Ask the Doctor

Q: Would I be a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry?
A: Cosmetic dentistry is for people that take pride in their appearance and have the desire for an attractive smile. Nothing can detract from your image or persona more than a dingy, unattractive smile. The advanced training we have received allows us to provide you with optimal results. All of our patients who have had cosmetic dentistry have expressed how much better it has made them feel about themselves and how they tend to smile much more frequently now. Additionally, smiling has been shown to affect one’s mood. Others will pick up on your renewed confidence. Those who are in sales or have a position requiring communication with others should strongly consider enhancing their smiles. With today’s technology, there is no reason not to take advantage of the wonderful cosmetic dental services we can offer to you.

Q: How long does it take to achieve a gorgeous smile?
A: Certainly it depends on what services will be provided, but once the diagnostics and treatment plans have been completed, three weeks is about what it will take. That’s right, in three weeks you can have a fantastic looking smile.

Q: Would whitening be sufficient to give me the attractive smile I desire?
A: It depends on the appearance of your teeth. If your teeth are crowded, chipped, and crooked then whitening them will give you white crooked, chipped, crowded teeth. A situation like that may require porcelain veneers to give you the desired result. Veneers can overcome all of those imperfections at the same time. However, if your teeth are straight and in good shape, then whitening will give you a youthful, dazzling smile.

Q: I’ve seen other people’s crowns, which always have a fake appearance. Would mine look the same?
A: We have advanced training in the area of aesthetic dentistry that less than 2% of dentists have achieved. This advanced training gives us the ability to create a smile so natural that others cannot tell they are crowns or veneers. We use only master lab technicians that help achieve these results. Since we do not use metal in our dentistry, there will never be the unsightly black line you’ve seen in some patients.

Q: Do you offer Zoom! Power Bleaching, seen on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover?”
A: Yes. We offer Zoom! Power Bleaching to all our patients. Zoom! Is an in-office whitening technique that takes only 90 minutes to brighten your smile.

Q: Do most of your patients request whiter teeth?
A: Ninety-five percent of our patients are displeased with the color of their teeth. The challenge is, not the whitening, but educating people on the importance of natural-looking whiter teeth—most want what I call “the Chiclet phenomenon.”

Q: What causes tooth discoloration?
A: Many things, in addition to the natural aging process, and what we eat and drink. Culprits include coffee, tea, cranberry juice, red wine, soda, berries and soy sauce. Smoking and the long term use of tetracycline and poor dental hygiene also contribute to teeth discoloration.

Q: Are there any effective ways to prevent discoloration?
A: There are some ways to minimize discoloration. In addition to biannual cleanings, using a straw when drinking beverages with a high stain potential also helps because the liquid bypasses the front of the teeth completely. Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables can also minimize the risk of discoloration since they’re abrasive and, in essence, ‘scrub’ the teeth as you chew. If brushing immediately after eating potentially staining foods is not possible, at least try to rinse your mouth with water thoroughly. Go easy on your teeth! Strenuous brushing will, over time, wear down the enamel and expose the yellowish/bluish dentin that lies beneath.

Q: What are the most effective at-home teeth whitening techniques?
A: There are so many products out there, it can be overwhelming. Whitening toothpastes can help with stain removal, but they won’t actually brighten teeth. And be careful—most consist of abrasives which can wear down enamel and expose the dentin. I would recommend using a product with a 10%, 16%, or 22% carbamide peroxide strength—we sell at home bleaching kits to our patients and even recommend some at-home recipes.

TOOLS FOR A MILLION DOLLAR SMILE

A Cosmetic Dentistry of the Shoals smile is created with One-of-a-Kind equipment. As part of an ongoing commitment to their patients and to help them achieve the ultimate smile, Drs. Ryerson and Gillespie have outfitted their office with the most state-of-the-art dental technology available. Very few dentists in the country have access to the type of machinery necessary to implement a true “Smile Makeover.”