Crowns and Veneers in Minneapolis

When it comes to enhancing your smile in Minneapolis, two popular cosmetic dentistry options are veneers and crowns. Both can significantly improve the appearance and functionality of your teeth, but they serve different purposes. Understanding the key differences between veneers and dental crowns is crucial to making the right choice for your specific dental needs.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the distinctions between veneers and crowns at Parkway Dental in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and help you determine when each option is appropriate, all while considering your oral health and aesthetics.

What are Dental Veneers?

Veneers are thin shells, usually made of porcelain, that are custom-fitted and bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They are a fantastic choice when you want to enhance the appearance of your smile by correcting minor imperfections such as chips, cracks, discoloration, or slight misalignment.

When to Choose Veneers in Minneapolis

1. Discoloration: If your teeth have stubborn stains that don’t respond well to teeth whitening, veneers can provide a lasting solution by covering the stains with a bright, white surface.
2. Minor Chips or Cracks: Veneers can mask minor chips and cracks, giving your teeth a smooth and flawless appearance.
3. Gaps and Minor Misalignment: Veneers can close small gaps between teeth and improve the appearance of mildly misaligned teeth.
4. Cosmetic Enhancement: If you want a picture-perfect Hollywood smile, veneers offer a versatile solution to achieve your aesthetic goals.

Dental Crowns in Minneapolis: Full Coverage Protection

Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, are prosthetic restorations covering a tooth’s entire visible portion. They are typically made from materials like porcelain, metal, or both. Crowns are more extensive and are often used for functional restoration rather than purely cosmetic purposes.

When to Choose Dental Crowns in Minneapolis

1. Significant Tooth Damage: Dental crowns are ideal for teeth with extensive decay, fractures, or large fillings that have weakened the tooth’s structure. They provide strength and protection to the damaged tooth.
2. Root Canal Treated Teeth: After a root canal procedure, a dental crown is usually placed on the treated tooth to restore its strength and prevent further damage.
3. Severe Misalignment: If a tooth is severely misaligned or has structural issues that cannot be addressed with veneers, a crown may be the better choice for achieving cosmetic and functional improvements.
4. Post-Implant Restoration: Dental crowns restore dental implants, providing a natural-looking replacement for missing teeth.

Comparing the Aesthetic Impact

Veneers and crowns both have aesthetic benefits, but the extent of their impact differs.

Veneers are primarily a cosmetic dental solution, meticulously crafted to enhance the overall appearance of your teeth. These ultra-thin porcelain shells deliver a remarkable transformation, imparting a natural and captivating smile while requiring minimal tooth reduction. Veneers are the go-to choice for individuals who aspire to attain a uniform and aesthetically pleasing smile.

On the other hand, dental crowns, while contributing to improved aesthetics, are primarily dedicated to structural restoration and protective measures. They excel at addressing both functional and aesthetic concerns, yet the process may necessitate more extensive tooth reduction than veneers. Crowns are commonly selected when a tooth’s functional integrity is at stake, making them indispensable for comprehensive dental care.

The Procedure: What to Expect

Veneers:

• The process begins with a consultation and smile assessment.
• A minimal amount of enamel is removed from the front of the tooth.
• Impressions are taken to create custom veneers.
• Temporary veneers may be placed while the permanent ones are fabricated.
• Once ready, the veneers are bonded to your teeth.

Crowns:

• Like veneers, the process begins with a consultation and assessment.
• A more extensive portion of the tooth is removed to accommodate the crown.
• Impressions are taken to create a custom crown.
• A temporary crown may be placed while the permanent one is fabricated.
• The crown is placed over the tooth, covering it entirely.

Durability and Longevity

Porcelain veneers are renowned for their durability, boasting a potential lifespan of 10-15 years or even longer when coupled with diligent care. Their natural resistance to staining is a remarkable feature. However, handling them with care is essential to prevent chipping or breakage.

Conversely, dental crowns offer even greater robustness, with a typical longevity spanning 15-20 years. Beyond their aesthetic benefits, crowns are stalwart defenders, providing crucial structural support to teeth that have weakened over time. However, the ultimate durability of crowns is contingent on various factors, including the materials chosen for the crown and the maintenance of meticulous oral hygiene practices.

Maintenance and aftercare for both are vital aspects of preserving your dental investments. To safeguard your oral health and the longevity of your cosmetic enhancements, it is imperative to maintain excellent oral hygiene practices that deter gum disease. Additionally, refrain from using your teeth to bite hard objects or open packages, as this can risk damage to both veneers and crowns. Regular dental check-ups are crucial, ensuring restorations remain in prime condition. These proactive measures help ensure your smile stays beautiful and functional for years.

Crowns or Veneer in Minneapolis | We Can Help You Choose the Right Option

The choice between veneers and crowns ultimately depends on your dental needs, aesthetic preferences, and budget. To determine the best option for your unique situation, consult an experienced dentist at Parkway Dental in Minneapolis. They will assess your oral health, discuss your goals, and help you make the best decision to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Both options can contribute to a beautiful, healthy smile that boosts confidence.

The post Veneers vs. Crowns: Understanding the Key Differences first appeared on Parkway Dental Center.

EVERYONE WANTS A perfect smile, but stains, discoloration, wear, chips, misalignment, gaps, and other issues can get in the way of our smile goals. That’s where the cosmetic dentistry services at Parkway Dental Center come in. We offer a variety of services to our patients in and around Minneapolis so that they can feel confident when showing off their gorgeous smiles.

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is dental treatment that focuses on improving the appearance of the teeth, but treatment options aren’t always limited to the smile; practices like ours also offer filler treatments with Botox. When it comes to the teeth, there are several different approaches we can take, depending on the individual patient’s goals and needs.

Dazzle With Teeth Whitening

One of the simplest and easiest ways to improve your smile is with teeth whitening, which can be done in-office with a one-time visit where you get the benefit of our professional experience and facilities, or with custom take-home trays that we make for your teeth. What makes these options superior to over-the-counter whitening strips is that those aren’t designed to bring the whitening solution into contact with each surface of your teeth like custom trays, and they certainly won’t offer the precision of in-office treatment.

Beyond the Surface: Dental Veneers

For chipping or discoloration that can’t be fixed with simple whitening, veneers are a great cosmetic dentistry option. Dental veneers are custom-made, wafer-thin shells of porcelain or resin colored to match your teeth. We make room for them by removing about half a millimeter of enamel from each tooth’s surface, then bond them in place to change their color, shape, size, or length.

Repair Damaged Teeth With Dental Bonding

A simpler option than veneers is dental bonding, in which we apply a tooth-colored resin to a misshapen tooth or one that has been chipped, cracked, or damaged by decay and harden it using a special ultraviolet or laser light. We then trim, shape, and polish it to make sure it matches the rest of the smile. Bonding is a great alternative to silver fillings and it will blend in much better!

Straighten Your Smile With Reveal Clear Aligner

Sometimes the problem isn’t discoloration or damaged teeth; sometimes they’re just crooked. At Parkway Dental Center, we can dramatically improve a poorly aligned smile with Invisalign. These aligners are a great orthodontic treatment option for patients who want a discreet solution to their poorly aligned teeth. You can get the benefits of braces without being called a “brace-face.”

How About a Smile Makeover?

Every smile is different, and so is every patient! A smile makeover is a comprehensive treatment plan to address the specific goals you have for your smile. We’re excited to help you achieve them, and the first step is to schedule an appointment! You can learn more about us by checking our business page, and make sure to get directions to our Minneapolis practice before heading our way!

Let’s get started on your smile goals!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

The post Cosmetic Dentistry: Building Beautiful Smiles first appeared on Parkway Dental Center.

Cosmetic dentistry is the term used to identify the types of dental treatment that are focused on altering the physical appearance of the teeth or gums.

Cosmetic dentistry is designed to help patients achieve the aesthetic appearance that they desire. Patients are provided with the ability to customize the shape, size, color, and overall look of teeth.

Simple Cosmetic Dental Treatment

Below are some examples of some of the most common and “simple” types of cosmetic dental treatment.

• Tooth-Colored Fillings (White Fillings): In years past, the only option for filling decayed or damaged teeth were silver fillings. Silver fillings are strong and durable, but they are highly visible when the patient smiles or opens their mouth. For many people, this can be a large source of embarrassment. Thankfully, tooth-colored fillings (also known as white fillings) allow patients to discretely restore their teeth.
• Dental Bonding: Dental bonding procedures consist in small amounts of composite that are ideal for correcting minor aesthetic issues such as cracks, chips, or small gaps between the teeth. The shade of the bonding is also expertly chosen to match the natural tooth shade.
• Professional Teeth Whitening: Professional teeth whitening sessions are an excellent way to lift unpleasant stains and correct discoloration or yellowing. Zoom Teeth Whitening can help brighten the shade of teeth anywhere between 2-8 shades.
• Gum Contouring/Lengthening: Some patients struggle with a gummy smile, while others struggle with gum recession that leaves too much tooth structure exposed. Gum contouring can be useful for removing excess gum tissue. Undergoing gum lengthening (or grafting) can help with replacing missing gum tissue.

Complex Types of Cosmetic Dental Treatment

• Porcelain/Composite Veneers: Veneers are thin layers of material that are placed directly over the front of the tooth. They are typically used to close gaps in the smile line and to customize the shape, size, or shade of the tooth.
• Dental Implants: Dental implants are often known as the best way to replace a missing tooth, as they almost perfectly mimic the natural tooth structure. The dental implant is placed directly into the jaw bone and is typically topped with an implant crown to complete the smile line.
• Smile Makeover Services: Smile makeovers offered at Parkway Dental Center focus on changing the overall appearance of the smile, placing an emphasis on aesthetics. Smile Makeover is a broad term that is used when multiple different cosmetic dental treatments are planned together. Together, they produce one exceptional result for the patient. Ask Dr. Constantin, Dr. Determan, and Dr. Ferreira about the many aesthetic options that they could personalize for your case.
• Full Mouth Rehabilitation: Full mouth rehabilitation treatment focuses on restoring the functionality of the teeth. This treatment typically consists of restorative treatment such as root canals, fillings, and dental crowns.
• Invisalign® : Invisalign® is a method of orthodontic treatment that makes it possible to discretely straighten or align the teeth. Rather than traditional metal brackets and wires, Invisalign uses clear aligner trays which are nearly invisible.
• Dental Crowns: Dental crowns are protective caps that fit directly over the natural tooth. The shape, size, color, and length are all customizable aspects of dental crown treatment. Crowns are excellent for protecting the tooth from further damage after a large filling or root canal. Crowns are also ideal for completing a dental implant structure and filling the gap in the smile line.

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Right For Me?

For many people, the appearance of their smile is extremely important. This is especially true for young adults and working professionals.

One of the first things that many people notice about others is their smile. In professional settings, confidence and professionalism can make or break an important interaction. The same goes for social settings. It can be quite difficult to open up and have a good time when you have worries about what others think of your teeth.

Stained, yellowed, or crooked teeth are all examples of things that have a negative effect on an individual’s confidence. They can also affect a person’s willingness to openly smile or converse with others; for fear of receiving judgment. This may potentially have a negative effect on your experience and performance at work.

If you are not quite confident in the look of your smile and work in a field that requires a considerable amount of daily social interactions, you may find that you struggle with feeling confident in the workplace.

Thanks to modern cosmetic dental treatment, feeling uncomfortable or unsatisfied with the look of your teeth or gums is a thing of the past. Choosing to pursue cosmetic dental treatment often goes far beyond simply making aesthetic changes to the teeth or gums; it often has a massive influence on confidence – which consequently has a direct effect on overall happiness and outlook.

Parkway Dental Center: Minneapolis Cosmetic Dentist

For truly exceptional cosmetic dental treatment in the Minneapolis area, trust Parkway Dental Center.  Our Doctors are highly trained to offer a wide range of cosmetic dental services in Minneapolis to help you feel more comfortable and confident with the look of your smile.

Our Minneapolis dental team is here to provide individuals with the care they need and want. We understand that having the ability to take pride in the appearance of your teeth is incredibly important to you; that is why we strive to help our patients achieve the beautiful and healthy smile of their dreams.

For more information about our Minneapolis cosmetic dentistry services or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (612) 824-4211. You can also use our online appointment scheduler tool.

The post Exceptional Cosmetic Dentistry in Minneapolis first appeared on Parkway Dental Center.

Each profession tends to be its own little niche, which is a good thing because it creates a unique space for our services and a place for you to learn and implement helpful ideas that can benefit you and the people you care about.

We’re excited to share this ongoing knowledge base of blog articles with this online community. These blogs provide timely and relevant information that’s conveniently accessible online. Indeed, we hope that this community will use the valuable information found in our regular blog posts, because they are an effective way for us to reach out to you on a monthly basis, while you still enjoy the comforts of your own home.

If you have any questions or want more information, we invite you to call our team at Parkway Dental Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, today at 612-824-4211. We look forward to helping you in any way we can, and we thank you for the opportunity!

The post Welcome to Our New Blog! first appeared on Parkway Dental Center.