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What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

cosmetic dentistry nanaimoCosmetic dentistry has become a hot topic for both young professionals and baby boomers seeking to improve their smile, but it is a term that can mean different things to different people.

Some people associate cosmetic dentistry with looking younger – something like a dental facelift that can rewind the natural aging process of their teeth. Other people have developed a host of dental challenges that leave their teeth and smile needing a comprehensive approach rather than temporary fixes, and others yet, who have always felt self-conscious about their smile.

Much as cosmetic dentistry does not mean the same thing to everyone, a good cosmetic dentist offers a wide variety of treatment options for people seeking to enhance their smile. The options range from teeth whitening to porcelain veneers to Invisalign or braces.  In many cases, a combination of these dental techniques is required to deliver the best results.

Here are some examples of the most widely used forms of cosmetic dentistry in action:

Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in dentistry today. This fantastic dental procedure effectively provides a quick way for patients to achieve a beautiful white smile. There are several professional whitening procedures, both in-office and at home which can be used to enhance your smile.

Composite Fillings

Traditional mercury fillings fail over time as the conditions of the tooth and mouth change. Worse yet, mercury fillings can crack otherwise healthy teeth as they expand and contract due to heat and cold. Newer, longer-lasting composite fillings are a very effective replacement for old mercury fillings.  At Downtown Dental Group in Nanaimo, we only use composite fillings from the beginning!

Smile Makeover

A smile makeover is the ultimate restoration of your smile’s youthful appearance. A smile makeover encompasses all the necessary components of cosmetic dentistry for you to achieve a beautifully youthful and healthy smile.

The goal is to create a rejuvenated natural smile properly proportioned to your face. With advancements in cosmetic dentistry, almost anything is possible. For example, crooked unbalanced teeth can be immediately improved through dental crowns or porcelain veneers.  This is known as “instant orthodontics”. Porcelain veneers are also often utilized to fix chipped and broken teeth and enhance the appearance of your natural smile.

Gum Therapy

A healthy smile is not just about healthy teeth, it’s about the overall health of your mouth and body. Using advanced ultrasonic Cleaning techniques, dentists are now able to combat bacteria growth and help the body use its own natural defences to increase overall oral health. Treatments are also available to contour gum tissue to improve health or to reduce a “gummy” smile.

Neuromuscular Dentistry

Some smile improvements are not just cosmetic. Many of these treatments, such as neuromuscular dentistry, can improve bite problems such as over-bite, under-bite or cross-bite. When treated to maintain a proper jaw position, patients find a lifetime of jaw pain and headaches can be resolved in just a few appointments.

Which procedure is right for me?

Our dentists at our Downtown Nanaimo, BC, dental clinic can answer any questions you may have about techniques used to improve your smile. The condition of your teeth and results you seek often indicates the best procedure. We often give our patients a range of treatment options from best-case scenarios to short-term or even temporary repair.  It’s always up to you to choose.

Contact us today to book an appointment or read more about cosmetic dentistry on our website!

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5 Advantages of Dental Implants

missing tooth nanaimoA missing tooth could be more of a problem than you might imagine. Did you know that since each of your teeth depends on one another to keep their position, a missing tooth can cause your teeth to shift and tilt?

Another often overlooked fact is how the missing tooth affects your jawbone.  Since one of the functions of a tooth is to stimulate bone renewal, once the tooth is gone, the bone quickly starts to recede and disappear.

All things considered, it’s very important to replace a missing tooth as soon as possible – and dental implants are becoming one of the top choices to do so.

How Does a Dental Implant Work?

A small titanium post acts as a substitute for the root of the tooth and dental implant full jawcreates a very strong anchor for a custom-made dental crown. Implants can be used individually, or to support a number of dental prostheses, including implant-supported bridges and dentures.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Natural Appearance
A porcelain crown placed over the dental implant will look as natural as possible.

No Impact on Other Teeth
Since dental implants do not require restorations on the neighbouring teeth, you don’t need multiple restorations on teeth that may not need it otherwise.

Stimulates Bone Renewal
Since bone regenerates due to stimulation from teeth rooted in the bone, a dental implant stimulates the bone and gums as much as a natural tooth would.

High Success Rate
The success rate for implants is remarkable: 98 percent for lower implants and 91 percent for upper implants.

Easy Care
A dental implant can be brushed and flossed normally.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

As with all things, good care is required to make your dental implants last.  With regular care and good hygiene habits, it’s possible that your implants can last for a lifetime.

Find Out if a Dental Implant is Right For You

The best dental implant candidates are in good health, and have healthy gum tissues and adequate bone in the jaw to support the implant.

We welcome you to read more about dental implants at Downtown Dental Group in Nanaimo on our website and to contact us to book an appointment.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

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Why Replacing Missing Teeth Is Essential

Hockey players may make missing teeth look like no big deal – but the reality is quite the opposite! In fact, everythe health effects of missing teeth tooth in your mouth serves a valuable function, even a missing tooth in the back of the mouth which is not visible in your smile.

Why is this?  You could say that each tooth in your mouth depends on the others to keep its proper position and furthermore that even your face and lips depend on your teeth to maintain its ideal shape.

The fact is that missing teeth create a space that eventually will lead to shifting and tilting of adjacent teeth or opposing teeth, or if many teeth are missing, allow significant changes to the shape of the face and mouth.

The more teeth that are lost and not replaced, the increased chance that wrinkles and lines will form and the cheeks and lips will collapse, causing you to look older than you are.

The jawbone is another major consideration.  As soon as a tooth is lost, either from gum disease or an extraction, the supporting bone in the jaw begins to dissolve. Over time, loss of bone and shifting of teeth can limit dental options for replacing the missing teeth.

The ideal solution is to replace a missing tooth as soon as possible after it is lost. This will retain your oral health by preventing bone loss and reducing movement of surrounding teeth.

Keep in mind that your teeth are there to serve you with more than the ability to chew alone. A full set of teeth are necessary for the health of the gum and jaw tissues as well, not to mention the obvious effects on your confidence and well-being.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you have several options for making your smile complete:

  • a fixed bridge
  • a complete denture
  • implants

Our team at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is here to help you get a healthy smile back after losing a tooth or several teeth.  After a consultation with our Nanaimo dentists on Vancouver Island, we’ll advise you on the most suitable treatment option for your unique situation.

If finances are holding you back, we have a convenient and low-cost financing option to help you get your full and healthy smile back. Contact us today to book an appointment.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office, we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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3 steps to a smile makeover

If you’re not happy with your smile and ready to make a change, Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is here to help you get there.

The smile makeover process includes 3 steps after the initial consultation:

1) The Treatment Plan
2) The Smile Makeover Prep Session
3)  The Finishing Session

Of great importance, each step of the process has carefully planned quality checks built in to ensure your maximum comfort and the maximum success in creating your perfect smile.

What makes Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s approach to a smile makeover successful?

  • Each person’s smile is unique. Your smile makeover will be designed and planned to identify your ideal smile and ensure that your investment in your smile is protected from early wear.
  • We take the time to listen to your concerns and answer all of your questions.
  • We do our best to maximize your comfort.  Does the thought of temporary veneers or crowns sound uncomfortable? Today’s temporary veneers and crowns feel and look so real that no one will even know they are not permanent.  Does the thought of dental procedures make you uncomfortable?  Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group prides itself on providing options to improve your comfort during procedures.
  • Is cost an issue? Apply for no-fee financing to put your smile makeover in your budget.

Contact Downtown Dental Group today to book a smile makeover consultation.

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Smile Makeover Dream Come True

The smile makeover photo is in – and Vina’s smile makeover is complete!  Vina’s smile make over, by Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group on Vancouver Island, B.C., involved changing the shade and shape of 8 of Vina’s teeth in her smile line.  Her four front teeth were previously restorations which were overdue for a change and as a result there was a dark metallic line along the gum-line of Vina’s smile.

Dr. Mahara commented on the final session of the smile makeover:  “Vina’s gum had receded from previous long term bridges – this caused some complication in bringing back an appropriate gum-line as the papilla, the gum tissue that fills the space between two teeth,  had receded.  In response to this, I had to be prep with a deeper margin to give the appearance of the teeth coming out of the gums and mimicking the natural contour of the tooth along the gum-line.  In all, I’m very pleased with the results of Vina’s smile makeover.  She now has a much fuller smile and her gum-line looks great.”

Vina chose the second whitest shade available and lengthened the front teeth to correspond to the smile line of her lips.  She now has a “movie star” smile and she’s proud to show it.

In conclusion, Dr. Mahara reminds Vina of the need to maintain her gum and teeth health with  regular dental hygiene visits, every 6 months at a minimum.  “People sometimes think that restorations,  like crowns or bridges, mean you no longer have to worry about cavities or gum disease.  This is not the case, as the tooth surface is exposed along the gum-line and in the gum pockets.”

“In fact,” explains Dr. Mahara, “it’s even more important to maintain your teeth after having restorations and especially a smile makeover.  If you develop cavities or gum disease after a smile makeover, it can be disastrous to your new smile if not caught in time.”

Vina’s Testimonial After the Smile Makeover

“I am truly delighted with the smile Dr. Mahara designed for me. Numerous people have complimented me on my teeth, and I now have a lot of confidence in my smile.  This smile makeover goes beyond what I expected.  I wanted to fix my smile, but Dr. Mahara went far beyond this by designing a smile that suits me perfectly.

Dr. Mahara is very precise and worked hard to get to a perfect result.  He is never satisfied with just good results.  It was clear from the beginning that Dr. Mahara was interested in designing the perfect smile make over –and he did it.   I really appreciated that Dr. Mahara took the time to listen and explain the smile makeover procedures and I always felt very comfortable with the next step.

It’s important in my profession as an esthetician to make clients feel welcome and comfortable and the first thing they see is my smile.  In the past I always worried about my smile and tried to hide it, but now I feel great just letting it go.  Thank you Dr. Mahara and your wonderful Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group staff!

If  you’re thinking about having a smile makeover done, I highly recommend Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.”

Vina’s Before and After Photos:

vina_makeover

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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Smile Makeover Part 2

It’s been a brief eight weeks since Vina’s initial smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara, a trained cosmetic dentist, at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

“Vina was a perfect candidate for a smile make over,” explains Dr. Mahara, “because she had several failing restorations on her front teeth.”

Since the smile make over consultation, Vina has passed the first major check point of the process and had all 8 teeth  in her visible smile line prepped for her new crowns – at which point she received an instant smile makeover with Dr. Mahara’s amazingly realistic temporary crowns.

“The temporaries are very comfortable,” says Vina.  “They’re not as brilliantly white as the actual crowns are going to be, but still I’ve had a lot of compliments on my new smile.  It would be impossible for anyone to tell that these are temporaries.”

Since Vina’s previous restorations were failing, Dr. Mahara wasn’t sure what to expect when he removed the old restorations and he had to be prepared for various scenarios.

“Vina’s case was complicated.  Unfortunately, one of the teeth had decayed significantly under the old restoration and had to be removed.  Since bone grafting was needed to make sure the bone mass did not recede too much during the healing process, this will delay the placement of the new crowns by a few weeks.  We will ensure that the bridge sits flush with the gumline and the tooth looks natural,” explains Dr. Mahara.

Vina is thrilled that she made the decision to have the smile makeover done.

“My teeth were discoloured and uneven along the gumline,” she say, “I was never satisfied with my smile – and I admit that I sometimes tried to hide my smile.”

Who is a good candidate for a smile makeover?

“Anyone who is unhappy with their smile,” explains Dr. Mahara, “especially people with several old restorations, discoloured teeth that cannot be corrected through whitening, or with crooked teeth – for people who don’t want to have braces for an extended period of time.”

For those considering a smile makeover, the first step in the process is to book a smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara.  During this consultation, your unique smile will be considered and treatment options outlined clearly for you.

Read more about Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s smile make over process and stay tuned for Part 3 of Vina’s smile makeover, “After the Smile Makeover”.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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8 New Reasons to Smile

Vina will soon have 8 new reasons to smile.  Each of the 8 teeth that are visible when she smiles will be included in her extreme smile makeover treatment plan by trained cosmetic dentist, Dr. San Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

“I’ve been having trouble with my front teeth for several years now, and when I smile I’m careful not to smile too big” says Vina.  The crowns have fallen and created an uneven gum line and a dark space between the gums and the crowns.  “I know this looks like something is stuck there –even though there isn’t,” Vina adds.

Vina has already had an initial smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara where Dr. Mahara explained the treatment plan options.  At a second appointment, impressions were taken to have the waxed up models of the new crowns constructed by a master lab technician. Part of Dr. Mahara’s smile makeover process includes using highly trained lab technicians to make the crowns.

“The crowns need to fit the patient perfectly –their face, mouth and even their personality are considered.  These teeth will look life-like,” says Dr. Mahara.

Meanwhile Vina is seeing the waxed up models of her new teeth for the first time today.  She describes them as, “beautiful,” and her excitement is evident.

“The wax up modelling process is excellent,” says Dr. Mahara, “it allows the patient to see what the crowns will look like and give us feedback that we can incorporate in the final product.”

Dr. Mahara studied and mastered the smile make over treatment process at the world famous post-doctoral dental school, the Las Vegas Institute.

“Patients tend to continually repair their teeth not knowing their options,” says Dr. Mahara.  “I also give my patients the option for a smile makeover which addresses the root causes of the problems and at the same time significantly improves the appearance of their smile,” he adds.  Dr. Mahara’s cosmetic dentistry training gives him the vision and the tools to do this.

For Vina, the smile makeover means new freedom and renewed confidence.  “I’m going to have a big smile on my face every day,” says Vina.  In her work as an Esthetician and Spa Technician, her smile makeover will go a long way to show her confidence and inspire confidence in her service.

If you’re considering a smile makeover, please read more about Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s smile makeover process and book your smile makeover consultation today.

Stay tuned for a post in December following Vina’s smile makeover to see her results.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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