Cosmetic Dentist Directory - In Your Local San Jose, CA Area

Considering Porcelain Veneers?

Maybe you've thought about cosmetic dental work - but felt a little vain to consider it.

Or the appearance of your teeth never bothered you much, because your dental health is pretty good.

But fixing a small functional problem can sometimes yield wonderful, unanticipated dividends. Mary, for instance, had a few dental imperfections most of us could live with. But she was hampered from time to time by a lispy "s" sound.

Mary had gapped teeth, a diastema, which caused a slight but noticeable speech defect. She also showed evidence of life in the fast lane, too: teeth worn down, probably from nervous clenching of the jaw muscles or grinding teeth.

In Mary's case - and every case is different - porcelain veneers saved the day. Her cosmetic dentist began with a functional and esthetic evaluation to determine what shape and contour would best solve Mary's diastema problem. More tooth length was proposed, to give her a more youthful, proportioned appearance, too.

Impressions were taken, and sent off to the lab for fabrication. On the next visit, her teeth were cleaned and etched chemically, the dental veneers were cemented into place, and "cured" with a special light to seal them.

Mary's speech problem evaporated. Dentistry fixed that. But cosmetic dentistry did more than perfect her speech.

WHEN FUNCTION = BEAUTY

Like an acrylic fingernail, veneers cover the front surface of the teeth. Porcelain dental veneers are strong and, by the way, look great.

As an architect of more that 60 years, I have learned that only the beautiful is practical. And universally, anything that is truly practical, functional, and useful is beautiful.
-Frank Lloyd Wright

The Art of the Dental Crown

Cosmetic dentists aren't all white coats and Novocaine. There is both art and science in a dentist's day. Case in point: what appears to be more or less routine restoration of missing or broken teeth - a dental crown or a dental bridge - is akin to principles of architecture.

Think of the arch of your mouth like the roof of a house. Each element of the structure relies on another. If a rafter breaks, the entire building will, sooner or later, buckle. So it is with your teeth.

The mouth is balanced; teeth function together. One missing tooth can cause permanent changes in your bite. Neighboring teeth drift into the empty space. The opposing tooth will actually grow longer and longer, further frustrating normal chewing. You'll tend to favor one side of your mouth over another. This old house is eventually doomed.

Dentists, then, are believers in tooth restoration and dental crowns. With all the new materials cosmetic dentistry offers today, virtually any mouth can be restored to good working order. A tooth that might have been lost five years ago now has many options for renewed vitality.

And the cosmetic results that can be achieved are, well, awesome. When it comes to new dental technologies, take advantage. Your cosmetic dentist will be there when you're ready to go for it.