Virginia beach Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry Blog - Dr. Michael Folck

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Braces or Dental Implants?


If you are missing a tooth, the surrounding teeth may have shifted so that they point at an angle instead of standing straight. Not only does this situation create an undesirable appearance to your smile, an angled tooth also makes it difficult to chew and speak, and the tilted tooth may cause other teeth to shift out of position. 

In this situation, the decision regarding treatment is not a clear-cut choice between braces or a dental implant. Your dentist may decide to use both treatments, but your situation must first be evaluated by the dentist.

Depending on the specific locations of the affected teeth, your dentist may need to straighten the tipped tooth with braces and then replace the missing tooth with a dental implant. 

Replacing a missing tooth is important to both the appearance and function of your teeth. Dental implants:

  • Preserve jaw bone. Tooth roots stimulate the health and growth of your jaw, and the artificial root of dental implants mimic this function.
  • Provide durability. Because dental implants are integrated with your jaw bone, the implant provides a strong surface for chewing
  • Improve smile aesthetics. Replacing a missing tooth with a permanent, natural-looking tooth results in a stunning smile.
 If you are missing a tooth, you should meet with a dentist to determine the best solution for you.
For dental implants in Hampton, Virginia, and the surrounding areas, please contact experienced Virginia cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Folck to schedule a free initial consultation.

posted by Admin at 9:32 AM 1 comments

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Invisalign vs. Braces


Many options are available to today's orthodontic patient. As either an adult or an adult seeking treatment options for your child, you may be familiar with the benefits of Invisalign, the orthodontic system that uses clear, plastic aligners to straighten teeth. 

Choosing between Invisalign and traditional braces is a process. You must first consult an experienced orthodontist who can identify your unique needs. Two factors significantly contributing to your decision will be:

  • Your unique orthodontic needs
  • Your expectations of the treatment process
Although Invisalign has been used to effectively treat a diverse range of bite problems, the system simply cannot be used in every case. Invisalign is not the best treatment for some severe cases of malocclusion and misalignment.

When choosing a treatment, consider the differences you will experience day-to-day between Invisalign and traditional braces. As part of the phases of orthodontics, you must actually wear the devices every day. A primary benefit of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable, so you can continue to enjoy your favorite foods, and brush and floss your teeth with ease; however, Invisalign involves a level of commitment on the part of the wearer. Because the aligners are removable, it can be tempting to take them out unnecessarily. For many patients, Invisalign takes a year or two. To complete your treatment on schedule, you must make a personal commitment to wearing the aligners for at least 22 hours every day.

If you are considering orthodontic treatments in Newport News, Virginia, or the surrounding areas, please contact the experienced Virginia Invisalign dentist Dr. Michael Folck to schedule a free consultation.

posted by Admin at 9:31 AM 0 comments

Sunday, May 13, 2012

What can Porcelain Veneers Fix?


Porcelain veneers are used to repair cosmetic imperfections of the teeth. Porcelain veneers improve the appearance of teeth that are:

  • Gapped
  • Chipped
  • Unevenly sized
  • Unevenly shaped
  • Misshapen
  • Stained
  • Worn down
Veneers are not a treatment for unhealthy teeth, including decayed and severely fractured teeth. Certain structural tooth defects affecting appearance require a restorative treatment such as a tooth crown.

Some people have certain teeth that are much smaller than their other teeth. Porcelain veneers may be used to make these teeth appear more proportionate to surrounding teeth. Other people experience extreme wear of the teeth; in these cases, porcelain veneers are used to conceal the wear and create a new tooth edge. In many cases, patients experience a combination of various imperfections that can be corrected with porcelain veneers.

Some patients choose to receive a single veneer to improve a specific, undesirable tooth. Other patients receive multiple porcelain veneers as part of a complete smile makeover.  When used in a smile makeover, porcelain veneers create a uniform, symmetrical smile. Teeth will have a straighter appearance, creating teeth of the same length and shape.

If you live in southern Virginia, including the areas of Norfolk , Va Beach , Hampton and Newport News, find out if porcelain veneers can improve your teeth; please contact experienced Virginia cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Folck to schedule a consultation.

posted by Admin at 9:30 AM 1 comments

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