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Cosmetic Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions
Provided by Dr. Mark Samuels of Stratford


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Porcelain Veneers


Porcelain veneers, also known as dental veneers or porcelain laminates, are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to teeth to improve their appearance. Porcelain veneers are frequently used in cosmetic dentistry to mask teeth that are damaged, worn, discolored, or crooked.

Porcelain veneers utilize materials that can bond to tooth enamel to attach porcelain veneers to teeth. Veneers mimic the translucent surface of a natural tooth, making them very lifelike. Another advantage of porcelain veneers is that they are stain resistant. Porcelain is a ceramic, so its surface is smooth and does not permanently stain.

Porcelain veneers can cover or repair minor tooth damage or defects. Veneers can make chipped, misshapen, or crooked teeth look more attractive. They can also cover existing fillings that have become stained or discolored. Stained or discolored teeth can benefit from porcelain veneers. As an alternative to orthodontic procedures, porcelain veneers can be used to cover gaps between teeth.


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Dental Implants


Implant Dentistry has made significant progress in recent years. There are many people who have missing teeth due to accident or decay. These missing teeth may be permanently replaced with dental implants. Even full dentures can be augmented or totally replaced by denture implants. Our office works with area oral surgeons and a specialized laboratory that creates life-like implant tooth replacements.

Dental Implants are small prosthetic posts that are embedded into the bone of the patient's jaw. They replace the roots of lost natural teeth and also serve as an anchor for replacement teeth. Dental Implants look and feel exactly like natural teeth; most people (aside from your dentist) will not be able to tell the difference. Implants are used to replace small bridges, remove partial dentures and missing single teeth.

Dental Implants are appropriate for almost anyone who is in reasonably good health and is currently missing teeth or is at risk of losing teeth. You must have enough bone in the area of treatment to provide for the anchorage of the implants.


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Teeth Whitening / Bleaching


Bleaching is a safe and effective way to whiten your smile and remove unattractive discoloration. Tooth bleaching entails the placement of a whitening solution on the teeth to remove discoloration and stains. A custom-made, transparent tray holds the solution in place over the teeth.

There are two methods for teeth whitening: laser tooth whitening, which is done in-office, and at-home bleaching. The two methods differ in the strength of their whitening agents and in the time they take to remove discoloration. Laser bleaching usually takes several office visits, and home whitening can take several weeks.

Tooth whitening or "bleaching" of the teeth, can improve your smile with a simple procedure utilizing a custom-made bleaching tray and a safe, dentist-dispensed whitening agent The patient may wear the bleaching tray with the whitening agent in it for six to eight hours each night for about a week. Yellow and/or brown teeth can experience a dramatic improvement!


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Dental Crowns / Caps


Dental crowns, or caps, encase the entire visible part of a tooth (above the gum line). Crowns can be made out of ceramics like porcelain, gold or metal alloys, or a combination of both materials.

Dental caps are used to improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth, to strengthen a tooth, or to restore a tooth to its natural shape. Teeth with excessive wear or cracks can benefit from being covered by a dental crown. Crowns offer an advantage over fillings in that they can be crafted to fit precisely on your tooth.

Dental crowns as a strictly cosmetic solution can be a poor choice. Sometimes a more conservative procedure, such as porcelain veneers, can satisfy the cosmetic needs. However, when used simultaneously to strengthen or restore a tooth, they are very effective.


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Dental Bridges


Bridges are natural-looking replacements for lost permanent teeth which can restore normal chewing abilities and preserve jaw alignment. They are fabricated of natural-looking porcelain fused to gold, modeled to appear as one of your teeth, and anchored permanently to the neighboring teeth.

Dental Bridges can be either removable or fixed. A removable bridge, or partial denture, is designed to replace multiple teeth in the arch. It is recommended to be removed at night. Fixed bridges are constructed of gold and porcelain and are permanently cemented. They may replace front or back teeth and do not come out at night.


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Snoring / Sleep Apnea


Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the sleeper snores and has difficulty breathing while sleeping. If you find yourself awakened by your own snoring, or if you wake up gasping for air, you may suffer from sleep apnea. Other symptoms are headaches, sore throat, and excessive sleepiness during the day. The resulting sleep deprivation caused by this disorder can be both disruptive and dangerous.

Various treatments, including dental devices, are available to treat sleep apnea. Consult the doctor about possible solutions to this potentially dangerous condition.


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Accelerated Orthodontics


Accelerated orthodontics straightens teeth, fixes spacing problems, and closes gaps between your teeth. Using proven orthodontic and periodontal techniques, accelerated orthdontics can accomplish these goals in as little as three to eight months.

Accelerated orthodontics is an alternative to traditional braces that can accomplish the same goals in less time. This procedure is popular among adults who do not wish to wear braces for two to three years. Since accelerated orthodontics is a relatively new technique, it can be difficult to find cosmetic dentists who have the training to administer this procedure.


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Tooth Contouring / Reshaping


Tooth contouring, also called tooth reshaping, can correct crooked, chipped, cracked or overlapping teeth in just one session. Tooth contouring can change the length, shape, and position of your teeth in a painless procedure.

Tooth contouring, or shaping, is a procedure in which the cosmetic dentist removes small amounts of surface enamel from a tooth to sculpt it into a desired shape. The procedure requires that the teeth be healthy and strong. A cosmetic dentist can sometimes improve your smile by removing only a few millimeters of tooth enamel.


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Dentures


Dentures are made of acrylic resin and are used as removeable replacements for missing teeth. There are two kinds of dentures: complete dentures and partial dentures. Both are custom fitted and, if cared for properly, will appear natural. Dentures can also help strengthen facial muscles and aid in chewing. If you are losing some or all of your teeth, dentures could be the solution.


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Dental Fillings / Composite Resin Fillings


Many people have silver (amalgam) fillings in their teeth. Metal fillings are effective but tend to blacken over time and can be very conspicuous. Composite dental fillings are a more attractive alternative to traditional amalgam fillings. Composite resin dental fillings are colored to look like natural teeth and are made of a plastic resin. They are durable, strong, and create a natural looking smile.

If you have broken fillings, mercury fillings, amalgam fillings, or a cavity, composite resin fillings could make your smile more attractive.


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Gum Surgery / Periodontal Surgery


Your gums provide form and shape to your teeth. When the gums between your teeth become weak, the result is usually an unattractive smile. You can even lose gum tissue due to gum disease. Cosmetic gum surgery can be used in conjunction with other cosmetic dentistry procedures to restore your smile to it's original beauty.

Gum surgery (or periodontal surgery) can correct conditions such as a "gummy smile" or "long in the tooth" smile. If your gums are receding, or are covering your teeth (as in a gummy smile), cosmetic gum surgery may be able to help you.


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Temporomandibular Joint Disorders


Temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJ or TMD, involve pain in the jaw and limitations in jaw movement. Not all of the causes of TMJ are known, but possible causes include dental procedures, arthritis, infections, genetic, hormones, stretching of the jaw, and clenching or grinding teeth.

Symptoms of TMJ include:
  • An inability to open the mouth comfortably
  • Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw
  • Locking of the jaw while opening the mouth
  • Headaches
  • An uncomfortable "bite"
  • Shoulder, neck and back pain
  • Facial swelling
Since these symptoms can be brought on by a wide variety of ailments, it can be extremely difficult to diagnose temporomandibular joint disorders. A careful dental and medical examination is the first step towards identifying and treating this problem.


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Smile Makeover


The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to give you a fabulous smile! This is done by analyzing every aspect of your smile, then correcting any problems. Terrific smiles have several things in common:
  • Straight teeth
  • Teeth are evenly spaced with no gaps
  • White teeth are white, without stains
  • The top teeth show when you smile, but not the gums
  • The gumline is smooth
  • The edges of the top teeth smoothly follow the curve of the lower lip
  • There are cosmetic procedures to make any of these corrections, so even if you weren't born with a beautiful smile...you can still have one!
Aesthetic Dentistry is one of the fastest growing trends in healthcare today. People are realizing that they no longer need to accept unsightly gaps or missing teeth, stained teeth or ugly silver mercury fillings. The advancements in dentistry during the past decade have nearly eliminated the use of metal of any kind when restoring smiles. Because of the rapid advances, people can expect natural, tooth colored restorations built with smooth white porcelain veneers and crowns or advanced resins that create a more beautiful end result that will last for many years to come.

With modern dental materials, teeth can be prepared and restored very conservatively in a way that restores not only their beauty, but also achieves strength. It allows us to enhance the appearance of your smile by closing gaps, straightening crooked teeth, lengthening worn and chipped teeth, and whitening teeth for a more youthful, clean and healthy smile. All this can be done while improving the durability and function of the teeth.


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Mark Samuels, DMD
Lighthouse Dental Care

Office Address:

88 Ryders Lane
Stratford, CT 06614
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