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Everything You Need to Know About Dental Implants | Ottawa Dentist

When it comes to our teeth, it’s pretty safe to say, we aren’t all that familiar with things. We know to brush and floss daily to avoid cavities, but if something cosmetic is necessary, we are generally in the dark. That’s what dentists are for, right? What is a dental implant is, what does it do? Today, we answer your questions about this very versatile dental option.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are natural-looking and feeling and under proper conditions, such as placement by a diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime.

What do dental implants do?

  • Replace one or more teeth
  • Support a bridge and reduce the need for a partial denture.
  • Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable

There are two types of dental implants available:

Endosteal (in the bone): Most commonly used type of implant includes screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone.

Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with metal framework.

Esthetically, dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often happen with bridgework and dentures.

Neighboring teeth are not changed to support the implant as with a bridge. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

Dental implants are secure. You don’t have to worry when speaking or eating, and there’s no messy pastes and glue. You will go about your daily routine with confidence and comfort.

For more information about dental implants, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Is Gum Contouring Right for You? | Ottawa Dentist

We all desire an exceptional smile. In a world where a camera is readily available, we try to look our best at a moment’s notice. That said, having a great smile is key. And when our patients think of a perfect smile, they focus on bright, white, straight teeth. However, many patients realize that there’s another component as well: great looking gums.

Some patients may have gums that are too high, and others have gums that are too low. The causes vary – genetics plays a part, but certain prescription drugs can cause gums that cover more of your teeth than normal, and activities such as smoking can cause gum recession, causing your teeth to look longer than expected.

Gum contouring is typically considered a cosmetic procedure – most insurance plans do not consider it medically necessary and will not cover the costs. However, it is available from many dental and periodontal offices. For severe cases of gum recession, exposed tooth roots can cause gum contouring to be considered a medical necessity, as the receding tissue can contribute to long term problems such as tooth decay and tooth loss.

The procedure can be done with traditional surgical techniques or lasers – ask your dentist to determine which they recommend. In many cases, local anesthesia is sufficient, though general anesthesia may be considered for larger procedures. The recovery is typically straightforward – there is some bleeding and swelling expected, but generally the soreness will subside within a week.

At the end of the procedure, the patient can look forward to a gum line that is both healthy and cosmetically appealing.

For more information about gum contouring, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What to Know About a Smile Makeover | Ottawa Dentist

They say that first impressions are most important, and for many of these impressions, it begins with a smile. However, like most people, you’ve likely dreamt of having a better-looking smile – one that is straighter, and preferably, whiter. A smile that brightens a room!

So, how do we get this elusive Hollywood smile? It’s known as a smile makeover.

A smile makeover is a process whose main goal is to improve the appearance of the smile through a combination of various cosmetic dentistry treatments or procedures. The list of treatments includes, but are not limited to, dental veneers, composite bonding, tooth implants and teeth whitening. More than being a cosmetic procedure, though, a smile makeover carries a lot of functional and health benefits as well.

For example, those with malocclusions may find it hard to brush and floss their teeth, making them prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Correcting malocclusions through orthodontics can help solve that problem, as well as the other possible complications that come with malocclusion, such as speech impediments, accidental chipping and so on.

Cosmetic dental treatments alone are expensive enough, which makes it safe to say that a series of such treatments is bound to cost a lot – something that happens in a smile makeover. In fact, it would not come off as a surprise for patients to spend well over thousands of dollars just to get the smile they’ve always wanted.

Yes, a smile makeover is expensive, but as long as you see your smile as something that you’ll own and wear for the rest of your life, it should be easier for you to decide whether it is a worthy investment or not.

For more information about smile makeovers, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What Is a Cosmetic Dentist? | Ottawa Dentist

When you hear the word cosmetic dentist, what do you think differentiates them from a general dentist? What makes them different, in particular, is just how they pay attention to the maintenance and improvement of the natural beauty of the smile of their patients.

Say you need a filling – a general dentist may recommend a metal composite restoration method because it’s been around for centuries already. However, most cosmetic dentists disagree with this.

For cosmetic dentists, porcelain is their material of choice when it comes to repairing any type of damage to their patient’s teeth because they’re malleable, easy to use, safe and most important of all, aesthetically pleasing.

Cosmetic dentists, unlike general dentists, make it their job to protect both the structural integrity and aesthetics of their patient’s smile. And, while elective, there are many cases where the treatments offered by cosmetic dentists provide much better restorative benefits compared to conventional methods, such as:

Correction of physical flaws. The procedures preferred by cosmetic dentists can help conceal, as well as correct plenty of dental problems, from misshapen teeth, chips, cracks, unsightly gaps and stains, and so on.

Improved self-esteem. Many agree that the one thing that stops you from smiling is a flawed smile. Cosmetic dentists can help fix that for you so that you can smile away all you want and be prouder of the way you look, giving your self-esteem a much-needed boost.

Future damage prevention. While most of the procedures are designed to help make teeth look beautiful, they can also affect it positively in other ways. Bonding can help improve the structural integrity of the teeth. By covering up hairline fractures or worn edges will not only improve their appearance but prevent further damage.

For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Need a Cosmetic Dental Procedure? | Ottawa Dentist

On the quest for the ideal smile, there are many paths to take. Because smiles are like snowflakes – no two smiles are alike. This is how we know that your perfect smile is attainable, it may just take some time. So, if you are ready to take the next step towards a pristine pucker, it’s time to visit your dental professional to discuss a treatment plan. Here are some of the more common procedures:

  • Composite white fillings repair cavities without having silver filling in the mouth. Existing metal fillings can be replaced with modern white resin.
  • Bonding uses composite resin to help change the size, shape, or color of teeth. Because it attaches to teeth in the same way that composite fillings attach, bonding can be used to fix chips on visible front teeth.
  • Teeth that are discolored or stained can be whitened – either in the office or using take-home trays.
  • Veneers – a thin layer of porcelain on top of the tooth – can be used to change tooth shape, size, or color
  • Crowns can be used as a cap on top of teeth damaged by cracks or decay
  • Orthodontics – either traditional or Invisalign – can be used to permanently straighten teeth.
  • Gum tissue can be surgically altered – either added via grafts to help with recession, or removed to create a more appealing tooth length
  • For missing, broken, or severely damaged teeth, full implants can be used to provide a replacement tooth

Because modern dentists have implants as a final catchall, virtually any problem – even major problems involving multiple missing teeth – can be solved given enough time and room in the patient’s budget. However, your dentist will be able to guide you through the process by explaining the procedure’s pros and cons.

For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Teeth Whitening for Children? | Ottawa Dentist

Are you a new parent? Is your smartphone basically a photo album of your little one? As new parents, we want to capture every second, every little development. After all, we live in a selfie world. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that teeth whitening procedures have skyrocketed over the past few years. Now, while most of those who undergo such cosmetic procedures are adults, there is an increasing number of parents showing interest in having their children’s teeth whitened. This then begs the question, is it safe to do so?

Before making such a decision, parents should know that permanent teeth will usually seem yellower than baby teeth. And this happens because baby teeth are smaller, whiter and brighter. Although, a bit yellower in tint, permanent teeth are not stained or unhealthy, but rather, they’re just naturally that way. So, if your child becomes conscious about the “yellowing” of their teeth soon after all their permanent set of teeth erupts, you’ll want to assure them that this is perfectly normal.

The best thing to do as a parent is to instill good dental hygiene habits and take him or her to the dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleaning. If you want some extra insurance, limit your child’s intake of stain-causing food items and beverages, such as soda and sugary drinks.

If you’re interested in having your child’s teeth whitening, or just made to look better, be sure to contact your child’s dentist and ask for a consultation first. They’ll be glad to give you an honest answer that will help you make the best decision for the well-being of your child.

For more information about teeth whitening, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.