From Chipped to Confident – Christine’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Christine has been a long-time patient of Dr. Elizabeth Eggert, for nearly 15 years.  She was bothered by chipping on her front teeth and had noticed it getting worse over the last few years.  She wondered what could be done.  She was hoping the teeth could be smoothed, but that would have made her front teeth look too short.  She wondered if Dr. Elizabeth could add filling material to the chipped area, but unfortunately, Christine’s tooth positions caused her to bite too heavily on the front teeth and that kept them at risk of chipping, even with a repair.

What was recommended?

Dr. Elizabeth explained that until the teeth were in better positions, the chipping would continue.  She recommended Christine consider Invisalign to move her teeth, which would then keep them from chipping.  Christine underwent the Invisalign Records Process.  Through this process, we realized that Chrisine would develop spacing between her teeth as her teeth were moved into a position where they wouldn’t hit too hard against each other.  Therefore, Dr. Elizabeth recommended 4 upper anterior veneers to help change the tooth shapes and sizes and also repair the chipping.  These restorations would be completed after the teeth were moved with Invisalign.  Christine also mentioned that she was unhappy with the color of her lower teeth and wanted to whiten so Dr. Elizabeth talked to her about all of her bleaching options.

What did Christine want?

Christine’s main objective was to fix the anterior front teeth that were chipped and straighten her lower front teeth as well.  She understood how her current bite was causing the chipping and understood the need for tooth movement.  She liked the idea of Invisalign since having metal in her mouth didn’t appeal to her.  As for bleaching, Christine elected to try Crest over-the-counter white strips and those worked well for her, although they caused slight tooth sensitivity.  Christine wasn’t too sure she wanted to commit to 4 upper anterior veneers, but understood that there were limitations to what Invisalign could do alone because she was able to view the ClinCheck simulation of her tooth movements.  She was ready to talk about a more comprehensive treatment approach and agreed to treatment.

What was involved?

Dr. Elizabeth recommended that Christine start with Invisalign in order to improve her crowding as well as give her tongue and airway more space.  Invisalign would be able to broaden and widen her smile so she wouldn’t have to do a full mouth of veneers or crowns to get the look she was hoping for.  Christine’s tooth movements also evened out spacing for her eventual porcelain veneers.

Examples of Invisalign Aligners

After only 11 months of Invisalign, Christine was ready to plan for her restorations.  Before starting the final planning stage, Dr. Elizabeth performed an equilibration for Christine to even out her biting contacts.  In the end, Christine agreed that by doing 4 veneers, the spacing could be more evenly distributed, giving her the look she wanted.  

 

What does Christine think?

Before the procedures Christine thought that Invisalign would be an easy alternative to metal braces.  Christine wanted to preserve what her teeth looked like before and was unsure if this procedure would allow for that.  She reports “I am very happy with how the veneers look!” and she notes she likes how natural her smile is.

 

My Journey to a New Smile – Roxanne’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Roxanne has been a long time, loyal patient with us since even before Dr. Elizabeth Eggert started in 2005.  In 2013 she went through the Records Process because she wanted to address jaw pain that had been getting worse since a car accident in 1981.  She also was unhappy with her tooth wear.  Dr. Elizabeth used models, photos, and x-rays of Roxanne’s teeth along with our thorough muscle and joint evaluation to present Roxanne with the current health of her teeth, gums and the function of her jaw and muscles.  The details of the initial records process revealed that Roxanne would benefit from splint therapy in order to help her jaw and tooth pain.  Because of the tooth wear on her front teeth, Roxanne was hitting her back teeth very hard, especially when chewing, causing her muscles and joint to become overworked.  An anterior deprogrammer was recommended for her splint therapy, then veneers were recommended to change the length of her front teeth in order to eliminate the interferences of her back teeth.

What did Roxanne want? 

Roxanne’s main objective was to be pain free and have a fuller, brighter smile.  Roxanne underwent splint therapy with an anterior deprogrammer, but it wasn’t quite enough to get her completely pain free.  She was “pain better,” but not “pain free.”  The stress in Roxanne’s life compounded her pain and it took many years, including work with an orthodontist, a neurologist, an acupuncture specialist, as well as decreased stress in her life to get her to a stable enough position to address her cosmetic concerns.  

Roxanne wondered if bleaching alone would give enough improvement to her smile so she started with Zoom whitening.  Unfortunately, although Zoom helped whiten her smile, it wasn’t to the extent she was looking for.  Plus, whitening alone couldn’t lengthen her front teeth in order to eliminate the interferences in her bite and keep her pain stable.

Therefore, Roxanne was ready to talk about a more comprehensive treatment option for her teeth.  Dr. Elizabeth recommended that Roxanne start with Invisalign in order to improve her crowding and gum tissue levels as well as give her tongue and airway more space.  Invisalign would be able to broaden her smile so she wouldn’t have to do a full mouth of veneers or crowns to get the look she was hoping for.  

What was involved?

Roxanne underwent Invisalign treatment with the goals of improving her crowding, expanding her arch, creating space for porcelain veneers (which would introduce spacing between her teeth), leveling gingival tissue, and providing support for her joints and muscles.  

After only 7 months of Invisalign, Roxanne was then ready to plan for her restorations.  Before starting the final planning stage, Dr. Elizabeth performed equilibration to refine and finalize even contacts with her bite to keep her potential for future pain symptoms under control.  Roxanne wanted her teeth even and white and elected to restore 8 teeth on her upper arch and 6 teeth on her lower arch.  Roxanne did a lot of research before doing her veneers and wanted a “Hollywood Style” look.  The teeth were prepared for the restorations and in less than 3 weeks, Roxanne had her final results.         

What does Roxanne think of her results?

Before the procedures Roxanne was nervous about the time it took and the “permanency of it all,” yet she was very confident in Dr. Elizabeth.  In her final interview, Roxanne said “Dr. Elizabeth told me exactly what would happen, what I should expect, and there were no surprises.  The timeline was just as discussed.”  She also said, “My jaw feels great and my new smile is good.  It’s what I was expecting.”  She would definitely recommend the treatment to others and says that it is a team effort and you have to do everything that is expected of you for the best results.  Roxanne knows that having a better smile is fantastic.  “My smile is pretty important.  If you look better, you feel better!”  

Roxanne was also so kind to write a 5-Star Google Review of our practice and noted “Dr. Elizabeth and I completed a 9 month process of realigning my bite and correcting my dysfunctional jaw.  Along with a complete restoration of my upper and lower teeth.  The results were everything I had hoped for.  I appreciate her knowledge and dedication everyday when I look at my new smile!”  Thank you Roxanne!  You truly are a treasure for us!  We look forward to reading other 5-Star Google Reviews from our patients.  Submit yours today! 

Teeth Bleaching vs. Veneers

By: Dr. Elizabeth Egger

If you’re a coffee-lover or a wine connoisseur, you’ve probably considered a couple teeth-whitening solutions before. In fact, there are so many foods and drinks that can stain our teeth, you’d be hard pressed to find a person who wasn’t interested in making their smile whiter and brighter! 

If at-home treatments like whitening toothpastes and whitening strips aren’t giving you the results you’re looking for, you might want to consider an in-office whitening treatment. When it comes to choosing between bleaching your teeth and having veneers made, however, there’s a lot to consider. The option that’s best for you is usually based on your level of staining, your budget, and your tooth sensitivity. Here’s a little about the professional options we offer: 

Opalescence Go! 

Pros: 

  • Can take it home with you from your dental appointment 
  • Effective 
  • Inexpensive 
  • Non-invasive 

 Cons: 

  • Takes about 10 days at home
  • More sensitivity than other professional options 
  • Not effective on restorations
  • Won’t remove deep stains
  • More “gooey” to use

Zoom! Whitening 

Pros: 

  • Fast, takes 2 hours in-office 
  • Effective (8 shades whiter)
  • Less expensive than Kor 
  • Non-invasive 

Cons: 

  • Possibly more sensitivity than Kor 
  • Not effective on restorations (bonding, veneers)
  • Won’t remove deep stains

The Zoom! bleaching process is very simple. Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff’s team will first isolate your teeth, then apply peroxide gel to your teeth. A low heat light is placed close to your teeth that activates the whitening gel. You will undergo up to four 15-minute cycles during your session.

Kör Whitening 

Pros: 

  • Extremely effective (up to 16 shades whiter)
  • Non-invasive
  • Removes even tetracycline staining
  • Least amount of sensitivity 

Cons: 

  • About double the cost of Zoom!  
  • Not effective on restorations (bonding, veneers)
  • Time-consuming – sometimes requires 4 in-office sessions and time at home 

The Kör treatment was developed by Dr. Rod Kurthy in response to the lack of consistency in results of traditional whitening products, and complaints of sensitivity from patients post-treatment. This treatment is extremely effective, bleaching some patients’ teeth up to 16 shades whiter! It’s also the least sensitive option due to the science Dr. Kurthy used to develop his product, making it the perfect option for people with extremely sensitive teeth. 

The Kör treatment involves both at-home and in-office processes. After an impression appointment and two weeks prior to your in-office appointment, Dr. Jeff or Dr. Elizabeth will give you an at-home kit that includes a dental tray and a special gel. This tray must be worn overnight, every night before your appointment. The at-home treatment allows for longer exposure to the gel, resulting in even whiter teeth.

When you come in for your appointment two weeks later, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff’s team will apply a breathing gel to your teeth to finish the treatment. Sometimes a second in-office appointment is also needed, depending on the desired results. 

Veneers as a Whitening Solution

Pros: 

  • Extremely effective (you may choose your shade of white)
  • Completely masks all staining
  • Long-term results 

Cons: 

  • More costly 
  • Alters tooth structure 
  • Some tooth sensitivity 
  • Time-consuming 

Teeth bleaching works very well for lighter stains caused by food and drink. For more stubborn staining that can’t be removed by the bleaching process, you may consider getting veneers. This is the most involved whitening option of the three listed in this post. 

Veneers are a very thin ceramic shell that covers your existing tooth structure. In placing these new veneers on your teeth, you can fix the look of issues such as staining, cracked teeth, spaces, misaligned teeth, chipped teeth, and more. 

The process of getting veneers involves at least two to three visits to Eggert Family Dentistry. During the first visit, we will discuss the shape and look of your veneers and develop a plan together. On the second visit, we will prepare your teeth for the placement of the veneers by removing a thin layer of enamel. We will also take an impression of your teeth, and provide you with a beautiful temporary solution to cover your teeth over the next few weeks. Your final visit will take place two to three weeks later, during which Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert will place your brand-new veneers.

Let Eggert Family Dentistry Brighten Your Smile!

If you’re unsatisfied with the results of over-the-counter whitening treatments, call Eggert Family Dentistry at 651.482.8412 to discuss potential in-office whitening solutions and schedule an appointment. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert will be able to help you decide which option is right for you. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you’ve been dreaming of! 

Sometimes the Results are Worth the Wait – M’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

M (name omitted by request) has been a loyal patient of Eggert Family Dentistry for nearly 20 years, since even before Dr. Elizabeth’s time.  In 2013, M underwent jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic (or-thog-NATH-ik) surgery, which corrects irregularities of the jaw bones and realigns the jaws and teeth to improve the way they work.  

In December 2015, during a recare visit, he mentioned that he had to force his muscles to bite correctly and wondered if that was normal after jaw surgery.  He also noted that his teeth were jagged and did not have a clean line.  He didn’t want to think about them all the time, like when eating or when looking at himself in photos.  

At that time, M decided to undergo our records process to determine how lengthening his front teeth would help improve his bite.  While M’s bite was improved after his orthodontics and jaw surgery, there had been enough prior damage to the teeth and the joints that M still had some bite imbalances after he healed from his surgery.

After working up M’s case, Dr. Elizabeth determined that with six upper veneers to lengthen his front teeth and some minor equilibration to even out high spots in his bite, M should feel better about both how his teeth fit together and with how they look.

What did M want?

M wanted to get rid of the gap he saw between his lateral and canine incisors and he wanted no chips on the front teeth.  He wanted a whiter and brighter smile as well without all the white lines on his natural teeth.   

What was involved? 

Dr. Elizabeth started the case by mocking up the new shape of the teeth on dental models.  M really liked the result.  We started the treatment by evening out M’s bite with equilibration.  Then, impressions of his new bite were taken and sent to the dental lab so a lab wax-up could be completed.  This gave us the actual blue print for his new teeth.  In the interim, M underwent the Zoom In-Office Whitening procedure to brighten his teeth to the desired color for his new veneers.  Soon after the whitening procedure, M came for his preparation appointment and then 2 weeks later, his veneers were carefully inserted. 

What does M think? 

In his final interview, M was asked how he felt about his course of treatment and his decision to complete the veneers.  He said, “I was concerned about it being painful or that there were going to be a lot of appointments to complete the treatment.  While there were a lot of appointments, the time went quickly and it was painless.”  He is very happy with the outcome and would recommend that anyone thinking of getting veneers to just get them done!  He said it was easy to have an open dialogue with Dr. Elizabeth and it was great to have a solid plan along the way.

M did say that he hasn’t had many comments on his veneers, but he’s glad about that because he wanted everything to look very natural.     

M’s story is just one of many others who have experienced magnificent results with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert.  Veneers can yield beautiful and predictable results for accomplishing an improved smile.  At Eggert Family Dentistry, we love providing “Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles” – thanks M for trusting us to help you continue to smile big and now more confidently!

 

3 Ways to Fix a Chipped Tooth

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

A chipped tooth is no laughing matter. Depending on the severity of the break, a chipped tooth can be embarrassing and extremely painful. At Eggert Family Dentistry, we have three options for repairing a chipped tooth: bonding, veneers and crowns. Let’s take a closer look at each of these three options.

Dental Bonding

One of the biggest perks of dental bonding is the ease of the process. Dental bonding can be completed in a single appointment. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff apply a putty-like composite resin to your tooth and then sculpt and shape it before curing and hardening the material with an intense blue light. Once polished, composite bonded restorations have a smooth and shiny finish, blending in well with the natural teeth.

Dental bonding is an effective way to repair and reshape a cracked tooth and is also used to correct gaps in teeth or cover up stains. Dental bonding usually lasts for 5-10 years and is a cost-effective solution that helps restore your natural smile.

Check out Lia’s story about her experience with dental bonding here!

Veneers

Sarah's Smile After

Veneers are a stunning option for cracked teeth as well as stained, gaping, and misaligned teeth. They consist of a thin porcelain shell that covers your existing tooth. Applying veneers is a little more labor-intensive process than dental bonding and requires 2-3 visits to complete. At your first visit, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will discuss the result they hope to achieve with the veneers. Then, they prepare your teeth for the custom porcelain overlay and take an impression of your prepared teeth. This impression is then sent to a dental lab where your veneers are fabricated. In the meantime, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will fit you with an attractive temporary solution. The veneer preparation process takes 2-3 weeks. Once your custom veneers are created, you will come back into our office where we will polish your teeth and bond your veneers in place. We work hard to make sure they feel like natural teeth and that you love the results.

Take a look at Katie’s story to learn how porcelain veneers transformed her smile!

Crowns

A crown is an excellent option for repairing a severely cracked or damaged tooth. Commonly made from 100% porcelain, crowns restore the integrity of a damaged tooth more than dental bonding or porcelain veneers because they “cap” or fully encompass the entire tooth. They facilitate chewing and can be color-matched to the rest of your teeth for a flawless appearance.

Creating and placing your custom crown will take 1-2 visits with Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff. A local anesthetic will ensure your comfort while your tooth is prepared for the crown. In many cases, we can take a CEREC scan of your tooth and fabricate your custom crown in our office the same day! Sometimes, however, a lab fabricated crown may still be the better choice for your situation. If that is the case, we will take an impression of your tooth and surrounding teeth and send this impression into one of our trusted labs where they will fabricate your custom crown. This process usually takes 2 weeks. In the meantime, we will fashion a temporary crown for you to wear.

When we fit your crown, we use a cement bonding agent to ensure that your crown stays securely in place. Crowns usually last 10-20 years with proper care.

Read Mary’s story to learn how crowns dramatically improved her smile!

Do you have a chipped tooth that needs to be repaired? Give us a call at 651.482.8412 to make an appointment and discuss your options!

5 Ways to Improve Your Smile This Year

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

We’re already a few months into this new year. Maybe you’ve intended to tackle cosmetic dentistry work in the past few years but haven’t made it a priority. Make 2021 the year! At Eggert Family Dentistry, we offer many cosmetic dentistry procedures. Here are a few of our services that we think might pique your interest:

Teeth whitening: Over time, teeth become stained from certain foods, beverages, medications and smoking. Eggert Family Dentistry has many great options to help restore your pearly whites. We provide professional-grade strips and whitening trays that are more effective and gentler on your teeth and gums than their over-the-counter counterparts. Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff also offer the Zoom and KöR Whitening procedures. Zoom is performed in a single, two-hour appointment. We apply a professional whitening gel to your teeth and activate the gel with an LED light which allows the gel to better penetrate the teeth. KöR bleaching is the most effective whitening system on the market and is backed by scientific research to bleach even the previously-thought-impossible-to-bleach tetracycline stained teeth.

Invisalign®: A low-profile alternative to metal braces, Invisalign uses retainer-like tooth aligners made from BPA-free medical-grade polyurethane thermoplastic to move teeth. While this option isn’t for everyone, it can be an excellent choice for people with mild to moderate gaping or crowding and helps to discreetly straighten your smile.

Read a couple of Eggert Family Dentistry Invisalign® success stories here!

Veneers: Porcelain dental veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells that cover the front of teeth. Veneers dramatically transform chipped, misaligned, discolored or worn teeth. They can also be used to close unsightly gaps. Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff custom make dental veneers that compliment your skin tone, facial features, and personality and feel just like natural teeth. This process takes two or three visits and the results last for many years.

Read Katie’s Story here to learn about the transformational power of veneers!

ICON: Sometimes teeth develop white or brown spots. This can happen for several reasons. If your teeth were exposed to too much fluoride as a child, you eat foods that stain teeth or smoke cigarettes or in some cases, if you suffer from Celiac Disease, these unsightly spots may occur. Fortunately, Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff offer a minimally invasive treatment that reduces the appearance of these spots. During an ICON treatment, Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff infuse teeth with a resin that lightens teeth without the need to reshape or remove enamel in any way.

Read Chauncy’s story here to learn more!

Tooth replacement: Losing permanent teeth can happen from trauma to the jaw, from gum disease or from tooth decay. Regardless, it can be an awkward situation and one that most people want to remedy as quickly as possible. If you’re dealing with missing permanent teeth, you have some excellent options. These options include dental implants, bridges, partial dentures or full dentures.

Dental implants: With dental implants, a titanium post is fixed into the bone where the tooth was and the jaw bone grows back around the implant, holding it firmly in place. Then, an abutment and crown are fitted on top of the implant.

Bridges: Just like it sounds, bridges “bridge” a gap caused by missing teeth and use the neighboring teeth as anchors. These false teeth can stand in for one or more missing teeth. However, bridges can cause stress on neighboring teeth and food can get trapped underneath them, making cleaning more difficult.

Partial dentures: Partial dentures or “partials” replace one or more teeth. These false teeth attach to a plastic base and often have a metal framework. They are fairly comfortable and easy to remove for cleaning.

Full Dentures: Full dentures are full sets of upper and/or lower artificial teeth that are suctioned into place and removable for cleaning. While they can take some getting used to, they start to feel more normal over time. Full dentures will eventually become loose as bone mass degrades.

If you want to learn more about different tooth replacement options, read our post here!

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we have an abundance of experience and are passionate about helping our patients achieve a more confident smile. If you’re interested in learning more about which cosmetic dentistry procedure can help you achieve your goals, give us a call at 651.482.8412.

A New and Improved Smile with Veneers – Katie’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Katie came to our clinic looking for options to help improve her smile. As a child, Katie had crowding in her mouth and her recommended “orthodontic plan” at that time was to have 4 teeth pulled. Growing up in the United Kingdom, braces were not common, and as a result, she was feeling the effects as an adult – her bite didn’t match up well, she was getting gum recession, and her teeth were wearing at an accelerated pace. When Katie was 16, she was involved in a trampoline accident that led to an injury to her tongue and chipping of her lower front teeth. Katie was ready to take the steps to a healthier, more beautiful smile. She noted “I don’t look at my front teeth much, in fact I can’t see them that well when I talk. I think they should be longer. I guess I could do veneers, but I am most interested in what is the best thing I can do health-wise and what will be the most stable for the long-term?”

What was involved?

Katie and Dr. Elizabeth talked about how she could improve her smile and her function. Katie was willing to undergo orthodontic treatment, which was the best way to stabilize and improve her bite and it was also the best way to help position her teeth back to where they were before they started wearing down. Due to the wear, once Katie’s teeth were in a better position, it would be important to place restorations and build the teeth back to their original proportions. It was likely that Katie would need 2-6 veneers after orthodontics to give her a natural smile. Katie was also interested in lighter teeth so she wanted to bleach before having the veneers done. Katie patiently underwent orthodontic treatment with Dr. DeVoe for nearly 2 years before she was ready for bleaching and her veneers. After her teeth were in a better position, she underwent Zoom bleaching, and in the end, it was decided that 4 veneers could give her the look she wanted.

What does Katie think?

Katie is very happy with her new smile! In the beginning Katie said she was a little apprehensive as to what the procedures would be like. After Katie’s journey was over, we asked her what kind of advice would she give to someone considering going through this process? Katie told us “Just do it! Forget how long it takes and focus on the end results. Don’t delay and just do it!” Katie also said, “I’m so happy I got it done! I may even consider doing my canines, then I won’t have to worry about bleaching them!” Katie told us how much she appreciated the teamwork between Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. DeVoe. Katie raved about her new smile, she also said that she never realized how self-conscience she was about her smile until everything was done and she no longer had any reason to be.

 

Crowns vs. Veneers – What’s the Difference?

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Cracked, discolored, misshapen and decaying teeth can dramatically impact a person’s self-confidence. If you’re considering redoing your smile, but aren’t sure which route to go, read on! We’ll discuss dental crowns and veneers and highlight some of the differences so together, we can help you determine which option is best for you.

What are crowns?

Made from porcelain, ceramic or metal, crowns are about 1.5 mm thick and cover the entire tooth. Crowns are an excellent choice for teeth that are structurally compromised and need additional support.

What can I expect from the crown process?

If your tooth is decaying, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will start by removing the decay. Then they will reshape your tooth to create space for the crown. Next, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will take a digital image or putty impression of your prepared tooth which helps to ensure that your crown is a perfect fit. Depending on whether you’ll have your crown fabricated same-day in the office with the CEREC crown procedure or if your crown will be made at the dental lab, there will be some wait time. With a CEREC crown, you’ll go home with your final crown on the same day. With a laboratory fabricated crown, a temporary crown will be placed on your tooth initially to help protect it during the 2 weeks the crown is being made. Ultimately, your final crown is cemented into place and should last many years.

Pros and cons of crowns

Because the entire tooth is covered, the tooth is less likely to fully fracture or split than with other restorations like veneers or fillings. Porcelain crowns can look and feel good and can be color-matched to blend with your natural teeth. Crowns generally feel very natural.

Crowns do require more tooth preparation than veneers and sometimes this can put the tooth at higher risk of tooth sensitivity or nerve damage.

What are veneers?

Manufactured most commonly from porcelain, veneers are less than 1mm thick and cover the front of a natural tooth. Veneers can also be made directly from composite resin, or plastic. These typically need to be repaired or replaced more frequently than porcelain veneers.

What can I expect from the veneer process?

Similar to the crown preparation process, the veneer preparation process requires Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff to reshape your tooth to create space for the veneer. Next, a putty impression of your prepared tooth is taken which helps to ensure that your veneer is a perfect fit. While you’re waiting for your permanent veneer to be manufactured, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will place a temporary veneer on your prepared tooth to protect it. Ultimately, your final veneer is bonded to your tooth and the cement is hardened with a bright blue curing light.

Pros and cons of veneers

Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for cosmetic restorations and are a conservative way to help correct misshapen teeth. Veneers can also be color-matched so they blend seamlessly with the rest of your teeth or they can be made in a lighter shade to give you the bright smile you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’re thinking about dental restorations and would like to know more about your options, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert would love to speak with you. Call our office at 651.482.8412!

 

 

A New Smile with Veneers – Melanie’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Melanie is a long-time patient of the practice. In 2014, she talked with Dr. Elizabeth about improving the appearance of her smile. Two of her upper front teeth were shorter than she liked and she wanted to know her options for lengthening them. Dr. Elizabeth recommended doing either composite or porcelain veneers and discussed the two options with Melanie. At that time, Melanie decided to go with composite veneers, which are fabricated chairside and only require one appointment to complete. Before doing the composite veneers, Dr. Elizabeth created a wax mock-up of Melanie’s new teeth to show her what they would look like. After the composite veneers were done, Melanie was very happy with her smile and the look of her new teeth.

Melanie Before 2014

Fast forward 4 years…

Melanie is now engaged and wants to brighten her smile for her upcoming wedding. Unfortunately, composite veneers will stain over time and Melanie wanted to do more bleaching to brighten her whole smile. She wanted to know what her options were for professional whitening, as she knew that at-home bleaching wouldn’t work on her existing composite veneers. Dr. Elizabeth explained to Melanie that even professional treatments wouldn’t whiten her veneers, but there were other treatment options she could consider to achieve her desired results.

Melanie 2018 Before

What was involved?

Dr. Elizabeth developed a treatment plan for Melanie that consisted of three phases. The first was to get Melanie’s teeth into the proper position in preparation for the restorative work that would be done in the final phase. Melanie had started developing some spacing between her upper front teeth, so Dr. Elizabeth made her a retainer that was designed specifically to close this spacing. Melanie was very compliant in wearing her retainer as instructed and after four weeks, the space was closed and she was ready for the next phase of her treatment. To get Melanie’s natural teeth to her desired shade, Dr. Elizabeth recommended Zoom whitening, our in-office whitening treatment. This procedure is completed in a single session and provides fast, dramatic results. Melanie was very happy to see that the Zoom whitening system brightened her natural teeth by five full shades. Dr. Elizabeth then completed Melanie’s treatment by replacing her existing composite veneers with porcelain veneers that matched the shade of her newly whitened teeth.

Melanie 2018 After

What does she think?

Melanie said she was surprised by how quickly her treatment was able to be completed, as she had initially expected it would be a long process. She said she also felt well-informed and involved in her treatment plan.

“Dr. Eggert and her team were great about explaining the whole process and making sure I was involved throughout my treatment to make the outcome exactly what I wanted.” When asked what she would say to someone considering similar treatment, Melanie said, “I would definitely recommend talking to Dr. Elizabeth about your options! You smile every day and it’s such a great feeling to be proud of your smile.”

We are so happy that we could help give Melanie a smile she is proud to show off when she gets married next month! Congratulations, Melanie!

Take Years off Your Smile with These Successful Treatments

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

From consuming sugary foods and beverages to chewing on crunchy or tough foods, from lifestyle choices such as smoking to poor oral hygiene, year after year our teeth endure a tremendous amount of abuse. It’s not surprising then that they manifest signs of wear and tear. Here are some common issues aging teeth often encounter…and some effective solutions that Eggert Family Dentistry offers to help you regain that youthful smile.

Discoloration

People often feel self-conscious about their not-so-pearly whites and resort to closed-mouth smiles. Over time and on account of richly hued and acidic foods and beverages or smoking, white teeth often lose their luster. In most cases, teeth whitening is an effective solution, and while the results aren’t permanent, they’re easy to maintain. If your teeth are severely discolored, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff may determine that porcelain veneers are the best option for you. In this case, a thin layer of porcelain is bonded to the front of the tooth for a bright, natural transformation.

Tooth wear

General tooth wear occurs over time. This can make teeth appear shorter and uneven. Two effective methods of reshaping and reforming teeth are porcelain veneers and crowns. In some situations, enamel shaping with a dental handpiece can help smooth out jagged edges.

Tooth decay

A lifetime of consuming sugary foods, frequent snacking and inconsistent brushing and flossing all lend themselves to tooth decay, a precursor to cavities. Good brushing and flossing habits as well as prescription strength fluoride products can ward off this decay. If cavities form, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will recommend fillings or crowns to prevent this decay from reaching the nerve and to restore the integrity of the tooth.

Missing teeth

Over time, bad habits such as smoking and excessive consumption of acidic or sugary foods can lead to rotten – and eventually missing – teeth. If you have missing teeth, there are a few common dental procedures that can be used to address the issue:

Bridges

Affixed to the adjacent teeth, bridges ‘bridge’ the gap created by the missing tooth with artificial, yet natural-looking, teeth.

Implants

Most similar in appearance to natural teeth, dental implants are anchored to the jawbone and provide a solid base for supporting artificial teeth, or crowns.

Dentures

In situations where you’ve lost most or all of your teeth, dentures may be your best treatment option.

Eggert Family Dentistry is experienced in caring for aging teeth. Trust us with yours! If you would like to arrange a consult, give us a call at 651.482.8412.