Gum Recession? Seek Treatment Today

Receding gums can be a sign of much more serious issues, such as periodontal disease. Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of their gum recession until it may be too late. In this article, our Atlanta dentists discuss the causes of gum recession, treatment options and what you can do to prevent it.

Causes of Gum Recession

Usually, gum recession is caused by periodontal (gum) disease, which is a serious problem that affects about three out of four adults. However, receding gums also might be caused by aggressive tooth brushing or a misaligned bite, which can create excessive force on the teeth and gums. Grinding and clenching the teeth also can exacerbate gum recession.

Signs of Gum Recession

Because it happens gradually, it isn’t always easy to tell if your gums are receding. Following are some signs to look for:

• Tooth sensitivity, caused by exposed tooth roots.
• The tooth appears longer than normal.
• A notch can be felt at the base of the tooth, near the gumline.

Treatment Options

If your gums are receding, your dentist’s primary priority will be determining the cause of the problem, which will then dictate potential treatment options.

• If gum disease is causing your gum recession, your dentist or periodontist might recommend an intense cleaning process known as scaling and root planing to reduce the presence of bacteria.
• If misalignment is the cause, then straightening the teeth might be necessary.
• Regardless of the cause of gum recession, one common way to repair the damage is to graft skin, usually taken from the roof of the mouth, to cover the root.
• You can also take some steps at home to reduce the sensitivity of your teeth, such as by using special toothpaste.
• Your dentist also might reduce sensitivity by applying a desensitizing agent or filling the notches along the gumline with a tooth-colored filling material.

An Ounce of Prevention

Prevention is always better than treatment. To prevent or arrest gum recession:

• Floss daily.
• Brush gently, at least twice a day, using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Don’t smoke.
• Protect periodontal disease with Perio Protect. These medicated trays destroy bacteria housed in the pockets between your gums and teeth.
• See your dentist twice a year for check-ups

Don’t put off gum recession treatment. If you live in the Atlanta area, give our gentle dentists a call today to schedule a consultation.

 

Fixing Your Smile: Options For A Broken Tooth

Your smile is your window to the world: It shows the people you interact with who you really are. If you’re embarrassed by a broken tooth, you’re probably not smiling very much! Our cosmetic dentists help restore patients’ confidence by fixing broken teeth.

Veneers

• Why not get a major smile improvement at the same time you get your broken tooth fixed?
• Veneers are thin laminates of porcelain that are bonded to the tooth structure. They are extremely thin and at the same time extremely strong.
• In addition to fixing your broken teeth, they can improve the color, shape, symmetry and overall appearance of your smile.

Inlays or Onlays

• These porcelain-type fillings are a good option when individual back teeth are broken.
• The tooth-colored inlay/onlay is bonded to your tooth, creating a strong, durable restoration.
• Inlays and onlays are a conservative option, because they do not require removal of healthy tooth.

Composite Fillings

• White or tooth-colored composite fillings are an excellent option for repairing an otherwise healthy broken tooth.
• Composite bonding is a procedure in which a composite material is placed over your teeth to fill gaps.
• The procedure requires precision and detail. While a correct bonding procedure results in a long-lasting and beautiful tooth restoration, an incorrect bonding can lead to a leak, crack or sensitivity.
• Direct bonding requires little to no tooth reduction, and can be completed in one visit, whereas veneers require a series of visits.
• As with all of their cosmetic dentistry, you will see the craftsmanship of the Atlanta Dental Spa doctors in their precisely formed dental bonds.
• Direct bonding typically does not last as long as veneers do. If the tooth has cracks or fractures or if there are heavy chewing forces on the tooth to be restored, dental bonding may not be the right option.

Don’t wait to fix your broken tooth. The weakened structure can cause other problems that might require replacement of the entire tooth. Call our top dentists today to start fixing your smile.

 

Researching Invisalign Providers in Atlanta?

If you’re looking to straighten your teeth with minimal impact on your social and professional life, then Invisalign might be the perfect solution for you. Because the effectiveness of this state-of-the-art process varies depending on the skill and experience of the provider, we encourage you to conduct thorough research before choosing your Invisalign^® doctor.

Following are a few factors you’ll want to keep in mind as you consider Invisalign providers in Atlanta.

Special Training

Be sure to ask each dentist you are considering about his or her qualifications. Only dentists who have participated in training from the Aligntech Institute are qualified to provide Invisalign treatment.

• Dr. Estep and Dr. Boulden regularly participate in training from the Aligntech Institute, making them highly qualified to determine which patients are the best candidates.

Experience

Don’t be shy about asking how many Invisalign cases the dentist has handled. A more experienced provider will know if clear braces are capable of the types of tooth movement you require.

• Invisalign is one of the most common cosmetic dentistry services we provide at the Atlanta Dental Spa, and our team has mastered the techniques required to obtain beautiful results using the Invisalign system.

Proven Results

Results speak for themselves. Any Invisalign provider should be willing to share before and after photos of successful treatments.

• We invite you to visit the Atlanta Dental Spa Invisalign smile gallery for examples of our past successes using Invisalign clear braces.

Patient Focused

Of course even the best dental provider isn’t right for you if they don’t put your needs and comfort first. Your dentist should make you feel completely comfortable and able to open up about your desires and anxieties related to straightening your teeth.

• The gentle dentists of Atlanta Dental Spa understand that going to the dentist can be a stressful experience. Our patients regularly tell us how Dr. Estep and Dr. Boulden made their visit to the dentist a more enjoyable experience.

We welcome the opportunity to consult with you about your tooth-straightening options. If you’re looking for an Invisalign provider in Atlanta, call us today for n appointment with our top cosmetic dentists.

 

Dry Mouth? Try CoQ10.

CoQ10 a Comfort to People with Mouth Condition

 

Don’t Waste Money on Cheap Porcelain Veneers

High-quality porcelain veneers enhance your smile for many years to come, making them one of the best investments in cosmetic dentistry. Cheap veneers, on the other hand, may look fake and will likely need to be repaired or replaced within a few years.

The High Cost of Cheap Veneers

What if one of your veneers broke or fell off just before a big presentation or special event? Would the cost savings be worth it if your veneers started to stain or crack after just a few months?

You’re probably considering porcelain veneers because you want a million-dollar smile, so it just doesn’t make sense to sacrifice quality.

With some purchases, cost may be the most important factor. But veneers aren’t an item that you will use and discard. Cosmetic dentistry is something you live with all day, everyday.

Invest In Quality

Dentists who discount their work must find ways to reduce their costs, either through lower-quality materials or cutting corners on technique.

Quality of porcelain veneers varies depending on:

• Quality of the material. The technology used to manufacture porcelain veneers has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. The lithium disilicate often used in today’s porcelain veneers is the strongest material (aside from metal) that is available in cosmetic dentistry. And unlike metal, porcelain is also the most natural-looking material.
• Skill of the ceramist. Each porcelain veneer is hand-made, and only a master ceramist will be able to craft your so that they perfectly match the shape, size and color of your existing teeth.
• Cosmetic skill of the dentist. Each veneer must be carefully fitted and bonded to the tooth. This labor-intensive and technique-sensitive practice is best performed by an accredited and experienced cosmetic dentist.

Financing Options

If you are considering veneers for a full smile makeover, there are some dental financing options you can consider to help make the costs more manageable.

• Our staff will help you work with your insurance company to find out if your dental insurance will cover a portion of your veneers procedure.
• Atlanta Dental Spa also offers credit options from two of the leading companies in health care credit: Springstone Financial and CareCredit.
• We also accept all major credit cards, allowing you to pay for your veneers on your own schedule.
• We will not begin your veneers procedure until you completely understand the costs involved.

High-quality porcelain veneers are an investment in your image. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by settling for a cheap imitation. If you’re in the Atlanta area, our top cosmetic dentists would love to help you review your veneers options and get you on the road to a stunning smile!

 

Atlanta Embraces Invisalign Clear Braces

 

You have invested in a professional, mature image, and metal braces just don’t fit that image. But neither do crooked or gapped teeth! Many Atlanta residents have achieved a straight smile without the “metal mouth” look through Invisalign® clear braces.

Clear Braces: The Clear Choice

Clear braces are the ideal solution for many adults with mild to moderate malocclusions. The removable aligner trays gently and gradually move your teeth into proper alignment without most people even knowing that you’re wearing braces.

Invisalign® clear braces effectively:

• Close gaps
• Straighten crowded and crooked teeth
• Correct misaligned bites
• Reduce gummy smiles

You might also be able to kill two birds with one stone by whitening your teeth while you straighten them with a gel that is added to your alignment trays.

Invest in Your Smile

An engaging smile is an asset beyond measure, and clear braces are one of the simplest, most effective investments to improve the value of that asset.

However, we understand that sometimes the cost of cosmetic dentistry can be a deterrent. Fortunately, some insurance plans cover Invisalign® clear braces just like they do traditional orthodontic braces. Atlanta Dental Spa also offers dental financing to help you fit clear braces into your budget.

You Decide

At Atlanta Dental Spa, we listen to you and design your treatment plan based on your wants and needs. At your consultation, our Invisalign® doctors will take digital photos of your teeth and will review them with you to discuss whether clear braces are the right option for you.

Then, we make impressions of your teeth and use a computer program called a clin-check to simulate the progression of your teeth from their current position to the ideal position. You get a chance to preview your final smile before you even decide to invest in clear braces.

If clear braces seem like the right option for you, give our Atlanta Invisalign® doctors a call today to schedule your consultation and get on the path to straight, beautiful teeth.

 

Searching For Dentists in Buckhead? Look to Atlanta Dental Spa

While cosmetic dentistry is our passion, Atlanta Dental Spa offers the complete range of general dentistry services. And with the opening of our new location, we are the Buckhead dentists you’ve been looking for!

In addition to regular teeth cleanings, following are two of the general dentistry services we often recommend to our Buckhead patients.

 

Dental Implants

• When you’ve lost a tooth or need a tooth extraction, one of your best options today for replacing that tooth is a natural-looking dental implant.

• It is important to replace lost teeth, even if they are in the back of the mouth, to maintain the stability and alignment of the rest of your teeth.

• Dental implants consist of a titanium screw that replaces the root of the tooth, as well as a porcelain crown that replaces the missing tooth and an abutment that connects the screw and the crown. Replacing the root helps ensure that the bone remains healthy and strong, and implants do not require any drilling on the healthy adjacent teeth.

• The primary drawback to implants is the amount of time required – usually 4 to 8 months from start to finish. It is also important that the dentist carefully match the crown to the natural teeth, so Buckhead dentistry patients who need to have a tooth replaced should carefully screen their dentist prior to having work done.

Oral DNA Testing

• Do you know about the body-mouth connection? The bacteria in your mouth has been connected to heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, cancer and a range of other diseases. Given this critical link between your body and mouth health, it pays to be vigilant.

• In addition to regular cleanings, we also conduct oral DNA testing for many of our patients. Our Buckhead dentists offer two tests to help prevent gum disease.

• MyPerioID determines if you have a genetic predisposition to develop periodontal disease. MyPerioPath is a test to discover whether the bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontal disease are present in your mouth. Depending on the results of these tests, we customize an oral hygiene plan to prevent or slow the progression of the disease.

• In some cases, a mouth sore alerts us to the possible presence of the Human papillomavirus (HPV), a mucosal viral infection that could potentially lead to oral cancer. But since early oral HPV infections do not typically cause any clinical signs, it is important to be proactive. The OraRisk® HPV test is a non-invasive screening tool to identify the presence of oral HPV.

If you’re looking for a new dentist, we hope you’ll stop by our new dental office for a complimentary consultation. We’d love to become your Buckhead dentists!

 

Judging Quality in Veneers: Tips from Atlanta Dental Spa

When you buy a car, you don’t go for the cheapest one on the lot. You want the best car at the most reasonable price. Just like with cars, veneers vary in quality. But how do you make sure that your veneers are high-quality and not low-quality?

Veneers prices can range from around $900 to more than $2,000 per tooth. Just as with everything, you tend to get what you pay for. But price isn’t the only indicator of quality when it comes to veneers.

There are a few factors that will help ensure that you end up with a set of high-quality veneers.

Material

• The strongest, most durable material available for dental work, aside from metal, is porcelain. Because you are less likely to have to repair porcelain veneers, they can be a sound investment.

• Usually composed of lithium disilicate glass and glazed in an oven, porcelain veneers also are highly stain resistant.

• Porcelain also closely resembles natural tooth enamel. A master ceramist will be able to blend the porcelain to match the surrounding teeth and completely cover deep stains, broken and misaligned teeth.

• Yet another material option for your veneers is composite resin. While it is more affordable, composite can be less durable, and the porous material also is susceptible to staining. Composite also looks less natural than porcelain.

Invasiveness

• Of course, when it comes to dental work, quality means maximum aesthetic results with minimal pain. Traditional veneers require some reduction of the underlying tooth to ensure the final result is not too bulky.

• For patients who would prefer not to alter their teeth, there is the option of ultra-thin, prepless or minimal prep veneers.

Experienced Cosmetic Dentist

• The dentist who crafts your veneers should be a perfectionist with years of experience as a general and cosmetic dentist, and should work with a master ceramist to form the veneers.

• Dr. Boulden and Dr. Estep are experienced cosmetic dentists who have contributed to the development of many of the best practices in cosmetic dentistry, including development of UltraVeneers, a special brand of prepless veneers.

• Created exclusively for Atlanta Dental Spa by our own master ceramist, these high-quality veneers look even more natural than traditional porcelain veneers.

But don’t take our word for it. Listen to what some of our patients say about their experience with our top cosmetic dentists. If you’re looking for high-quality veneers in Atlanta, give us a call today to schedule your consultation. Transform your smile with award-winning veneers from Atlanta Dental Spa!

 

Veneers or Invisalign: What’s Your Best Option?

A beautiful smile brings so many benefits. When you’re proud of your teeth, you will probably smile more, which makes people feel more comfortable around you and gives you more confidence. For these reasons, many patients with crooked, crowded or stained teeth come see our top cosmetic dentists in Atlanta. Two of our most popular cosmetic dentistry services that address these problems are veneers and Invisalign^® clear braces.

 

Making the Choice

To decide between veneers or Invisalign^® you need to consider several factors.

• Extent of problems: If you have crooked or uneven teeth in several areas of your mouth, or if current crowding is likely to lead to problems in other areas of your mouth, then you’re probably better off using Invisalign^® trays to permanently correct those problems.

• Time investment: On the other hand, veneers are a much more immediate solution. Whereas veneers can give you a completely new smile in a matter of days, most of our Invisalign^® patients wear their trays between 1 and 2 years before their teeth are in correct alignment.

• Cost: The overall cost of your dental restoration will vary depending on the extent of the problems, as discussed above. Veneers generally cost about $900 to $2,200 per tooth, whereas the entire Invisalign^® process usually ranges from $3,600 to about $6,000. Depending on how many veneers you would need to cover your smile imperfections, Invisalign^® might be a more cost-effective option.

Whiten While You Straighten

While veneers give you an almost-instantly whiter smile, did you know that you can also whiten your teeth while you straighten them with a gel inserted into your Invisalign^® alignment tray? If you and your cosmetic dentist decide that Invisalign^® is the appropriate option, be sure to ask about tooth-whitening options.

Top Atlanta Cosmetic Dentists

At Atlanta Dental Spa, veneers and Invisalign^® are two of our most common cosmetic dentistry services, and our team has mastered these techniques. Schedule your consultation today and get on the road to a more beautiful smile!

 

Veneers Buckhead: Top Cosmetic Dentists Answer Your Questions

Buckhead residents looking to create a radiant smile now have Atlanta’s top cosmetic dentists in their backyard! Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Susan Estep are bringing their meticulous veneers process to Buckhead with their new office opening in May.

Veneers are a popular way to make your smile whiter and more symmetrical. Buckhead residents considering this cosmetic dentistry option are in good hands with the dentists who won “Best in Show” and “1st Place for Smile Makeovers” in the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics 2010 International Smile Gallery Competition.

Benefits of Veneers

Porcelain veneers have been used for decades to improve smiles, for a number of reasons:

• Natural-looking: Porcelain closely replicates human enamel because it has the same translucency, which means that light can enter and be reflected back out. Because of the skill required to match the porcelain to the surrounding teeth, only a master ceramist is qualified to create porcelain veneers.
• Strong: Generally made of lithium disilicate glass, porcelain is the strongest dental material available, other than metal. (However, it’s a myth that porcelain is stronger than enamel; any activity that would chip your natural teeth would also break enamel.)
• Long-lasting: With a life of 20 years or longer, porcelain veneers are one of the most durable ways to enhance your smile. Their durability is due in part to the chemical bonding process used to adhere these thin shells of porcelain to your teeth.

No-Prep Veneers

One of the potential downsides of traditional veneers is that they usually require some reduction of the underlying tooth, so that your smile doesn’t become overly bulky. However, newer technology has led to the creation of ultra-thin veneers that require no or minimal preparation of the teeth.

In addition to prepless veneers brands such as Lumineers, Buckhead cosmetic dentists Drs. Boulden and Estep have developed a special veneers option called UltraVeneers.

The benefits of no-prep or minimal prep veneers include:

• Minimally invasive: Typically, the dentist only needs to contour the teeth slightly, and usually no anesthetic is necessary.
• Cost: No-prep veneers typically are a less expensive option than traditional veneers or other cosmetic dental procedures.
• Turnaround: Most patients can have their no-prep veneers placed within 72 hours.

Buckhead residents have many options for perfecting their smiles, and cosmetic dentists Drs. Boulden and Estep would be happy to offer a complimentary smile consultation to determine whether veneers are right for you.