Q: What choices are available for over-the-counter teeth whitening products?

A: Over-the-counter teeth whitening products are what many people might consider to be the most affordable teeth whitening options available. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products are popular–no need for an appointment and with many affordable options. You can choose from:

• Trays or strips
• Whitening toothpaste or mouth rinse
• Gum and breath strips

All promising to whiten your teeth, it is possible to achieve some whitening results with any of these bleaching options. However, keep in mind that these methods merely remove surface stain by using lightly abrasive materials. This is true, specifically in the case of whitening toothpaste. These abrasive additives are similar to the ones found in professional polishing paste, and do not actually whiten the dentin layer of the tooth. Care should be taken when using whitening toothpastes on a daily basis, as it may begin to wear down the enamel layer, causing tooth abrasion.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening gels and solutions contain a percentage of hydrogen peroxide, that may not effectively whiten badly stained teeth. Many patients are disappointed with the minimal impact that these over-the-counter products have. We have professional strength products in the office, that can offer a significant change in the shade of your teeth. Tooth sensitivity is also a common side effect and can create problems if not managed properly. This is why it is important to be monitored by your dental professional to achieve the professional results you are hoping for. In order to get the that great result of a brighter smile, it is always best to discuss with Dr.Shlafer what whitening methods will work best for you.

 Is your smile everything you would like it to be?

Are your teeth discolored or crooked?

Does your smile match the rest of your image?

Are you ever self-conscious about your smile?

Do you find yourself no smiling in family photos, or covering your mouth when you smile or talk?

If any of these questions have stirred your interest as to what might be possible for you to improve your smile, Dr.Shlafer can help. We have many before and after pictures in the office and on our website that will show you a variety of treatment options.

We all have an image we would like to project in our business and personal lives. If your smile is not projecting the healthy, attractive, professional, and youthful image you would like, Dr.Shlafer can  help you create the smile you have always wanted. In an esthetic evaluation, he would take into account elements of the face and mouth that are attributable to naturalism, proportion, and elegance. It is his intention to share with our patients the art of a perfect smile: it is his greatest passion and work.

Come in for a complimentary smile evaluation and discuss the possibilities!

The truth is: you don’t have to go through life with an unattractive smile–we can help you achieve the smile you have always wanted!

While traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene, preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a person’s teeth, mouth, and smile. Cosmetic dentistry can be elective or desired treatments and services.

Cosmetic dentistry may provide restorative benefits. For example, when replacing old, failing mercury fillings, you now have the option to have a non metallic tooth colored filling placed to restore your tooth. This restores a tooth with materials that closely match the color of your teeth, thus maintaining the natural appearance of your teeth and smile.

Cosmetic Trends:

Technological advancements in natural-looking, tooth colored dental materials make today’s cosmetic dental treatments more durable and predictable than ever before. Additionally, Dr.Shlafer has always been conservative in his technique to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.

Cosmetic Treatments:

Inlays/Onlays: Inlays and onlays are made from porcelain or composite materials and are a long-lasting way to restore a tooth with structural damage. These are fabricated in a lab or made in our office with the use of CEREC technology that allows for completion of the restoration in one visit.

Composite Bonding: Bonding works well for chipped, broken, discolored, or decayed teeth that need repair. This type of restoration blends invisibly with the remainder of the surrounding tooth structure.

Teeth Whitening: Whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. Teeth are often stained from smoking, food, drink, or poor oral hygiene. Bleaching can be an easy way to enhance your smile.

Dental Veneers:  Veneers or porcelain laminates are adhesively bonded to the surface of a tooth to correct or repair chips,cracks, and wear or severe discoloration. Veneers may also be recommended if you have gaps between your teeth, when several teeth are done at a time, the space available can be redistributed to reshape the teeth and close the gaps.

Dental Implants: Dental implants are artificial tooth replacements that are used to compensate for tooth loss. Often the result is not only an enhanced smile, but a more youthful appearance, since missing teeth can cause the face to collapse, making you look older.

Smile Makeover: Smile makeovers involve a comprehensive assessment of your smile esthetic in order to improve your overall appearance. Typically one or more cosmetic procedures are needed to achieve the look you want.

While consulting with you about a smile makeover to improve the esthetics of  your smile, Dr.Shlafer may discover that there is a need to correct functional problems with your bite, muscles, teeth, and bone structure.

Cosmetic dentistry offers many options for people who are dissatisfied with their smile. If you are one of those people, we encourage you to come in and speak with Dr.Shlafer about the possibilities of a new look!

A kiss. A smile. Your breath. What’s most important to you? Chances are it’s good breath, especially if you are giving a kiss or a smile!

Let’s get personal. Bad breath affects how you feel about yourself, not to mention how others perceive you. In fact, you may not even know you have bad breath until a brave friend tells you.

How can you tell if you have bad breath? A simple way is to stick a clean finger in your mouth and scrape saliva from the back of your tongue. Put it on the back of your hand, wait a minute, then smell your hand. Is it something you’d want to kiss?

Check out some of these tips about the causes and cures for bad breath:

5 Common Causes of Bad Breath

1. Blame bacteria for bad breath. Bacteria live inside your mouth. These micro organisms lurk between your teeth and cover your tongue. When bacteria stagnates, they multiply and give off  a stinky odors.

2. Say “Ahhhh.” Your tonsils are a common cause of bad breath. If your tonsils are too wide and pitted, substances can collect there and create a bad odor.

3. Pungent foods and bad breath. Foods such as onion, garlic and fish can cause bad breath–even for hours after you brush your teeth.

4. Bad habits=bad breath. Any type of smoking or chewing tobacco can leave you with a nasty taste and smell in your mouth.

5. Tummy troubles. Sometimes  GI problems or low carb diets can cause bad breath.

10 Tips To Banish Bad Breath

1. Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day. Be sure to brush the back of your tongue, where you can remove smelly bacteria that causes bad breath. You can also use a tongue scraper.

2.  Floss once a day for fresh breath.  Flossing is a must-do. Flossing gets out hidden food particles and removes plaque. Flossing also helps prevent periodontal disease–another common cause of bad breath.

3. Gargle with peroxide to fight bad breath. An antibacterial mouthwash is important if you have a problem with excess plaque.

4.  Use a fluoride mouth rinse for sweeter breath.  Not only do decayed teeth hurt, they also have an odor.

5.  Drink lots of water to avoid bad breath.  Lack of fluids can lead to dry mouth which causes bad breath. Dry mouth or reduced saliva can be the result of not drinking enough fluids, mouth breathing, or using medications like antihistamines.

6. Reduce upset stomach to ease bad breath. Over the counter antacids may ease a sour stomach, which can cause bad breath. If you are milk intolerant and have GI problems, try lactose tablets.

7.  Check your sinuses: infection can cause bad breath. Bad breath can be a clue to an underlying sinus infection. Post nasal drip could be the culprit.

8.  Eat yogurt for sweeter breath. Yogurt replenishes the good bacteria in your stomach and promotes a healthier mouth.

9. Chew gum with xylitol to banish bad breath. Chewing gum makes you salivate if your mouth is dry thus causing bad breath. Saliva washes away the bacteria in your mouth.

10.  See Dr.Shlafer, at least every 6 months for a teeth cleaning and oral exam.

Finding the right cosmetic dentist requires careful consideration and not all general dentists provide cosmetic procedures. When choosing a cosmetic dentist, you are selecting a dental professional who will help you change your appearance by improving the look of your teeth and smile and with Dr. Shlafer, you have the best of both worlds!

Dr. Shlafer has extensive experience in cosmetic procedures and as your  general dentist, he already has a picture of the current status and condition of your mouth. Dr. Shlafer takes many factors into consideration  before cosmetic treatment begins which include, the condition of your teeth, the health of your gums, supporting bone structure and occlusion. Dr. Shlafer understands these factors will have an impact on the longevity of the cosmetic treatment you desire.

Some things to consider:

1. How long has the dentist been in practice?  Dr. Shlafer has been practicing dentistry in the Farmington area for 24 years now.
2. Investigate the level of cosmetic dentistry experience. Dr. Shlafer will be happy to discuss the specific details about what he can offer you during your next re-care appointment or if you are new to our practice,  it can be discussed  during a complimentary visit.
3. Are there before and after photos of previous patients to show you? Dr. Shlafer has several examples of patient photos available for you to see and help you imagine what he can do for you.
4. How extensive is the dental practice? Do they offer study models, bonding pre-views, or lab wax-ups to help you visualize what you are planning?  These services are standard for the cosmetic patient undergoing a smile make over with Dr. Shlafer.
5. What dental technologies are used in the practice to help serve your needs?  Lasers, caries detection devices, CAD/CAM restoration,and intraoral imaging are just some of the technology Dr. Shlafer offers to his patients.
6. What patient comforts are provided? Dr. Shlafer offers his patients headphones to provide calming music, oral sedation, nitrous, comfortable chairs, blankets and pillows that will make the treatment process  a more relaxing and anxiety-free experience.

Cosmetic dentistry results may vary and are dependant on the skill of the dentist. We’re here to let you know you have chosen the right place!  Dr. Shlafer is exceedingly skilled and the staff is friendly, welcoming and quick to address your concerns. Please call for your complimentary evaluation, you’ll be glad you did!

Many of us would like to look younger, feel re-freshed or just have some extra self-confidence. Our smile says so much about us. A beautiful, white smile can present you in a younger more vibrant way. Friends and family think you look great, but they can’t quite put their finger on the exact change. It’s a smile makeover!

This process improves the appearance of your smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as whitening, bonding, dental veneers, and tooth implants. There are many things to consider when changing your smile such as your facial appearance, skin tone, hair color, teeth (color, width, length, and shape) gum tissue and lips to develop your ideal smile. Smile makeovers are done for many reasons and customized according to your unique considerations.

What is it that you like or dislike about your smile or teeth?

Some of the aspects of your smile Dr.Shlafer can review with you that could be improved upon are:

1. Tooth color: When considering the color of your teeth, keep in mind that dark or discolored teeth may suggest an aged mouth. Silver amalgams fillings that could be replaced with natural tooth colored composite restorations. Whitening is another option that may also improve the color of stained or dull teeth. Tooth color is also important during the evaluation and preparation for porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, and bonding. Dr.Shlafer is skilled at finding the right balance between finding you a brighter, whiter smile and maintaining a natural look.
2. Alignment and Spacing: Teeth that are crooked, overlapping, or have gaps between them can be straightened and aligned, when necessary through orthodontics. This will allow the proper spacing for your new crowns or porcelain veneers.
3. Missing Teeth: One or more missing teeth can negatively affect the appearance of your smile–as well as affect your bite and increase your risk of tooth decay. Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, bridges, or partial dentures.
4. Harmony and Balance: Uneven, chipped, and cracked teeth can be cosmetically bonded to improve appearance. A gummy smile can be re-contoured to help improve the overall look of your smile.
5. Fuller Lips, Smile and Cheeks: An unshapely or aging face can be improved or rejuvenated with certain procedures in the smile makeover category.

Dr.Shlafer will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan designed to achieve exactly what you want from your makeover.  Get the smile you’ve always wanted, call for your complimentary smile evaluation today!

Many people are unhappy  with their smile and the impact it has on the image they want to project. Here’s some simple questions to help you focus on some areas you may want to improve.

• Do you have crooked teeth?
• Do you have noticeable spaces between your teeth?
• Are you missing any of your teeth?
• Are your teeth discolored?
• Do your teeth have bonding that has discolored over the  years?
• Do your teeth look short or worn flat?
• Do your back teeth that show, look gray or black because of silver  mercury fillings?
• Do you feel like you show to much gum when you smile?
• Are your gums a healthy pink, or are they red and puffy?

Take a closer look:

• Does your smile match the rest of your image?
• Are you self-conscious about your smile?
• What do other people notice about your smile?
• What would you like to change about your smile?
• Do you find yourself not smiling in photos, or covering your teeth with your hand?

We all have an image we want to project in our business and personal lives. If any of the above questions have stirred your interest in what might be possible for your smile, it’s time for a complimentary smile evaluation.

Cosmetic dentistry, also called aesthetic dentistry, can be described as any one or more dental treatments that improve the beauty of your smile.

Cosmetic dentistry can include a variety of  techniques, such as re-contouring your teeth or gums to placing veneers or crowns on a number of teeth. In order to have the best results possible, advanced skills that utilize the most progressive dental techniques and state of the art equipment are essential to your success.

Your comfort and individual needs are of the utmost importance to us. Dr. Shlafer and the entire staff always go the extra mile to make sure your visit is a whole new dental experience!  Below are some of the most common cosmetic procedures we perform daily in our office:

VENEERS: Porcelain laminate veneers. This is literally a covering placed over the teeth to enhance or correct their appearance. Veneers are used to close spaces, increase size, change color, or straighten the teeth. Veneers are an exciting option that impacts very little of your natural tooth structure.

CROWNS: Crowns are used to restore both anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth that have been broken or are at high risk of doing so.  One of the many reasons a crown is needed, is when an older, large silver filling breaks down. There are a variety of  materials used to construct  crowns. Dr. Shlafer will discuss with you which type of crown is best for your situation.

Tooth Colored Fillings: Today’s advanced dentistry allows Dr.Shlafer to use  a filling material that offers the  combination of beauty as well as strength when filling teeth.  This procedure may include removing old silver mercury fillings that have darkened or fractured over time, and restoring the tooth with a white filling material, returning it to it’s original appearance!

WHITENING: Bleaching your teeth can be one of the easiest, yet most gratifying procedures we perform for our patients. We are please to offer different choices for whitening procedures which are customized for each person’s wants and needs.

What’s keeping you from achieving that whiter and brighter smile you’ve always wanted?

    FOR  BLOG SUBSCRIBERS ONLY!

Have you or someone you know been waiting to whiten your teeth? Well, here is your opportunity! The Britesmile in office whitening procedure is completed in just one visit and you leave with a bright new smile! Not a subscriber? No problem! Sign up now and don’t miss the chance to add some sparkle to your holiday season!

Quantities are limited–Call today–We have arranged for special bleaching appointment days!

Elisabeth won Dr. Roman Shlafer’s Teeth Whitening Contest.  She bleached about 10 years ago but since that time, her teeth have discolored. She is very excited to have this opportunity to whiten her smile and can’t wait to see the results! Stay tuned. We will be following her progress.