{"id":15341,"date":"2015-03-11T09:55:08","date_gmt":"2015-03-11T13:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=15341"},"modified":"2015-03-11T09:09:05","modified_gmt":"2015-03-11T13:09:05","slug":"update-your-smile-without-busting-the-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=15341","title":{"rendered":"Update your smile without busting the budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Stephanie McGann<\/strong><\/span>, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"UTStephCollogo\"<\/a>Spring is coming and many of us will spend some time updating our wardrobe, cleaning out some accumulated winter clutter and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first crocus flower.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a great time to make sure your smile is it all it can be.\u00a0\u00a0 This month I want to talk about the little things we can do to make our smile look better and brighter that are simple, easy and budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

When reading an article recently, when a person is prepared for a job interview, the first advice they are given is to smile.\u00a0 These interviewing professionals will coach their clients on how to dress, how to speak and how to make a good impression.\u00a0 A smile says so much. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Take a look in the mirror.<\/p>\n

When you smile do you show dark metal (silver\/mercury) fillings?<\/p>\n

Do you have old dental work with unsightly margins?<\/p>\n

Are you teeth as white as they used to be?<\/p>\n

Are the edges of your teeth smooth or are they chipped and jagged?<\/p>\n

Is one tooth much darker than the others?<\/p>\n

Do you have missing teeth that show when you smile?<\/p>\n

Are there dark spots on or between your teeth?<\/p>\n

Are your gums puffy and red?<\/p>\n

If you answered no to all of these questions then you probably have a very esthetically pleasing smile, if not, your dentist can help.<\/p>\n

Showing a dark metal filling when you smile is unsightly.\u00a0 While metallic fillings may still be functional, they may be sending the wrong message.\u00a0 The new tooth-colored composite fillings are sturdy and can be used to replace most old silver metallic fillings.<\/p>\n

Does your smile show that dark line around old crowns (caps)?\u00a0 Seeing a dark line is really not ideal.\u00a0 Until recently most porcelain crowns had metal underneath.\u00a0 Over time the gum or soft tissues that usually hide those dark edges can become thinner or recede. This allows the edge to show. Today dentists have many more options.\u00a0 Some crowns can be made with no metal at all. These porcelain or zirconia options are strong, durable and don\u2019t have metal to make that black line effect.\u00a0 If you are fortunate enough to have dental benefits, many plans offer coverage for a replacement crown after 5 years.<\/p>\n

Every day we see advertising about how to get a whiter smile.\u00a0 There are thousands of products on the market. Some even promise to whiten your teeth in just 5 minutes.\u00a0 The simple truth is most over the counter products are tested for safety \u2013 much like cosmetics, but are not regulated for efficacy.\u00a0 Ask your dentist what options would work best to whiten your smile.\u00a0 Most dental offices offer a range of whitening options.\u00a0 If you are interested in whitening \u2013 ask today!\u00a0 Good news for those of us who already own a set of bleaching trays \u2013 if you used trays in the past, there are newer products available that can be used in your existing trays.<\/p>\n

Time takes its toll on our teeth. Over time teeth may become rough or develop uneven edges. Sometimes the enamel chips and small pieces break away. These uneven edges can sometimes make a huge difference in the way a smile looks.\u00a0 Enamelplasty is a process that can reshape the edges of the teeth to give them a more symmetrical and pleasing appearance. If the areas are small this is a great option.\u00a0 If the process goes beyond the outer layer of enamel some composite bonding may be needed to prevent sensitivity and protect the softer dentin underneath.<\/p>\n

Nothing is more noticeable than a single dark tooth. This can happen when one tooth has had root canal (endodontic) treatment. Teeth that have had root canal therapy are no longer alive. These non-vital teeth will slowly discolor over time. Along with the discoloration these teeth also become brittle and are prone to fracture. Most dentists strongly recommend that a crown is placed on these teeth to protect them and allow them to continue to function in a patient\u2019s mouth.\u00a0\u00a0 A new crown can be color matched to the adjacent teeth, this eliminates the appearance of a single dark tooth.\u00a0 If the dark tooth has not had root canal therapy then it should be checked to see if some other problem may be developing.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s society we are very conscious of our appearance.\u00a0 While tooth loss is sometimes unavoidable, the embarrassment that comes with a missing tooth can often be limited or avoided altogether.\u00a0\u00a0 If the missing tooth shows when you smile, a small plastic appliance can be fabricated to replace tooth while other replacement options are being fitted.\u00a0 This appliance is often called a flipper. \u00a0In many cases a flipper can be made prior to a tooth being removed. The flipper is then ready to fit and wear immediately after a tooth is extracted. An immediate-placement flipper means there is no time spent with a missing tooth. The long term options for replacing missing teeth are best discussed with your dentist.\u00a0 It is good to know however, that options do exist to minimize the embarrassment of a missing tooth.<\/p>\n

A regular concern among savvy dental patients is the dark areas between teeth.\u00a0\u00a0 A dentist will first identify the cause of the dark area. It can be as simple as replacing an old discolored filling that was placed between the front teeth years ago.\u00a0 Some of the early white fillings developed a discoloration as they aged.\u00a0\u00a0 Other causes of dark areas can be related to an accumulation of stain or tartar between the teeth. Brush, floss and use a whitening gel to see if the discoloration can be removed.\u00a0\u00a0 Another concern is what the dental industry calls the black triangle.\u00a0 These areas are dark empty spots where gum tissue used to be.\u00a0\u00a0 Gum disease or a form of trauma has caused a lack of soft tissue in these critical areas. A dentist or a periodontist can identify these \u201cblack triangles\u201d and offer options to restore these areas.<\/p>\n

Your gums are the part of a beautiful smile.\u00a0 Red puffy oozing gums do not look great. More importantly they are unhealthy and can contribute to increased risks for heart disease, increased complications with diabetes and other health risks.\u00a0\u00a0 Take care of your gums, they are part of your smile.<\/p>\n

Your smile tells your story.\u00a0 Each and every smile is unique. Talk with your dental provider.\u00a0 Ask about the issues that concern you. \u00a0Even a small thing can bring out the beauty in your smile.<\/p>\n

Dr. Stephanie McGann, who has more than two decades of dental practice experience, is a resident of the Unionville area and along with her partner, Dr. Marie Scott, operates The Brandywine Smile Center<\/a>, a family-friendly dental practice in Concordville. Dr. McGann <\/em>has opened a new practice in Valley Township, Rainbow Valley Dental<\/a>. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times Spring is coming and many of us will spend some time updating our wardrobe, cleaning out some accumulated winter clutter and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first crocus flower.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a great time to make sure your smile is it all it can be.\u00a0\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,4],"tags":[258,3695,5943,294],"class_list":["post-15341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-featured","tag-health-2","tag-smile","tag-spring-tune-up","tag-teeth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15341"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15342,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15341\/revisions\/15342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}