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Cosmetic Dental Options to Enhance Your Smile

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Goodbye 2020 … HELLO 2021!!

2020 Is finally over and it’s the dawn of a new day, and while 2020 wasn’t the year many of us hoped it would be, with 2021 comes the promise and encouragement of a fresh, new start! How do cosmetic dental options fit into New Year Resolutions? Let’s dive in…

For many of us, a fresh start can mean a multitude of things; maybe 2021 will be the year you receive that big job opportunity that you’ve worked so hard for, or maybe 2021 will be the year that you finally realize your fitness goals and attain that toned physique that you’ve been dreaming of.

Indeed, having a set list of new year’s resolutions is a fantastic way to start off a new year. However, in this article, we would like to discuss an equally as important, but very personal goal that you might want to consider accomplishing this year as well.

Don’t Hide Your Smile

While it might not come as a big surprise to hear that there are many people unhappy with their smile, what you may not know is that one third of Americans today, report being dissatisfied or even self-conscious about their teeth! Regardless, whether it’s the color, shape, or alignment of your teeth; if your smile is not up to par, it can certainly be a major source of embarrassment or anxiety.

If you or anyone you know of struggles with such a dilemma, then perhaps 2021 is the year to change that. In this article we will discuss the numerous cosmetic dental options and procedures that we offer at Overland Park Dentistry, and how these procedures can help you enjoy 2021 with a smile!

Cosmetic Dentistry Options: The Six to Fix!

Although “cosmetic dentistry” is sometimes written off as strictly appearance-based dentistry, in fact it is something of an umbrella term. Cosmetic Dentistry encompasses multiple procedures, which are performed for a wide variety of different purposes. These purposes, (while cosmetic in nature) can improve one’s oral heath, and overall quality of life, not to mention boost self-confidence.

In the section below, we list six different cosmetic dental options, and how they can help enhance and improve your smile.

1. Professional Teeth Whitening

As you may have read in our previous blogs, professional teeth whitening is a relatively simple procedure that is performed to diminish any staining or discoloration that your teeth may have. As we age, our teeth sustain a certain amount of wear tear over the years which will give them a worn-down, dull appearance.  However, by having your teeth professionally whitened, you can reverse this process and restore your smile to its youthful glory!

Related Article: Brighten Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening

2. Invisalign Invisible Braces

As one of the premier services provided by Overland Park Dentistry, Invisalign is an innovative new technology that has changed many of the tried-and-true methods in both dentistry and orthodontics.  Invisalign are transparent custom fitted aligners that are designed to straighten and ultimately realign your teeth. The purpose of the Invisalign device is not only to improve the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, but also to correct any jaw alignment issues or irregularities, such as underbite, overbite, crossbite, and more.

Related Article: Invisible Braces: Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club

3. Porcelain Veneers

Despite a seemingly simplistic appearance, dental veneers are designed for the complex task of not only creating a seemingly pristine smile, but to simultaneously shield your teeth from hazardous outside elements as well. Appearing as a clear, soft, porcelain covering, veneers can be fitted on your upper and lower teeth, thereby creating a sort of protective skin that surrounds the outer layer of your teeth.

Related Article: Don’t Hide Your Smile: Smile BIG with Porcelain Veneers

4. Dental Implants

While not a treatment that is typically associated with cosmetic dentistry, it’s obvious that implants can provide significant cosmetic improvement to your smile if you are missing a tooth. Typically made from titanium, dental implants are screw-like devices which are attached to the crown via a connector and can be designed to support single or multiple crowns, ultimately resulting in a sturdy replacement that looks and functions like natural teeth.

Related Article: Tooth Replacement with Dental Implants

5. Dental Crowns

Dental crowns (or fillings) are not necessarily applied for strictly cosmetic purposes; however, you cannot deny the cosmetic benefits that a dental crown can provide. As you probably know, a crown is a composite cap that is fitted over a damaged or decayed tooth after it has been treated and sealed; this completes treatment of a large cavity, root canal or dental implant. Designed to resemble the tooth’s previous appearance, a crown is created to restore the tooth cosmetically, and protect it from incurring any future damage.

Related Article: Reasons You May Need a Dental Crown

6. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is an easy and relatively inexpensive procedure in which a composite resin is applied to a damaged or decayed tooth, ultimately to repair and restore the tooth to its former self. While bonding is generally used to repair chips and cracks in teeth, it can also be done to fill in troublesome gaps, close spaces between teeth, and reshape teeth.

Related Article: Teeth Bonding: What You Need to Know!

A New Year, A New You!

With an entire new year in front of us, 2021 has the potential to be whatever you want it to be! So, if you find yourself feeling self-conscious about your smile, why not make this the year for a change?

Please contact our offices at Overland Park Dentistry, so we can help keep you smiling all year long!

Local dentist, Dr. Charles R. Kimes, DDS, and his team at Overland Park Dentistry look forward to having the opportunity to care for you and your family with preventative, restorative or cosmetic dentistry. To schedule your dental appointment with your Overland Park Dentist, contact us at our south Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or our north Overland Park office at (913) 341-2380.

Invisible Braces: Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club

Cosmetic Dentistry,

Alternative Methods

For many years, traditional braces were the primary means of realigning and straightening one’s teeth.  And while the tried and true metal braces are still frequently utilized, in recent years several alternative methods have emerged and have since changed the way a smile can be realigned, to improve its functionality and appearance.  

As perhaps one of the most renowned names within the realm of cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign has been providing patients from all across the world with beautiful smiles, while simultaneously giving traditional braces a run for their money!

With the soaring success of Invisalign, a number of similarly designed products have appeared in the years that have followed, with Smile Direct Club (SDC) as its primary opposition. However, it is important to realize that Invisalign and SDC are two separate products, that while similar, can produce quite different results! Therefore, in the columns below, we will break down some of the differences between two products and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club: How They Differ?

As similarly designed devices, both Invisalign and Smile Direct are transparent aligners that are designed to be worn daily over your teeth, for the purpose of realigning them. This not only creates a smile that is straighter and more aesthetically pleasing, but one that is healthier and more effective as well!

However, the major difference between Invisalign and SDC is not only in the aligners themselves, but rather how the realignment process is performed.

  • At Overland Park Dentistry, Invisalign is one of the cosmetic treatments we offer, in which digital impressions are made of your teeth, allowing for custom aligners to be fitted to your teeth with pinpoint accuracy. Over the next 6 to 18 months, (depending on each individual case) Dr. Kimes and his team will work closely with you to monitor your progress and ensure that you achieve the desired effect.
  • Juxtaposing this, SDC is a remote process, in which you would apply for the procedure online, then visit your closest SmileShop to have your teeth scanned to determine your candidacy requirements. Unlike Invisalign however, one you have received your mail order aligners, you will not be under the supervision of trained professionals and will be required to manage the process in its entirety on your own, thus creating a much different experience.

Related Article: Confidence is Key: Smile with Invisalign

Smile Direct Club: Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages: Despite a certain amount of negative media coverage generated by the product, SDC has been praised for its economically friendly price values, which has allowed those with a limited budget to afford the product with relative ease. Another positive aspect of Smile Direct is as its name implies, the aligners can be easily purchased online and sent directly to you without requiring you to make a single dental appointment.

At Overland Park Dentistry we certainly love to see our patients’ smiling faces as often as possible; however, in the busy world we live in today, we can certainly understand that taking the time to come in for a dental appointment isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

Disadvantages: Make no mistake, realigning your teeth is a tedious procedure and if you choose to tackle this process without professional supervision, there is always the possibility that things might not go as planned. Although successful in many cases, many past users of SDC products have also encountered a multitude of issues such as the aligners compressing their teeth and causing their gums to bleed, or in more extreme cases; forcing the user’s jaw to align improperly, thus impairing their ability to chew or even bite down. With numerous instances of former users claiming that SDC aligners actually harmed their teeth as well as exasperated dentists and orthodontists reporting their attempts to correct the damage that these products have purportedly caused, there’s little wonder as to why SDC aligners remain shrouded in controversy.

Invisalign: Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages: While the arrival of SDC may stolen some of its thunder, Invisalign continues to remain a hot commodity both inside and outside the dental community despite being initially introduced back in 1999. Perhaps the most obvious benefits offered by Invisalign, are the aligners uncanny ability to significantly improve the patient’s smile with while providing the most noninvasive experience possible, and that is exactly what you will get!

Invisalign’s clear and easy-to-remove aligners cause extraordinarily little discomfort, and are essentially invisible, thereby sparing users from any sort of embarrassment while simultaneously correcting their teeth. By opting to receive Invisalign, you will be treated under the guidance of highly trained professionals, who will work to ensure that you receive the treatment and results that you desire.

While SDC can be successful, Invisalign WILL be successful and will not present many of the same problems that have plagued SDC users in the past.

Related Article: Brace Yourself with Invisalign TEEN

Disadvantages: By using professional-grade dental materials in a licensed practitioner’s office, Invisalign is clearly a superior product when compared to SDC aligners. However, one drawback is that Invisalign does require the patient to make regular visits to the dentist’s office. As mentioned previously, a major part of Invisalign’s success, is the fact that it is performed under a professional’s supervision. Therefore, to ensure the success of the treatment, it is necessary that you visit your dentist’s office at least once every six weeks, so that your dentist may record your process and make any adjustments as needed.

Although there are numerous payment plans available depending on one’s insurance provider, it is also important to note that Invisalign will cost more than SDC due to services and quality of materials used. While this has been a deal breaker for some, keep in mind that by selecting the lesser quality SDC treatment, you may actually end up paying more should the treatment go awry and fail to produce the desired results!

Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club: The Choice is Yours!

Overland Park Dentistry Offers Invisalign for Adults and Teens

Obviously, the decision is ultimately yours to make, and while we at Overland Park Dentistry do certainly believe that Invisalign is a safer and smarter option when compared to Smile Direct Club, the most important thing to us is that you are able to receive the results that you want!

If you are unhappy with your smile or have any questions about realignment options, feel free to contact our offices and as always, keep on smiling! 

Local dentist, Dr. Charles R. Kimes, DDS, and his team at Overland Park Dentistry look forward to having the opportunity to care for you and your family with preventative, restorative or cosmetic dentistry. To schedule your dental appointment with your Overland Park Dentist, contact us at our south Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or our north Overland Park office at (913) 341-2380.

Smile Bright with Invisalign Invisible Braces

Cosmetic Dentistry,

invisalign-invisible-braces

Invisalign Invisible Braces: A New Option!

You can tell a lot about a person from their smile; so what does your smile say about you? As perhaps one of the most basic ways of expressing one’s self, a person’s smile, is a central part of one’s personal identity and often something people take pride in. Unfortunately, if there are irregularities or blemishes in a person’s smile, it can also be a source of embarrassment and anxiety and may even affect their self-esteem.

While traditional dental braces have become something of a hallmark among American teenagers to correct misaligned teeth, for adults looking to correct this issue, metal braces may not seem like the ideal solution. However, with the emergence of Invisalign technology, folks in both the U.S. and abroad now have an alternative option in improving the quality of their smile.

 

Invisalign Invisible Braces: “Invisa what?!”

As arguably the most popular and sought-after treatment in the realm of cosmetic dentistry, the term Invisalign has quickly become synonymous with cosmetic dentistry, often serving as the poster child representing cosmetic dentistry as a whole.  Therefore, it should come as little surprise that since its inception, the technology for Invisalign invisible braces has received critical acclaim among both practitioners and patients alike, and only continues to receive praise as time goes on!

 

What is Invisalign?? And How does it work??

As an alternative to the standard dental braces, Invisalign is a transparent custom-fitted aligner that is designed to straighten and ultimately realign your teeth. The purpose of the Invisalign invisible braces device is not only to improve the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, but also to correct any jaw alignment issues or irregularities, including: underbite, overbite, crossbite, ect. The Invisalign aligners are temporary, interchangeable aligners that are to be changed every two weeks over a period of generally six to eighteen months or more, depending on the patient’s specific needs.

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign invisible braces are easily removable aligners and require patients to make relatively few lifestyle changes. Although highly effective, standard metal braces prohibit patients from enjoying certain foods that are particularly hard, crunchy, or chewy, as the food partials may damage or get stuck in the wires or metal brackets.

Invisalign Requirements/Limitations  

To receive these coveted custom aligners, your dentist must determine whether you meet the proper candidacy requirements as Invisalign invisible braces have certain restrictions that conventional braces do not.  Although Invisalign can assist with realigning a patient’s jaw, in some cases the jaw is simply too misaligned for the aligners themselves to fix, thereby making braces the only option. Another aspect of Invisalign that you might wan to consider is that while easy to remove, there have been instances of aligners getting lost in the past. Due in part to their transparent appearance and small size, aligners may be easy to misplace and ultimately lose, thus delaying progress as well as wasting time and resources.

Related Article: Invisalign Dentist in Overland Park

What’s in a smile?

There is a lot that you can tell about a person from their smile, so what does your smile say about you? If your smile isn’t saying what you want it to, or is causing you embarrassment, then perhaps Invisalign invisible braces is the answer for you! If you have any questions about Invisalign or are interested in trying it for yourself, please contact us at Overland Park Dentistry to schedule an appointment!

 

Dr. Charles R. Kimes, DDS and his expert team at Overland Park Dentistry look forward to having the opportunity to care for you and your family with any preventative, restorative or cosmetic dentistry options for you or your family may have. To schedule your dental appointment with your Overland Park Dentist, contact us at our south Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or our north Overland Park office at 913-341-2380.