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Cosmetic Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions
Provided by Dr. Charles McMillian of Tampa


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Smile Makeover


99.7% of Americans feel that a
smile is an attractive asset!

96% of adults believe an attractive smile
makes a person more appealing to members
of the opposite sex.

74% of adults feel an unattractive smile
can hurt a person's chances for career success.

Do you want a dazzling smile? A Hollywood smile?

A beautiful smile can light up the room, make people notice you and indicate health and happiness. Unfortunately, the majority of adults will experience some form of tooth decay, damage or staining and discoloration as a result of aging, lifestyle, genetics and poor oral hygiene. Tooth or gum problems can quickly lead people to be self-conscious and hide their toothy grins.

The good news is that smile makeover technology and state-of-the-art cosmetic dentistry training available to cosmetic dentists make smile makeovers better and easier than ever before.

A complete smile makeover by a cosmetic dentist involves not only improving the look of the smile, but also restoring the teeth, bite and muscles to their natural positions. Not only will you look great, you will feel even better!

If you are considering a smile makeover in Lakeland, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.


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Instant Orthodontics


Instant Orthodontics is not a misnomer. It’s as simple as braces versus porcelain veneers. Braces can take 2 to 3 years to straighten your teeth. Porcelain veneers can give you that same look in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. Instead of wearing braces, we shape your teeth and apply a thin porcelain veneer. The result is a beautiful smile showing off your new, straight teeth.

Instant Orthodontics can also give you a brighter smile than you’ve been able to achieve with brushing or bleaching. Porcelain veneers are the color we love to see when people smile. And we love to see people smile!

If you are considering instant orthodontics in Lakeland, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.


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Porcelain Veneers


Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made facings that are affixed to your teeth. The dental veneers procedure is simple and comfortable and may take as few as two appointments. Made from porcelain, veneers are a great way to improve the look of your front teeth. You can whiten your teeth, close spaces, and create a great smile easily and affordably. They may be used to correct small gaps between the front teeth, or to fix teeth that are poorly shaped or slightly crooked. We may recommend veneers to cover teeth that are chipped, worn or eroded. A few of the defects that porcelain veneers can correct include:

* Gaps between the teeth
* Permanently stained or discolored teeth
* Stained or washed out fillings
* Chipped or broken teeth
* Misshapen or crooked teeth

If you are concerned about the size, shape, position or color of your teeth, we may be able to help you with porcelain or dental veneers at our Lakeland, Florida area cosmetic dentistry office.

If you are considering porcelain veneers in Lakeland, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.


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Teeth Whitening


Are you happy with your smile? Sometimes, all it takes is a simple tooth whitening treatment to give you that perfect smile. As you age, you may begin to notice that your teeth aren’t quite the same shade of white that they were in your youth. Typically, noticeable discoloration begins in the late 20s and early 30s. A variety of factors can speed up the discoloration process including chemical staining from drinking caffeine and smoking, a genetic predisposition to early yellowing, and the onset of gum and tooth disease. As a cosmetic dentist in the Lakeland, Florida area, we have a very extensive range of tooth whitening systems, available either in-office or at home. The level of whiteness that can be achieved depends on the extent of discoloration of your teeth and how they came to be stained.

There are many advantages to choosing professional tooth whitening treatments as opposed to over the counter methods or using nothing.

* Whitening treatments are very comfortable, safe and effective
* Your smile will become permanently lighter
* Whitening is quick and noticeable
* Results are controllable – you decide how dramatic of a change you want
* Whitening is simple and convenient – you can choose from in-office treatment, or opt for a take home kit
* Whiter teeth can make you feel more confident and ready to show off your beautiful smile
* Successfully brightening your smile may encourage you to take better care of your teeth

If you are considering teeth whitening or teeth bleaching in Lakeland, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.


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Bridges


When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can drift out of position, which can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay and gum disease.

When tooth loss occurs, we may recommend the placement of a bridge. Designed to replace missing teeth and support surrounding teeth, a bridge is a grouping of interconnected crowns. Held in place by two crowns, a bridge can reduce the risk of gum disease, help correct bite issues and even improve speech. If performed by a well-trained cosmetic dentist, bridges are effective and durable and can last an excess of 10 years.

How is a bridge constructed?
We begin bridgework by filing down the teeth to accommodate the crowns. Then we will take impressions of the teeth, which will then be used to create the crowns.

We prepare and shape the teeth on each side of the space to receive crowns. Then, we make an impression of the area. Once the crowns are finished, the false tooth (or teeth) will be bonded to them. When the bridge is ready, a temporary (or transitional) bridge is formed and fitted in the area. During your next visit (usually a week later), the temporary bridge is removed and the permanent fixed bridge is placed, adjusted and cemented into place.

Once the bridgework is permanently cemented, you may again enjoy your favorite foods with confidence. Bridgework allows you to avoid that sunken-in appearance caused by missing teeth and stabilizes that area of the dental arch to give you a more youthful appearance, allowing you to smile once more with confidence.


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Crowns


A crown is a prosthetic placed over an existing tooth to create a smoother, cleaner look and enhance strength and durability. When a tooth is fractured, has an outdated filling, or is severely damaged by decay, the placement of a crown may be recommended. Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve the appearance of your smile. Types of crowns include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain-fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown.

The crown restores the appearance of your teeth and can affect the muscles in your face. A crown will be the same size and shape as the natural tooth. As a result, it will keep your jaw and bite aligned; it will also make sure that other teeth don't shift locations or take on a greater share of the work of biting and chewing.

Crown Technology
Today’s well-constructed crowns looks and functions just like natural teeth. Crown technology has improved over the years, and older, less lifelike crowns can be replaced with new ones. They are a great option when the damage or decay is so extensive that filling materials cannot make the tooth strong enough. Crowns are most often made of gold or porcelain but can also be made of stainless steel. Porcelain crowns are carefully matched in color so they cannot be distinguished from your natural teeth. Many people choose porcelain crowns for the cosmetic appearance and the confidence it gives them. New materials are now available that allow the use of "all-ceramic" crowns in some cases. Some people prefer not to use gold because it stands out from the other teeth in appearance. At the same time, if the crown is on a back molar, some people feel the cosmetic issue is not a big one. We will discuss the types of materials available if a crown is recommended.

Protect Your Crown
Once your crown is in place, make sure the area is brushed well and that you floss below the gum line. While the crown protects your remaining tooth from further decay, you must protect the base of the crown from bacterial growth and gum disease. Regular brushing and flossing will ensure that your crown will be in place for years to come.

We may recommend a crown if your tooth has enough decay that it cannot hold a filling, or if your tooth is cracked or broken and in danger of cracking down into the root if left unattended.


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Restoration


Crown and bridgework, also described as restorative dentistry, involves the restoration of natural teeth that have been damaged, decayed or lost. Crowns and bridges can correct missing teeth, bite dysfunction, and functional or structural problems. A crown can restore an individual damaged tooth back to its original form and function, while a bridge can replace one or more teeth. These restorations are cemented onto the teeth and are referred to as "fixed" dentistry rather than using a removable appliance or partial denture.


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Fillings


Also known as composite fillings, white fillings are designed to match the color of your teeth. They can be used to restore a decayed tooth or repair a defect. Although they are often used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important, they may also be used on a back tooth when the restoration is small or may be visible.

How are white fillings done?
Like silver fillings, composites can be prepared and placed in one visit. After the decayed portion of the tooth is removed, your cosmetic dentist will use a very mild acid solution to "etch" the tooth surface. A bonding agent is brushed onto the prepared tooth, followed by several thin layers of the tooth-colored composite. Once the composite filling is placed, the material is chemically hardened, or cured, with a special light, and polished.

There are many reasons why most dental patients choose white fillings over the traditional metal fillings. The mercury in amalgam fillings is viewed as potentially toxic, and many patients feel that the white composite fillings represent a more advanced technology. Composite fillings are also more aesthetic and resistant to fracture.

If you have a growing cavity or wish to fix a tooth defect, white fillings may be right for you. You can also replace old metal fillings with the simpler, more attractive white fillings.

If you are considering white fillings in Lakeland, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.


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Dental Bonding


In cosmetic dental bonding, an enamel-like material is applied, hardened and sculpted to close spaces between teeth, cover flaws, or improve the color or shape of teeth. Composite tooth bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that can work wonders for your smile. Using materials that match the shade, translucency and texture of your teeth, gaps between the teeth can be closed, spots, chips, and discolorations can be eliminated, and your self-confidence can be enhanced through the improved appearance of your smile.

How is a tooth bonded?
Tooth bonding is usually a one-visit procedure. The tooth is prepared by lightly roughening the area to be repaired, which usually doesn't require anesthetic. The surface of the tooth is then etched with a gel, and a treatment of bonding primers and resins is applied to the tooth. Dental composites are made to a paste-like consistency so that they can be sculpted to the proper shape and applied. They contain various pigments that are matched to your tooth color, and they come in varying degrees of translucency. This composite is applied to your tooth, sometimes in several layers in order to duplicate the depth of color that occurs in a natural tooth. A high-intensity curing light is then used to harden it. With the latest dental technology, we can mimic the color details and translucency of your tooth for a natural, healthy appearance.

How long will tooth bonding last?
The technology of composite tooth bonding materials is wonderful as far as the beauty that it can bring to your teeth. There are some limitations to the materials of which you need to be aware. How long bonding lasts depends on many factors that are unique to the individual. Many people will go for ten or fifteen years and have the bonding look as good as the day it was put in. Some people will get staining on the margins of the bonding after one or two years and will need some touch-up work. If you take care of it well, it would be unusual to ever have to replace it, but some touch-up work would be normal after three to five years.

Under normal mouth conditions and if used as recommended, the tooth bonding work will not darken or discolor with age. If improper professional cleaning does not damage the bonding, it should not stain any more than your natural teeth. In most cases, it is also durable enough to withstand the stresses of ordinary mouth function.

If you have extensive bonding work, we recommend frequent professional maintenance. Having your teeth cleaned two to four times per year by a hygienist skilled in bonding maintenance can help protect your bonding and make it look better and last longer. Maintain your bonded teeth by brushing and flossing faithfully. Try to avoid sweets or starchy foods between meals. Bonding holds up much better when it is clean. Be careful to choose gentle cleaning tools - Harsh toothpastes will dull the shine on bonding and make it more susceptible to stain. Hard toothbrushes will also damage bonding. If you have minor flaws in one or many teeth, you should consider dental bonding as a quick and economical way to improve your appearance.

If you are considering dental bonding in Lakeland, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.


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What is cosmetic dentistry?


The term cosmetic dentistry refers to all procedures used to improve your smile. This includes porcelain veneers, bridges and crowns, teeth whitening, bonding and white fillings.


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How do I know if cosmetic dentistry is right for me?


First, take a look at your smile. If you don’t like what you see (discoloration, crooked or missing teeth, etc.), then we recommend you schedule a consultation. We can discuss your options so you can make an informed decision about cosmetic dentistry and whether it is something you want to pursue.


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Can I have my old silver fillings replaced even if they aren’t falling out?


It is definitely more appealing to see white when you smile rather than the silver fillings so many people have. Your silver fillings usually last 5 to 8 years and will eventually need to be replaced. If your primary concern is the color and the filling is in good shape, there are other options such as white fillings or porcelain inlays.


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I have a cavity that needs filling. Is there an alternative to the silver fillings?


White fillings are quickly replacing the old silver fillings that are part mercury. Although both kinds of fillings serve the same purpose, white fillings are more cosmetically appealing.


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The only thing wrong with my smile is my yellow teeth. What can I do?


We offer several different teeth whitening options that can be done in our office or in the privacy of your own home. To determine which option is best suited for your needs, we recommend you contact our office to schedule an initial consultation.


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What is the difference between a crown and a bridge?


Both crowns and bridges are referred to as restorative dentistry. They are used to return your teeth to their desired look and stability. A crown is used when a single tooth is damaged. A bridge is used when more than one tooth is missing. Crowns and bridges both add stability to the surrounding teeth and give your smile a more beautiful look.


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Can porcelain veneers cover up the gaps in my smile?


Definitely. Porcelain veneers are specifically designed to cover gaps, chips, permanent stains, misshapen teeth and washed out fillings. The thin porcelain veneers are instant orthodontics and will give you the beautiful smile you desire.


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Charles McMillian, DMD
McMillian Dental Solutions

Office Address:

930 Marcum Rd.
Suite 1
Lakeland, FL 33809
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