We would like to congratulate the winners of our Patient Referral Contest! The prizes were an Amazon Kindle for 1st place and a Garmin GPS for 2nd place. This contest turned out to be very popular and fun. We plan on doing it again this Fall. Stay tuned for more information if you missed the first contest, or just want to play again!
Is a Crown Right for Me?
Crowns address aesthetic needs, restore tooth function, and enhance the overall health of your mouth. In cases where teeth have large broken down fillings, a crown can protect and preserve the remaining natural tooth. To enhance your smile, a metal-free, tooth-colored crown can also replace an older metal/porcelain crown. Following root canal therapy, a crown is typically placed over the remaining tooth structure to preserve aesthetic and tooth function.
Coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine, antibiotics, and age can all darken teeth. Patients can choose from two routes to whiter teeth: at-home whitening or in-office whitening.
At-home bleaching kits use carbamide peroxide solutions to oxidize and bleach your teeth. Dr. Vallely will create customized trays for your mouth based on plaster molds of your teeth. Place the solution in these trays, then hold the tray in your mouth for the amount of time specified by your dentist. He will determine the duration of treatment. In a few weeks, return to the office for a follow-up appointment.
In-office bleaching (also called chair side, light-activated, or one-hour bleaching) uses hydrogen peroxide gels and a heat or light source., These treatments lighten your teeth by six to eight shades in one to three visits, and sometimes less. The light source can be a plasma arc lamp or a laser. Dr. Vallely applies the gel to your teeth, then shines the light source, quickening the work of the gel. When a lamp is used, three 20-minute gel applications are required. When a laser is used, the dentist treats each tooth individually.
We now have an advanced system that does not require tedious and uncomfortable heat or light application. Call us today to schedule your teeth whitening appointment. 847-392-4432
Porcelain Veneers are a thin, semi-translucent laminate permanently bonded to your teeth. While they’re not suitable for every patient, veneers are the most aesthetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions involving the front teeth, including:
• Diastemas (spaces between teeth)
• Broken or chipped teeth
• Unsightly, stained, or washed-out fillings
• Permanently stained or discolored teeth that can’t be bleached
• Crooked teeth
Advantages and Benefits of Veneers
• The procedure takes only two appointments
• A conservative amount of tooth structure is removed during the procedure
• Veneers are the most biocompatible material you can use next to the gingiva
• A healthy “natural” look is achieved; in fact, porcelain veneers are the most aesthetic restoration in dentistry
How are Porcelain Veneers done?
At your first appointment with Dr. Vallely, your teeth will be prepared for the veneers and an impression is taken. This impression is then sent to a lab where each porcelain veneer is custom-made to the dentist’s specifications. Beautiful temporaries are fabricated to simulate your new smile so you can expect to leave the first appointment looking better than when you arrived. At the second appointment, the veneers are permanently adhered to the natural teeth.