“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” 

Cosmetic dentists receive years and years of training to have the ability to fabricate the “perfect” smile.  But the ultimate question is:  What is perfect?  A recent study in the Journal of the American Dental Association looked at this very question from laypeople’s perspective. 

The study focused exclusively on tooth-related factors: tooth shape, tooth size, tooth proportion, and incisor position. 

In females, we dentists aim for a more feminine smile with rounded teeth, but it turns out that laypeople disagree.  They found that laypeople did not discriminate between square, square-round, and round incisors or between canine shapes in females.  In males, on the other hand, a more square tooth shape is desired and laypeople agree.  They preferred square-round to square incisors and flat canines in males. 

Other study findings included the following:

• Most laypeople appear to prefer unworn teeth, small teeth in females, and large teeth in males.
• Most detect variations in tooth width or height among individual teeth.
• A 10° angulation of one or both front teeth  is considered less attractive than a 2° angulation.
• The majority of laypeople preferred a 1.4-mm step between the edges of upper front teeth and the teeth beside them, but they tolerated a maximum step of 2.9 mm.
• Most laypeople had a preference for no gaps and tended to notice a gap larger than 1 mm.

If you do not like your smile and are thinking about cosmetic dentistry, read on…

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but certain qualities are more esthetically pleasing according to the majority.  With that said, wouldn’t it be nice if you and your cosmetic dentist were on the same page as far as how you want your teeth to look?  With the advent of virtual smile imaging, now a computer generated smile makeover can give you a very good idea of your desired outcome.  And, you can evaluate that and make changes BEFORE treatment has begun.  Visit BirminghamVirtualSmile.com to learn more.

If virtual imaging is not enough, Greystone Smile Design actually takes it one step further.  With veneers and smile makeovers, temporary restorations have to be worn for 2-3 weeks while the permanent ones are being made.  We use these temporaries as a blue print for the final result.  These are made as close as possible to the finished product, so you have a chance to make changes prior to the permanent cementation.  If you think about it, this is the only cosmetic procedure where you actually get a “test drive” – much different than plastic surgery. 

At Greystone Smile Design, our goal is to give you the smile of YOUR dreams.  With virtual imaging and custom temporaries, YOUR beautiful smile is easily within reach!

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Invisalign

Deep Bleaching

Schedule your consultation today!

Will the treatment be painful?

 Most people experience tooth soreness for a few days after starting each new stage.  This is normal.  It is a sign that the Invisalign aligners are working, moving your teeth to their final destination.  This soreness should gradually go away a couple of days after inserting the new aligner in the series.  If it doesn’t, promptly call your doctor.

Will wearing the Invisalign aligners affect my speech?

Like all orthodontic treatments, the aligners may temporarily affect your speech, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two.  However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp or minor speech impediment caused by your aligners should disappear.

What should I do if my new Invisalign aligner doesn’t snap onto my teeth?

Minor discrepancies between the new aligner and the current tooth position are normal, since the teeth need time to conform to the new aligner position.  In the event of significant problems with aligner fit, inform your doctor.

Are there restrictions on what I can eat?

In general, no.  Unlike traditional orthodontics, you can usually eat and drink whatever you desire because you remove your aligners while eating.  Thus, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favorite foods and snacks, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. 

Is it OK to drink hot or cold beverages while wearing Invisalign aligners?

Except for cool water, we recommend that you do not drink while wearing the aligners.  This is to avoid formation of cavities and stains, or warping of the aligners with hot drinks.

Can I chew gum while wearing Invisalign aligners?

NO.  Gum will stick to the aligners.  We recommend removing your aligners for all snacks and meals.

Why do some of my aligners have bumps or ridges on them?

Depending on your specific treatment, some of the movements may require either “attachments” or “ridges” to help the aligner grip the teeth.  These bumps, or wells, are where the aligner grips the attachment the doctor places on your teeth.  The attachments are actually small pieces of plastic the doctor affixes to your teeth that are then gripped by bumps on your aligners.  The ridges are slim indentations in you aligners.  Your doctor will use one or both of these features to attempt to achieve the desired movement.

What are those blue dots on my aligners?

The blue dots are “compliance indicators” (CIs).  They are designed to fade from blue to clear with prolonged exposure to saliva.  They are a gauge of your approximate aligner wear time.  A compliance indicator keycard is provided so that you can track the color changes of the CIs.  Not all aligners have CIs.

What if I lose or break an Invisalign aligner?

In the event that an aligner is lost or broken, you should immediately inform your doctor.  Your doctor will probably tell you to start wearing your last set or next set of aligners immediately.  He or she will possibly order you a new set of aligners to replace the ones you just lost, which should arrive in a few days.

NOTE:  If you have additional questions after reading this, please consult with your doctor. 

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“Hey Doc, can you make these white spots on my teeth go away?”  Yes we can!

The term “minimally invasive” or ”minimal intervention” has been a common phrase in the medical field for some time now.  You may have heard of minimally invasive surgical procedures, including prostate surgery, hip replacements, and heart surgery, that produce less trauma, a smaller scar, and less recovery time.  Dentistry has adopted this 21st century approach as well, with a primary emphasis on the management of tooth decay.  These principles aim to identify and eliminate the risk factors, and if surgical intervention (filling) is necessary, the goal is to restore the cavity and preserve healthy tooth structure in the process. 

This idea may also be applied to cosmetic dentistry.  With advancements in technology and materials, porcelain veneers can now be prepared with little to no removal of tooth structure and with no compromise in the aesthetic result.

Cavities are an infectious disease that require three things:  a susceptible host (tooth), the presence of bacteria, and a high sugar diet.  The process is pretty simple – Bacteria break down sugars and produce acid which attacks enamel and causes a demineralization process to occur (to read about how chewing gum can reduce demineralization, click here).  Over time, this leads to decay, which is initially seen as white spots.  You may have noticed white spots after you got your braces off – same process!  It’s difficult to clean around braces, so bacteria accumulate in these hard to brush areas creating demineralization (beginning of a cavity) of enamel and…WHITE SPOTS.

Although white spots appear most commonly with the initial onset of a cavity and after braces (same process), they can also be seen with various other conditions.  These include fluorosis, hypomineralization, hypoplasia, and overbleaching.  Fluorosis is a health condition caused by a child receiving too much fluoride during tooth development, appearing as small white opaque flecks.  Hypomineralization is a decreased mineral content of certain areas of teeth which can be caused by health problems during infancy (as permanent teeth are forming).  Hypoplasia is basically interruptions in enamel formation.  All of these conditions may respond to whitening products differently, possibly causing them to stand out more. 

No need to fear because we now have the answer!  The company GC America recently came out with a product that can not only halt this process, but reverse it as well!  MI Paste or “minimal intervention” paste is a mixture of Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) and Casein Phosphopeptide (CPP) – big words!  Basically it strengthens the teeth by replenishing calcium and phosphorous levels.  It’s like vitamins for your teeth!  By using a combination of MI Paste and a whitening product (like Deep Bleaching), these spots can either be completely removed or usually enough to where they are hardly noticeable.  

At Greystone Smile Design,  we have found that MI Paste is not only great for removing white spots, but also for reducing tooth sensitivity and protecting high risk patients from getting more cavities.  The ”minimal intervention” means we can use these mineral supplements to restore the “beginning of decay” instead of having to drill and fill.

Example Case    

This patient had numerous white spots on most of her teeth.  Through minimal intervention techniques with MI Paste and take-home bleaching, she got the smile she always wanted…with no drilling and no pain!

If you suffer from white spots, this may be the treatment for you.  Ask about it today!

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Greystone Smile Design Blog

Greystone Smile Design is a state-of-the-art dental practice in the Greystone Cosmetic Center.  The office consists of cosmetic, family, and pediatric dental procedures behind the expertise of Dr. Trent Buchanan and Dr. Tom Dudney.  Services include tooth-colored fillings, teeth whitening, veneers, children’s dentistry, implants, dentures, teeth cleanings, root canals, and more.  It truly is an office for the entire family, and that’s something to smile about!

Dr. Buchanan is one of the most aspiring young dentists in the area.  He brings a wealth of knowledge in the fields of restorative dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and emergency treatment.  Dr. Buchanan recently completed the requirements for the prestigious Fellowship Award from the Academy of General Dentistry and will be recognized for his accomplishments at the July 2010 meeting in New Orleans.  Requirements consisted of 500 hours of approved continuing dental education and successul completion of a written examination.  Of the 140,000 dentist in the United States, only approximately 13,000 have earned this impressive honor.

Dr. Dudney, the present program director for the California Center of Advanced Dental Studies, brings an impressive resume relating to cosmetic dentistry.  He has maintained a successful private practice in Alabaster for almost 30 years and was recently featured on The Rick and Bubba Show for the “Fix Mama’s Mouth – Ultimate Mother’s Day Makeover” and ABC 33/40’s Extreme Makeover.  Dr. Dudney’s patients rave about their extraordinary results, but they claim it’s his kindness and caring attitude that sets him apart.

Greystone Smile Design prides itself on impeccable affability, caring availability, and advanced technology to make going to the dentist much more pleasurable.  Below is a list of services that make this “not your average dental office”:

• Extended hours on nights and weekends for your busy schedule
• Tooth-colored fillings
• Limited warranty on all major procedures
• Flat screen TVs in each treatment room for your enjoyment
• Payment Plans to help you get the treatment you deserve
• An anesthetic reversal agent so you’re not numb all day
• Intra-oral cameras for a virtual tour of your mouth
• Invisalign to straighten teeth without braces
• A new bleaching technique that is predictable and permanent
• Digital x-rays to reduce exposure to radiation

The ultimate goal at Greystone Smile Design is optimal oral health for life and creating lasting relationships in the process.  To schedule an appointment, fill out the form above or call 205-433-9452.

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Birmingham, Alabama Cosmetic Dentistry