Friday, March 30, 2012

Jacksonville Cosmetic Dentistry

There was a time when the common wisdom was that cosmetic dental procedures were too expensive. With the increase in technology came lower prices and now there are all kinds of payment plans and financing available for David and Associates dental Jacksonville, Fl.

Finding a dentist in Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL who not only uses the newest dental Jacksonville, Fl technology but also assists patients in finding ways to pay is quite a rarity. But David and Associates go the extra mile by not only allowing for flexible payment plans but also partnering with a local bank to finance more expensive procedures.

The drill is the instrument that strikes the most terror in a dental patient's heart. New technology called Air Abrasion allows doctors to forgo the drill in some cases and instead use small puffs of air. This may also save the patient from needing anesthesia and it is relatively painless.

If you have crooked or discolored teeth, you don't have to have temporary veneers or crowns put in, then painfully replaced later with permanent ones. David and Associates dental Jacksonville, Fl use the latest CAD-CAM Technology which allows for the computerized design and milling of porcelain veneers. This makes them accurate and fast to make, allowing for less waiting time and more showing off your beautiful new smile.

In the past, x-rays were taken to see where potential problems may lie with a patient's teeth. Those who worry about the exposure to radiation may have balked at this necessary procedure. Now, your dentist in Jacksonville can use Computer Digital Radiography (CDR). By using CDR, the dentist will cut radiation exposure by up to 90% while making for a quicker image. In just two minutes, up pops an image which can be enlarged and focused in to provide the best possible explanation of any dental conditions.

Once a treatment plan is worked up, Dental Imaging Software can then be used to explain the procedure in detail. Patients always feel more at ease when they know exactly what is going to happen and what to expect when they get dental work done. Dr. Joel and his team also use an intraoral camera so the patient can see everything the doctor sees as he is working on your mouth.

Visiting a cosmetic dentist is not just for vanity, though. Sometimes the dentists diagnose dangerous conditions such as oral cancer. OralCDx allows the doctors to use a brush biopsy system to detect cancer so that treatment can be started immediately. The sooner it is detected, the better off the patient will be.

No matter if you need a simple teeth cleaning or a more complex set of porcelain veneers put in, the Dr. Joel team can help. With a large team of dentists, there is no procedure that can't be done. Imagine finding a dentist in Jacksonville, FL where you can get any and all procedures done under one roof. No more referrals or having to make extra appointments. No more new or strange doctors that may not take your insurance. Instead, you get a reliable group on dentists who use a team approach to serve all of your dental needs.

Modern Solutions To Old Dental Problems

Few things can make a person more self-conscious than the condition of their teeth. An individual’s smile is one of the first things people notice and use to form a first impression. This means that if a person’s teeth are in poor condition or if an individual is unwilling to smile, this can create a negative perception of them that is not necessarily an accurate one.

The ability and willingness to smile, on the other hand, shows confidence and a personality that people usually see in a positive light. Smiles affect the individual’s ability to make friends, appear confident in a job interview, and to deal comfortably and confidently with coworkers or customers at work. As a result of the importance placed on the smile and the health of a person’s teeth, as well as on dentistry in general, and cosmetic dentistry in particular, are crucial to improving a person’s quality of life. Since most people have this kind of dental work done during the part of their life where they are most likely to be self-conscious, their teens, the ramifications of not having a good smile tend to be even greater.

Invisalign Braces vs Metal Braces

Misaligned teeth, also called malocclusions, are a common dental problem that until fairly recently was fixed primarily with metal braces. While metal braces are an effective method of dealing with overbites, under bites, cross bites and crooked teeth, they come with certain drawbacks.

Common problems with metal braces:

Highly conspicuous and can cause as much self-consciousness as maloccluded teeth

Can cause tooth decay due to the wearer’s inability to brush areas of the tooth’s surface obstructed by the braces

Can irritate the gums and the insides of cheeks, either due to friction or to bacterial buildup due to food accumulating in the wires of the brace

Repeated trips to the dentist to get them adjusted

One recent alternative to conventional braces are Invisalign braces. They are clear plastic teeth aligners that fit over the teeth and are virtually invisible. They are also removable, unlike metal braces, which are fixed. Invisalign braces are believed to do essentially the same work as metal braces, in a shorter time and with much less inconvenience and discomfort. Invisalign wearers will not have to make repeated trips to the dentist to get them adjusted, either. They will have several sets of aligners and will simply change to a new set every two weeks.

Conventional Veneers vs Lumineers

Stained or chipped teeth are another common problem dealt with in cosmetic dentistry. The old solution was to have veneers installed. Veneers consist of porcelain placed over the tooth. In most cases this requires that the dentist grind the tooth down in order to affix the veneer.

Common Problems with Conventional Veneers

The need to grind and polish the teeth in preparation for the veneer, a process that can be painful

Conventional veneers may only be applied one at a time so the procedure of applying veneers to teeth can take weeks

Lumineers are the modern alternative, the main benefit of which is that there is no need to grind the teeth in order to apply them. Lumineers are thinner than older types of veneer and made with a harder porcelain. The makers guarantee a pain-free installation. Also, several may be applied at the same time, rather than weeks apart.

Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way in recent years with more comfortable, convenient and relatively painless solutions to common dental problems.