Cosmetic dentistry procedures include dental veneers, composite bonding, teeth whitening, orthodontics, Invisalign, surgery, and implants.

Smile makeovers when properly done will begin with a dentist taking into account the appearance of the patient’s face, skin and hair tones as well as the color, shape and size of the teeth, gums, and lip formation. There are a number of reasons to consider cosmetic dentistry, and the treatment is customized to fit each patient’s rationale for seeking the smile makeover.

The consultation normally starts with the patient revealing to the dentist what it is they dislike about their teeth or their smile. Some of the components of a smile under the dentist’s review include:

Tooth color: If the concern is a mouth full of metal fillings, these can be replaced with a natural looking substance. Stained, dull, or yellow teeth can be whitened. If more than whitening is indicated, various procedures including porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, dental implants, and composite bonding can be employed.

The tooth color and shading the dentist decides upon depends on the patient’s skin tone and hair color.

Spacing and alignment: Crooked, overlapping teeth or teeth with gaps in between them can be straightened and aligned through orthodontics or the newer Invisalign procedure. To get an idea of the kind of results you can expect from braces, check out braces before and after photos. They can be further enhanced with veneers.

Missing teeth: Missing teeth affect the smile in a negative way. Additionally, the bite will be off and the remaining teeth are at greater risk of decay. Missing teeth can be replaced by implants, bridges or partial dentures.

Balance: Chipped, cracked or different-sized teeth may be treated by bonding them with a cosmetic material to improve the symmetry of the smile. A patient with a smile whose teeth are overwhelmed by gums can have the teeth reshaped to make the smile more attractive.

Lips and cheeks: An aging face can be made to look more youthful with orthodontics or oral maxillofacial surgery, or both.

The cosmetic dentist’s consultation will also involve the financial branch of the dental office to determine the procedure or procedures best suited to the patient’s budget.

The Cost of the Procedures

Whitening costs anywhere from $450 to $650, while porcelain veneers are between $925 and $2,500 per tooth and will last approximately ten to fifteen years. On the other hand, composite veneers range from $250 to $1,500 per tooth and last five to seven years. Dental implants run from $900 to $3,000 depending upon type, the material used, and where in the mouth the implants are to be placed. Dental bridges cost between $700 and $1,500 per tooth depending upon the material used. Finally, orthodontics or Invisalign costs anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 on average.

Cosmetic dentistry is not likely to be covered under any dental insurance policy. The wide range of cost for each procedure is due to dental fees and the city and state in which the dentist practices.

Improving the appearance of one’s smile is not a subject to be taken lightly. A thorough cost-benefit analysis along with a consultation with a qualified cosmetic dentist is essential before undertaking any smile makeover procedure.

Does teeth whitening work and what is the procedure are the most frequently asked questions. A teeth whitening procedure involves application of chemicals such as concentrated peroxide gel, by a dentist, which helps remove stains and debris from teeth. These sessions give astounding results and show a marked improvement in the brightness and whiteness of teeth.

There are many factors that lead to discoloration of teeth, the main factor being age. As we grow older the enamel on our teeth begins to wear out exposing the inner layers. The inner layers tend to absorb the colour of the food that make our teeth look stained. The most frequent culprits that cause discoloration are incessant smoking and consumption of fluids like wine and coffee. Teeth whitening helps make discoloured teeth, sparkly white again. This cosmetic procedure is not highly expensive and can be tailored to suit virtually everyone’s budget.

A bright and confident smile can most certainly change the way you feel. There are many teeth whitening products available over the counter however it is important that a well trained and qualified dentist determines the best treatment suited for you.

A dental assessment will typically include the dentist checking for sensitivities, decays, oral diseases, and thickness of enamel. He will also assess the level of discoloration and the health of your gums before recommending the best treatment plan. So what are you waiting for? A bright and confident smile is just a phone call away.

Karen Chu Dentist

Sometime between 4 and 7 months, the first of 20 baby teeth –  just lying in wait to usher in a new stage of life for your child and a new wave of parental sleepless nights – start to erupt. When that happens, dealing with the effects of teething pain on your baby or toddler can be challenging at best and miserable for everyone around the situation at worst.

Here are three ‘COOL TRICKS’ to help parents cope with the “teething crankies”.

The New Favorite Foods During Teething

Cool and mushy become the new favorite foods during teething times. What are some of the foods you can convert easily?

As any mom knows – Applesauce is the king of foods when kids feel bad. Chill it during teething time and it is perfect to combat teething pain not just for baby but also through school age tooth eruptions.

Frozen fruit slushies – make a perfect cranky time snack (just make sure to make them rinse with water afterward). Freeze and blend any kind of fruit your child enjoys.

Blending frozen yogurt or yogurt based smoothies – can even add an extra layer of probiotics protection for your child’s health if you use yogurt with live bacteria.

For the more savory – gazpacho is a soup made of vegetables that can be served chilled and, teething pain aside,  is often a great addition to hot summer menus.

*When you put these foods onto a pre-chilled spoon they are even a bigger hit.

Chill but Don’t Freeze

While cold definitely helps ease some of the pain and soreness of erupting teeth. Often friends and relatives will recommend freezing a hard teething ring. The problem with this is that frozen hard items can actually damage the delicate gum tissues when combined with baby chomping down (and its not real great for your kid’s tongue either).

A better alternative is to chill teething rings, biscuits and other teething aids in the refrigerator. You still get the befits of cold without the dangers.

There is an exception to the no freeze rule. If your toddler is already eating and chewing solid food, you can put a handful of soft small sized frozen veggies (like frozen peas) on their plate or high chair tray. By the time your toddler rolls them around a pass or two the plate or tray and then in his mouth the hard frozen edge is gone leaving a soft mushy cold and a reduction in the pain of teething.

The Traditional Cold Wet Washcloth

Even though this solution could come under the heading of “folk remedy” it is still around because…

• It works
• Everyone has one around
• Washcloths are easily re-usable
• It also helps solve some of the “throat drool” problem

One of the side effects of teething in very young children is the acid effect that drooling can have on the skin of baby necks. Baby skin is sensitive skin. And between drool pooling and baby rubbing – it can create even another source of pain and discomfort for baby to cope with.

Giving baby a CLEAN, wet and cold washcloth to chew on absorbs some of the drool as your child is gnawing. The cloth is also already there for you to use on baby — to give a quick swipe to any drool that still falls on your child’s neck.

A final note: When your child is cranky and sore, especially at night, it can be tempting to give into family and friends recommendations to use different drugs or alcohol.

Once you begin to see the first signs of tooth eruption it is a good idea to take a little time to prepare yourself. Talk to your dentist’s office, your pediatrician AND review the material available in articles designed to educate parents about the pros and cons of the available medicines and holistic products to ease teething pain.

If you make your decisions in advance, based on careful consideration and sound advice, it will be easier to make good choices when cranky cries make for a very long night.

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Resource Box

Phoenix Kids Dentist Dr Karen Chu believes that every child has the right to a beautiful smile – and every parent to a little support. Check out Dr Karen Chu’s dentist resources for parents and teens: http://dentistrybydrkarenchu.com Find more articles and videos to help parents support their kids’ healthy smiles. And, come join our community of parents with smiling kids, contests and fun at https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixKidsDentist

Clearly what you have to do at first is log online and carry out an initial search to find out who you have to study in more detail. This part of the process will take mere minutes but you then have to set aside some more spare time to start looking into their background prior to making a decision.

The main focus of your research has to be checking the qualifications and experience of each dentist in Chandler AZ. By knowing that they have the correct certificates and licenses in place you may then feel more confident in allowing them to carry out the treatment that you require.

There is a certain degree of importance placed on getting references from your friends or family because being given a positive report about certain dentists can make you feel better about going there yourself. Ask around and see if they can therefore help you but focus on the relationship aspect rather than the cost.

By the time you do this you should feel that you are in a position to select someone to book an appointment with. Do however only go to them for an inital discussion or a check up to then see how you react when meeting them without the fear of any work being done.

So those are a few tips on how to eventually pick the best dentist in Chandler AZ. It just requires you to be sensible about it all and do the required research before then being able to choose the one you are drawn towards going to see.