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If you are interested in professional in-office teeth whitening, you probably have questions. Read this article on dental care issues and find the answers to some of the most common questions about this treatment.

Sedation dentistry is a practice that allows dentists to relieve their patients’ anxiety without having to induce sleep. Sedation is given in addition to anesthesia and creates a relaxed atmosphere during which the patient is awake but not really aware of the dental work being performed.

This article describes who the best candidates for dental implants might be and which people do not need them. If you have ever considered a dental implant, now may be the time to make an informed decision.

When considering teeth whitening, there are so many questions to ask. Some of the most frequently asked questions include why teeth get yellow, how teeth whitening is done, if it is safe, and how much it costs.

Here you will find answers to many frequently asked questions relating to restorative dentistry and porcelain veneers. Find out if your insurance may cover restorative care and learn about how relatively easy it is to afford this procedure.

Cosmetic dentistry not only improves your looks, but your overall oral health. Cosmetic dentistry is now more affordable than ever. Find out here if cosmetic dentistry is right for you.

It comes as no surprise to say that your smile is the most telling part of your face. It can communicate friendliness, youth, happiness, and help create a great first impression in both professional and personal situations. So what does one do with embarrassing teeth, or an otherwise less-than-perfect smile? With advances in the technology behind cosmetic dentistry, it is now possible to recreate and beautify your smile, restoring the luster of your teeth, and self-confidence, in the process. Dr. Samson offers procedures such as teeth whitening in Miami to help create beautiful smiles for his patients.

What is Smile Design?

For those dissatisfied with the current state of their smile, cosmetic dentistry can help. A simple consultation with a dental professional can yield a thorough assessment of what works about your smile, and perhaps more importantly, what can be improved. Discoloration of the teeth, excessively short or long teeth, chipping, gaps and spaces, crooked teeth, overlapping or crowding teeth, uneven teeth - all of these are unsightly conditions that cosmetic dentistry can improve and eliminate. When you work with a cosmetic dental professional, they will assist you in the design of a new and improved smile, often as a first step in the dental procedure. The cosmetic dentist will work with you, so that in the end, expectations match up with results. Since the procedures are about aesthetics and the improvement of self-esteem more often than not, success is defined in most cases by the happiness and satisfaction of the patient. Cosmetic dentists will work with patients to assess exactly what kind of improvements are desired, and then work towards success by implementing a variety of procedures. These might include teeth bleaching, bridges, and even orthodontic treatment. Many cosmetic dentists will take smile design options even further, and assess facial shape, what image the patient is looking to project and age, when working to design the perfect smile.

Normally, the dental implant treatment procedure involves two phases. In the first phase, your mouth and teeth are completely examined with the help of your dental and medical history, and then by a periodontist who specializes in gum disease (this can also be done by a surgeon who performs oral surgery). A CT scan and x-rays are produced to study your bone density and the shape of the jaw. The placement of the implant or of the artificial tooth depends on your health and the number of teeth. Phase two is the procedure itself. During the procedure, the patient is given a slight sedative before the surgery. When the sedative is doing its job the surgery begins.  An incision is made in the gums where the implant has to be placed. After this, the implant, made of titanium or titanium alloy, will be placed in the exposed jawbone. Titanium, being an inert metal, is considered to be the best choice for a dental implant as it is a well-accepted solution by the body as it fuses well into the jawbone without producing any side effects. At the end of the process, the wound will be closed for healing. After the placement, your gums and any debris will be prevented from entering the implant by the use of a cover screw. Three months is required for healing of the lower jaw placements and six months for upper jaw. After healing, another surgical procedure, will then uncover your implant.  If you are a person without any complications, this can be easily performed. However, if you have any health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gum disease or if you smoke, or use radiation therapy in the neck or head, your dental implant will have to be closely monitored during the healing process. Dr. Stephen A. Samson offers dental implants in Miami for patients who are missing one or more teeth.

The temporo-mandibular joint, or TMJ for short, is the name of the joint where the lower jaw, or mandible, joins the temporal bone of the skull, directly in front of the ears at the sides of the head. Similar to the knee joint, a small bit of cartilage separates these bones. Throughout the course of a normal day, we use the TMJ joint hundreds of times, each time we chew, talk, swallow, etc. With this many important, frequent, and easily taken for granted motions, the TMJ, a complex joint to say the least, absorbs perhaps more use and movement than any other joint in the human body. Miami TMJ treatment is available at The Dental Office of Stephen A. Samson, D.M.D. for patients who are suffering from the painful side effects of TMJ disorder.

TMJ Symptoms

Due to the frequency of use with this joint, patients experiencing trouble or discomfort in this area will find a great deal of potential pain on a consistent basis. Related to problems with the TMJ, patients may experience neck and head pain, locking of the jaw, difficulty in opening the jaw, ear pain or ringing, sore jaw muscles, biting problems, swelling on one or both sides of the face, trouble swallowing, potentially frequent head and neck aches and clicking or popping noises during chewing or biting. As is the case with any joint, operating under the same laws that govern a lever and a fulcrum in the study of physics, a tremendous amount of force is applied to the surface of the joint, and consequently, to whatever is being chewed. In order to manage normal wear and tear on the joint, cartilage inside the joint is supposed to provide a smooth surface to lessen friction and create a healthy jaw function. Whenever this disc of cartilage is somehow displaced, the patient may feel pain in the joint, and complain of any of the symptoms listed above. Additionally, there are a number of muscles that aid in jaw function, lessening the effect of repeated wear and tear on the jaw, which also may experience soreness and tension. For patients who grind their teeth at night, clench the jaw frequently, chew gum habitually or experience higher levels of consistent stress, the rate at which the TMJ is in use may be higher, and consequently there is often a much higher potential to experience problems in the jaw area.

TMJ Treatment

There are many solutions to problems with TMJ, including a soft food diet to allow for rest in the jaw area, ceasing to chew gum, avoiding tensing of the jaw, stress management and reduction and mouth guards at night for those who chronically grind their teeth. Patients who experience far greater degrees of pain should consult their dentist, who may find it necessary to recommend a consultation with an oral surgeon to explore solutions that are more advanced.

Cosmetic dentistry is making headway in providing relief to curious and anxious patients. Everyone realizes the importance of a beautiful smile. However, there are many unfortunate patients who are too afraid to get their teeth problems fixed or feel the treatment is too expensive. Their teeth can be stained, chipped, broken, or irregular in shape, size, and alignment. Quick, painless, and cost-effective solutions to these types of problems are available through advanced treatments such as porcelain veneers in Miami.

What are porcelain veneers?

One of the most effective cosmetic dentistry solutions available today is the placement of porcelain or dental veneers. Veneers are basically shells made out of porcelain. The shells are bound to the existing teeth to cover existing cosmetic teeth issues. The process is safe and effective. Many major and minor cosmetic problems can be solved using this process. You only have to visit your dentist a few times to have your porcelain veneers placed.

How are porcelain veneers applied?

On the first visit, the surface of your teeth is treated to suit the placement of the shells. The dentist will remove just enough enamel to ensure a perfect fitting veneer. On the second visit to the dentist after the veneers have been fabricated, the veneers are placed on the surface of your teeth. Dental veneers are capable of remedying a number of problems which can potentially impair your smile. The veneers are crafted to be virtually undetectable to the untrained eye. Porcelain veneers are also extremely durable. They provide a long-lasting solution for an array of common cosmetic concerns, including discoloration, chips, gaps, and misaligned teeth. While veneers can be costly compared to other cosmetic dental procedures, they are a wise long-term investment for anyone who is looking to completely transform their smile.

Restorative dentistry refers to the crown and bridgework performed by a dentist in the interest of replacing or reconstructing decayed or damaged teeth. Typically, a crown is used when a single tooth has been damaged and needs to be replaced or otherwise repaired, in order to return it to its original form. On the contrary, a bridge is used to repair and restore one or more teeth. With the use of dental resins, these replacement techniques are permanent, as the crown or bridge is cemented in place in the mouth. Miami dentist, Dr. Stephen Samson offers an array of reconstructive procedures designed to restore the health and function of even the most damaged smiles.

Restorative Dentistry Techniques

While cosmetic dentistry aims to improve the appearance of damaged smiles, restorative dentistry generally involves the use of procedures whose aim is to restore the function of problematic teeth, which may be lost, decaying, or otherwise damaged. The techniques are varied, and include dentures, crowns, bridges, veneers, bonding and bleaching. Crowns involve a procedure wherein a metal understructure is cast and applied and then contoured to fit the structure of the mouth. After this, a porcelain powder is mixed with water and used to create a copy of the original tooth. The porcelain impression of the tooth is fused to the metal understructure, shaped and contoured in the appropriate fashion, and then permanently cemented into place. All of this typically takes place over a few visits to the dentist (sedation dentistry is available for patients with dental anxiety). A fixed bridge, another form of restorative dentistry, is a prosthetic form that covers whatever area in the mouth is missing one or more teeth. Again, new teeth are formed using an impression, shaped in a lab, and then set into place in the mouth, abutting other teeth.