Jason – If your dentist places white composite fillings, he or she may be willing to replace the amalgam filling. A dentist’s goal is help you keep your natural teeth. Removing the tooth will cause other teeth to shift and create additional problems for you.

Not all dentists place white composite fillings, so you may need to find one who does. Many people share your concern and find a mercury-free dentist. Dentists who regularly place composite fillings are comfortable placing them even on back teeth.

A cosmetic dentist can remove the filling and replace it with composite that matches your teeth.

This post is sponsored by Chicago dentists Drs. Paul and Carole Landman.

Kris – A dental bridge lasts an average of five to seven years. If you are diligent about oral hygiene, including flossing beneath the bridge, it can last up to ten years.

Poor oral hygiene can contribute to decay and cavities beneath the bridge, or beneath the crowned teeth. If decay or cavities develop, the bridge will need to be prematurely replaced.

As you may know, the advantage of a dental implant is that it’s a permanent tooth restoration. It functions and feels like natural teeth. It is easier to care for than a dental bridge, because you floss and brush the implant just as you would a natural tooth.

This post is sponsored by Chicago cosmetic dentists Drs. Paul and Carole Landman.

Korry – As you know, braces will make the correction. Invisalign invisible braces are another option. They straighten your teeth without people noticing that you’re wearing them.

Porcelain veneers can also correct teeth that are crooked. The front of each tooth will be lightly shaved and the veneers are bonding to the front of your teeth to give them the appearance of being straight. This is a correction that you will want completed by a cosmetic dentist. A skilled cosmetic dentist will perfectly match the veneers to your natural teeth. People won’t be able to tell the difference between the two.

Schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Paul Landman and Dr. Carole Landman. Find out why many consider them to be the best dentists in Chicago.

Tonya – Your sister-in-law likely recommended a dentist, because dentists frequently provide snore guards, or mouthpieces for sleep apnea. Snoring is a frequent symptom of sleep apnea.

Your dentist will take impressions of your husband’s teeth to make a customized mouth guard. The mouthguard will prevent your husband’s tongue from rolling back and obstructing his airway. An obstructed airway produces the vibrations in the throat that we hear as snoring.

Seeing your dentist is a good idea. He or she will examine your husband and determine if a snore guard is the right treatment. If not, the dentist or your doctor can refer you to a specialist.

It is important to seek help, because in addition to keeping you two awake at night, sleep apnea increases other health risks for the snorer.

This post is sponsored by Chicago dentists Dr. Paul Landman and Dr. Carole Landman.

Ariel – The arch refers to the entire row of your teeth—upper or lower.

There are many advantages of getting a Snap-On Smile from your dentist.  Your dentist will determine if the Snap-On Smile will work for you. Is anyone making that determination with the press-on veneers, or can you receive them with no questions asked? Depending on the size and shape of your teeth, even the Snap-On Smile can make them look bulky. Your dentist will tell you that. You may choose to go ahead with the smile, or you may prefer another option.

If you are a candidate for a Snap-On Smile, your dentist will ask you what shape you want for the teeth, as well as what color you want. It is unlikely that you can accurately make that determination on your own from a website.

Your dentist takes impressions of your teeth to customize the Snap-On Smile to ensure it perfectly fits your teeth. With press-on veneers, even if you are sent the material to take your own impressions, how can you ensure that it is done correctly?

When your Snap-On Smile arrives, it needs to be fitted. How will you fit the press-on veneers? Will you trim them with scissors? What if you cut too much?

It is best to let your dentist know what you want to accomplish in terms of improving your smile. Your discussion with your dentist can save you the expense of purchasing a product that probably won’t give you the results you’re looking for.

This post is sponsored by Chicago cosmetic dentists Dr. Paul Landman and Carole Landman.

Ben – The best way to get your teeth whitened is to have it professionally done by a dentist. A cosmetic dentist can examine your teeth and anticipate the effects of bleaching your teeth.

Depending on the cause of stains in your teeth, bleaching them can make the stains more noticeable. If teeth whitening is right for you, you will receive custom-made trays that precisely fit against your teeth to help the whitening gel penetrate them.

Some dentists offer in-office treatment with Zoom!® whitening. This treatment only takes about an hour, and your teeth will be brilliantly white. You’ll receive custom trays and whitening gel for touch-ups.

If you prefer at-home treatment, you’ll receive custom trays and whitening gel. In about two weeks, your teeth will be sparkling white. Your dentist will give you instructions on how long to wear the gel-filled trays each day.

This post is sponsored by Chicago cosmetic dentists Drs. Paul and Carole Landman. Many patients consider Dr. Landman the best dentist in Chicago.

Lena – Diabetes can delay the healing process and make a person more likely to get an infection. This can be true for dental implants also.

Whether implants can be placed for a person with diabetes is determined on a case-by-case basis. Dental implants can be successful in patients with well-controlled diabetes. Well in advance of implant surgery, your father’s dentist will review his medical history to determine if he is a candidate for the implants.

The implant dentist will give instructions about how medication should be taken the day of the surgery.  All patients with diabetes who receive dental implants should be diligent in doing their part to keep the diabetes under control. Maintaining well-controlled diabetes is an important factor for continued success of the dental implants.

This post is sponsored by Chicago dentists Dr. Paul Landman and Dr. Carole Landman.

Damon – Your tooth should be examined by a dentist to see of any damage was done to it.

A chipped tooth can be repaired with dental bonding. An experienced cosmetic dentist can mix and manipulate dental composite to match the color and translucency of the tooth that was chipped.

The composite is applied to the tooth, hardened, and then etched and polished. People won’t be able to tell that your tooth was chipped.

This post is sponsored by Chicago cosmetic dentists Dr. Paul Landman and Dr. Carole Landman.

Alex – Cosmetic treatment can help. Porcelain veneers can be used. The veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth to make them appear straight. An artistic cosmetic dentist can provide you with a beautiful smile design with porcelain veneers that have the color and translucency of natural teeth. You can choose the shade you want, so your smile will also be brighter.

A second option is cosmetic contouring. After x-rays are taken and it’s determined that your teeth are healthy enough for this treatment, a cosmetic dentist can re-shape your teeth. Minimal amounts of tooth structure are removed with a laser or a sanding drill. After the re-shaping, teeth are smoothed and polished. Teeth whitening can be used to make your new smile brilliantly white.

Don’t leave your treatment to chance. Choose an experienced cosmetic dentist. He or she will be able to show you before-and-after pictures of smile makeovers. You’ll get beautiful, long-lasting results from a skilled cosmetic dentist.

This post is sponsored by Chicago cosmetic dentists Dr. Paul Landman and Dr. Carole Landman.

Helen,

A tooth infection spreads. It can affect the jawbone, sinuses, and even reach your brain. Antibiotics are not for the infected tooth. Infection in a tooth is removed through a root canal treatment.

Antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the infection from spreading throughout your body. We recommend that you take the antibiotics. If you choose to not take the antibiotic, the infection may cause serious problems in other parts of your body.

Patients who have allergic reactions to specific antibiotics should notify their dentist. Be sure to disclose your medical history and prescription history to your dentist to help him or her properly treat the tooth infection and prescribe an appropriate antibiotic.

This post is sponsored by Chicago cosmetic dentists Drs. Paul and Carole Landman