If your tooth breaks down as a result of decay and fillings are too small to fix the breakdown, your Santa Monica dentist will use crowns, which are covers or caps placed over the teeth and bonded to the teeth. If you have cracked a tooth, crowns may be used to bond the tooth and keep it from coming apart. Crowns strengthen the teeth and restore teeth to their pre-decay look. In some cases, crowns are even used to cover or conceal badly stained or misshapen teeth.

In the past, there were only a few types of crowns available. Gold crowns were used for back teeth, where chewing pressure was a problem. Ceramic-veneered gold crowns looked more natural, but still provided the durability of gold. Ceramic crowns are a popular choice, especially for front teeth, because they do not show any tell-tale gold and match the color of teeth perfectly.

A new type of ceramic crown is the bonded all-porcelain crown. Also called the reinforced resin crown, this type of crown provides the most natural look for the best smile. Depending on the manufacturer, the crown will be made from reinforced composite resin or pure ceramic. Even under close inspection, it’s very hard to tell where the crown begins and the natural teeth end. This sort of crown is very discreet and perfect for those who want that ideal smile.

The exciting thing about the new ceramic crowns as well is that new bonding technology is used to attach these crowns to your teeth. The technology allows the crown to stick more firmly to your teeth, giving you many years of hassle-free wear. You may eat normally without endangering your crown. If you have metal allergies, this sort of crown is perfect, since no metal is used in the manufacture of the crown or in the bonding process. Even on the back molars, where metal crowns were traditionally used, your LA dentist can now add a tooth colored onlay, which is also a metal-free procedure.

Only a qualified, experienced dental professional can tell you whether crowns are for you and can work with you to find the best crowns for your particular situation. If you need a professional dentist with experience in ceramic crowns, look no further than West LA Dental. The dental professionals at West LA Dental have extensive experience in dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. They can help you find your brightest, healthiest smile.

Most adults require fillings at some point in their life. When a cavity forms, the dentist must place a filling in the cavity after treatment in order to ensure that the cavity does not get worse. Once decay has been removed, the tooth also has a hollow spot inside. This must be filled in with a filling in order to strengthen the tooth. Traditionally, fillings have been made from silver. While this is safe and reliable filling, however, it can be unsightly, especially for patients with more than one filling. Silver (amalgam) fillings can show when patients smile, laugh, or speak and some patients can feel very uncomfortable or embarrassed by their fillings.

An ideal solution is a white filling. White fillings are made of a durable composite resin. As their name suggests, white fillings are in fact matched to the tooth color, making the fillings virtually invisible. White fillings have long been available for front teeth. However, new breakthroughs in dentistry have created an even stronger composite resin that can be applied to the back teeth, where much of the chewing pressure takes place. The new white fillings are very durable, even when applied to the back teeth.

If you are considering white fillings, you should know that there are many reasons to choose this type of filling. White fillings are often chosen for cosmetic reasons. Many patients find that white fillings make their smiles look perfectly natural. With white fillings, you will look as though you have a naturally perfect smile. White fillings are also ideal for patients who have health concerns with most fillings. White fillings are mercury-free, which makes some patients feel safer. Finally, white fillings are ideal for those who have sensitive teeth. If your teeth are sensitive to heat or cold, white fillings can help reduce pain because composite resin does not conduct temperature changes as quickly as silver or gold fillings. Therefore, your teeth warm or cool more gradually, meaning less pain for you.

If these benefits have you considering white fillings, you should meet with a qualified Santa Monica dentist to learn whether these treatment options are right for you. Our professional team at West LA Dental has years of experience with white fillings, so contact one of our team members today to learn more. We can help you decide which fillings are right for you.

Celebrities turn to Hollywood dentists very frequently for veneers. From rock stars to actresses, celebs are turning to veneers as the easy and effective way to change their smile. What’s so special about veneers? Veneers are quite simply very thin porcelain or acrylic shells which are attached to the front part of the teeth. Veneers can quickly transform a smile and can cover up a number of problems, including chipped teeth, uneven teeth, large fillings, stains, and other problems. Veneers are quite often the fastest way to transform a crooked and unsightly smile into a beautiful, bright mouth.

Celebrities love the way that veneers make their teeth perfect for the camera all the time, and you are likely to enjoy the same effect. If you’ve always wanted a Hollywood perfect smile, but have dreaded the hours of surgery and other procedures it would take to get your mouth perfect, veneers are for you. These time-saving devices you to enjoy an excellent smile with minimal pain, discomfort, and inconvenience.

If you want veneers, consider talking to your Santa Monica dentist about whether this procedure is right for you. In general, in order to get veneers, your dentist will have to evaluate your mouth, and remove part of the enamel from your teeth in order to make room for the veneers. Your dentist will also have to make an impression or mold of your teeth, so that your veneers can be custom-made for your mouth. During a subsequent visit, you Santa Monica dentist will place a mild chemical all over your teeth to help make the surface of the teeth are little bit rough. This will allow the veneers to adhere to your teeth very well. Your dentist will then individually attach each veneer to your teeth, using a composite resin cement. The result will be instantly perfect teeth. You can see results right away, and unlike dentures or other solutions, veneers give you a perfect smile around the clock.

If you want to know whether veneers — or some other cosmetic dentistry procedures — are right for you, contact West LA Dental today. West LA Dental has a team of dental professionals specializing in cosmetic dentistry. We can help you figure out which type of veneers are right for you, or we can help you find the sort of procedure that will give you the smile you want.