The demand for elective dental esthetic procedures has grown a lot in the last decade. More and more patients want to have a beautiful healthy smile.

Thanks to the new advances in adhesive dentistry we can now restore smiles with minimal compromise to dental tissues/teeth.

One of the least invasive procedures in restoring smiles would be Veneers.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are thin laminates made of porcelain of an average thickness as low as 0.5mm that are placed over the front part of teeth.

Many factors are taken into consideration such as altering the size, shape, alignment as well as color of the teeth all to enhance a smile.

How Long Does A Smile Makeover Process Take?

Planning for a smile makeover is the most important part of the treatment.

In the first visit, the dentist will take impressions of the teeth to study the case. Additionally, they will take a series of photos and videos to analyze the patient’s smile and its relation with the lips, face and personality of the patient

This will allow the dentist to perform a Digital Smile Design. The purpose is to give each patient a beautiful, but also personalized smile that becomes an integral part of their identity.

The next visit is when the patient sees the future smile design before even starting the treatment through what is called a Mock up.

Once the patient approves the design of their new smile, in most cases, the dentist will judge necessary to shave a little from the teeth with minimal invasive preparation techniques to prepare for the veneers.

The third and last visit, which usually is a few days later, is when the patient gets the final veneers. The veneers are first tried in, then bonded through a meticulous protocol.

Can I Get A

Hi!

I had a cavity filled last year, and for some reason I decided to see if I can get a picture of the filling and if it looks “normal”. I noticed there is a brownish coloring around the edges of it. Is it a cavity? I’ve attached a pic to the post.

PS – Is that tooth in front of it cavity ridden now too??? Or is it just a groove?

PIC: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

It is recommended that a child’s first dental visit should be when their first tooth becomes visible or by their first birthday – whichever comes first.

While this may seem early and your child may not have many teeth yet, this visit allows your child to become familiar with the dentist and the dental environment and enables the dentist to check for early signs of dental problems. 

Why bring your child to the dentist early on?

Get to know the dentist and avoid dental fear

The first dental visit is meant to be a fun and positive experience for your child so  they look forward to future  visits. This helps the child become more comfortable and want to see the dentist before any dental pain exists.

Early dental visits will help them become familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of the dentist and the dental environment. Subsequent visits are about gradually introducing new things such as gentle cleans and low-dose x-rays (as required) to your child at their own pace and building comfort and confidence in your child.

Early detection of potential dental problems

The dentist can check the growth and development of your child’s teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues to identify any potential problems early on. This includes identifying variations in the timing or sequence of teeth eruption, defects in the tooth enamel (which indicate a greater susceptibility to tooth decay), certain habits which may cause malalignment of teeth and problems with the bite, and problems with the gums and tissues (which may affect feeding and cleaning).

Anticipatory guidance and advice

The dentist can give you advice on what to expect next  for the dental development for your child. For example, which tooth will erupt next, when you can expect your child to

Thanks to the users of this subreddit I got to know about the xylitol gum. Now I wanted to share that I finally got my order of it delivered. And I want to say a huge thank you for your time answering questions here.

You can see some photos of it here: https://imgur.com/a/xePLv4b

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through a significant amount of changes. A woman’s oral health is no exception. During pregnancy, prominent hormones such as progesterone and estrogen surge, posing a higher risk of dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. 

As the pregnancy hormones help to loosen ligaments and provide more blood circulation around a woman’s body, it can also lead to dental changes such as more teeth mobility and potential tooth lose. It is not uncommon to hear of the old saying “a woman loses a tooth for every child that she has”.

This is especially true if a mother has ongoing untreated periodontal disease and/or untreated dental decay. Periodontal disease can see the gums become so infected that the ligaments around it can no longer support a tooth. Tooth decay may rot beyond the point of restoration and hence in both cases, extraction is the only way forward. 

Bleeding gums from gingivitis is exacerbated during pregnancy due to the hormones and possibly more mouth breathing. For many pregnant women, nasal congestion may start as early as the first trimester, making it incredibly difficult to breath out of their nose during the night. This can lead to dry mouth. A dry mouth usually leads to more plaque accumulation and hence more irritation to the gums and teeth. Again, this cycle leads to gingivitis and increased chances of tooth decay from plaque/food debris that produce acids and can break down enamel. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can also over time erode enamel, increasing teeth sensitivity and could further rot an already decaying tooth. 

This is why it is very important to continue with dental care during your pregnancy. Dental hygiene visits and exams are vital to maintain a healthy mouth. A Dental Hygienist can clean

Night time tooth grinding or clenching is a sleep disorder also known as ‘bruxism’. Adults that grind or clench their teeth at night may have generalised sensitivity to their teeth and may also wake up with headaches, sore jaw joints, sore jaw muscles or chipped and worn teeth. Occasionally, there are no symptoms.

Working through COVID, I noticed in my patients a marked increase in the prevalence of night time tooth grinding and/or clenching and its associated effects.

What causes night time grinding?

• The causes of night time grinding are not well understood. It occurs much more frequently in children, but most will outgrow it by the age of 12.
• Most people who grind or clench their teeth at night do not do so every night – even just a few minutes here and there over a few months can cause long term damage to the teeth and  surrounding structures.

Who is at risk for night time tooth grinding?

• Several factors are associated with night time tooth grinding/clenching:
  • Alcohol and some recreational drugs
  • Certain neurologic disorders

What can I do to minimise my risk of night time tooth grinding/clenching?

• Diagnose and address any bite or airway issues 

If tooth grinding or clenching is being caused by an obvious airway or bite issue, this needs to be treated primarily through a sleep specialist and/or orthodontic treatment

• Protect the teeth and jaw joints by having a custom night guard made

If there are any signs of night time grinding or clenching – either current or historic-  on the teeth, it is recommended to wear a custom fitted night guard to protect the teeth from further wear and future fracture. The type and design of the guard is dictated by the individual circumstances.

In general, a soft, flexible guard is