Cosmetic Dentistry News Blog

I would love to get veneers for my teeth, but the cost is a real concern, especially since I’ve read that veneers may need to be replaced after as little as 5 years. Would bonding be a good alternative? Can it make my teeth look as nice or at least somewhat similiar to what veneers could?

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This is a very hard question to answer without knowing exactly what your teeth look like, how well you care for your teeth, etc. Knowing how comfortable your dentist is with each procedure makes a difference also. My daughter bugged me and bugged me to do veneers on her teeth. She had some dark spots from medication as a baby (no choice in the matter…) and I agreed that she should have some treatment, but I did not want to place porcelain veneers on her at a young age. Finally, at age 16, I was willing to use bonding for her front six teeth. (Dentists – I only did 6-11, because we were not changing the shade.) My plan was to replace them with porcelain once she was in her 20’s. She is now 33 years old and the bonding still looks great. (Dentists – I used Z-100 in 1989. I DID prepare a finish line.) On the other hand, I have a dental assistant who needed “something” done, but she declined porcelain veneers and asked me to do the same thing that she saw on my daughter’s teeth. (She said that she knew porcelain would not last forever and she wanted to delay her “permanent” treatment.) Iam a Cosmetic Dentist San Francisco I did the same thing for her and found that she wore them out by excessive brushing, no matter how much I warned her, and we ended up replacing them – ALL of them – every 3 to 4 years. She just wore them down so much that you could see the edges of her natural teeth showing through. After about 10-12 years of playing with these bonded teeth, she FINALLY let me replace them with Empress porcelain crowns this year. I have many patients (25 or 30) who have had porcelain veneers for 10-15 years with no problems. Frankly, I have not had problems with veneers failing, but I am very selective about who gets to have veneers as opposed to having a full porcelain crown. So, it is very difficult to answer your question without seeing the conditions in your mouth. Bonding can be an excellent choice and it might last for a long, long time, as it has lasted 17 years for my daughter. Then again, bonding might not hold up more than 3 or 4 years, as it has for my assistant. When veneers are done properly and placed well, they might last for 20 years or more. When they are placed poorly or used where they really are not appropriate, they might not even last a year.

VIP Smiles Leads the Industry as the Private Dental Practice in the Nation to Offer Rapid HIV Testing. Leading Dental Industry Pioneer Dr. Catrise Austin, D.D.S. Promotes Awareness of the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV Antibody Test. NEW YORK, N.Y. VIP Smiles, owned by Dr. Catrise Austin, D.D.S., announced today the availability of the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV Antibody Test in their Manhattan office. VIP Smiles is the first New York-based private dental practice certified and trained to offer the test, which can be administered as a screening test during regular dental exams. The test delivers results within 20 minutes. The oral cavity is one of several places where HIV infection is found, so dentists have a unique opportunity to incorporate rapid HIV testing in their daily practice, said Dr. Austin. Were proud to be the first local private dental practice to offer the OraQuick ADVANCE® test, and weve partnered with the New York State Department of Health to generate awareness and promote its benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 1.1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV, and 232,700 dont know it. To combat the spread of HIV, and generate awareness of the importance of being tested and knowing ones status, medical professionals have begun implementing innovative new ways to make HIV more accessible and convenient. The OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV Antibody Test, now used in a growing number of dental schools and clinics throughout the United States, is the only rapid HIV test to be approved by the FDA for use with oral fluid. To administer the test, the patient swabs the outer gums with the device and then inserts it into a vial containing a developer solution. The procedure is fast and painless, and delivers accurate results within 20 minutes. In the clinical studies by the manufacturer, the test correctly identified 99.3 percent of people who were infected with HIV-1 and 99.9 percent of people who were not infected with HIV-1. Detection is the first line of defense against HIV, said Dr. Austin. Its my hope that rapid testing in dental practices will help to encourage more regular testing among American men and women of all ages, so that those patients who are positive can receive proper treatment and continue to live long, healthy lives. On Saturday, October 17, Dr. Austin will speak on the Technical Assistance Panel at the 2009 Conference on Oral Pathology & Rapid HIV Testing at the New York University College of Dentistry. The conference is devoted to the advancement of the art and science of dentistry in service to the public. Additionally, October will mark the release of Dr. Austins new book, 5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile, published by Morgan James Publishing. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hopes Voice International (www.hopesvoice.org), an HIV and AIDS organization committed to promoting the education, prevention and the end of stigma of HIV and AIDS among young adults. For more information on VIP Smiles and the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV Antibody Test, visit www.vipsmiles.com or call (212) 262-6054. Testing is available to new and existing dental patients, as well as individuals interested in HIV testing only. Note: Dr. Austin is available for local and national interviews, as well as speaking engagements, on HIV and oral health. About VIP Smiles VIP Smiles is a progressive, New York-based dental practice located in the heart of Manhattan. Under the leadership of expert cosmetic dentist, Dr. Catrise Austin, D.D.S., the practice offers a full range of general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry services, including Invisalign®, Snap-On Smile®, porcelain veneers and teeth whitening. San Francisco Cosmetic Dentistry agrees with this offer.

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When severe dental problems require a full mouth reconstruction, a general dentist can create a restorative dentistry treatment plan that will simultaneously address the health, function, and appearance of the teeth and gums.

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Restorative dentistry involves replacing or repairing broken or missing teeth, tissue, or bone. Full mouth reconstruction can encompass dental implant restorations, dental bridges, TMJ treatment, dental crowns, metal filling replacement, inlays and onlays, and more. Many general dentists can perform these procedures; however you should always speak with the dentist about his experience and view before and after photos of previous patients before treatment.

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