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What Is Cosmetic Dentistry? | Ottawa Dentist

Cosmetic dentistry can transform the appearance of your teeth while retaining or enhancing your oral health. According to AACD.com “…cosmetic procedures can range from basic color correction to replacing missing teeth, and everything in between.” While cosmetic dentists may employ the use of anesthesia for surgical improvement, most procedures are non-invasive. Here are a few procedures cosmetic dentists perform.

Teeth Whitening – a common procedure for cosmetic dentists is teeth whitening. Coffee, tobacco, alcohol, predisposition, and many other things can contribute to a less-than-white smile. If over-the-counter methods haven’t quite worked to bring back your pearly whites, you may consider speaking with a cosmetic dentist for a more intense treatment.

Dental Bonding– for chipped, cracked or gapped teeth, your dentist will apply a tooth-colored resin to the chipped area. They will layer resin, utilizing a UV light to harden it as they go, in order to build back the original look of the chipped tooth or teeth.

Veneer Application – you can think of a veneer as a thin shell that fits over the surface of your existing teeth to improve the color, shape, size, or length of teeth. Veneers are made of porcelain or a resin composite and permanently bonded to the teeth.

Gum Reshaping – when your gums appear more pronounced than your teeth, or your gemlike is uneven, a cosmetic dentist may recommend gum reshaping. Essentially, a small amount of gum or bone tissue is removed or contoured to even out the appearance of your gum line or tooth ratio.

Crowns – similar to a veneer, dental crowns are a porcelain or ceramic tooth look-alike that fits over a weak or damaged tooth. Crowns are made to fully encase the tooth and can last between five to 15 years depending on how well they are cared for.

Braces – these are within the realm of cosmetic dentistry because braces shift the teeth into optimal positions for your bite and mouth size. Braces are one of the most common procedures a cosmetic dentist may perform, as tooth alignment is just as much about oral health as it is aesthetics.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Making Beautiful Faces with Braces | Ottawa Dentist

In order to achieve our best smile, some of us need orthodontic help to straighten things out. Because not only is a straight smile attractive but is necessary to maintain oral health. The good news is – correcting flaws with braces is not only common, but you now have a choice as to which treatment option you prefer.

Traditional braces were typically silver metal back in the day, but they can now come in a ceramic that makes them a whole lot less noticeable. There are also colors you can choose from to create a custom look. On the downside, you still have to get them tightened every month or so and broken pieces are pretty painful.

Since 1998, Invisalign are transparent tooth aligners that have taken the orthodontic world by storm. Straightening your teeth without wires and glued brackets, it’s clear, it’s removable and the treatment time is generally a third of what wearing traditional braces would be. The downside to this is that they are more expensive, and it takes a lot more discipline to maintain the strict regimen of wearing the aligners most of the day and the additional steps it takes to clean the system’s trays.

So, which do you choose? Well, it honestly depends on your personal situation. Because despite what you may hope, not all cases are the same. Patients with bridgework, certain bite issues or rotational needs are just out of luck. Alternatively, traditional braces are not ideal for those that lead a rough and tumble life or have a job that doesn’t allow regular braces. In that instance, you may want to consider the Invisalign system or lingual braces (braces attached to the insides of your teeth) to straighten things out.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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When Bleaching Your Teeth Goes Too Far | Ottawa Dentist

A bright set of pearly whites is a goal for most of us. With the diet most of us keep, it is easy for our teeth to begin to tinge as time goes on. Dark foods and beverages all contribute to the dingy look our smiles have. Thankfully, there are many ways to regain those pearlies with just a bit of effort. From natural to in-office treatments, brightening your smile not only has options, but loads of them.

While in-office treatments have become commonplace in society today, the most widely used oral products today are whitening strips and tray-based over the counter whitening kits. And yes – tooth whitening can be a safe and effective technique, but some individuals are going above the recommendations of their dentists. Therein lies the problem…

Individuals who overdo whitening techniques have noticeably snow-white teeth that oftentimes look unnatural. Some individuals get to the point where their teeth begin to inhibit transparent figures. Overuse of whitening products will cause major tooth sensitivity and leave patients more prone to needing root canal treatments. You may be surprised to know that if you over-whiten your teeth, you are essentially wearing down your enamel and that enamel is naturally tinged in yellow, so you are making your teeth yellow by overdoing the whitening. Talk about a backfire!

But don’t worry – there is hope. If you are looking for a safer, more effective form of teeth whitening, consult your dentist. They will give you an overview of certain procedures and even offer some over the counter techniques that may be used, however only if used correctly.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Like to Drink Tea? | Ottawa Dentist

Are you a fan of drinking tea? Is it the one hot beverage you go to when you want to warm up your bones? You aren’t alone. Every second, people around the world consume 25,000 cups of tea. That’s 2.16 billion cups of tea each day! Tea is loved so much that the United Nations declared May 21st International Tea Day to celebrate the importance of tea in our lives in order to promote its production and consumption.

You may not be aware, but tea is not only helping solve issues of poverty and hunger around the world. There are millions of families in developing countries that base their entire livelihood on producing tea for all of us around the world. And because tea is a way to stave off hunger, it is consumed by many remote, disadvantaged countries. Tea is not only fantastic with its health benefits, like preventing tooth loss, but is also a cornerstone to many cultures.

But it doesn’t matter if you love your tea hot or iced, if you’re a superfan, you know that it begins to stain your teeth after some time. This is why it is very important to keep up with your daily dental hygiene. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, floss and rinse to ensure that your stains stay away for as long as possible. At your regular checkups, you can mention any whitening treatments you would like to brighten your smile. So, enjoy your cup of tea. Not only will it heal your body and soothe your soul, but it is also helping your fellow man.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Your Prettier Smile Is on the Horizon | Ottawa Dentist

When searching for the smile of our dreams, there is one dental appliance that is like the Swiss Army knife of the dental world – dental implants. Most commonly used for individuals who have cracked or even missing teeth, dental implants provide a multitude of advantages to any individual looking to create a beautiful smile: Versatility. Though dental implants have their own single purpose in replacing missing or cracked teeth, they may also serve as an important part in other restorative procedures. A tooth implant can support a dental crown as well as dental bridges. These types of decisions will be presented to you as you design your treatment plan with your dental professional. Naturalness. You have seen bad veneers – the teeth look very white and very obvious. Most individuals decide on getting dental implants because they are the closest to natural that replacement teeth can get. Your dentist will design these implants to look and feel the most natural that they can be, even taking the time to get the color right so that they blend in with your natural teeth. No one will even notice you’ve had work done. Confidence. People who suffer from missing teeth are oftentimes uncomfortable with their appearances. After all, it is the first thing you see upon meeting someone for the first time. If you are self-conscious, you will shy away from smiling. That’s no way to live life! Because dental implants are so natural looking, one’s confidence should be restored, especially when flashing a smile. If your smile just needs a couple of subtle tweaks, you may want to consider getting Invisalign, the invisible trays used to straighten your teeth in the most discreet way. Your perfect smile is waiting for you – so why not make an appointment today? If you would like more information about smile makeovers, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.
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Spruce Up Your Smile with Facial Rejuvenation | Ottawa Dentist

Now that you have finally gotten the smile you’ve always wanted you may begin to notice that the little lines in your face are becoming more predominant. Well, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another, right? Don’t worry – you aren’t alone. Aging is natural for everyone, but it doesn’t mean we need to lie down and surrender to the facts of life. It’s just time for a visit to the dentist. One of the ways a smile makeover is successful, is to have some facial rejuvenation done to improve the overall look of your smile. Here at L’Esplande Dental Centre Dentaire, we are proud to offer our patients two of these treatment options – Botox and Juvederm. These procedures have both been performed for years, but they are very different. Here is a quick breakdown: Botox. This option freezes muscles to stop creases and wrinkles caused by facial expressions. These are typically found in the upper face, such as the forehead and around the eyes. The results can last 3 to 4 months but is done in a single trip to the dentist. Dermal fillers. These fillers use hyaluronic acid and similar substances to “fill in” or plump areas that have lost volume and smoothness. This includes all of the places that are used when you smile – wrinkles around the mouth, thin lips, and cheeks that have lost fullness. But more than that, they may also be used on forehead wrinkles, scars, and other areas that need extra volume for a smoother look. Unlike Botox, these results can last up to half a year. If you would like more information about facial rejuvenation, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.
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Getting Botox: At the Dentist? | Ottawa Dentist

It seems everyone is trying to keep their youthful glow these days and will try almost anything to keep it. From fad diets to surgical procedures, everyone is looking for that quick path to the fountain of youth. Because let’s face it – time waits for no man. So, we go to the doctors to fill in our wrinkles with collagen and Botox in order to keep it moving. But have you ever heard of getting Botox injections at the dentist? Sure, it isn’t the first treatment option you think of when visiting the dentist, but Botox is actually a very useful option in the dental world. Botox injections or Botox, for short, is used in treating all sorts of conditions in the medical field, because of its temporary paralysis of muscle activity components. But, it’s not like teeth have wrinkles, right? Dental professionals have begun to use these injections to treat conditions like bruxism, TMJ and others involving facial pain. Because it is safe for treating conditions involving facial pain, Botox injections may also prove useful in many other dental cases. In orthodontics, the teeth of patients with strong mentalis muscles are prone reverting back to pre-therapy positions. Botox can help by weakening the muscles to allow movement and prevent any of the results of the current treatment. Patients who are still getting used to dentures can also benefit from Botox as they transition. While some may be concerned about using Botox as a treatment option, know that the local anesthesia typically used during your dental visits has greater potential for complications and negative reactions than Botox or dermal fillers. If you would like more information about Botox, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.