Hi Everyone,
I have wanted to share this story with you in case there is room in your life to help another person.
Over the last couple of years, we have been seeing a patient from the Smile Again program through MDDS. I will call her Sarah. Sarah came to us with a history of addiction, having been in an abusive relationship and was living in a recovery facility in Denver. We were not even able to call her directly on the phone and did not know her real name, which made scheduling appointments a relay phone game.
She was quiet, friendly and wanted to have a beautiful smile. Her struggles took their toll on her teeth and her overall health. She is a charmer and we all fell in love with her immediately. She loved to come to our office where we enjoyed pampering patients with "little extras" like hot chocolate and neck warmers. She showed up to her appointments, as promised, and as the improvements to her smile began, her transformation began to take place. The patient who was once sort of quiet and shy began to share with us the history of her struggle, the fact that she has children and even a grandchild and how much it meant to her to really get her life on track. Our relationship with Sarah over the last two years has taught us that taking a leap of faith and believing in someone can make all the difference in the world. And I believe she has enriched our lives as much or more than we have enriched hers.
Today, Sarah attends college to become a psychologist in order to help others who have faced similar struggles. And though her program has ended, she is still our patient and our friend.
We are Grateful,
Kristine
- “A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 42 percent of kids aged 6 to 19 had had a cavity or filling in their permanent teeth when examined between 1999 and 2002…”Medline Plus -August 25, 2005
- “Although dental caries (tooth decay) is largely preventable, it remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years - 5 times more common than asthma (59% versus 11%).” CDC – 2005
- “Poor children have nearly 12 times more restricted-activity days because of dental-related illness than children from higher-income families. Pain and suffering due to untreated tooth decay can lead to problems in eating, speaking, and attending to learning. CDC – 2005
- “An estimated 75% of Americans reportedly have some form of periodontal disease.”The American Dental Hygienists’ Association - 4/2002
- “Dental caries (tooth decay) is the single most chronic childhood disease - 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.” Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General - 4/2002
- “Over 108 million children and adults lack dental insurance, which is over 2.5 times the number who lack medical insurance.”Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General - 5/2001
How Does Tooth Whitening Work?
There are many ways to whiten your teeth — from whitening toothpastes and other products that can remove many surface stains to in office or take home professional whitening.
All whitening techniques work in one of two ways:
- Whitening procedures lighten stains and brighten or whiten the tooth with a peroxide or other agent.
- A light-activated whitening session in our office. This can produce dramatic results. Follow up visits will be necessary when new staining appears. This can remove coffee and tobacco stains from teeth and can whiten teeth 2-5 shades lighter.
- Custom whitening trays created by Dr. Johnson for in-home whitening and you typically wear them several hours a day until your desired shade is reached. We will take before and after shades so you can track your improvements. When you notice new staining, you can reuse the custom trays to touch up your whitening.
- Over-the-counter products for whitening teeth (those found in a drugstore) include boil and bite tray application, whitening gels applied with a brush, and whitening strips. These methods are not as effective and can cause sensitivity because the peroxide is not contained and irritates the gums.
- Non-bleaching procedures work by physical and/or chemical action to help remove surface stains. All toothpastes rely on mild abrasion to remove surface stains between dental visits. Whitening toothpastes have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal. A professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist also uses abrasion and polishing to remove most external staining caused by food and tobacco.
Everyone responds differently to different whitening procedures. Some people respond well to whitening toothpastes, while people with gray teeth or other serious discoloration may require porcelain veneers or bonding (discussed elsewhere in this section) to achieve the smiles they’ve always wanted. Dr. Johnson can answer your questions and determine which mothod will work best for you.
In celebration of our 20 year anniversary, we are proud to offer you “Whitening for Life.” When you purchase a whitening system in our office, or if you already have one from our office, Dr. Johnson will provide one free tube of professional strength whitening gel per year.
All you have to do is maintain your regularly scheduled hygiene care, as prescribed, based on your hygiene needs. You must have your visit during the month that you are due for preventative care.
If you miss a scheduled visit, you will be off the Whitening for Life program and your gums and teeth will not be as healthy.
To become reinstated in or to start the Whitening for Life program if you have missed a hygiene appointment, you must make two scheduled hygiene visits and purchase one tube of whitening gel at the regular fee.
If you are interested, please give us a call and we can get you started! Celebrate 2009 with a healthy and beautiful smile!
Thank You,
Johnson Dental Team
303-422-8748
Did you know that with your new patient exam in our office, we can discuss with you a smile makeover. You can improve your smile with something as simple as whitening or you can completely redesign the look of your teeth with veneers, a thin “contact lens” that fits over your natural tooth.
If you have prematurely worn teeth or discoloration that can not be whitened away, we can help. We are happy to answer all of your questions about improvements to your smile. Dr. Johnson will listen to your concerns and help you to understand each procedure.
Do you have black mercury fillings that are causing your teeth to look gray? We can replace those fillings with a natural tooth colored filling, or a porcelain crown to make your smile younger, brighter and more beautiful!
Certain cosmetic dentistry procedures can increase beauty and functionality.
The options are endless and you make the decisions, you help design the type of smile YOU have always wanted. Call us today to set up an appointment. 303-422-8748
Have you ever been introduced to someone at a social or business gathering and they smiled and were missing a tooth or had decay on their front teeth? How much of what they had to say did you hear after that moment? Probably not much.
Do you notice people looking at your teeth when you are talking? Have you looked in the mirror and evaluated how you REALLY feel about your own smile? Are you being honest or do you find yourself thinking that your teeth could be whiter/straighter/shaped differently?
Your smile truly is your calling card. Investing in even small improvements in your smile can result in a greater feeling of self confidence and even take years off your appearance. In addition, when your smile is at its best, you feel at your best and are able to be your best. You don’t have to worry about people seeing a crooked, yellow smile or missing teeth. You can be confident that they are seeing you and hearing what you have to say.
Unlike porcelain veneers, your natural tooth is porous and can collect stains from the foods you eat and drink. Stained teeth make your teeth look dirty and old. These stains can be removed by teeth whitening systems we offer in our office. Whiter teeth can make you look younger and feel more confident.
There are two types of stains on teeth, superficial and inherent. Superficial stains are the ones that are caused by food, drink and lifestyle. They are generally yellow in nature and respond well to whitening systems. Inherent tooth stains are internal and could be caused from things our bodies absorb such as minerals, fluoride and antibiotics and don’t usually respond well to external whitening systems. For those cases, we offer porcelain veneers.
The types of whitening systems we recommend in our office are:
- Custom whitening trays with Zoom whitening gel.
We will take an impression of your teeth which we make into a stone mold and create custom trays that fit your teeth perfectly, allowing for maximum whitening results. The trays are reusable and refill packs of the gel can be purchased at our office.
- Porcelain veneers are like a thin, tooth colored contact lens that fits over your natural tooth. This is a good option for people who not only wish to whiten, but also to straighten or reshape their teeth and achieve their dream smile. Veneers, if cared for properly, can last a lifetime. Veneers never have to be whitened.
Call our office today and set up an appointment to determine what method will work best for you. The smile you have always wanted is within reach.
Different Types of Cosmetic Procedures
Whitening
Whitening is a process that lightens or eliminates the stains on teeth due to age, lifestyle, and what you eat and drink. The process is easy and painless. We make custom trays right here in our office that fit your teeth snugly unlike the store bought kits which can waste the whitening gel and cause sensitivity.
Veneers
Veneers are a porcelain shell (sort of like a contact lens) that fits over your natural tooth. Veneers can solve many cosmetic problems such as the color of your teeth, how straight they are, the length of your teeth and their overall appearance.
Implants
A dental implant is a metal device designed to replace missing teeth. The device is usually made out of titanium and is surgically placed into the jawbone where the tooth is missing. Unlike a dental bridge, an implant is permanent. A dental implant is designed to act as the tooth root and can anchor an artificial tooth or teeth such as a crown, bridge or denture.
Crowns
Crowns, also referred to as caps, are custom made to fit over your whole tooth after the dentist has prepared it. They are usually made out of acrylic or porcelain that has been fused to metal, to withstand biting pressure. Crowns can be used in cosmetic dentistry to treat teeth that are poorly shaped, badly decayed, broken or chipped, have had large fillings and to cover spaces in between teeth.
Tooth Colored Fillings
Black mercury fillings can be unattractive and make you self conscious about your smile. In addition, the FDA acknowledged recently that amalgam fillings can be a health risk. Replacing them is safe and easy and a relatively inexpensive way of improving your smile.