Despite our best efforts to keep our teeth clean and free from problems, dental decay is a virtually inevitable occurrence. In most instances, a filling is sufficient to fill small to moderate-sized cavities caused by decay. However, if you have developed a large cavity in one of your molars or pre-molars, our dentist may recommend an inlay or onlay as the best course of treatment.
You only have to watch television or open a magazine to be inundated with images of models, celebrities and other notable figures with bright, white and attractive smiles. Society subconsciously tells us that the whiter our teeth are, the healthier and more appealing we will look, and the more successful we might be. Unfortunately, most of us have teeth that are naturally much more yellow in appearance. Learn how to whiten yellow teeth below and call our dentist office, Eric Spellman, DMD, for a teeth whitening appointment in Larchmont.
Most people naturally assume that yellow teeth occur as a result of poor oral hygiene. While poor brushing almost certainly leads to dental discoloration, it is by far the only contributor. In fact, part of what makes teeth appear yellow is outside of your control.
Contrary to popular belief, teeth are not naturally bright white. Each tooth is made up of multiple layers. These include the pulp in the very center, the dentin which is the middle layer, and the enamel on the outside. Contrary to popular belief, enamel is not actually white, but translucent. Meanwhile dentin has a natural yellowish color to it. In many instances, when the patient has dentin that is very yellow, or has enamel that has eroded significantly, their teeth may appear particularly yellow in color.
Enamel can also be affected by the things that we put in our mouths, including foods and drinks that stain, such as coffee, red wine and red berries, and nicotine if we smoke. Smokers are particularly well known for having yellow teeth due to the nicotine staining that they experience. Ageing also causes teeth to appear darker, as do areas of decay.
Fortunately, it isn’t necessary to live with the effects of a yellow smile. It is possible to whiten yellow teeth and there are a variety of teeth whitening options available that will enable you to do so.
There are countless different toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain whitening agents and claim to be able to improve the color of your teeth. The problem is that the grade of whitening agent that is approved to be in these products is extremely low. This means that it takes continual use for them to make any difference to the color of your teeth, and it may be weeks or months before you notice any improvement. You must also continue use or the effects fade very quickly. However, the benefit of these products is that they are inexpensive and widely available.
If you are after a faster and more obvious result, then you may wish to consider teeth whitening kits. These can be picked up online, over the counter or even on some home shopping channels. You must paste the whitening agent on to your teeth then use a special light to trigger the chemical reaction that causes them to whiten. These are slightly more expensive than toothpastes and mouthwashes as you might expect. They can also be tricky to apply yourself, with many patients finding that they get the bleaching agent on their gums and other oral soft tissue, which can cause irritation and soreness. Inconsistent results are also common.
When it comes to achieving the whitest and brightest smile, the best option for patients is in-office teeth whitening with our cosmetic dentist, Dr. Eric Spellman. This is carried out by your dentist and uses the highest approved grades of bleaching agent, meaning you can obtain the best results with fewer applications. Some patients may only need one appointment to achieve the whiteness that they desire. The steady hand and experience of your dentist also means minimal complications and a consistent application across your teeth, ensuring your new smile is as naturally attractive as possible.
If you have teeth that appear yellow and would like to learn more about whitening your smile, our experienced dental team would be happy to help. Please contact our Larchmont, NY office with your query or to arrange an appointment to assess the suitability of your smile for our teeth whitening services.
If you have lost a tooth previously and been living with a gap in your smile, you are probably becoming frustrated with the effects that it has and the way that it makes you feel about your teeth. If you don’t currently have a missing tooth, but are scheduled for a tooth extraction because you have a tooth that is beyond saving, you are undoubtedly already considering what your options are for replacing it. Dental implants are currently deemed to be the most successful and superior tooth loss solution currently available. There are many benefits of dental implants for patients in Larchmont, NY.
With a unique design that sees the tooth root replaced with a titanium alternative, and custom-designed dental crowns that sit perfectly in the space left. Dental implants have revolutionized the way in which we can think about restoring our smile. Call 914-315-4446 to learn more about the benefits of replacing missing teeth and to schedule an implant consultation at Eric Spellman, DMD in Larchmont, NY.
Some of the key benefits of dental implants cited by both implant providers and patients who have successfully received them include the following:
A smile is a simple gesture and something that comes naturally to us if we are happy or amused. Unfortunately, if you dislike the appearance of your teeth, smiling might be something that you try and avoid, perhaps by closing your mouth or covering it with your hand. You might also try to avoid drawing attention to your mouth in other situations, such as by not eating in public or engaging in close conversations. Our cosmetic dentist in Larchmont, Dr. Eric Spellman will give you the confidence to smile and will discuss what treatments are involved in a smile makeover once he examines your smile and creates a treatment plan.
There can be many different things that we perceive to be unattractive about our teeth, from their color to how they are positioned in our mouths. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has made it possible to alter and improve virtually any aspect of our teeth, enabling us to achieve the smile that we have always dreamed of. In many cases, these cosmetic dentistry procedures can be combined into something known as a smile makeover.
There are a wide range of different treatments that can be included in a smile makeover. Our cosmetic dentist, Dr. Eric Spellman in Larchmont, NY will discuss the best course of treatment with you to fit your dental needs. Typical smile makeover treatments include the following:
Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental treatment in the world and can totally transform the appearance of your smile. While you can buy many products that claim to whiten your smile, only professional-grade whitening services can produce a truly effective and consistent result across your teeth.
Your cosmetic dentist will apply the high-grade bleach to your teeth for you, ensuring that you get even coverage. A special light is then used to create the chemical reaction that will whiten your teeth.
Whitening usually takes place over several treatments. Exactly how many teeth whitening treatments you will need will depend on how many shades whiter you wish to go, and how well your teeth respond to treatment. At the end of the whitening treatment, you will enjoy a smile that looks younger, fresher and more attractive.
Porcelain veneers are a popular alternative to whitening and are often used when a patient is not a good candidate for whitening. Veneers are individually crafted specifically for each of your teeth, created from high grade porcelain. This means that they are thin, but strong and ultra-resistant to staining.
In order to apply your veneers, it is necessary for your dentist to first file down the existing enamel of your teeth. This enables a flush, natural fit. The porcelain veneers are then secured using special adhesive.
Crowns may be one of the most common dental restorations for functional repair, but they can also be used to cover damaged and unsightly teeth. They sit over the top of the affected tooth, encasing it completely inside. Once in place, your dental crown, which can be created in a shade that matches your other teeth, will restore the appearance of your smile.
Dental bonding involves pasting a special resin to the outside enamel of the teeth so that it covers any visible imperfections such as cracks, chips or stains. Once the resin is applied, it is cured with a special light, hardening it and reinforcing the strength of your teeth.
Whether it is conventional orthodontic braces or Invisalign, these treatments can alter the position of your teeth so that they sit straighter and are more uniform in appearance. They can also address bite problems, which refers to how your teeth come together.
Dental implants are a revolutionary treatment used to replace missing teeth. They feature a titanium post that is secured into the jawbone, and a crown, which forms the visible part of the tooth. Dental implants are the most secure, durable and natural of any type of dental restoration. However, they are also extremely discreet and a perfect cosmetic solution for teeth that have fallen out or require extraction.
If you are a patient in the Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, or the surrounding areas and would like to find out more about what treatments are involved in a smile makeover, call us today at 914-315-4446. Our dedicated dentistry team will be pleased to schedule you a consultation to discuss the requirements. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Dental crowns are one of the most common types of dental restorations, with countless patients receiving them every year. At Eric Spellman, DMD, we use revolutionary CEREC technology to restore and repair damaged teeth in a single day in Larchmont. CEREC same day crowns procedure in Larchmont can be used to address a variety of dental problems. These dental problems include:
– Badly decayed, beyond what can be repaired with a cavity filling.
– Severely eroded, usually due to grinding or GERD
– Cracked or broken
– Undersized or misshapen
They are also used to support dental bridgework as they are attached to teeth either side of the gap.
Crowns look just like teeth but are hollow inside so that they can be placed over the top of your damaged or decayed tooth, encasing it completely inside. Once in place, it restores the strength, shape and function of your tooth, and thanks to dental crowns now being available in color-matched porcelain, they also look so natural that it will be virtually impossible to tell that it is no longer an original tooth.
The process to receive a dental crown in Larchmont usually involves a series of different appointments, including your initial consultation, an appointment to take moulds of your teeth, another to prepare your tooth, and finally one to fit your dental crown. When you have a supremely busy schedule already, the thought of trying to find time to attend all of these appointments can be frustrating, not to mention the fact that you will need to live with your decayed or damaged tooth until the crown is ready.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to undergoing a lengthy dental crown process. Dentistry has continued to evolve and thanks to the use of progressive CEREC technology, it is now possible to have a high-quality dental crown created the very same day.
The process to receive a CEREC same day dental crowns is very straightforward. To help you feel prepared, here is what to expect when you arrive for your appointment.
Firstly, your dentist in Larchmont, Dr. Eric Spellman, will perform a dental exam of your teeth to ensure that a dental crowns is the best solution for your dental problem. If your dentist agrees that a crown is the most suitable treatment for your affected tooth, the tooth will then be prepped for receiving the new crown. This will involve removing any areas of decay that have accumulated or infected soft tissue.
Once your tooth has been prepped, your dentist will take a digital image of your tooth to be crowned. This is then sent to the CEREC machine for it to work its magic! The software will create a 3D model of your tooth which will be used to design your same-day crown.
After the design has been finalized, it is sent to a machine that will mill your crown while you wait. Since porcelain is available in a variety of shades, your dental team will choose one which most closely resembles your natural teeth, helping to make your new crown incredible discreet.
Once the crown is ready, our restorative and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Spellman, will check the fit against your tooth before cementing is permanently in place, polishing it and making sure it looks natural and attractive. If any revisions to the crown are required, they can be carried out before the permanent fitting takes place.
Unsurprisingly, same day dental crowns are becoming increasingly popular thanks to the array of benefits that they offer patients when compared to conventional crowns. These include:
If you are interested in finding out more about same day dental crowns, our knowledgeable and professional dental team are on hand to answer your queries. Alternatively, why not contact us and arrange an appointment with our our dentist, Dr. Eric Spellman to discuss your individual circumstances and to find out if a dental crown is the best solution for your needs.
With over 30 years of experience and advanced training, Dr. Eric Spellman offers Larchmont patients advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatments in Larchmont. In addition to traditional dental crowns, Dr. Spellman, offices the CEREC same day crowns procedure for patients looking for a quick, permanent solution to chipped, cracked, or broken teeth. Call our Larchmont, NY office today at 914-315-4446 to schedule a consultation. We also treat patients for CEREC Same Day Dental Crowns from Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, NY and many surrounding areas.