May 30, 2011 by Dr. Gibbs

What is the average lifespan of porcelain veneers?

Today we welcome a guest blog with a leading cosmetic dentist, Dr. Bruce W. Hartley from the Los Altos area in California. His insights on cosmetic dentistry and procelain veneers are appreciated! He discussed how to have your smile with porcelain veneers last the longest. Here is Dr. Hartley:

With proper care, porcelain veneers can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years or
longer.

Maintenance of porcelain veneers is similar to care for your normal teeth.
As always, make sure to floss & brush regularly, and see your hygienist 2-3
times per year for a professional cleaning. Although the porcelain itself is
well immune to tooth decay, the portion of the tooth under the veneer is
still susceptible to cavities. Daily fluoride rinses can protect the
susceptible areas of the tooth-porcelain junction.

Over brushing can have a negative effect on the longevity of your veneers.
Aggressive brushing or using anything harder than a “soft” bristle brush can
cause gum recession. The resulting root exposure doesn’t effect the veneer,
but it can ruin the esthetic beauty of the overall case. Furthermore, it is
recommended to use a non-whitening & non-abrasive tooth paste.

Be careful what you put between your teeth because whatever might crack a
normal tooth could also crack a veneer (porcelain can fracture!). Don’t bite
fingernails, fast food ketchup or hot sauce packets, metal, pens or any
other hard object. It is recommended to use a mouth guard if playing any
high intensity sports. Your dentist should provide you a protective night
guard to wear while sleeping to prevent damage from night time grinding. The
rule of thumb is, you can eat and bite into any and all foods as you would
with natural teeth, but always avoid using your veneered teeth as a tool for
non-food items!

Apart from proper care, expert installation is very important. Make sure to
choose a cosmetic dentist with many years of experience

If you follow all of the above advice, your veneers should enjoy a healthy
lifespan!

Bruce W. Hartley, D.D.S.
http://www.pccd.net
Peninsula Center of Cosmetic Dentistry
Los Altos, CA

May 5, 2009 by Dr. Gibbs

The Value of a Smile

How much of an influence is an attractive smile? More than you may suspect considering a poll by the Caravan Opinion Research International of over 100 randomly selected adults. Among the findings:

1) 90% of the respondents believed that an attractive smile was an asset for a person’s career
2) About 90% said that they are more romantically attracted to someone with an attractive smile
3) 80% of the polled group relate both age and economic status to how the person’s smile.

For more information see our cosmetic dentistry site at SmileGlenEllyn.com, and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LivewithoutDentures.com. Also visit us for information on implants at chicagoimplantdentistry.com and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures We also a a new dedicated blog

December 1, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Cosmetic Dentist—Gum Lift for Recession, Veneers, & Crowns—Wheaton Patient

Think of your gums as the “frame around a fine painting”—many times that “frame” can make a huge difference in how the “whole picture” is perceived. There are many times when we recommend altering the gum positions using a dental laser, or a gum lift, to improve the relative sizes and shapes of the teeth. Recently this was done on a patient from Wheaton. The dental laser lifted up her gums to even out the smile. Can you imagine how different the result would have been if we did not improve her gum recession and not used laser dentistry? (By the way—this is practically “painless dentistry” as the laser makes this very easy!)

Also visit us for information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube.com LiveWithoutDentures See our dental implant site at SmileGlenEllyn.com, and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. This includes Wheaton, West Chicago, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LivewithoutDentures.com.

November 29, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Changing Smiles—Naperville, Wheaton, & Glen Ellyn Dentistry

Is cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers more popular during the Holidays? Absolutely! Just today, our Glen Ellyn dental office had one lady in college just meeting her boyfriend’s family—she wanted tooth whitening and bleaching. Another grandfather from Naperville wanted to “have a smile makeover”—he (unfortunately) just dating again. Another young man who was very conscious about his smile wanted to know if porcelain veneers, Lumineers, or a combination of bonding and Invisalign would best changing his smile.

So smile big during the Holidays. There are many cosmetic dentistry options available now!

For more information see our implant site at SmileGlenEllyn.com and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic
dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. We commonly see patients
from Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg,
Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers
Grove. For Cosmetic Dentistry contact us at SmileGlenEllyn.com Also visit us for video information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

November 29, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Patient Feedback–Wheaton Dental Patient for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry

"I always felt everyone noticed my teeth, as I was always noticing everyone’s smile. I felt odd and like I was from the bad side of town! Since the work I had done I feel good about myself. I now smile without worry thank you for the “Million Dollar Smile Makeover” you gave me. My life is now much better and I am so much more confident!" Robert B. Cosmetic Dentistry Patient Wheaton IL

For more information see our dental implant site at SmileGlenEllyn.com, and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LivewithoutDentures.com. Also visit us for information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

November 13, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Patient Feedback Cosmetic Dentist Lombard–Changing Smiles Wheaton

"My co-workers were amazed at how quickly I went from having a hideous
mouth to the perfect smile almost instantly! It seemed like magic and
it didn’t hurt a bit" Edward W. Lombard IL Cosmetic Dentistry Patient

November 9, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Cosmetic Dentistry Feedback–Glen Ellyn Tooth Bleaching, Crowns, Veneers Patient

"For years I walked around with my hand over my mouth and smiling with pursed lips. Now that I have my front teeth lightened and the old filling and crowns replaced I can smile with confidence. The staff and Dr. Gibbs explained everything so well and NOTHING HURT! Thank You many times over." Cosmetic Dentistry Patient Glen Ellyn Jane P. IL

November 8, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

What Teeth Bleach the Best? Tooth Lightening Wheaton Question

Today a lady from Wheaton come and asked me about whitening her teeth. I unfortunately had to inform her that her teeth were not a good candidate for bleaching. So what does a dentist look for? Here are a few

1)    Shades of yellow lighten the best in general. This is the so called “generic yellowing” of aging and from foods such as coffee and tea. Depending on the system and shade guide used, you can expect 3-10 shades brighter.
2)    Teeth with a grey shade are difficult. Yellow is usually also present in these so some lightening is still observed.
3)    Dark grey color may be found in teeth with silver mercury filling. These will have to be removed to get a significant color change.
4)    Dark brown shades can bleach and lighten well, but may require a longer lightening cycle, or a boost with an in-office whitening system.
5)    Teeth with a wide variation in color may not bleach evenly as well.
6)    Teeth with existing dental restoration are problematic. The teeth may lighten, but the restoration will not. In my office I often use the dental laser to re-surface these restorations
More difficult teeth may need an in-office boost to get the desired effect. ALSO DO NOT FORGET TO ASK US ABOUT OUR WHITE FOR LIFE PROGRAM!   Once the teeth are lightened, we can keep your smile beautiful!
   For more information see our implant site at FearLessDentalCare.com and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmet
ic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. We commonly see patients from Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. For Cosmetic Dentistry contact us at SmileGlenEllyn.com   Also visit us for video information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

November 6, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Cosmetic Dentistry, Wheaton, Napervile Patient, Dental Sedation

   Recently I was at a Cosmetic Dentistry study club meeting with about 20 other cosmetic dentists in the Chicago area. The impact of the current economy came up and most of the other cosmetic dentists were complaining. I was the cosmetic dentist whose “numbers” were up—but why? We were all top in our field and among the best educated and trained in the Chicago area.
    I was the only one who did this work under sedation–both oral pill sedation and IV intravenous sedation. These cases not only are more medically complex, but usually mort complex in terms of patient needs. A large amount of cosmetic dentistry is done for people with OK smiles that want a FANTASTIC SMILE. The people I was seeing that they were not were people like the photos below. Many of the high fear patients have not seen a dentist for years and are phobic. This was a “ballgame” that most of these other cosmetic dentist could not play because their skill set was different!
   For more information see our implant site at FearLessDentalCare.com and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area.This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at SmileGlenEllyn.com   Also visit us for video information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures
Patient needed Cosmetic Dentistry, IV Sedation, and dental implants (Still has to bleach lower fornt teeth)

June 1, 2008 by Dr. Gibbs

Cosmetic Dentistry and New Smiles—Fearful Patients & Sedation Dentistry

Most people are well aware of the tremendous value of a smile to their personal success, romantic success, and even personal health. So what holds many of these people back?

This week I had several patients in for consultations from Wheaton, Lombard, and Naperville. All patients wanted (and needed!) improvements to their smile. There was dental decay, pain, and gum disease. What had prevented them from getting the dental care they needed was their fear of dental work.

It is very unfortunate with all the advanced training and technology available today that these patients stay away due to previous bad experiences. With better anesthetic, oral sedation, IV (intravenous) sedation, headphones, nitrous oxide, and just plain tender care, these patients will be well taken care of and have their needs met.

For more information on dental comfort, dental sedation, and advanced technology, see our website at SmileGlenEllyn.com. Also see our Gallery for patient photographs and Patient Feedback for patient responses to treatment in our Glen Ellyn office.