Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so deciding to enhance it is a big deal! Teeth whitening and veneers are two popular options for brightening your pearly whites, but they work in very different ways. If you’re trying to decide which is right for you, continue reading. This guide will break down the key differences between teeth whitening and veneers to help you make the best choice for you!

If your beautiful smile has been improved with the help of veneers, you were likely already informed by your dentist that these enhancements don’t last forever. In fact, most will need to be replaced after about ten to fifteen years.  With excellent care, they may even survive up to 20 years, but ultimately, you will need to replace them at some point. Furthermore, because your dentist does need to remove a small amount of enamel to fit them in the first place, you must continue replacing them; you cannot simply go back to not having them at all as your teeth will be too vulnerable without the veneers there to protect them.

Here are a few common signs that it may be time for you to redo yours, and how you can ensure that they last for as long as possible.

If you have a slight gap between your front teeth or other minor alignment flaws, braces can straighten your teeth. However, the average orthodontic treatment takes 12 to 24 months, which can be a long commitment for small concerns. You may have another option. Porcelain veneers can provide instant orthodontics for patients with minor alignment problems. Here’s how you can have straight teeth in just a couple of appointments.

(more…)

Dentures are the tried-and-true method for rebuilding grins after partial or total tooth loss. These versatile prosthetics are customized at every stage to fit like a glove and closely resemble your natural teeth and gums. Once in place, your mouth’s appearance and functionality are simultaneously restored.

However, caring for your dentures correctly is essential to maximizing their many benefits. To keep your recently restored smile looking and feeling great, keep reading to learn about three habits you might have that could harm them!

Dentures aren’t exactly real teeth, so if you’ve damaged yours, you might be wondering how urgent the issue actually is. Here’s the short answer: broken dentures are a dental emergency! Even small chips or fractures can negatively affect your oral health, and you can’t fix it yourself with superglue. You need to get a professional on the case as soon as possible so you can eat and talk safely.

To learn more about what makes broken dentures a dental emergency and what you should do instead of DIY, keep reading.

Have you ever thought that some celebrities seem too perfect to be human? Between their designer clothes, luxury automobiles, and stunning good looks, many regular people might forget that famous folks have many of the same struggles that are common to all humankind. For example, a significant number of celebrities struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). What exactly is OSA, and who are some stars that have been diagnosed with it? This blog post explains.

Do you prefer to sleep in a warm and cozy environment, or do you like your bedroom to be on the cooler side? Such matters might seem like nothing more than personal preference. But did you know that temperature could have an effect on your sleep apnea? This blog post discusses how that is the case. It also provides tips to help you create an environment that supports refreshing, rejuvenating sleep.

While sleep apnea is predominantly known for causing complications in a person’s ability to rest, it can also lead to bigger problems down the road if left unchecked. Not only can it cause restlessness throughout the day, but it can even raise your risk of developing issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke, heart disease, and cancer. With the various health problems that can arise, it’s important to understand how sleep apnea can impact your life expectancy. Read on to learn the signs to look out for with this condition and how you can address your situation.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common breathing-related disorder. Researchers estimate that 1 in 15 Americans have sleep apnea, which causes frequent breathing disturbances. With no treatment, obstructive sleep apnea can have negative effects on physical and psychological health. A CPAP machine is the most traditional method of treating sleep apnea, but it often has a low compliance rate, despite its effectiveness. If you find a CPAP bothersome, or are looking for an alternative treatment, you may be a candidate for oral appliance therapy. Here’s how the custom-fit device may help you breathe and sleep better.

(more…)

A confident smile can make a world of difference in the workplace. For many professionals, Invisalign offers a great way to achieve a perfect smile without the hassle of traditional braces. While Invisalign is for everyone, some professions can benefit more from clear aligner treatment than others. Here are some examples of positions where Invisalign can really shine.