Whitening - Is It Right For Me?

Whitening – Can anybody do it?

A bright and white smile is the first thing that people notice about us. Enhancing the whiteness of your smile can be the thing that makes all the difference in the world. It builds confidence. While many people can whiten their existing smile, not everyone is a candidate.

If you have a significant number of crowns, whitening may not give you the desired outcome you are looking for, as porcelain cannot be whitened. If you do have a number of crowns and are disappointed they appear yellow or the coloring of the porcelain doesn’t match your other crowns and/or teeth, your only choice is to redo the existing crowns. Porcelain is a lot like yarn and floor tiles – dye lots make a difference. That’s why your cosmetic dentist will always recommend doing all porcelain work at one time, ensuring all your teeth will match in color.

Some patients with severe staining caused by medications may also have difficulty getting the desired white smile. For those patients, veneers may provide a solution that enhances the smile while reducing the amount of tooth structure lost.

Finally, people who have had significant restoration of their smile due to decay may have fillings with the same shade challenges as mentioned above with the crowns. If you have had a filling here and there done over several years, by many different dentists, you may find you now have a very mismatched smile. For you, the best solution would be to have your existing restorations removed and refilled, again doing as many as possible at the same time.

It is never too late to get the white, bright smile of your dreams. Call today to learn more about how you can gets yours!

Smiling Options – Whitening, Veneers, & Cosmetic Dentistry

Many times every day your smile shows itself to others. It is the one thing that we tend to give freely. Therefore, having a white and beautiful smile makes a significant impression on those we meet.

To update your smile and spread cheer, consider some of the following options:

1. Whitening: Whitening can be done at home or in a dental office under supervision. “Generally speaking, you will see some results no matter what type of whitening you do,” says Dr. Judith Ko, your Hemet Valley, CA Top Dentist and Cosmetic Dental Professional. “Most people tend to get better results using a method recommended by a dentist only because we can prescribe a higher concentration material.” But no matter what type of whitening you choose, it will not whiten existing dental work or crowns and veneers.

2. Veneers: “Veneers are a great way to improve a smile that has minor chips or more permanent stains like those from medications,” says Dr. Ko. A veneer is a paper-thin piece of porcelain that is cemented to the front part of the tooth and can change the shape and color of a tooth.

3. Cosmetic dentistry: “Cosmetic dentistry includes not only whitening and veneers, but also white-colored fillings, anterior crowns and even tissue re-shaping,” adds Dr. Ko. Your cosmetic dentist will look at your entire smile and base their recommendations on the teeth that show when you smile and even laugh. Many people have large, wide smiles that show many teeth and so recommendation may be made to even back teeth or molars to enhance the patient’s smile. “While the color of your teeth is something that is noticed immediately, the gum tissue frames those teeth and is also noticeable,” says Dr. Ko. “So don’t underestimate the importance of a more shapely frame to your smile design.”

If you are considering any cosmetic dentistry, always ask to see photos of other patients who have had the same procedures done. Then move forward and smile!

Cosmetic Dentistry in Hemet, California

Ever wondered, what is a Cosmetic Dentist?

Cosmetic dentistry is generally done to improve the color, shape or alignment of the teeth. "Cosmetic dentistry can improve self confidence and even your health," Dr. Judith Ko says from her Hemet Valley Dental Practice. 

Cosmetic procedures can be any of the following:

1. Whitening. When teeth are stained, whitening is a easy and affordable way to restore a smile to its whitest.

2. White Fillings. Composite material is generally used to create white fillings that can be matched to natural teeth. This material also has an additional benefit, it does an excellent job of bonding to the tooth and can prevent future breakage, unlike a silver, or amalgam filling.

3. Porcelain Inlays or Onlays. These lab fabricated fillings are also a great way to restore tooth structure and at the same time keep a smile at it's best.

4. Porcelain Crowns & Fixed Bridges. These are lab fabricated and can be created to change the shape of a tooth to form a lovely and natural smile.

5. Porcelain Veneers. Veneers are thin wafer-like porcelain facings that can be placed to change the shape of a tooth.

6. Tissue re-contouring. The gum tissue creating a frame around your teeth can be modified and evened out to really showcase beautiful teeth.

7. Orthodontics. When the teeth are not in alignment, seeing an orthodontist might be the best fix. Misaligned teeth can cause not only a poor smile, but also create challenges for eating.

"Cosmetic dentistry really covers a large range of procedures," adds Dr. Judith Ko. "All of them designed to create a more youthful look and a brighter smile."