Our bodies and our health change with age, a fact of which we all become aware. You may not realize, however, that your teeth are also affected by the passing of years. Maybe you’ve found that you have a harder time keeping your teeth shiny and white as you get older. Even though you’re following the same brushing and flossing routine, it may no longer have the desired effect of maintaining your youthful smile. Perhaps over-the-counter whitening treatments are not removing stains as they once did.

At Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentist we find many patients who don’t understand why their teeth are becoming duller and harder to whiten. There are actually a number of reasons dental enamel can change in appearance over the years. Environmental factors contribute to some extent but more often this dulling is part of the natural aging process.

You can remove some stains on the surface of dental enamel with regular flossing and brushing. These stains are often caused by discoloring foods and drinks such as soda, coffee, tea, and red wine which can all leave stains on teeth. Using tobacco products especially can also make enamel appear dark, dull, and discolored. When they are relatively new, these stains can often be removed or effectively bleached away, but will eventually seep into porous enamel, making them difficult to remove.

The teeth of a young person are covered with a thick layer of white enamel, concealing the inner core of the tooth. As you age, this enamel begins to erode, exposing more of the dentin beneath the surface. Dentin is naturally a darker, yellow color so older teeth often appear dull and yellow in comparison to healthy new teeth.

Different teeth whitening options are available depending on your cosmetic goals, the extent of discoloration, and urgency with which you need to see results. There are patients who respond well to professional teeth bleaching treatments developed to lighten discoloration using a solution of hydrogen peroxide. Dental veneers, which completely resurface enamel using thin layers of porcelain, may be a better option for patients with extensive or resistant staining.

It’s impossible to eliminate all dental staining. Your teeth will naturally change appearance and lose some of their luster over time in addition to accumulating environmental stains. But today’s modern cosmetic dentistry can restore the bright and luminous nature of your teeth, resulting in a more youthful looking smile. Call Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentistry today to learn more about teeth whitening options or to discuss your situation in greater detail.

A beautiful, healthy smile can make a great first impression, but if you have crooked or uneven teeth, you may be less than confident about your smile. If you’ve been putting off having this corrected because you don't want to endure the process and time involved in wearing traditional braces, you are not alone. But there are options to correct alignment issues and give you back your beautiful smile. Today, let's take a look at some of the advantages of using the Invisalign™ system.

What makes Invisalign aligners preferable to traditional braces?

• Easy Treatment Plan: Your Invisalign™ treatment starts when we take the X-rays used to create a 3-d digital image of your mouth.  Next, you’ll be given a series of custom-made aligners that you will take home and change about every two weeks. You will see the difference in your smile every time you change aligners! You will be scheduled for checkups every six weeks or so at Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentist office so we can monitor your progress.
• Convenient: Simply wear your aligners throughout the day, removing them to eat. This allows you to eat foods you love without the worry of particles getting stuck in wires and brackets.
• Easily removable: You will continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. Your Invisalign™ aligners can simply be brushed and rinsed in lukewarm water.
• Adaptable to your active lifestyle: Since Invisalign™ aligners are nearly invisible; most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them. You don’t have to worry about the discomfort of metal braces and wires that can poke and irritate your mouth, and if you’re involved in contact sports, Invisalign™ aligners are easily removed, enabling you to wear a protective mouth guard if necessary.

How long does the entire process take?
It’s difficult to say exactly how long you will need to wear your Invisalign™ aligners since everyone is unique. Contact the Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentists for a free consultation to evaluate your individual situation. Generally speaking though, Invisalign™ treatment usually takes about a year for adults. For teens, the length of treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces, with less discomfort and the added advantage of seeing the improvement every time you change aligners!

When it comes to your family’s oral health it’s great to know that there is a specific type of dental practice that will cater to your needs and maintain your family’s optimal oral health. The practice of family dentistry is similar to general dentistry; both types of dentistry handle oral hygiene and tooth health, but family dentists usually accept patients of all ages, establishing an important ongoing relationship with you and your family.

Family dentistry provides preventative dentistry services, such as regular cleanings and fluoride treatments, routine x-rays and other basic dental work. The emphasis at the Manhattan Beach Gentle Dentist Office is prevention. The American Dental Association suggests visits to your family dentist for checkups a minimum of twice a year.

During each checkup, you will have a routine oral examination and cleaning to get rid of stains and plaque buildup in order to prevent tooth decay and gum problems. Your dentist will give you tips and recommendations for brushing, flossing and rinsing at home to prevent plaque and tooth decay between appointments.

Monitoring the oral health of your family from the time they’re babies and into adulthood establishes an important ongoing relationship with your Family Dentist.  It is essential that young children establish a comfortable relationship with a family dentist. At Manhattan Beach Family Dentistry we address the special needs of our young patients by creating a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to make your child’s visit as stress-free as possible.

It is important to schedule regular appointments for checkups, so your dentist can catch any problems before more extensive and costly dental work becomes necessary. Finding a family dentistry practice with which your whole family is comfortable can take a lot of stress out of making and keeping your regularly scheduled appointments! Your family dentist is trained to keep your teeth healthy by providing preventative care.

Are you less than happy with the appearance of your smile? Do you shy away from business situations and social interactions because you’re self conscious about your appearance? You may be surprised to learn that many issues you think are purely cosmetic can also have an impact on your overall oral health.

Teeth that are cracked, decayed, missing, or incorrectly aligned not only mar your appearance and make you self-conscious, but they can lead to a variety of other problems including periodontal disease, jaw pain, and difficulty with chewing. Cosmetic dentistry can correct these issues, restoring your oral health and beautiful smile.

Cosmetic Dental Solutions

At Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentist we understand that every patient’s needs are unique. When you visit our office, we will work closely with you to find the solution that is right for you, correcting potentially harmful dental issues and giving you a smile you can be proud of.

Cosmetic dentistry offers several solutions for perfecting your smile:

• Porcelain Veneers can cover discolored teeth and correct problems like uneven spacing, gaps, and crooked teeth
• Dental Implants can be used to replace missing teeth and offer additional support against shifting teeth and jaw collapse
• Porcelain Crowns offer a strong, aesthetically pleasing solution for patients with cracked or chipped teeth
• Tooth-colored fillings prevent further decay while appearing natural, unlike amalgam fillings
• Tooth bonding corrects the appearance of broken, misaligned, or crooked teeth

There are almost unlimited options for creating a smile you can be proud of. In addition to correcting potential dental problems and ensuring your overall oral health, The Manhattan Beach General Cosmetic Dentist offers a wide range of cosmetic services from basic teeth whitening to more complex procedures such as dental implants. This combination of sound general dentistry combined with cosmetic dentistry offers a solution for every smile.

If you’ve been living too long with a less-than-dazzling smile because you don’t want to wear metal braces for years, or worry that other corrective procedures would be too invasive or expensive, you’ll be happy to know that there is now an effective, safe and affordable cosmetic solution that fits any lifestyle.

Through a revolutionary combination of proven orthodontic techniques, modern materials, and innovative thought - Six Month Smiles® braces, available now at Manhattan Dental Care, utilize specialized clear braces to gently straighten and align teeth in an average time of just six months. Because of the use of clear brackets and tooth-colored wires, the braces are hardly noticeable. The really good news is that Six Month Smiles® cosmetic braces are typically less expensive than traditional braces, clear aligners or veneers.

Six Month Smiles® uses very light and safe forces to move teeth at the same rate as traditional braces. The fact is that your teeth are not being moved any faster or with any more force than traditional braces. The difference between Six Month Smiles® Braces and traditional braces is that, with traditional braces the focus of the treatment is to correct the bite of all your teeth.

With Six Month Smiles® braces, the focus is on the teeth that show in your smile, giving you a fresh new look in a reasonable amount of time.  Your front teeth move faster than your back teeth. With Six Month Smiles® Dr. Firshein will simply stop treatment once the front teeth are positioned in a cosmetically pleasing arrangement. The rate of tooth movement is the same, but the total treatment time is faster - usually about six to eight months. If you have spaces, gaps, or crooked, crowded teeth, Six Month Smiles® braces may be the perfect solution for you.

There are so many different types of cosmetic and restorative procedures and treatments being discussed online and in the news today that it’s understandable there may be some confusion about which treatment best suits your situation - dental implants, crowns, bridges, or dentures. Today I’d like to speak to you specifically about crowns, their uses and benefits.

What is a dental crown?
 
Dental crowns ("caps") are one of dentistry's most versatile types of restorations. Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully cup over the portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface. There are several types of crowns but porcelain are the most popular.  They are highly durable and will last many years. Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth.

When is a dental crown used?

A crown may be used to strengthen broken, fractured teeth, cover large or fractured fillings or for cosmetic enhancement. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed.  This protects the tooth, prevents it from breaking, and restores it to its full function.

What does getting a crown involve?

A crown procedure usually requires two appointments.  Your first appointment at Manhattan Beach Gentle Dental will include taking several highly accurate molds (or impressions) used to create a temporary crown as well as your permanent custom crown.  We prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown.  Your temporary crown is then placed.

At your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed to ensure that spacing and bite are accurate. You will receive instructions for care and cleaning before you are sent home with a beautiful, enhanced smile.

If you’ve shopped for over-the-counter tooth whitening products lately, you were probably overwhelmed by the number of products that claim to whiten your teeth. But how effective are they in reality? Let’s take a look at some of the more popular products on the market today and see how they stack up.

Whitening Strips

Whitening strips purchased at your local pharmacy have drawbacks. They do contain a peroxide-based whitening agent, but it is not nearly as potent as those safely used in our Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentist Office. Also, whitening strips only touch the front surface of your teeth, missing the spaces between your teeth. Though it is possible to remove stains over time with whitening strips it may take months to see any significant results.

Whitening Rinses

Whitening Rinses are similar to mouthwashes. They kill bacteria, refresh your breath and may help remove plaque. Unlike mouthwashes, whitening rinses contain hydrogen peroxide. Manufactures advise you to rinse your mouth twice a day for one minute each and state that it may take 12 weeks to see results. Most consumers report no difference after using, probably because the rinse barely touches your teeth for two minutes a day.

Whitening Gels

Whitening gels are clear, peroxide-based gels applied directly to the surface of your teeth. Instructions generally call for twice a day application for 14 days. Initial results are seen in a few days and final results are sustained for about four months. However, application can be difficult since teeth are required to be completely free of saliva before use.

Whether you choose a home whitening treatment option or an in-office whitening procedure such as the Sapphire Whitening System, you should consult with your dentist first. Dr. Firshein can examine your teeth and determine if there are any underlying issues with your teeth or gums that would cause problems as a result of using over-the-counter whitening agents.

There are an increasing number of reports about the damage caused by dental erosion. The problems that result from this process are not new. But our increased consumption of fruity drinks, soda and energy drinks has caused an increase in the number of patients experiencing the unfortunate results of this excess.
 
Tooth enamel is made of minerals, and cavities are caused by a process known as demineralization. This occurs when the enamel on your tooth comes in contact with sweet foods and drinks. Waste products created by bacteria as it consumes these sugars contain the acids that cause demineralization. When these acids remain on the teeth they start producing tooth decay within minutes.

Most of us have experienced cavities, but left untreated over a long period of time, a simple cavity can result in the complete destruction of the tooth structure. With the increased consumption of soda, fruit juices and energy drinks our Manhattan Beach Dentist Office is seeing an increase in the number of patients with dental erosion. While sugar is the most common cause of dental erosion, some other causes are:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Consuming sour foods or candies  
• Dry mouth or low saliva volume
• Acid reflux disease (GERD), or heartburn

If you experience sensitivity when eating hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks you may have dental erosion. Also, yellowing of the enamel indicates that it is thinning and exposing the yellow dentin beneath. Dental erosion can literally destroy your teeth over time if not addressed, and if it reaches this point, tooth extraction and costly dental prosthetics may be necessary.

Diligent oral hygiene habits and regular visits to your dentist are the best defense against the destruction caused by dental erosion. Your Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentist is trained to detect signs of dental erosion and take the necessary steps to arrest and reverse its damage. If the enamel has sustained significant cosmetic damage, veneers, either porcelain or Lumineers, may be recommended to protect your teeth and restore your healthy smile.
    

Todd was a new patient at our practice. Like many new patients, Todd had a fear of dental procedures and dentists in general, often referred to as “dental phobia”. I assured Todd that he was not alone in experiencing these fears and then tried to find out a bit more about Todd’s history and why he was so fearful.

As he discussed his fears he related a story of negative childhood experiences with a dentist he considered to be a less than compassionate practitioner. As he spoke, Todd lost the “deer in the headlights” look he had when he first came into the practice. Making patients feel at ease with me and the setting is our goal and the first step to controlling and eliminating these fears. Todd was responding positively to having his own feelings taken into account.

We discussed how Sedation Dentistry provides many options for fearful patients. Sedation treatments such as Inhalation, Oral, and IV (Intravenous) Sedation can provide an anxiety-free experience from beginning to end. There are many factors to take into account when choosing your best sedation option, and everyone reacts differently to different types of sedation.

At Manhattan Beach Sedation Dentistry we match the needs of the patient with the correct treatment or combination of treatments. Todd also began to understand that delaying dental treatment because of his fears could lead to neglected oral care and long-term problems that would ultimately become difficult and costly to repair.

Todd was happy to learn that a controlled and regulated approach to the chosen level of sedation would allow me to monitor his comfort throughout the duration of his treatment, ensuring that the post-procedure experience would leave him feeling refreshed and renewed. Through Sedation Dentistry at Manhattan Beach Dental, Todd finally found a way to feel confident and happy about taking positive steps to ensure his oral health.