Dentures don’t last forever, and will need replacing at some point. Proper care of your dentures, such as brushing them each night and removing any adhesives, along with brushing your dentures after each meal, will help them last longer.  The American Dental Association states that dentures may last from four to twenty-five years, but it depends on bone recession, normal wear and tear, and gum shrinkage.  All of these issues create the need for dentures to be replaced sooner. Talk to your dentist and he will determine if your dentures need replacing.

Some people aren’t happy with their dentures. The dentures slip when they are eating, they can’t bite into a nice, juicy steak or a crisp, new apple without worrying about leaving the dentures in the food, and they find that the adhesive is messy and difficult to apply.  Some people even find the adhesive hard to tolerate and develop a gag reflex when inserting and removing their dentures. Dentures give the look of teeth, but they are not teeth, and can’t perform as well as teeth.

If you have struggled with your dentures, you may want to consider dental implants. Unlike dentures, that accelerate bone loss, teeth implants stimulate bone growth and preserve the health and shape of your jaw and face. With proper care, dental implants feel and function just like your other healthy, strong, real teeth.  It’s also possible to get these teeth implants in one visit. Yes- just one visit. 

One of the main benefits of dental implants is that may allow patients to obtain fixed, non-removable arches of teeth without the need for bone grafting. This is accomplished by place the two rear implants at an angle in order to take advantage of the stronger bone found at the front of the jaw. The implants work as a team to support an entire upper or lower arch of teeth.  Today’s technology allows a cosmetic dental surgeon to immediately load the implants with an arch of teeth in one day.  If all this sounds complicated to you, come see your local cosmetic dentist and we will explain it all to you, and show you examples and photos.  Don’t worry about any pain, because dental sedation is available and you won’t remember the entire process, just notice your beautiful smile when we’re finished.

If you are not satisfied with your dentures, come visit your local Charlotte cosmetic dentist, here at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, and we’ll give you a free consultation on what solutions are available to you.

You have disliked your smile all of your life. You wish you had gotten braces as a kid, but it wasn’t in the budget. Now, you wonder if there’s a way just to redo your smile- a smile makeover.  Is there any way to fix your teeth, as an adult, that’s quick, cost effective and produces a fantastic smile?  Yes!

We have spent some time on this blog talking about different types of adult braces. There’s so much available, now- technology is amazing. You may have heard of Invisalign or Six Month Smiles. There are other options to improve your smile.

Teeth Whitening

Possibly you are happy with the arrangement of your teeth, but the color embarrasses you. There are several options for getting your teeth whitened. Talk to Dr. Christian Yaste or Dr. Joe Hufanda about the choices in teeth whitening. Some options are even great for those with sensitive teeth.

Dental Veneers and Teeth Bonding

Dental Veneers and teeth bonding are great ways to make an immediate impact on your smile, without braces.  Porcelain veneers are perfect for those who have a solid structure of teeth, and the veneers are placed over existing teeth. 

Dental Implants

You may be missing a tooth or two, and hide your smile.  Or, you have dentures that are not working properly or a dental bridge that is no longer doing the job. There’s hope for you too- with dental implants.  Teeth implants can actually strengthen your smile, in addition to improving your smile, and these implants last for decades.

Smile Makeover

If you’d like to talk to us about a smile makeover for your smile, give us a call at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, 704-540-2255, and we’ll provide a free cosmetic dental consultation, to discuss all the options available to you for the smile you’ve always wanted. We look forward to talking to you.

As a follow up on our posts about Six Month Smiles, Invisalign, and other common clear aligners, here are some frequently asked questions about Invisalign.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are Clear aligner braces easy to see on my teeth?  No, Invisalign clear aligners and other common aligners such as clear correct and "red/white/and blue, are virtually invisible.

Do clear aligners hurt my mouth and teeth like regular braces?  Invisalign and other aligners are comfortable, removable brackets. You will wear each bracket approximately six weeks.  When you first insert a new aligner, it is a little tight, but not as uncomfortable as a newly tightened wire on regular braces.

Can I eat with Clear Aligners?  You can remove the Invisalign, and other clear aligners when eating, drinking, brushing or flossing your teeth, or attending a special event. After you are finished eating, you can put them back in your mouth, and there are no restrictions on what you can eat, when you have Invisalign clear aligners.

How do clear aligners straighten my teeth?  Your dentist creates a treatment plan for you with a series of aligners. You wear each aligner approximately two weeks, and then move to the next set of clear aligners, which continues the teeth straightening process. The aligners gradually cause the teeth to change current position to the newly desired position.   

Can I see any dentist to get Invisalign or Clear aligner therapy?  Dentists interested in treating patients with Invisalign must attend and complete specialized training. After this instruction, they are certified as Trained Invisalign Providers. These dentists must also regularly submit treatment results for review and also attend continuing education. 

At the Ballantyne Center for Dentistry we provide different types of clear aligner therapy.  We are not providers of the invisalign brand however almost all clear aligners regardless of the brand name work exactly the same.  By providing aligners by other manufacturers we are able to make the entire process more affordable for our patients.

If you have any other questions about Invisalign, or straightening your teeth, contact your local Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Joe Hufanda and Dr. Christian Yaste at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, and we will be happy to talk with you.

After the last blog post about Six Month Smile and Invisalign, we received some questions. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Six-Month Smile.  We will follow up with questions and answers about Invisalign tomorrow.

Six-Month Smile

·How long is the average treatment?  Usually about six months. Six Month Smiles uses the latest technology and techniques in dentistry. These techniques move your teeth quickly and safely with special tooth colored nickel titanium wires

· Are Six Month Smile brackets and wires easy to see? Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok™ clear brackets are barely visible. The wires are also tooth colored.  These are nothing like metal braces.

·Are they expensive?  Six Month Smiles is typically less expensive than traditional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers

·What are the risks of damage to my teeth and gums?  There are no more risks of damage to roots, teeth and gums, than is associated with a traditional orthodontic treatment.  The forces used with Six Month Smile braces are lighter, so there are fewer risks involved. Teeth are also seldom extracted, as is common with regular braces.

·Will I have to wear a retainer afterwards? Yes. There is a variety of choices to maintain this position of your teeth. You can wear a removable retainer or a bonded retainer. Your local dentist will discuss with you the options according to your personal preferences.

·Are Six Month Smile brackets uncomfortable?  Six Month Smile braces use low force to move your teeth more comfortably. Some people think that the accelerated treatment means simply “tightening” braces, so the teeth will move faster, but this is not our process.  Six Month Smiles utilizes standard orthodontic mechanics, but with an emphasis on the cosmetic appearance of your teeth rather than the position of your bite.

If you have any additional questions, call your local Charlotte cosmetic dentist, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, and we will be happy to talk with you about the wonderful possibilities with Six Month Smiles for you.

You’re an adult now, not a kid. You always wanted to fix your smile, but didn’t do it as a child or teenager. You would feel funny with regular braces on your teeth- going to work, and interacting with your business colleagues. It’s not too late, though. You can still fix your teeth.

It’s important to feel confident about your smile. Being self-conscious may damage your self-esteem and sabotage your success at work and in your personal life.  You’ve been concerned about metal braces or other corrective procedures that could be too invasive or too expensive.  If these are your concerns, you should look into Six Month Smiles and clear aligners, such as Invisalign.

Six Month Smiles is a safe and affordable cosmetic solution. Six Month Smiles uses nearly invisible clear braces to gently align and straighten the teeth. The average treatment time is approximately six months.  The key components of the Six Month Smile treatment is the use of special tooth colored nickel titanium wires and a primary focus of moving the teeth that show when you smile. The focus is on the cosmetic appearance of your teeth rather than the position of your bite.  If you have crooked or spaced teeth and you’re not looking for a major alteration to your bite, Six Month Smile is a great solution for you.

Invisalign and other clear aligners are another option for those wanting to improve their smile. Invisalign are clear, invisible braces. A series of custom-made aligners are designed for your teeth. The aligners gradually shift the teeth until they reach the desired placement. You change aligners approximately every two weeks, until treatment is completed. No wires to tighten or unsightly braces to wear. Most people won’t even know you have Invisalign on, or are in the process of straightening your teeth,  since they are virtually invisible. You take the teeth aligners out to eat and drink, brush and floss your teeth, and then put the Invisalign aligners back in, to wear them comfortably the rest of the day. There is no mouth or gum irritation since Invisalign is smooth.  Visits to the dentist are only approximately every six weeks.

If you are embarrassed or uncomfortable about your smile, it’s not too late to fix your teeth. Consider Six Month Smiles and Invisalign as two great treatment options for your smile. You deserve it. Take the time to call your local cosmetic dentist today, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda are waiting here for you at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Note:  Ballantyne Center for Dentistry does not offer Invisalign clear aligners, but offers other options.

This is a picture of Diane, one of our business team members.  She is actually wearing 6 Month Smile Braces!  If you look really close you might be able to tell, but as you can see they kind of disappear into your smile.  All of this while gently moving and straightening the teeth.  We are very excited about this new technology and what it is doing for our patients....and team members!

It’s your worst fear, you slip on the steps and you land face-first onto the pavement. You get up and feel a little shaky, and notice your mouth is bleeding. As you look in the mirror, some of your teeth just don’t look the same, one tooth is chipped, another  tooth is very loose, and hanging…..what should you do???

There are many ways we can cause trauma to our teeth and smile. These accidents are scary when our teeth and our smile are involved. It’s important to have a regular relationship with a dentist so you know who to call when you have a dental emergency and your teeth experience some sort of trauma.

Trauma or injury to the face and teeth can happen in many ways- auto accidents, falls, and injuries from sports.  You can also damage and fracture your teeth with hard candy, or chewing on pencils, ice cubes or hard nuts.   It’s important to see your local Charlotte dentist when you believe you have injured your teeth. Tooth fractures can range from minor chipping of the outer layers, to severe cracking to the root of the tooth.  A professional needs to exam your mouth when you have a concern.  X-rays are necessary to diagnose, locate and measure the extent of the tooth fracture.

Talk with your Charlotte dentist about his or her desire to treat mouth trauma. Some dentists prefer to refer out to their dental colleagues for these types of services.  Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda, here at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry have no problem helping you in your time of need. Dental trauma is an opportunity for us to help repair and improve your smile.   When an accident happens, don’t worry, just give us a call, here at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry and we’ll take care of you.

"It’s time to fix my teeth,” you are thinking. You’ve put the kids through school, kept the house and yard maintained, but forget to take care of yourself. As the years pass, you realize it’s time to fix your teeth.

You may have crooked teeth or some missing that you’ve always wanted to fix, or possibly teeth stained from years of drinking tea or coffee. Your teeth could also have worn down, and you have some strange looking gaps in your gums that you worry may be a problem.

A qualified cosmetic dentist can take care of all of these issues. There are several options to whiten your teeth, depending on what you need.   Some of these options include L.E.D. cosmetic teeth whitening, Advanced Professional Bleach Bright teeth whitening, Zoom! ACP Teeth Bleaching and traditional Professional Tray teeth whitening.

You may have avoided the dentist for years, making sure your spouse and kids had their bi-annual checkups for their teeth, but were too busy to get your own teeth cleaned and checked on a regular basis. If some of this avoidance was due to being busy, you can reprioritize and make time for your dental care now. If you have a fear of dentists, there is nothing to worry about- today’s advanced technology includes many choices such as sedation dentistry, laser dentistry, and hybrid veneers and crowns, and one-day teeth restorations.  There is so much available to give you the great smile you deserve.

Call 704-540-2255 at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, your Charlotte cosmetic dentist,  and schedule your well-deserved visit to the dentist. It’s time to fix your teeth