Libertyville Dentist Explains Ways Your Teeth Can Make You Look Younger

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Embracing the aging process is a part of life. We can’t hold onto our youth forever. There are certain natural processes the body goes through that we cannot fight. Still, there are simple things that we can do with our appearance to prevent looking older. Some of these procedures include cosmetic and restorative dental work. Your Libertyville dentist, Dr. Brent A Engelberg, will explain two common dental procedures that can take years off of your appearance.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a simple and non-invasive procedure that can turn stained, dulling teeth into true pearly whites. Various types of whitening are available through dentists. In-office teeth whitening like Zoom! and Boost! are expedient whitening procedures that are performed by your dentist. Bleaching gel and laser light are utilized to brighten and whiten your teeth up to ten shades. At-home whitening includes customized trays and professional level bleaching gel that you can administer at home. Imagine whitening your teeth while you do the dishes, walk on the treadmill, or even sleep? Various types of whitening are safe and effective for your teeth, and will likely make you look several years younger. (more…)

A Quiz on Tooth Structure from Your Vernon Hills Cosmetic Dentist

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Understanding what a healthy set of teeth should be comprised of can be a good way to grasp what cosmetic dental work might be right for you. Your Vernon Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Brent A. Engelberg, would like to see how much you know about the structure of your teeth. Try your hand at the following quiz:

Questions

Q1. True or false – Natural teeth are comprised of four different types of tissue.

Q2. True or false – Tooth enamel begins white, but stains and dulls over time.

Q3. True or false – Dentin is a solid, nearly impenetrable material.

Q4. True or false – Dental bonding is the process of painting substitute tooth enamel onto dentin to keep cementum and dental pulp safe. (more…)

Glencoe Cosmetic Dentist Educates on Porcelain Veneer Materials

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We spoke last week about porcelain veneers, and how this cosmetic procedure can help you attain the smile you’ve been dreaming of. High quality veneers will include a consultation with your cosmetic dentist to determine the shape, color, and size of the materials used to make-over your teeth. Specifications are sent off to a dental lab where the extremely thin veneer material is fabricated to be customized just for you. The results are high-quality and natural if you have chosen an experienced dentist that guides you in the right direction. However, there are certain types of veneers that you might want to educate yourself on, as they don’t work for all cases. Dr. Brent A. Engelberg, your Glencoe dentist, explains the details of something called Lumineers.

What Are Lumineers?

A brand name for a widely marketed veneer product, Lumineers are manufactured in one specific dental lab. According to advertisements, they have many pros that make patients interested. Lumineers distinguish themselves from traditional veneers as being less invasive and pain-free. They also claim to be reversible, so if you aren’t happy with your results, or change your mind and want a different look, starting over can theoretically be much easier.

Issues with Lumineers

The problem that some find with Lumineers is that they are a mass marketed brand of veneer. Their lab production practices have the potential to be detrimental to quality control, as the experience level of the technicians generally varies. Rarely will you find a master ceramist among them. Additionally, Lumineers are reversible at a price. Taking off adhesively bonded veneers will involve the removal of at least some tooth structure which can set you up for further dental procedures and issues with tooth decay when protective enamel is stripped away.

The truth is, you will be hard-pressed to find an experienced, high end cosmetic dentist that strongly recommends Lumineers. A more reliable way to achieve quality is to find a dentist that has a long-standing relationship with a master-ceramist that they trust, and a portfolio of before & after photos of actual patients.

Schedule a Porcelain Veneer Consultation in Glencoe

If you would like to arrange a consultation to discuss porcelain veneer options with Dr. Engelberg, schedule an appointment with our 60022 dentist office by calling 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.

Deerfield Cosmetic Dentist Explains Immediate Dental Implants

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Have you ever heard of “teeth in a day?” Another commonly heard procedural term is “all-in-four” teeth replacements. For people that are embarrassed by the look of missing teeth, the idea of immediate results is very attractive. This is also an alluring concept for people with deep anxiety over going to the dentist. Thoughts of being able to get in and out without the dentist’s office starting to feel like a second home will entice many patients to look into these procedures. Dr. Brent A. Engelberg, your Deerfield cosmetic dentist, will explain the details of immediate implants, and who qualifies as a good candidate for the procedure.

Dental Implants Can Take Several Visits

Dental implants are an advanced and complex procedure that should be performed by capable implant surgeons.  Small titanium rods are placed into the jawbone to act as replacement tooth roots. Dental implants are a great way to keep the jawbone healthy (without them, you lose bone when teeth are missing) and have replacement teeth that function almost exactly as natural teeth. However, a successful dental implant procedure requires healthy gums and enough bone density to support the implants. Sometimes preliminary procedures are necessary to deal with tooth decay, gum disease, and unhealthy or insufficient jawbone, which then requires healing time before the next step can be implemented. (more…)