Fast and Effective Smile Whitening

Thanks to the development of gentle peroxides for dental bleaching, your dentist can brighten your teeth, giving you a dazzling smile. Bleaching whitens all natural teeth and not just those that are stained or discolored. In many cases, even years of darkening can be removed in as little as a few weeks. It is also great idea to whiten your teeth before having crowns or veneers made. This way your restorations can be made whiter and your entire smile will be enhanced. Whitening can be redone in the future to maintain your bright smile.

Dr. Brody will need to begin with a comprehensive oral examination that includes complete X-rays. This exam determines the status of your teeth, fillings or restorations, and the health of your gums. Providing that most of your teeth are natural, bleaching may be the quickest, most comfortable, and least costly method to improve your smile. Wouldn't you like to have whiter, brighter teeth? Ask your dentist if whitening could be a solution for you.

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Tooth Bonding - The Single Appointment Restorative Solution

Over the last 25 years, adhesive dentistry has developed to the point that today it's considered minimally invasive dentistry. Your dentist uses these adhesive bonding techniques on a daily basis and they normally require a minimal amount of tooth preparation. The composite materials that are bonded to your teeth not only look natural, they wear like natural teeth. In most instances, tooth bonding with modern composites is accomplished in a single appointment with your dentist.

Tooth bonding really does it all, from new fillings to amalgam replacements. From repairing and reshaping chipped teeth to sealing and protecting your children's teeth from cavities. If there are any little imperfections in your smile that are bothering you, see if your dentist thinks tooth bonding could be a solution for this.

Dr. Brody placed Composite Resin Bonding on the male patient in the images below. This patient had severe tooth decay that led to a large cavity. This was treated by cosmetic bonding and laminates. The images were taken 1-4 weeks apart. Click on the images to enlarge.

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AFTER

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IPS Empress Veneers

The Strongest & Most Beautiful Cosmetic Veneers Your Dentist Offers

Porcelain veneers reach a new level of excellence with the IPS system. Ceramic laminate veneers are one of the most accepted modern smile enhancement techniques. Ceramic veneers usually require very little tooth reduction since they are thin facings bonded only to the front of your teeth. In many cases, slightly crooked teeth can be cosmetically straightened by veneers, saving the time and expense of orthodontics.

Next to tooth whitening, there is no easier or more effective way to create a more appealing smile. In fact, it may be advisable to have your dentist whiten or bleach your teeth prior to veneer treatment.

With no metal substructure or core material, the light refraction and reflection of IPS Empress more closely mimics that of natural tooth structure. Testing shows that the wear characteristics of this ceramic are in the range of natural enamel. IPS Empress pressed reinforced ceramics exhibit nearly two times the strength of conventional porcelains helping ensure long-term esthetics and durability.

Cerinate LUMINEERS

Dr. Brody also offers patients Cerinate LUMINEERS. Only Cerinate LUMINEERS have been proven to last over 20 years - without removal of painful tooth structure.

Click to see a video about Lumineers

"I was amazed.
There were no shots, no pain.
Easy, simple...I love them."

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Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain laminate veneers are probably the most esthetic means of creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They require a minimal amount of tooth reduction ( approximately .5 mm ) and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown. Porcelain veneers allow us to alter tooth position, shape, size and color. They are not the only alternative for all esthetic abnormalities but are truly a remarkable restoration when they are the treatment of choice.

Dr. Brody placed Porcelain veneers on the male patient in the images below. In this particular case the patient wanted to make the space between his teeth smaller, but wished to have a small space remaining. The images were taken 1-4 weeks apart. Click on the images to enlarge.

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After

Here is another example of veneers placed by Dr. Brody on a second male patient. The images were taken 1-4 weeks apart. Click on the images to enlarge.

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AFTER

And, here is an example of Dr. Brody's work on a female patient where porcelain veneers were placed. The procedure was painless.

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AFTER

Some facts you might want to know about Porcelain Veneers

• Since they require approximately .5mm of tooth reduction, porcelain veneers are NOT considered a reversible form of treatment.
  

• Occasionally the preparation of a Porcelain Laminate Veneer does not necessitate the use of a local anesthetic. However, for those patients that are particularly sensitive or anxious, a local anesthetic is advisable.
  

• The laboratory time required for the fabrication of a Porcelain Laminate Veneer is approximately one week. Due to the minimal amount of tooth reduction, it is usually not necessary to fabricate any type of temporary restoration. Should a temporary be needed, they can, in most circumstances, be made at the time of treatment.
  

• Between your preparation visit and the insertion visit, you can expect some sensitivity to hot and cold. This is normal and is due to the removal of a small portion of the enamel covering of the tooth. This sensitivity should disappear after the placement of your Porcelain Laminate Veneer.
  

• Your second visit, the insertion of your laminate, can be accomplished, once again , with or without local anesthetic. This visit is usually longer in length. The laminates are placed with a light sensitive resin which is hardened by using a white light.
  

• Once placed your laminates are very strong and will resist most of the forces placed upon them by a normal diet. Porcelain has great crushing strength but poor tensile strength. Therefore, you should avoid anything that will tend to twist the laminate. Opening pistachio nuts with your teeth, chewing on bones or jelly apples is probably not a good idea. As with most things, common sense should prevail.

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Maintenance of Your New Porcelain Veneers :

The maintenance of your Porcelain Laminate Veneer is relatively simple. A few suggestions, however, are in order:

1. Please brush and floss as you normally would to prevent oral hygiene problems. Once placed, Porcelain Laminate Veneers are typically the kindest restoration to the gum tissues that we currently have in our prosthetic armamentarium. Do not be afraid that you will damage your laminates by either flossing or brushing. Any non-abrasive tooth paste is acceptable. A good home care regimen will insure the esthetic success of your laminate restorations for years to come.
   

2. Some sensitivity to hot and cold may be experienced after the placement of your veneers. This relates to the amount of enamel left on your tooth after preparation, the proximity of the nerve as well as several other factors. Some sensitivity is absolutely normal and usually dissipates after one-two weeks. If this sensitivity should remain or concern you at all, please call your dentist.
   

3. As mentioned before, a normal diet should pose no problem at all. Please avoid anything that will tend to bend or twist the laminates.
   

4. If you are known to be a bruxer or clencher, please let your dentist know. He/she will fabricate a soft nite guard for you to wear to minimize the stresses placed upon your teeth while you sleep.

Approximately one week after the placement of your laminates you will be asked to return to the office for a treatment evaluation. This visit is extremely important. It gives your dentist the opportunity to evaluate the placement of the laminates, the tissue response and to answer any questions you might have regarding your new smile.

We hope that your Porcelain Laminate Veneers have fulfilled all of your esthetic goals. With proper home care and scheduled evaluation visits, they can provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.

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Snap-On Smile

The Snap-On Smile is an exclusive, revolutionary  breakthrough product. Nothing compares to it! Other similar appliances have been known to be brittle and many crack upon reapplication. Only the Snap-On Smile's patented, unique and very strong material memorizes its shape and "snaps" onto the patient's natural teeth, without the need for any adhesive.

It can be used in different ways! The Snap-On Smile can be considered for Cosmetic Partial Dentures, as a Temporary for Crown and Bridge Cases, for Tooth Whitening or Tooth Color Enhancement, as a Provisional Appliance, and as a Bruxism appliance, Night or Sports Guard. You can even eat the Snap-On Smile in place.

It's priced right! The best part about this new technology is that Dr. Brody makes it affordable. Now a patient who may have a dental phobia can obtain that beautiful smile without any invasive surgery and most importantly, at a fraction of the cost!

And, finally, it's easy to order! We are sure that our superior craftsmanship and service combined with our competitive prices will exceed your satisfaction.

Crowns

At your clinical examination, your dentist suggested that the proper means of restoring your tooth was a crown. The reasons for making that suggestion can vary from case to case. Some of the indications for a crown are:

1. A previously filled tooth where there now exists more filling than tooth. The existing tooth structure becomes weakened and can no longer support the filling.
   

2. Extensive damage by decay.
   

3. Discolorations and compromised esthetics.
   

4. Fractures
   

5. Root canal - After root canal, teeth tend to become brittle and are more apt to fracture. They, therefore, need to be protected by a crown.
   

6. Bridges - When missing teeth are replaced with a bridge, the adjacent teeth require crowns in order to support the replacement teeth.

Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your teeth. Crowns can be made from different materials which include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown. You and your dentist will decide which type is appropriate, depending upon the strength requirements and esthetic concerns of the tooth involved.

Fitting a crown requires at least two appointments. During your first visit, the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression or mold is made of the tooth, and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth. At the subsequent visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted and adjusted and cemented into place.

Dr. Brody placed crowns on the female patient in the images below. The images were taken 1-4 weeks apart. Click on the images to enlarge.

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Bridges

The loss of a single tooth can have a major impact on your dental health and personal appearance. Your teeth support and rely on each other. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can shift out of their normal position. Teeth adjacent to the space or from the opposite jaw will often drift or tilt. These teeth are often more susceptible to decay and gum disease because they are more difficult to clean around. All of this shifting and drifting will lead to changes in the bite, which may put stress on the jaws, muscles and teeth. Ultimately, your ability to chew comfortably and your appearance may be affected.

If tooth loss occurs, your dentist may recommend that a bridge be placed. A bridge consists of a replacement tooth/teeth attached to crowns on each side. The bridge is cemented to the teeth adjacent to the space, effectively replacing the missing tooth and preventing any shifting.

The procedures involved in making a bridge are very similar to those for making a crown. Bridges can be made from the same materials as crowns - full porcelain, porcelain fused-to-metal, and all metal. At least two appointments are necessary. At the first visit, your dentist will prepare the teeth next to the missing tooth for crowns. An impression of the prepared teeth will be made and a temporary bridge will be placed. At the subsequent visit, your dentist will fit and adjust the bridge and then cement it in place.

Your new bridge will require some special care when brushing and flossing. Your dental professional will instruct you how to clean around and under the bridge. They may recommend various cleaning aids to help you keep the plaque off and prevent further decay and gum disease.

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White Fillings

In the past, teeth were most commonly repaired with amalgam (silver) fillings or gold restorations. Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, teeth can be restored with a more aesthetic and natural appearance. There are different types of cosmetic fillings currently available. The type used will depend on the location of the tooth and the amount of tooth structure that needs to be repaired.

Direct Composite

The most simple form of 'white filling' is technically called a Composite. It is made up of a composite quartz resin and usually contains some sort of light sensitive agent. These light cured composites are extremely cosmetic and most often bonded into place in one appointment. For this reason, they are often referred to as "bonding". They can be used in both the front of the mouth as well as in your back teeth. These materials come in a variety of shades so that they will match the color of your own teeth. Some of these composite materials have been specifically designed to actually withstand the incredible forces you can exert when chewing on your back teeth.

In order to bond a filling material to your tooth it is first necessary to remove decay, prepare the tooth and then to condition the enamel and dentin. Once conditioned, a thin resin is applied which bonds to the etched surface. The bond strength of these fillings is incredible. Today we can bond plastics and even amalgam (silver fillings) to your teeth. Bonding increases the strength of these restorations far beyond those of only a short time ago.

After placement, composites are hardened by shining an intense light on them for a specified period of time, usually around 40 seconds. Since we tend to look at this light all the time ( many times a day) it is necessary for us to protect our eyes from it with an orange shield. It is not necessary for us to protect your eyes since you look at this light only once in a while. However, it is probably a good idea for you not to look directly into the light anyway. An ounce of prevention, is indeed, worth a pound of cure!

We are constantly asked the same question, " When can I eat?". Well, after placement, as long as you brought your own food and you share, you may chew right away. These fillings are instantly hardened by the light. Your teeth may experience some degree of temperature sensitivity for a few days to a week. If it does not disappear within that period of time, contact your dentist.

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Indirect Composite/Porcelain Inlay

The other type of 'white filling' is called a Composite or Porcelain Inlay. These fillings are usually placed in back teeth when esthetics is of utmost concern. In order to increase their strength and longevity, they are fabricated in the laboratory and then bonded into position in the office. This is a two visit procedure rather than the one visit required to place a composite filling. However, when it comes to strength and cosmetics, the extra time and expense is well worth it! I hope that you now understand a little bit more about white fillings.