correcting potential dental problems and ensuring your overall oral health, San Bruno General Cosmetic Dentist offers a wide range of cosmetic services from basic teeth whitening to more complex procedures such as dental implants. This combination of sound general dentistry combined with cosmetic dentistry offers a solution for every smile.