Cosmetic Dental Services

Porcelain Crowns

Compared to fillings, which just cover a small portion of a tooth, a crown (or cap) encases the entire visible portion of a tooth. In effect, the crown acts as the tooth's new outer surface.

A dental crown is used when a tooth is broken or decayed to such an extent that fillings aren't able to repair the problem. The crown is able to provide a protective shell around the damaged or decayed tooth to strengthen it, as well as to improve the appearance of the tooth.

They can also help restore a tooth to it's original shape, and are used commonly for teeth that have been broken. While crowns come in different materials, the most common crowns typically have some mixture of porcelain in them to give them a look and feel similar to a natural tooth.

How it's done
The first visit to your dentist involves reshaping the tooth and taking impressions to create the crown. Typically a portion of your tooth will have to be removed for the crown to fit properly.

After the dentist reshapes your tooth, they will use a special material to create an impression of it. This impression will be sent to a dental laboratory to be made into a permanent crown. Before sending you home, the dentist will provide you with a temporary crown to cover your tooth in between visits.

When you return, your dentist will have received the permanent crown from the laboratory. They will remove the temporary crown and fit the new permanent one. Before cementing the permanent crown in place, they will ensure that it fits comfortably and matches the color of your teeth.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin custom made shells that cover the front surface of your tooth to improve their appearance. They are made of tooth colored materials and can be used to improve the color of teeth that have been worn down or stained. Alternatively, they can be used to improve the shape or size of the tooth.

Types of veneers
There are two types of veneers that are commonly used. Porcelain veneers are more durable, and resist stains better. The properties of the material also helps to create a very natural tooth look. Unlike porcelain veneers, composite resin veneers are not made in a laboratory, but instead directly applied to the teeth. They typically have a shorter life span, and are less expensive.

When should you consider dental veneers?
You can talk to your dentist about dental veneers if

• Your teeth are stained or discolored

• Your teeth are crooked or misshapen

• Your teeth have spaces between them

• Your teeth are broken or chipped

How its done
Two visits to your dentist are typically required for porcelain veneers. At the first visit, three important steps are completed. Firstly, your tooth is prepared to be fitted with a veneer, which will involve trimming a portion of the tooth so the veneer can be bonded on top.

Secondly, an impression is taken of your teeth or tooth which will be sent to a laboratory to prepare the veneer. Finally, you may receive a temporary veneer depending on how much of your tooth structure was removed. This temporary veneer will protect your tooth while the permanent veneer is prepared at the laboratory.

At the second visit, the temporary veneer, if you received one, will be removed. Then, the new veneer received from the laboratory will be checked to see if it fits well. It's best not to adjust porcelain veneers after they are bonded to your teeth, so any adjustments will be made beforehand. Once you and the dentist are satisfied with the look and feel of the veneer, it will be bonded to your tooth.

Teeth Whitening

Tooth discoloration can happen over time as our enamel wears down. The wearing down of enamel allows dentin, a yellow colored substance that makes our teeth look discolored. Teeth whitening will help lighten the shade of your teeth using high-concentration hydrogen peroxide and special laser-light technology. If you are considering teeth whitening, your cosmetic dentist in North Andover, MA is here to help!

The Process

We currently offer two different methods of teeth bleaching. Our take-home trays allow you to whiten your teeth from the comfort of your own home. This option is more affordable than professional whitening treatments, but it produces more mild results. Take-home trays use a mild level of hydrogen peroxide that will lighten your discoloration by a few shades. The treatment will gradually brighten your smile over the course of about two weeks. We also offer professional bleaching treatments right here in our office. This procedure lasts about 60 minutes and will lighten discoloration by several shades. Your cosmetic dentist in North Andover, MA will use a powerful level of hydrogen peroxide and a laser to speed up the chemical process. Your teeth will be visibly brighter, and will likely continue to whiten for about a day after the process. If you are considering whitening your smile for an event, professional teeth whitening will give you the most effective results immediately.

Maintaining Your Brand New Smile

There are a few measures you can take to help retain the whiteness of your teeth. Smoking will greatly increase the discoloration of your smile. Also, drinking liquids such as black coffee, tea, or red wine can leave teeth looking stained. Soda, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce can also have a staining effect on your smile. The most important thing is to make sure you have a healthy dental care routine. Everything is okay in moderation, but be sure to brush and floss regularly. Even just rinsing your mouth with water after consuming a dark liquid can help prevent teeth discoloration. Ask your dentist about ways that you can help keep your smile looking fresh and bright.

Teeth Whitening Risks

There are some mild risks to teeth whitening. The most common side effect of teeth whitening is tooth sensitivity. This is nothing to be concerned about and can be treated with ibuprofen. If this occurs, consider switching to a toothpaste meant for sensitive teeth. Tooth sensitivity products usually contain potassium nitrate or sodium fluoride gel. Your gums may also become irritated from bleaching treatments, but it will go away naturally on its own.

If you have any questions about teeth whitening at EZ Dental, call your cosmetic dentist in North Andover, MA , or Groveland, MA today to request more information. If you would like to schedule an appointment, you can reach us at (978) 685-5562 for North Andover, (978) 521-2922 for Gorveland, or you can fill out a contact form directly on our website and we will get in touch with you. We look forward to helping you achieve a bright and healthy smile!

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a false tooth that is used to fill the gap created by a missing tooth or teeth. A gap between your teeth can be potentially dangerous to your dental health, as it can cause your teeth to shift resulting in a change in your bite that could be painful. Dental bridges help alleviate this problem by using the two surrounding teeth as anchors to hold a false tooth in the place where the gap is. Typically, porcelain crowns are placed over the surrounding teeth, and the false tooth, known as a pontic, is fused between them.

Types of dental bridges
There are three types of dental bridges that are commonly used today

1. Traditional fixed bridge - This is the most common type of dental bridge, in which porcelain crowns are placed over the two surrounding teeth and used as anchors to hold the false tooth in place. The false tooth is usually made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.

2. Cantilever bridge – A cantilever bridge is used when teeth are present on only one side of the gap. These are used typically in areas of your mouth that don’t experience an intense chewing load, such as your front teeth.

3. Resin-bonded bridge - In a resin-bonded bridge, metal bands are bonded to the surrounding teeth with resin and used to hold a plastic false tooth in place. This type of bridge is typically used in areas of the mouth that undergo less stress, such as the front teeth.

How it's done
A minimum of two visits are required for placing a dental bridge. At the first visit, three important steps are completed. Firstly, the surrounding teeth are prepared to be fitted with a crown. This may including filing down the tooth so that the crown can fit over it.

Secondly, an impression is taken of your teeth which will be sent to a laboratory to prepare the bridge and crown. Finally, the dentist fits your teeth with a temporary bridge to protect them while the bridge is prepared at the laboratory.

At the second visit, the temporary bridge is removed and the new bridge received from the laboratory is fitted and adjusted. Multiple visits may be necessary to check and adjust the fit.

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Dental Bonding

Dental Bonding is a restoration procedure in which a tooth-colored resin is bonded to a tooth and cured with an ultraviolet light. Bonding is faster and less expensive than veneers or crowns, and can thus be a good option to make small cosmetic improvements to your teeth.

Unlike veneers and crowns, bonding can be done within one office visit since nothing has to be custom made by a dental laboratory. Additionally, the procedure typically requires removing less of the tooth enamel compared to veneers and crowns. However, since bonding typically doesn’t last as long as other forms of restoration and is less resistant to stains, it is used more often for small cosmetic touch ups rather than major restorations.

How its done
The bonding procedure typically requires between 30 to 60 minutes to complete for each tooth. First the dentist determines exactly what color shade your teeth are to select a resin that will blend in naturally.

Once this is done, the dentist will prepare the tooth so the bonding material will adhere easier. This involves roughening the surface of the affected tooth and applying a liquid conditioner. Once this is complete, the dentist will apply the resin to the tooth, and cure it in place using an ultraviolet light. Finally, the dentist will apply the finishing touches by shaping and polishing the resin for a good fit.