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Raymond A. Della Porta, II DMD
Vero Beach, FL 32960
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My Blog
Posts for tag: cosmetic dentistry
Achieving a more attractive smile is often a big investment. And, like other big investments, it’s always advantageous to have the opportunity to “try it out” beforehand — especially something as visible and public as your smile.
We’ve come a long way in giving people ways to preview their smiles before the permanent restoration is in place. Computer imaging is one of the more effective ways of doing this. But what if you could actually see for yourself in a mirror rather than on a computer monitor or printed page what your new smile will look like? Now you can with a “trial smile.”
To create a trial smile, we temporarily apply composite resin, a tooth-colored dental material, directly to your teeth. We can shape and sculpt the resin to mimic the effects of veneers, crowns or other dental work proposed to create your new smile. Not only will you be able to see your smile as it will appear, you’ll also be able to get a sense of the texture and depth of the new dental work, something you can’t quite capture with two-dimensional computer imaging. And while you won’t be able to wear the trial smile home, we can certainly take photos for you to show friends and family for their opinion.
Trial smiles are also beneficial in helping us plan your smile makeover. By viewing how you interact with your new look — facial expressions, speech and, of course, smiling — we can fine tune the amount of tooth preparation necessary, as well as the color, shape and texture of the permanent restorations.
Incorporating a trial smile into your treatment will involve an additional expense, but only as a relatively small part of your overall treatment cost. But the benefit it can bring in helping us achieve a smile that’s both attractive and satisfying to you is well worth the cost. “Trying out” your smile ahead of time can give you added peace of mind that your new look is just what you expected.
If you would like more information on trial smiles and other restoration previews, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Testing Your Smile Makeover.”
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Missing teeth can take a toll on more than just your self esteem and physical appearance - they can also affect your oral and general health. Dental implants are a great option to restore your smile and oral health. Dr. Raymond Della Porta offers cosmetic and general dentistry services in Vero Beach, FL.
Dental Implants in Vero Beach, FL
Dental implants restore a missing tooth in its entirety from root to crown. First, the implant is surgically placed in the socket of the missing tooth, where it then begins to fuse with the bone tissue in the gums through a process known as osseointegration. This helps to secure the implant in place, and prevent bone loss. The implant is made of biocompatible titanium and shaped like a small screw, which is attached to the cosmetic crown through an abutment. Implants are available to replace a single tooth or can support an entire set of dentures with just a few implants.
Caring for Dental Implants
Once in place, implants are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth - they look, feel, and function just like the real thing. Implants can even make your teeth look better than they did before. However, just like natural teeth, they require meticulous oral hygiene and regular follow up visits with the dentist for check-ups and professional cleanings to reduce the risk of complications. With proper care, implants have a very high success rate.
Implants are available for healthy adult patients with sufficient bone density in the gums to support an implant.
Find a Dentist in Vero Beach, FL
For more information about dental implants, contact our office today by calling (772) 567-1025 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Raymond Della Porta.
You may be able to slow the aging process with healthy habits but you can’t stop it. Every part of your body will change, including your teeth and gums. And even with great dental hygiene and care, there are at least two aging outcomes you may not be able to avoid: discoloration and tooth wear.
Fortunately though, we have ways to counteract these effects and help you enjoy a much younger-looking smile. These techniques range in complexity and cost, but when tailored to your individual situation they can make a world of difference and restore your confidence in your smile.
Brightening teeth that have yellowed with age can be as simple as undergoing teeth whitening. The bleaching solution in this procedure (performed in the office or at home with a prescribed kit) can minimize enamel staining built up over the years. It can even be performed with some control over the level of desired brightness. Although whitening isn’t permanent, with proper care and regular touch-ups you can keep your youthful, dazzling smile for some time.
Tooth whitening, however, may not be enough in some cases of discoloration. If so, you can gain a bright new smile with porcelain veneers or crowns. A veneer is a thin layer of tooth-colored material bonded to the front of a tooth; a porcelain crown completely covers a tooth and is usually cemented onto it.
Normal tooth wearing can also affect the appearance of older teeth, making them look shorter and with less rounded edges than younger teeth. Veneers and crowns can be utilized for this problem too, as well as enamel shaping with a dental drill to minimize those sharp edges and project a softer, younger appearance. In extreme cases, surgically reshaping the gums can give teeth a longer and a more natural look.
These are just a few of the ways we can address these two aging problems, as well as others like receding gums. Depending on your situation, it’s quite possible we can help you take years off your smile.
If you would like more information on cosmetic answers to aging teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
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It's understandable that discolored or yellowed teeth aren't attractive, let alone presentable on camera or during interviews. Here is some more information about teeth whitening in Vero Beach, FL.
What kind of teeth need teeth whitening?
Drinking coffee and tea is great, until your teeth are discolored. Here are a few things that lead to stained teeth:
- Eating food that stain teeth like blueberries and blackberries
- Indulging in sweets and sodas
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
- Certain types of medications
Stained, dull, or discolored teeth are also a result of the darker layer of your teeth, dentin, becoming exposed. This happens as a result of enamel withering away with time and age. Your teeth's enamel starts absorbing products you consume, staining your teeth.
How are teeth whitened?
- You can go to your Vero Beach dentist's office and get in-office teeth whitening. Your doctor places special retractors in your mouth prevent your lips, cheeks and tongue from touching the whitening gel put on your teeth.
- Take-home kits are also available. This method takes longer than in-office teeth whitening but is conveniently used at home on your own time.
- Tooth-whitening toothpastes may also help remove some of the stains and make your teeth a few shades brighter.
Take into consideration that whitening agents used don't work on certain stains and teeth:
- Brownish or grayish stains
- Pitted or badly discolored teeth
- Porcelain dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings
While there are many options to improve the shade of your teeth, going to your doctor is the safest and longest lasting; teeth whitening lasts up to five years. So consider which option may be best.
If you have any questions or concerns about teeth whitening, don't hesitate to ask For more information on from your Vero Beach, FL, dentist Dr. Raymond Della Porta today!
Cosmetic and restorative dentistry is filled with a varied array of procedures, materials and techniques that can address any shortcoming with your smile. Whatever your condition, there’s a means to correct or enhance your smile.
The real question, though, is whether we’re both, patient and dentist, on the same page as to what’s best to enhance your smile. Dentists have a different perspective on smile outcomes than the average layperson. We’re clued into aspects like tooth alignment with facial features or gum-to-lip distance influenced by our professional training and experience. You, though, may see your smile in terms of other features that define beauty like mouth expressions or lip shape.
Bridging these differing points of view requires open and honest communication. Here are three considerations to make that happen.
Build trust between you and your dentist. It’s natural for us to have differing views on what constitutes proper smile aesthetics based on the perspectives previously mentioned. Working through those perspectives to arrive at a unified plan requires trust that both of us desire the same outcome: a beautiful smile you’re happy to display to the world.
“Seeing” your future smile can help ease your misgivings. It’s one thing to try to imagine a certain treatment outcome — it’s quite another to actually see it beforehand. And you can, through computer simulation that takes a picture of your current face and smile and then augments them digitally so you can see how your smile will appear after proposed treatment. It’s also possible in some cases for you to wear temporary or “provisional” restorations so that not only can you see how they look, but also how they feel and function in the mouth.
Understand what “type” of restoration patient you are. Although everyone is different, we can usually characterize patients and their expectations in two ways. Some patients are “perfect-minded” — they want restorations that offer the maximum symmetry, regularity and tooth brightness. Others are more “natural-minded” in that the changes they seek don’t drastically alter their natural appearance, but are just enough to look different and create a sense of character. Knowing what you really want — a drastic change or a subtle enhancement — will help you communicate your desires more clearly and help us design the treatment options that best fit your expectations.
If you would like more information on fostering communication between dentists and patients, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Great Expectations.”