What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry, unlike orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics, is not a recognized dental specialty. Rather, it is a general term used to describe a number of treatments can make your smile look more symmetrical and attractive, which includes:

• Veneers
• Teeth Whitening
• Dental Crowns

But because cosmetic dentistry is such a broad term, it can also include treatments that restore your oral health, as well as such as the appearance of healthy teeth, such as:

• Dental implants
• Fixed bridges
• Dentures

You might not think about something like a dental implant or a set of dentures as “cosmetic” because they do so much in the way of restoring lost teeth, but replacing a lost tooth allows your smile to look more aesthetically pleasing, which means that it could be lumped under the cosmetic dentistry family. 

While some people look at cosmetic dental care as treatment that is unnecessary, they might not understand that procedures which restore your health can be considered cosmetic as well. While cosmetic treatment like teeth whitening or veneers are not medically necessary, a denture or a bridge could be considered as such and is more likely to be covered by insurance. As always, it’s important to talk to Dr. Carr and your insurance company to discuss coverage and treatment options.

Even something like a tooth-colored filling is cosmetic; fillings are meant to treat dental decay, but composite fillings are made to blend in with your natural teeth and are more aesthetically pleasing than metal amalgam fillings.

Cosmetic dentistry covers a wide variety of dental treatments that restore and correct oral health problems, but also have a pleasing effect on your smile. If you have questions about Hemet or Temecula cosmetic dentistry from Dr. Carr, don’t hesitate to call him at one of his offices today. 

Myths about Dental Implants

Dental implants are a popular dental treatment that has revolutionized the way patients think about replacing teeth. For those who are still learning about this dental treatment option and might have gotten some inaccurate information from friends or online sources, Dr. Carr busts the following myths about dental implants:

Getting a dental implant is major oral surgery –While getting a dental implant is a surgical procedure, it is not as intense as some people believe. Common oral surgical procedures, like wisdom teeth removal, are more invasive and involved than getting a dental implant. 

Placing an implant takes a long time – The portion of the dental implant that is surgically placed at the site of a missing tooth actually only takes about 10 minutes. With his 3-D imaging equipment, Dr. Carr can precisely pinpoint the exact location for ideal implant placement, cutting down on some of the educated guesses that other dentists might have to make about where to put your implant.

A dental implant isn’t any better than a bridge or other treatment for replacing teeth – Dental implants offer oral health benefits that you can’t get from other teeth replacement methods. The post portion of the implant is surgically placed into bone in your jaw --- this allows the dental implant to nurture bone health in ways that a permanent dental bridge or a denture can’t. Dental implants are sturdier, since the post naturally bonds with bone. 

Recovering from a dental implant takes a while – Recovery time varies and can be 3-6 months, but for some patients – your dental implant treatment can be finalized immediately by placing a dental crown (or dentures) soon after placement of the implant post. This is called “immediate load” and accommodates patients who prefer not to complete the month-long waiting period.

If you’re considering getting a dental implant in Hemet or Temecula, contactDr. Carr for more information on how implants can replace one tooth, a group of teeth, or even all of your natural teeth.

Denture Options – Which One is the Best for You?

Replacing lost or extracted teeth means making a decision about the best way to fill out your smile and get back full bite function. Many patients, especially those who have lost groups of teeth, or all of their teeth, go with dentures. And you have choices when you pick dentures too! Consider the following options for denture treatment in Temecula and Hemet:

Removable Dentures -  A removable denture is often the most cost-effective way to get a full smile and improved bite function when you’re missing one tooth, a few teeth, or all of your teeth. Removable dentures are a great option for those patients who wish to avoid invasive treatment for replacing teeth.

        Removable dentures can be full or partial; full dentures are what most people think of when they hear “dentures” – a complete set of false teeth. But with a partial denture – which is essentially a replacement tooth attached to a retainer-like device, you can replace one or a few missing teeth quickly and easily.

Implant Supported Dentures – These are sometimes called permanent dentures or over-dentures and are a way of permanently attaching a set of dentures. Unlike removable dentures that you take out each night and re-apply each morning, implant-supported dentures are a full set of teeth that are held in place by a few dental implants. While getting permanent dentures requires placement of dental implant posts, the final result is more stable and restores even more of your natural bite function. Implant-supported dentures are the preferred option for those patients who would rather not have a removable oral appliance.

Did You Know? If you need a tooth extracted before you can receive your dentures, Dr. Carr can remove damaged teeth at his Temecula or Hemet Dental offices. If you choose to go with implant-supported dentures for total tooth loss, Dr. Carr uses 3-D imaging to ensure that your implants are placed with precision for best final result.

Do you have more questions about dentures? We’re here to help! Contact us at our Hemet and Temecula dental offices to learn more about how dentures can help you solve tooth loss and get complete smile. 

What’s Better – Clear Braces or Metal Braces?

Advancements in dental and orthodontic treatment have given patients more options than ever for helping their smiles look and feel healthier. These new treatment options are often more comfortable and discreet, and in the case of clear braces vs. metal braces, can leave you wondering which is best.

The truth is that both clear braces and regular metal braces are capable of straightening your teeth, but consider some of the pros and cons below:

Metal braces treat the widest variety of dental problems – If you have severe orthodontic issues, such as complicated bite misalignment, regular braces are often the best way to address these problems and leave you with a stunning new smile. However, complex bite and alignment issues don’t happen to everyone, which means that…

Clear aligner therapy can treat most patients – Orthodontic systems that use clear plastic aligners to move your teeth, such as Invisalign® does, are able to treat moderate orthodontic problems, such as crowded teeth or teeth that are spaced too far apart. But for your clear aligners to do their best…

You have to be diligent about wearing your clear aligner trays – Systems like Invisalign® work their best when you wear them for the recommended time. Your clear aligners should be kept on for at least 22 hours a day and they should only be removed for eating and brushing your teeth. If you’re worried about being able to keep to a regimen of wearing your aligner trays, but still want to keep a low profile for orthodontic treatment, consider that…

You can choose tooth-colored metal braces for straightening your teeth – Dr. Carr offers Six Month Smiles, which is a twist on modern braces. With tooth-colored brackets and wires, Six Month Smiles blends in with your natural teeth and treats orthodontic problems without the high visibility of metal braces and in a shorter amount of time.

No matter what your dental issue may be, Dr. Carr has options to help you with metal braces, Invisalign®, and Six Month Smiles in Temecula and Hemet. Contact one of our offices today to learn more about getting braces for a more beautiful smile. 

What You Might Not Have Known about Root Canals

Out of the more common dental treatments that patients receive, root canal therapy unfairly gets the worst rap. You might have heard someone compare a particularly unpleasant life event as preferable to getting a root canal, but root canal therapy isn’t what most people make it out to be.

Root Canals Restore Your Oral Health – When you have an infected or damaged tooth, a root canal removes affected material and prevents the spread of infection and decay to other, healthy teeth.

Getting a Root Canal is Painless - Contrary to popular belief, getting a root canal is a comfortable procedure. Before beginning treatment, Dr. Carr thoroughly numbs the area around your tooth to ensure that you don’t experience any discomfort. Many patients equate the root canal process to the routine procedure of getting a cavity filled.

With a Root Canal, You Avoid Tooth Extraction – For some patients, teeth that are damaged or infected need to be removed entirely to prevent damage to healthy teeth – and choosing the best way to replace an extracted tooth comes with its own set of problems. If you get a root canal before it’s too late, the procedure actually allows you to keep your natural tooth. By removing the infected material from inside your tooth, your natural tooth structure is preserved and can remain in place.

Here’s What Actually Happens During a Root Canal:

Dr. Carr accesses the dentin (the material inside your tooth) via a small hole he’ll create in the tooth enamel. The infected dentin is removed and your tooth is filled with a kind of dental cement that helps your now decay-free tooth stay strong.

Treatment is complete when Dr. Carr places a custom-made dental crown over your tooth so your smile looks healthy and free of damage.

Do you have an infected tooth? Have you been putting off treatment because you’re worried that you might need a root canal? Dr. Carr offers root canal therapy in Temecula and Hemet to help you restore your oral health and keep your natural teeth. Contact us today if you have a tooth ache or a damaged and sensitive tooth, as these issues may need to be addressed with root canal therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is an excellent way of helping anxious patients relax and feel at-ease while in the dental chair. There are a few different ways to receive dental sedation that makes it easy for even the most fearful patient to get the dental treatment they need. When discussing dental sedation with his Temecula and Hemet patients, Dr. Carr often hears people ask:

What will I remember? When recovered from sedation, you likely won’t remember much about your appointment, such as sounds and smells. This is especially comforting for patients whose anxiety is triggered by the sound that some dental equipment produces. Different sedation methods can create deeper levels of this amnesia.

How long will it take to recover from sedation? IV sedation, nitrous oxide, and oral sedation all take different lengths of recovery time. IV sedation is most commonly used in specialists’ offices for short treatment. If you choose oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, you’ll need someone to take you home from your appointment; oral medications for sedation have varying half-lives (how long they remain in your system) and IV sedation can make you feel groggy for a while after you come-to. Recovery from nitrous, however, is fairly quick, especially if you are put on oxygen afterwards.

Which sedation method should I choose? This can depend on many factors, such as what treatment is being performed and your anxiety level. The best way to find out what sedation medication will work best for you is to talk to Dr.Carr about your concerns and your treatment plan.

Sedation dentistry makes getting dental treatment comfortable and quick for patients who are fearful about visiting a dentist’s office. To get more information about sedation dentistry in Temecula and Hemet, Call Dr. Carr’s offices to schedule your consultation. 

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Here's to your best oral health ever!