When it comes to Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dentist You Choose Makes all the Difference

If you are going to go to trouble and expense of getting your teeth fixed, do not sell yourself short by going to the first “cosmetic” dentist you come across. The dentist you choose will make the difference between beautiful and awful results, and a really bad dentist will harm your dental health as well as making your smile look worse than it did to begin with. Cosmetic dentistry is an art. Always choose a cosmetic dentist with proven results, that you have seen with your own eyes, a style that you like, and the training and experience to give you healthy as well as beautiful results.

Training

Any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist and offer cosmetic procedures. Just like you don’t go to your GP for brain surgery, you don’t want just any dentist performing your cosmetic dentistry. You want a dentist who has gone the extra mile to learn the most beautiful and advanced cosmetic dental techniques.

The world’s premiere cosmetic dentists complete post-graduate training on live patients at The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI).

Portfolio and References

What you really want is to see examples of the dentist’s work. Any decent cosmetic dentist will proudly offer to show you a portfolio of their work. It is even better if you can see real patients in person, or if you have been referred by someone you know who has work that you think looks beautiful.

If you are seeking cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles, you can choose a cosmetic dentist whose portfolio is in the public eye every day. Dr. Kevin Sands boasts a celebrity portfolio which includes the beautiful smiles of:

• Robert Downey, Jr.
• Britney Spears
• Haylie and Hilary Duff
• Charlie Sheen
• Carmen Electra
• Amy Smart
• Minka Kelly
• Tori Spelling

A Celebrity Smile is Within Your Reach

If you think you have to be a millionaire to hire a celebrity dentist, and get stellar results, think again. Dr. Sands offers amazing financing with low monthly payments, so that you can afford a celebrity smile that rivals your favorite star’s.

When You Want Your Perfect Teeth – Not Chiclets

If you have been dreaming about having a beautiful smile, but question whether your goal is truly attainable because you do not like the “Chiclet” look you have seen on so many obvious cosmetic dentistry patients, worry no more. You can have your unique perfect smile, with the help of the right cosmetic dentist. If you have only seen “bad” work, it is because beautiful, natural-looking cosmetic dental work is not visible to the naked, untrained eye.

Your Unique Smile

You can have your most beautiful smile, a perfect smile, without cookie-cutter results. Cosmetic dentistry is an art. A skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist will work with you to design a smile that is uniquely yours. From the color of your teeth, to the shape and size, everything needs to be planned with your features and face shape in mind, and in keeping with the natural shape of your teeth, but perfected.

Of course, if you are one of the many who actually want to show off the fact that you have had work done, make sure that your cosmetic dentist knows that from the beginning so that your wishes can be accommodated.

Solutions

One of the most popular solutions for cosmetic dental flaws is Beverly Hills dental veneers. Veneers have a bad reputation with patients who want natural-looking teeth, because there are some really bad examples out there. Using the right materials, however, a cosmetic dentist with the right training can create beautiful porcelain veneers that look just like real teeth.

Unlike most other cosmetic dentistry solutions, porcelain veneers can cover numerous flaws at once, and only require two office visits. Examples include:

• Twisted and misshapen teeth
• Minor crookedness
• Discoloration and staining
• Chips, cracks, and broken teeth
• Eroded enamel
• Unevenly sized teeth
• Gummy smile

Professional vs. OTC At-Home Tooth Whitening

Today there are many options for whitening your teeth at home. There is a wide variety of over-the-counter (OTC) tooth whitening products from special tooth pastes, to chewing gum, to stick-on whitening strips. There are even OTC products which involve the use of trays and a whitening solution which can appear to be no different to the at-home whitening kits that your cosmetic dentist offers, but they are different.

Home Tooth bleaching Kits from Your Dentist

When you go to your cosmetic dentist for tooth whitening at home, you receive a professional grade tooth bleaching kit with custom trays.

The trays are made to fit your teeth so you get full coverage, a good seal, and even whitening of your teeth. OTC trays are imprecise and can leave you with patchy results. The gel itself is professional grade, so it gets the job done. OTC whitening solutions vary in quality and may not be able to lighten your teeth enough.

Your dentist will also provide you with a desensitizing gel, to prevent any discomfort.

Support

Another important difference, when you choose a home bleaching kit provided by your dentist is the support you receive. You will be whitening your teeth under the guidance of your cosmetic dentist, so you do not have to wonder if you are doing the right thing or how you are really supposed to use the kit. Any time you are uncertain or have questions, you can call your dentist’s office for advice.

Getting Results

Take home tooth bleaching kits gradually whiten your teeth. Even though you are using a professional product, the process takes time. Some patients prefer the subtly of lightening their teeth over time, but if you would rather see same-day results, laser tooth whitening in Beverly Hills can give you a dazzling smile in one office visit that only takes about an hour.

Permanent Vampire Teeth?

Vampires are constantly in and out of fashion. The most recent surge of vampire love came with the Twilight series, and dovetailed with a moment in time when cosmetic dentistry makes almost any look possible. The convergence of the two have also made permanent vampire fangs a popular trend, and there are a few different ways to achieve them.

Dental Implants

If you are already missing a tooth or need a tooth replaced, a dental implant is a wonderful choice. Beverly Hills Dental Implants involve replacing your tooth root with a titanium anchor, and attaching a false tooth to the implant. Most people go for a natural-looking tooth that looks like their old tooth or an improved version of it, but for those who want something more unique, it is possible to shape the tooth like a fang.

Caps

The most common choice is a cap. Just like you can have imperfect or damaged teeth corrected with a cap, also known as a crown, you can now get pointy caps to give you that undead look 24/7 instead of wearing cumbersome and inconvenient removable fangs. Should the look fall out of fashion, or if you just get tired of it, you can always have them replaced with plain old tooth-shaped caps.

Keep in mind that the procedure can be expensive, and so can changing your mind later. Permanent fangs can be very uncomfortable, and even cause sores in your mouth.

Enamel Shaping

As an alternative to adding caps, you can go the other way and have the enamel shaved down into a fang shape. This is not recommended. Shaving down enough enamel to get the look you want can cause serious sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages and can weaken your teeth, setting you up for dental problems, and possible tooth loss, in which case it’s back to the drawing board and you’ll be asking for that implant or cap after all.

Fashion Braces Can be Deadly

If wearing braces is on your Top 10 list of things you would like to forget from childhood, you may have a hard time wrapping your head around the concept of fake fashion braces, let alone black market fake braces that could land you in prison. In Southeast Asia, braces have become so trendy that teenagers who cannot afford real braces now buy imitations, and at least two deaths have been attributed to the fashion trend.

Fashion Braces

In Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, braces are considered a symbol of wealth and status. Since real braces are expensive, many teens purchase fake braces to keep up with the current style. You can even purchase DYI kits, and apply them yourself. They come in an array of colors and fanciful themes, such as Hello Kitty and Mickey Mouse.

Death and Other Consequences

Unfortunately, these popular knock-offs could pose a choking hazard if they come loose, and their parts may contain lead. In fact, two deaths in Thailand have been attributed to fake braces, one involving a thyroid infection which progressed to heart failure.

As a result, Thailand has banned fake braces. Sellers can face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to about $1,300. Importers and producers of the black market braces can be slapped with up to one year in prison.

Real Fashion Braces

The fact that braces have become trendy isn’t all bad. With celebrities such as Gwen Stefani wearing them publicly as a “fashion statement”, maybe our kids don’t have to worry about being called names like “brace face” and “metal mouth” when they require orthodontic care. There is certainly a variety of color options to choose from, making it possible to individualize the look.

Of course, adults who have minor crookedness and want to skip the metallic look, and the pain that goes with it, can choose porcelain veneers Beverly Hills, and have a straight, beautiful smile right away.

Tooth Whitening – Your First Step to a Beautiful Smile

If you have always dreamed of having a beautiful smile, but are not sure if cosmetic dentistry is right for you, tooth whitening is a great first step. It is non-invasive, inexpensive, and a convenient procedure, yet it can yield dramatic smile-enhancing results. Lightening and brightening stained, dull, or discolored teeth can actually minimize the appearance of other dental flaws, and it gives you a taste of how it feels to have an improved, beautiful smile.

Tooth Discoloration

Many of the foods and beverages we eat and drink can stain our teeth, and there are lifestyle choices and even medication which can cause discoloration, but even if you have managed to steer clear of all of the substances and habits that mar a bright white smile you cannot escape the dulling and yellowing that occurs natural with age.

Over time, as the enamel of your teeth thins, the dentin underneath begins to show through and your teeth start to look yellow, darker, and dull. Tooth whitening lightens the dentin, as well as the surface of your teeth, so that you can continue to enjoy a youthful-looking smile.

Alternatives to Whitening

Some types of dental staining are resistant to whitening. This is most often staining which is actually deep inside of the tooth rather than on the surface. Modern tooth whitening techniques are much more effective in treating deeper stains than older methods, but some teeth just will not reach that perfect shade, and tarnished or discolored fillings cannot be bleached with whitening.

Cosmetic dentistry Los Angeles options for teeth that are resistant to whitening include:

• Porcelain veneers

• Dental bonding

• Filling replacement

Porcelain veneers are a very thin shell of dental porcelain which is bonded to the front surface of your teeth and can over discoloration while correcting the appearance of cosmetic flaws such as a twisted, chipped, or misshapen tooth.