Tag Archives: cosmetic dentistry

Are you embarrassed by your smile? Are you afraid to show your teeth in photos? You’re not alone! Many celebrities started off with less than perfect smiles, but have transformed their teeth (and their careers!) with Cosmetic Dentistry! At Morris Park Dental, we can help you achieve the Award-Winning smile you deserve and step into the spotlight once more.

Morris Park Dental wants to promote the confidence level of those who are not born with perfect teeth. Most people are not born with perfect teeth. And the wear and tear that we put on our teeth every day can cause them to fall into further states of disrepair! Teeth require so much care and attention because there is no natural way that a bad tooth is going to be repaired itself.

Would you laugh freely if your teeth are yellow, unaligned or long & pointy? People cover their mouths with hands while laughing due to this very reason. Why do we adore the smiles of Hollywood heartthrobs? How would anyone give a flashing big smile on the red carpet if his or her teeth were not utterly perfect? Why are the divas on beauty pageant stages always giving full bright smile no matter whether they win or not? When we answer all these questions, we come to the conclusion that smile is an essential component to enhancing one’s beauty. Without perfect teeth, nobody could smile confidently, and thus, the requirement of beauty is not complete.

The dentists at Morris Park Dental can alter the appearance, size, and shape of your teeth without any invasive surgical methods to give you a Picture Perfect Smile. This is probably why we see so many people opting for cosmetic dentistry. The options of having straight, white and properly sized teeth could be easily achieved with Cosmetic Dentistry. Morris Park Dental offers services like Zoom Teeth Whitening, Invisalign Teeth Straightening, Dental Veneers, Dental Implants, and more. If you want that Oscar winning smile Morris Park Dental has the tools and skills to give you that perfect smile.

Let’s have a look at some cosmetic dentistry procedures and the stars that utilized them to get the Red Carpet smiles we recognize today!

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is probably the most common type of cosmetic dentistry. Teeth discoloration is very common. Our teeth can become yellow or discolored due to many factors, including age, tobacco or drug use, dental trauma, and even from drinking coffee or red wine! Many famous celebrities undergo teeth whitening treatment regularly because they could not afford to lose their shine. David Beckham, 2015 People Magazine Sexiest Man Alive has transformed his smile with teeth whitening. Photographs exist from his early days where his teeth are not shining white but today, his teeth are sparkling thanks to Teeth Whitening. Amber Rose and Lindsay Lohan are other celebrities who owe their pearly whites to Teeth Whitening! Our office uses Zoom Teeth Whitening technology to get your teeth up to six shades whiter in as little as one hour!

Teeth Straightening with Invisalign Clear Aligners

Crooked teeth are not as aesthetically pleasing as straight teeth. People with splayed teeth often find it hard to talk easily and could also have pain in their jaws due to malocclusion. While traditional metal braces help change the direction of teeth and make your teeth straight and even, there are a lot of downsides: it is harder to clean in between the wires and brackets so the patient’s dental hygiene can suffer, the metal brackets are uncomfortable and sharp in your mouth, and then you have to put up with the ugly metal in your mouth! With Invisalign Clear Aligners, you get the same benefits of traditional metal braces without the negative side effects. These issues could be resolved at any age, and one should always decide to go for correction methods instead of living a less confident life.

Rumor has it that stars like Tom Cruise and Katherine Heigl used to wear Invisalign invisible aligners. Tom Cruise also got teeth whitening and later opted for dental veneers. Similarly, Zac Efron had front teeth with a gap and he is said to have taken help with orthodontics or removable braces or aligners. Matthew Lewis from Harry Potter used orthodontics to straighten his teeth as well. These techniques work wonders and is most opted for badly aligned teeth. Just like David, Victoria Beckham, a beautiful name today, was born with bad teeth. She had to make sure that her teeth are perfect once she became famous. For this purpose, she had to use methods to fill the gaps between her teeth and also to align them.

I bet you didn’t even know they had orthodontic work done! That’s because they used Invisalign clear aligners, to straighten their teeth without looking metal braces! This dental correction method is used to align teeth in approximately one to two years and has the added benefit that you don’t need unsightly metal brackets.

Dental Veneers

If we compare smiles of Miley Cyrus from her Hannah Montana days, she has improved the shape and color of her teeth by using dental veneers. She became a celebrity at such young age and with her previous smile, she would have always looked like a schoolgirl. Now she has a grown up smile worthy of the red carpet. Kristin Dunst is another a beauty born with small teeth, which made her look younger and less mature. After dental veneers, she finally looked ready for more mature leading lady roles, and her career benefited from the transformation!

Rumor also has it that Hilary Duff chipped her tooth on a microphone and opted to get veneers on all her teeth rather than try to color match one tooth.

Jessica Alba’s teeth required veneers & contouring to make them look even and sharper. She also improved the color of her teeth after reshaping them. Natalie Portman needed some contouring for her teeth. She has a big set of teeth that is entirely visible when she laughs. Without proper color and contour treatments, her teeth would have never looked the same.

Stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hilary Duff, Morgan Freeman, and George Clooney, had to make the appearance of their teeth look more regular by choosing veneers. Veneers help with discolored, broken/chipped, irregular or gapped teeth.

Bonding or Crowns

Jim Carrey fixed his chipped tooth years ago, but he removed the crown for his role in “Dumb and Dumber.” Chipped teeth can be easily repaired with dental bonding. However, if the tooth is severely broken or decayed you may need a Dental Crown.

Dental Implants

We should never take our teeth for granted. Sometimes, due to any accident, we could lose any of our teeth. This is especially true for sports stars, where high impact injuries can cause them to lose a tooth on the job. Some people are born with teeth that deteriorate very easily, and may be impossible to restore if not treated in time. In cases of missing or non-restorable, dental implants are a great option and are the closest thing to a real tooth you can get.

One celebrity with dental implants is actor Ed Helms who appeared toothless in his movie “Hangover.” Ed, like 5% of the population, was born missing a single tooth due to a birth defect (known as a congenitally missing tooth). He opted for a dental implant to replace the missing tooth, but removed the crown for his role in the Hangover movie.

Nicholas Cage had to go for dental implants because he had to remove two of his front teeth for a movie character in “Birdy.” He was planning to get those baby teeth removed anyway, for aesthetic reasons, but went through the procedure without anesthesia to better understand the character, a wounded Vietnam War veteran. The new version of Nicholas Cage has a perfect smile and flashing straight teeth.

Contact Morris Park Dental for a Hollywood Smile today!

If you are also concerned about the appearance, size or structure of your teeth, then call us today at (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) or request a Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation online. We will help you feel complete again with an Oscar-worthy smile.

With Presidents Day coming up, we’ve been thinking about the story of George Washington’s wooden teeth. In fact, George Washington had several sets of dentures, none of which were made of wood. Thankfully, today we have many more options than those available to America’s first President, including Same Day Dentures, Dental Implants, Overdentures and All-on-4 Implant Supported Dentures, many of which can be completed in as little as one day! If you are missing teeth, Morris Park Dental has a solution for you!

What were George Washington’s Dentures Made of?

America’s very first president began losing teeth even in his twenties and was finally forced to wear several sets of unattractive dentures. By the time he was admitted to the office of president in 1789, Washington only had a single natural tooth left. Dental problems plagued Washington for most of his adult life. Instead of wood, Washington’s many false choppers were made out of varying combinations of human teeth, metal fasteners and rare ivory from the hippopotamus. Ivory from elephant and walrus may also have been used, along with lead, gold metal springs, wires, and brass screws. None of these materials looked very natural, nor were they comfortable. George Washington may have also gone through a “tooth transplantation” operation, a precursor to today’s dental implant procedures.

What are Dentures?
As we age, our teeth can become loose or decayed and fall out or have to be extracted. The denture is a removable plate or frame holding one or more fabricated teeth. Dentures have been around for many years, as evidenced by the story of George Washington, but today they are made of more modern materials like metal and plastic, and can be color-matched closely with any natural teeth in the patient’s mouth.

There are two basic types of dentures: Complete or Partial. A complete denture replaces a full set of teeth (top or bottom, or both), while a Partial denture is used when a patient still has some natural teeth but is missing one or more teeth.

The partial denture usually has clasps which snap into your existing teeth. A partial denture is great, not only to disguise missing teeth, but also because it keeps your existing natural teeth from shifting, and it helps save the space from further bone loss.

In order to make a Complete denture, the dentist takes an impression of the patient’s gums, which is used to create a mold. This mold is then used as the basis of a wax model to which the teeth are added. The model is tested in the patient’s mouth to confirm it will be suitable in size and color, and for the formation of a plate that fits snugly in the mouth. Plates made from acrylic resin are compatible with dentures that require an artificial gumline because the material can be tinted to resemble the patient’s natural gum color. Metal plates, however, carry less risk of breaking. They are also stronger and provide a better fit. This makes metal ideal for partial plates that are fully hidden behind the remaining natural teeth.

Because our office has an in-house lab, both partial dentures and complete dentures can be made in as little as one day! Other offices which send their dentures to an outside lab can take as many as five individual visits for you to get your dentures. Our motto is: Why Wait? You can get back to eating the foods you enjoy in as little as one day.

What are the Drawbacks of Dentures?

Partial and full dentures need to be cleaned daily just like natural teeth. If the cleaning is not done correctly, plaque and tartar will build up on your dentures. This will cause stains, gum problems and bad breath. Plaque from your dentures can also spread to your natural teeth and gums, leading to gum disease and dental cavities.

In addition, even if you have dentures you should still come in to see the dentist for checkups and oral cancer screenings, as well as periodic adjustments. As a person ages, their jaw bones shrink and gums recede, and the denture will no longer fit like it once did. Dentures can also break and may need to be repaired.

Finally, even with dentures that are custom fitted to your mouth, you still may experience discomfort or rubbing, difficulty eating with the denture in, and problems speaking clearly. Some people just are not happy with their dentures, no matter how many times they come in for adjustments.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a relatively recent type of prosthetic device that replaces a natural tooth. Almost all dental implants in our modern world are made from titanium or titanium alloy. These are elements that have been proven over hundreds of years to be well tolerated by bone. To support replacement teeth, dental implants, for the most part, have post space or internal screw thread that allows components to be fitted. Once installed, these components provide the foundation for long-term support of crowns, bridges or dentures. You can have any number of teeth substituted with implants – ranging from one single tooth to a complete set of dentition.

If you have several teeth absent with your gums and jaw are in healthy condition, you may benefit from dental implants. With outstanding oral hygiene, dental implants can last up to 20 years without the need for a substitute.

Dental implants are often a favored choice for people who have only one or two teeth missing, but they can be a great alternative to dentures if you have a full mouth of missing teeth. As long as your gums and jaw are in good form, implants can serve as a base of support for a number of replacement teeth, and can be used to support a full denture (known as an All-on-4 or Implant supported denture).

What are All-on-4 Implant Supported Dentures?

All-on-4 Implant Supported Dentures are a permanent solution for missing teeth. Unlike dentures, they do not come out of your mouth but are screwed into 4 separate implants, which hold the denture in place. All-on-4 can also be completed in as little as one day, thanks to our in-house lab.

Dental implants are a “built to last” solution. If you consult a dentist, they would say that, with proper care dental bridge can stand perhaps up to ten years. Traditionally, dental bridges on average last up to seven years, but at some point, they will require replacement. While dental implants may need occasional adjustments, they can last a lifetime when properly placed and cared for frequently over time. Besides that, you can enjoy life without being concerned about your teeth again. You can be safe assured that the removable dentures or tooth-supported replacement teeth will not be loose, even drop out when you speak, laugh or eat. Gone are the days of staying at home due to the feeling of unease in public, embarrassed because your smile looks unique from others, or worrying those missing teeth will restrict your ability to enjoy your freedom. Teeth rehabilitated with dental implants are teeth that allow you lead the life you dreamed. The third benefit you’re getting is the ease in speech. Accommodating oneself to removable dentures can mean having to put up with some struggle in pronouncing everyday words. This is not the case with dental implants, which function so alike natural teeth that you wouldn’t notice the difference.

Whether you’re considering Dental Implants or Dentures, Morris Park Dental aims to cater the highest standards of dentistry possible using state-of-the-art technology, in as little as one day. Call us today at (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453) to schedule your consultation today!

Now that it’s a New Year, it’s a good time to start considering new dental practices to get the best results for your teeth. Once you take on a New Year, new you attitude to 2016, you will notice big changes in your smile.

If you find yourself in a position where you need braces in the New Year, the timing couldn’t be better to look into our Invisalign treatment. Here at Morris Park Dental, our Bronx dental office is a Premier Invisalign Provider, which means we have more experience than other dentists in this field so we can certainly give you the best results possible.

If you need braces and are thinking about Invisalign, you will undoubtedly have many questions about the differences between this solution and traditional braces. This article is here to outline some of the benefits of Invisalign as opposed to traditional braces to help give you more facts. Keep reading to find out how Invisalign treatment can brighten your smile and make you shine for the rest of the year.

Invisalign is nearly Invisible

One of the major benefits to having Invisalign instead of traditional braces is the way that they look. Invisalign treatment doesn’t use hardware or ugly wires on your teeth so these won’t be a problem when you smile. In fact, Invisalign is practically invisible so there will be no need to be self-conscious or shy at all. This is particularly relevant for adults who need their teeth straightened but don’t want to endure unsightly braces.

Invisalign is more Comfortable than Traditional Braces

Invisalign treatment is practically pain free. The technology is developed to suit your individual teeth. Invisalign uses Align Technology with 3-D computer imagery to get results that are perfectly suitable to your teeth. This means that the treatment plan will work with your teeth and their structure.

The actual Invisalign trays are pain free to wear, as well. For two weeks, aligners are worn that gently push your teeth into place. These adjustments are supported with check ups every few weeks to ensure that your teeth are naturally straightening with the Invisalign treatment.

The lack of wires and metal or brackets mean that there is minimal pain in the mouth. Invisalign reduces and essentially removes the risk of mouth and gum abrasions that come with traditional braces. Your comfort as well as a beautifully straight smile is certainly worth it.

Invisalign doesn’t ask you to sacrifice Oral Hygiene

Maintaining dental hygiene is important, especially when you have ongoing dental work to be tended to. With traditional metal braces, oral hygiene can be problematic with brushing and flossing between the wires and brackets. Invisalign takes away all hygiene problems, as the clear retainers are removable. This means that you can take the retainer out, brush and floss your teeth as per usual, and then replace the retainer to allow the natural straightening process to continue throughout the day and overnight. Your Invisalign orthodontic treatment won’t compromise your health and hygiene in your mouth at all.

Benefits of Invisalign as compared to Traditional Braces

Mentioned above are some key benefits of Invisalign treatment. If you’re still not convinced that this is the way to go over traditional braces, keep reading below.

Invisible: The clear aligners are practically invisible.
Comfortable: The plastic aligners are comfortable and won’t cause mouth irritation.
Removable: You can easily remove the aligners to clean them, eat and to brush your teeth.
You Can Eat What You Want: Your diet won’t be restricted and you can eat whatever you want. With traditional braces, you would have to stay away from sticky foods and foods that get stuck in your brackets, but with Invisalign, you can remove your clear plastic aligners
More Comfortable: There are no uncomfortable wires or brackets that irritate your mouth and gums.
Less Time: The treatment process may take less time than traditional metal braces
See into the Future with Your ClinCheck: The 3-D imaging technology allows you to see what your teeth will look after the treatment.
Your Dental Insurance may cover Invisalign: If your dental insurance covers Orthodontics, it will cover Invisalign just as it would traditional metal braces!
Same Cost: Invisalign and Traditional Braces cost roughly the same price! Why not go for the clear alternative?

Click here to read more about Invisalign and find out why it is the clear choice to straighten your smile!

Why wait? Click here to get in touch with the experts here today to find out how Invisalign treatment can change your smile or call us today at (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453) to schedule a Consultation!

If you’ve been writing a list of New Year’s resolutions for your teeth, now is the time to act on them. Over the years, we put our teeth through an awful lot, including plenty of things that can cause cavities that need fillings and crowns. As time goes on and your teeth change, and so does the structure of these fillings and dental crowns. Often, these changes are not for the best and the dental filling or crown can stop being as effective as it was when it was first placed.

CALL (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453) or click here to request an appointment for a dental fillings and crowns consultation today!

If you’ve been having doubts about old fillings or crowns, why not take the New Year as a good chance to do something about it. Replacing old crowns and fillings will help to extend the longevity and health of your teeth. Read below about more benefits to replacing old crowns and fillings.

How long do crowns last before they need replacing?

Generally speaking, dental crowns last between five and fifteen years. This obviously varies on many factors revolving around your personal circumstances. As a rule of thumb, you should feel confident that your crown would keep protecting the nerve ending around your tooth for five years. Most dental insurance plans cover crown replacements for this time period.

After five years, you should start paying attention to the area around your crown. Many factors such as the amount of chewing and biting forces, which contribute to unavoidable wear and tear, as well as how well you take care of the area will impact on how long your crown will last.

When you have a crown, make sure you brush and clean the area regularly and thoroughly. This is especially important after the five-year mark. After five years, it is worth checking up with your Bronx dentist and seeing how your crown is coping and if it needs replacing. Prevention is often the best way to deal with this.

When should fillings be replaced? What if I have old metal fillings?

Fillings don’t last forever, unfortunately. What is fortunate, however, is that options with fillings have changed with time. In the past, metal amalgam fillings that stand out like a silver sore thumb in the mouth are no longer the only option. Today there is the option to get tooth-colored fillings that are a much more attractive option. This leads to many people wondering if they should replace all silver amalgam fillings from bygone days.

There are certainly many benefits to composite fillings, some of which include:

They don’t contain mercury (unlike amalgam or metal fillings)
They strengthen the tooth by bonding to it
They look better as the color blends with the tooth
They don’t require as much of the tooth to be removed to be placed

However, this doesn’t mean that you need to replace every single metal filling immediately. There are a few factors that can help you decide if now is the right time to replace old fillings for the New Year. Consider the following reasons:

Fractured tooth
Age which causes looseness around the filling and causes decay to get in
Leakage when the bond is no longer strong
Cosmetic reasons if the look really does both you that much

The best way to decide if you need to replace old fillings is to consult your dentist. The New Year is the perfect opportunity to book an appointment for all-over dental check up and be sure to ask about any queries you have regarding old fillings.

CALL (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453) today for your dental fillings and crowns consultation or click here to request an appointment online.

Getting dentures in the Bronx has never been so easy! Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out, cleaned overnight, and put back in. While dentures take some getting used to, and will never feel the same as one’s natural teeth, modern day dentures are natural looking and more comfortable than ever before. If you are interested in finding out more about All-on-4 Implant Supported Dentures In The Bronx, you should call our Morris Park Dental Office for a consultation at (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) or request a consultation.

There are two main types of dentures you can get in the Bronx: full, and partial. Any Bronx dentist can help choose the type of denture that’s best, based on how many teeth need to be replaced, and the cost involved. But what are implant supported dentures, and how do they work?

Unlike regular dentures, which rests on the gums, implant supported dentures are anchored to the jawbone, by way of dental implants. Most often, this type of denture is placed in the lower jaw, mostly because dentures tend to be less stable in the lower jaw, as opposed to the upper jaw. However, implant supported dentures can be placed in in the upper jaw as well. With this type of denture, an implant supported denture snaps into place on the implants, which are surgically placed into the jawbone. This prevents the denture from slipping or coming loose during activities like eating, talking, or laughing. Denture paste and adhesives are no longer required because the dentures are secured by the fittings in the jaw. The implant supported denture can be removed at night for cleaning, just like regular dentures, or, if one has a fixed implant supported denture placed, these dentures can act as permanent teeth.

So what are the basics of implant supported dentures? There are two styles of implant supported dentures, bar-retained dentures and ball-retained dentures. Both types of dentures require two or more dental implants to be placed in the lower jaw, and both will provide a beautiful, natural smile.

In the Bar-Retained type of denture, three or more implants are surgically placed into the lower jaw. Attached to these implants is a metal bar that runs slightly above the gum line, inline with the natural position of teeth. The denture then rests on the metal bar and is attached using clips or other forms of attachments. This type of implant supported denture holds the denture in place without the steel studs used in Ball-Retained Dentures.

Many patients prefer this type of denture to a traditional denture because it provides greater denture integrity and doesn’t cause the painful rubbing of contemporary dentures. The denture is held in place more securely and is less likely to come loose.

Unlike Bar-Retained dentures, Ball-Retained Dentures, also called Stud-Attachment Dentures, use a ball-and-socked design to attach the dentures to the implants surgically placed in the gums. Traditionally, the denture is fitted with sockets into the jawbone, and the implants have a ball on top of them so the dentures can snap onto them. The denture and implants snap together where the ball and sockets meet.

This form of denture is considered exceptionally secure. Ball-Retained Dentures are less likely to slip or move in the mouth, and will allow denture wearers to eat more foods they love and speak more clearly.

Dental implants are long-term replacements that your dentist surgically places into the jawbone. These dental implants, composed of titanium, fuse with the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration”. Implants never slip out or make embarrassing noises that expose the one’s denture, and because they are made of titanium you do not have to worry about decay. Also, given the fact that the titanium is surgically inserted into the jawbone, it will typically not develop into issue or cause bone loss.

Dental implants have been around for a long time, and their reliability has been proved well founded. Doctors have been implanting dentures this way for over 20 years and many of the implants that were placed in the late 80s and early 90s are still operating as if they were brand new, requiring little to no maintenance. If properly cared for, dental implants can easily last a lifetime.

Before any work is done, a dentist will preform an initial exam to evaluate the best type of implant supported dentures. The doctor will take x-rays, create impressions, and take one’s medical and dental history. If this information seems appealing, talk to a dentist and see if a temporary denture could be made to wear until the Implant-Supported denture is placed.

The initial surgery would place the implants in the jawbone. Three or six months will elapse before the next surgery. This is to ensure that the jawbone and implant integrate and fuse properly. The second surgery will expose the tops of the implant and a healing cap, or collar, will be placed on the head of each exposed implant. Less healing time is needed after the second surgery, so the next appointment will be within two weeks. In the third appointment, the healing caps will be replaced with regular abutments, the part of the implant the crown, metal bar, or ball-socket is attached to. The last appointment will be to try on the new dentures to ensure that it is a comfortable fit.

It is always important to remove dentures at night and to clean them thoroughly. One should also clean the attachments thoroughly to prevent gum disease, tarter buildup, or decay. Follow the dentist’s instructions carefully to keep that new smile as beautiful as possible.

Dentures are well known to be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Many patients complain of discomfort, embarrassment, and unhappiness with their smile. Dentures by themselves do not act as natural teeth would. The lower denture is not anchored in place and can slip and prevent the wearer from eating the foods they love. Worse yet, dentures can cause decay in the jawbone because they do not stimulate the bone like natural teeth do. Overtime, the gums one relies upon to keep their dentures in place dissolve and the worse the denture will fit.

Implant supported dentures provide the wearer with a life without pain, discomfort, and embarrassment. Implant supported dentures act like natural, healthy teeth; they stimulate the bone and prevent bone loss, increase bite forces up to 10x in the first year, and look and feel like natural teeth! Wearers often marvel at the ability to chew, speak, and smile with ease and comfort once had with natural teeth. Implants have truly revolutionized dentistry for the denture wearer.

Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for All-on-4 implant supported dentures as soon as possible. Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Implant Supported Dentures In The Bronx.