Trends in dental care

Whitening
Whitening products take up half an aisle in some pharmacy departments, but dentists caution before whitening your teeth you may want to visit their offices.
"Generally it's best if teeth get cleaned first," said Dr. Pari Moazed, who works in Westminster.
Moazed offers professional whitening at her office where she can make custom trays for her clients.
Before embarking on a whitening routine, she said its best to get your teeth as clean as possible and to take care of any cavities prior to whitening so that the whitening will be as effective as possible.
Dr. Timothy Passarello, of Eldersburg, said not everyone is a good candidate for whitening, but in general it's not a bad thing.
Moazed, Passarello and Dr. E. Duston Mersinger, of Hampstead, agreed that the shade of your tooth does not determine its health and therefore whitening is not a substitute for brushing or flossing.

Veneers
Mersinger said Veneers, which are porcelain shells that are bonded to the front of the tooth, are helpful in many instances. The procedure is used to cover up a tooth that has bad coloration or to mask a gap. In order to put on the veneer, the dentist will shave off some of the enamel on the tooth to create an even surface.
While Dr. Passarello says this is a part of the business that might be trailing off with the economy, he said some cosmetic procedures are a great alternative.
He added that a patient avoiding orthodontics work by having veneers hide the natural crowding of their teeth may want to reconsider.
He said it may be worth the pain and time it takes to get orthodontics to fix the crowding, as opposed to getting veneers, which do not last a lifetime.
"Once [orthodontia] is done on your teeth, they are still your teeth," he said. But with the veneers, the enamel on your teeth does not grow back, he added.

Sedation Dentistry
For those who are apprehensive or fearful of the dentist, the lure of sedation dentistry might bring them in for a check up. Mersinger warns that you should make sure the dentist you see has certifications and you can check with the state Board of Dental Examiners.
"It's wonderful for the apprehensive, as long as it's administered properly," he said.

Post by Erica Kritt