Teeth Whitening Can Make You More Attractive

Did you know that teeth whitening can do more for your appearance than simply brightening your smile?  People have often wondered what makes a person attractive, and a recent study by Match.com may have the answer.  They polled 5,000 single people and found that a beautiful smile was the one thing that both men and women found to be the most attractive quality when looking for someone to meet.  They could have selected a variety of both physical and personality traits, but this one feature made the top of the list.  If you want to improve your appearance, this is by far the easiest way to do so because it doesn’t require hours in the gym or a makeover by a stylist.

A beautiful smile starts with a healthy one.  In order to keep your smile glowing, it has to remain in good condition.  That includes teeth free from cavities and gums that are healthy and not receding.  In order to have a healthy smile, brush and floss your teeth at home on a daily basis.  You can do this several times a day to reduce the risk of your teeth becoming stained or an infection developing.  If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco products try to eliminate the habit as this also puts your teeth and gums at risk of becoming infected.  Additionally, you should have your teeth cleaned at least twice a year to ensure that any lingering bacteria are removed before it can create an infection.

When your teeth are healthy, improving your smile is easy.  Tooth whitening is a quick and pain-free solution for brightening your smile.  There are several ways to do so and professional teeth whitening is by far the most effective.  It can whiten your teeth by up to eight shades, producing dramatic and noticeable results.

Over-the-counter whitening solutions work but only slightly.  For example, you can purchase whitening strips or trays at the drug store but they typically only whiten teeth by around two shades.  This will help to brighten your teeth but won’t restore them to a gorgeous youthful glow.  Over time teeth tend to become dull and get stained.  The older you are, the more likely your teeth are to lose their luster.  These in-store solutions will help to start the process but are nowhere near as effective as what the dentist provides.  An additional challenge with over-the-counter solutions is that they are made in a one size fits all design.  Since they are not customized for your teeth, there is the risk of them slipping out of place which can be uncomfortable.  It would be similar to purchasing an XL T-shirt at the store when you wear a medium.  The shirt would do its job but not as effectively as one that actually fit.

We create customized teeth whitening trays that are made after a mold is taken of your mouth.  This allows us to design a solution that fits snuggly and securely around your teeth.  When the whitening gel is added, it won’t slip out, so the process is very comfortable.  After wearing the trays at night for a week or so, you will see dramatic results that will improve your smile and overall appearance.  Additionally, we provide in-office whitening procedures for people that want faster results.

Dental Implants Provide People with a New Level of Freedom

MG Dental provides http://www.mgdental.com for patients that want to replace a missing tooth in a way that looks and feels completely natural.  It is common for a person to lose a tooth at some point in their lifetime.  In fact, seventy percent of U.S. adults suffer from some form of tooth loss.  This is a common problem, and modern dentistry provides multiple solutions for addressing it.

One common way to replace a tooth is to create a dental bridge.  In this procedure, a crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one in order to form a “bridge” that holds the new tooth in place.  A cosmetic dentist can do this and make the tooth look natural.  However, many people that wear bridges end up with an uncomfortable tooth that looks out of place. Patients that have gotten a bridge, years ago, may now benefit by replacing it with an implant.

Dental implants are also superior to dentures.  While a common solution, dentures don’t feel like natural teeth.  They look better than ever and are more comfortable than they used to be, however, they are still a foreign object in the mouth.  That means that people often have difficulty eating and speaking like normal because they have to get used to wearing something new.  A full set can also reduce the number of flavors that person can taste.  Dentures will always have their place in dentistry and are a good solution for certain patients.  They are not, however, a permanent solution that behaves like a natural tooth.

Patients of MG Dental can benefit from the latest in dental technology.  Dental implants have become more common recently and are ideal for people that have an active lifestyle and want to keep it that way.  The best thing about implants is that once the procedure is complete, patients no longer have to think about their teeth.  Since it feels completely natural and is as durable as a natural tooth, there is no need to eat carefully or add more steps to the daily hygiene routine.  Brushing and flossing like normal, along with trips to the dentist, is all it takes to keep teeth fresh, beautiful and healthy.

The first step in the procedure is to have a metal post implanted under the gums and secured to the jawbone.  This must be done by an expert in order to reduce any recovery time and prevent complications.  In time, the metal and the jawbone will fuse together to create a completely durable synthetic root system.  The new root is the key to the entire procedure and the component that separates this from other types of cosmetic dental work.  It can take several months for the gums to heal entirely, but the process is worth the wait due to the stability it creates.

The new tooth will be created in a dental lab and will match the surrounding teeth perfectly.  After the gums have healed the new tooth will be secured to the post at the surface of the gums and positioned in place.  The result is a smile that looks, feels, and behaves completely naturally – perfect for patients with active and busy lifestyles.

How to Take Care of Your Braces

Once your braces are firmly on your teeth the work of straightening your smile can start.  Your Orthodontist will examine and inspect your braces on a regular basis.  At each visit, they will be adjusted by changing or tightening your wires, changing your rubber bands, and anything else that the orthodontist recommends.

In between visits, it is important to care for your teeth at home.  Eating the wrong thing or failing to brush and floss properly can lead to complications and make the process last longer.  The typical time a patient has them on is around two years.  A delay or complication can extend the process out much farther.

Here are tips for how you can care for your braces and teeth at home.

·         Brush after meals.  Do not wait for the evening to brush your teeth.  Carry a soft toothbrush with you and use it after every meal and some snacks.  This will help to remove food that has gotten stuck around your braces and will help to prevent staining and cavities.

·         Use a wire brush.  A special wire brush can be used to clean the plaque off from around your braces.  Its small pointed tip can get into small spaces.

·         Floss daily.  There are flossing tools that are made for patients with braces.  Use this at least once a day.  Food and bacteria will become trapped on and in between your teeth if you are not careful with your oral care habits.

·         Use mouthwash.  Instead of chewing gum, use an antiseptic mouthwash.  This will kill bacteria that is forming in your mouth, on your teeth, and gums.  It is also safer since gum tends to be sticky and can even cause your rubber bands or wires to become loose.

·         Drink water.  Substitute soda, juice, coffee, and other sugar filled liquids with water.  Your overall health may improve, and you will prevent sugar and bacteria from sitting on your teeth throughout the day. 

·         Visit the dentist.  Continue with your preventative care treatments.

·         Avoid candy.  Biting down on hard candy can cause your braces to become damaged.  Any damage to your braces will elongate the amount of time you have to wear them. Additionally, caramels and other soft chewy candies can become stuck in your braces which creates a risk of getting cavities.

·         Stay away from hard foods.  Things like nuts, ice, carrots, and hard pizza crust can all damage your braces or the hard pieces can be stuck in between your brackets and cause pain.  If you want to eat these foods look for a softer version.  For example, steamed carrots, soft crust, and pecans instead of almonds.

Follow your orthodontists’ instructions on anything additional you need to do for your specific situation.  Make sure to attend all of your scheduled appointments so that your braces stay in the best shape possible, and your smile is straightened on time and on schedule.  By caring for teeth and braces, you will have a gorgeous smile in no time.

Invisalign is the Clear Way to Straighten Your Smile

You can have a straight and a gorgeous smile with Invisalign.  A bright, straight, and warm smile exudes confidence and can transform someone’s appearance.  Most people want a straight smile but may not have the time or desire to wear traditional braces.  Fortunately, there is another option.

MG Dental provides patients with multiple ways to straighten their smile.  While we offer traditional braces, this is not a good fit for everyone.  People with busy careers that need to maintain a certain image may be unable to wear braces while people that travel a lot don’t have time to visit the orthodontist on a frequent basis.

Invisalign is ideal for people with a busy schedule because the progress can be made at home.  Appointments are simply to make sure that the teeth are adjusting as they should.  Traditional braces have multiple components – brackets, wires and rubber bands. These components need to be adjusted or changed regularly at the orthodontist office in order to keep teeth moving in the right direction.  Invisalign is different because there is only one piece to worry about, an aligner.

Clear aligners are created using a mold of your mouth.  They slowly change so that every couple of weeks you can remove the old one and start to wear a new one.  They go in stages so that each time you start wearing a new aligner it will move the teeth that much close to your smile goals.  Patients are given the aligners at the beginning of the process, so there is no need to visit the orthodontist before switching one out.  Regular inspections still need to be completed, but that can be done on a patient's schedule without worrying about causing delays.  Flexibility is important because people’s lives are so incredibly busy.  Even those that are committed to having straight teeth may find the number of office visits cumbersome, making this alternative option ideal.

Invisalign is also an excellent option for those worried about their appearance.  Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of having metal braces on their mouth.  Whether needing to blend in at work or a high school senior wanting to look amazing for the prom, braces do impact your overall appearance where this option won’t.  Since the aligners are clear, a patient can wear it with them with confidence that no one can tell they are on.  This makes them a viable alternative for people that want to straighten their smile without calling attention to it.

Another benefit is that you can care for your teeth like normal without any additional maintenance steps.  Simply brush your teeth after each meal or sticky snacks, floss daily, and use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria and to remove plaque.  Your aligners can also be brushed using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.

To learn more about the process or to schedule a consultation call MG Dental at 718-416-6444 and speak with one of our experienced team members or our orthodontist.

How Braces Can Improve Your Health and Your Smile

Traditionally braces have been used to transform a persons’ smile and appearance.  They can actually do much more. In addition to giving patients a stunning smile, they can also correct some dental health issues and decrease the pain that is associated with them.  The staff at MG Dental are experts at improving peoples’ smiles and oral health.

Here are some ways a patients’ health can improve.

Bad Bite or Malocclusion

When a persons’ bite is off it can impact their ability eat property and cause discomfort and jaw pain.  Adjusting the bite takes time and orthodontics.  Not only do the teeth need to move but the bite has to be aligned so that the top teeth fit securely over the bottom ones.  This is typically done with a rubber band system.  The orthodontist will provide instructions on how to string a rubber band from the top brackets to the bottom ones.  This will hold your bite in place throughout the day and evening.  At each appointment, the orthodontist will tell you if your rubber bands need to be worn differently or if you can stop wearing them all together.  The orthodontist may recommend additional ways to adjust your bite but by the time the braces are removed, your bite will also be aligned.

Crooked Teeth

Teeth that are crooked tend to trap food and bacteria.  It is difficult to brush them and to remove all of the bacteria that forms.  This can lead to an increased risk of cavities for that tooth along with the ones around it.  By straightening the tooth, or teeth, an orthodontist can help you to stay in good oral health and reduce these risks.

Jaw Pain

When your teeth are out of alignment, it can cause jaw pain.  These symptoms can manifest themselves as TMJ.  Basically, at night people can tend to grind their teeth or clench them together which can cause sore jaw and face muscles.  At times, this can be corrected by wearing a mouth guard to bed, while other patients need to have their teeth straightened to prevent grinding and clenching.  Once braces are removed most people need to wear a retainer which can also prevent clenching and grinding.

In addition to improving a persons’ overall health, braces will improve their appearance.  A bright, straight smile is welcoming, and people with straight smiles feel more confident and self-assured.  They say that beauty comes from within and in many ways that is true.  The challenge is that when people feel insecure or unattractive, they don’t believe in their own beauty.  Sometimes, improving someone’s smile is all it takes to give them the confidence they need to believe in themselves and approach the world boldly.

The staff at MG Dental enjoy being part of this transformation and welcome new patients.  To learn how your smile can be transformed, call 718-416-6444 to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our experienced team members.  

Invisalign Can Straighten Your Smile: The Invisible Way!

If you want a straight smile Invisalign can help.  Many people want to have the perfect smile but are uncomfortable wearing traditional braces due to their appearance.  Whether an adult professional or college student, there are times where wearing metal braces isn’t conducive to a patients overall goals or busy schedule.  We offer an alternative to traditional braces that can straighten your smile – the invisible way.

In order to determine if you are a candidate, schedule an appointment with MG Dental Orthodontics.  We will evaluate your teeth, gums, and smile and discuss your overall goals.  Based on that conversation, and teeth inspection, we will give a recommendation as to the best ways to straighten your teeth.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign can straighten your teeth without anyone ever knowing that you are wearing a corrective device.  It is completely clear and fits over the top of your teeth similar to how a retainer would.  You can speak and drink normally and take it out while eating meals.  The goal is to wear it for 22 hours out of the day. 

During your examination, we will take a mold of your mouth and use it to create custom aligners.  These aligners are worn for a couple of weeks then switched out to the next set.  Gradually, your teeth will move into place by simply wearing a more recent aligner.  Since they are made ahead of time, you don’t need to schedule as many visits to the orthodontist as you do with traditional braces that need to be adjusted on-site.  This makes them a good alternative for someone with an extremely busy schedule.

There are also fewer accessories with this orthodontic solution.  Traditional braces may require things like rubber bands to be worn during the process and people need special tools in order to floss.  The only thing you need with Invisalign is your custom made aligners.  You can brush and floss like normal.

Can Anyone Get Invisalign?

This process isn’t for everyone.  There are some bite issues that may require traditional metal braces to be worn. If this is the case, we can provide that option, as well.  There is no one size fits all treatment when it comes to orthodontics.  We evaluate each patient on a case by case basis to determine the best way to straighten their teeth, working within their lifestyle and budgetary goals.  By providing multiple options, patients are in control of their overall health and wellbeing. 

Regardless, of how you straighten your teeth it is important to keep them in good condition by brushing after every meal and flossing daily.  This will prevent bacteria from building up and reduce the risk of staining your teeth.  It is also wise to use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill any lingering bacteria.  We will provide you with information on how to care for your teeth at home so that you can have the beautiful and healthy smile that you have always wanted.