Dr. Harris DDS (drharrisdds)

Dentistry
http://www.lakeaustinfamilydental.com

Choosing the Best Toothbrush

Choosing the Best Toothbrush Shopping for a toothbrush can be a little daunting; while most of us use a toothbrush every day of our adult lives, many of us don’t know where to even begin when we’re standing in the dental-care aisle of our supermarket. A lot of people end up grabbing one almost at random, and using it for much longer than its intended service life. Add in the options for electric toothbrushes, and it’s easy to feel lost. Fortunately, choosing a high-quality toothbrush that’s perfect for you doesn’t have to be as hard if you know what to look for. And when in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask your dentist. Austin is home to a number of high-quality dental clinics, so you have plenty of options. Size One of the biggest factors you should consider when purchasing a tooth brush is the size of its head. In general, it’s best to keep it under an inch by half an inch. This is big enough that brushing will be efficient, while still being small enough not to be cumbersome. Outside of that general rule of thumb, though, it’s a matter of personal preference. You can try a couple sizes and see which one feels most comfortable to you. Bristle Type Disposable toothbrushes and electric-toothbrush heads alike come in a variety of bristle types: soft, medium, and stiff/hard. If you’re like the vast majority of toothbrush users, soft is probably your best choice. That being said, bristle stiffness is largely a matter of personal choice. If you’re more comfortable using medium or stiff bristles, continue to do so. Expert Endorsement It’s always good to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. This lets you know that the brush has earned a reputation for surpassing certain key cleaning criteria. Another good way to get an expert opinion is to simply ask your dentist in Austin, Texas is home to quite a few good dentists, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one whose advice you trust. Dentists often stock high-quality toothbrushes, and yours may just give you one. Affordability While spending more money can mean getting higher quality, this is not always the case. Perfectly good, high-quality toothbrushes can be had at a very reasonable price. As long as you follow the preceding advice for picking a brush, you should be able to find a relatively inexpensive toothbrush that still does the job. Replacing Your Toothbrush Most people go far too long without replacing their toothbrushes. Over dozens of brushings, toothbrushes gradually lose their effectiveness as the bristles start fraying and bending outward, meaning that your teeth aren’t getting properly cleaned. When this happens, it’s time to replace the brush. It’s usually a good idea to replace yours every three to four months, as needed. Lake Austin Family Dental If you’re looking for an experienced, compassionate Austin family dentist, Lake Austin Family Dental may be just what you’re looking for. To learn more about the services we offer, contact our friendly front-office staff today.

Are Veneers Right for Me

Are Veneers Right for Me? Over time, teeth are discolored. Tobacco, food, chemical damage, and even simply the aging process may all be to blame. Cosmetic dentistry has developed a wide range of procedures to correct this, including the always-popular teeth whitening process. However, many patients may be better served with high-quality veneers. If you don’t like the color or shape of your smile, veneers may be right for you. To learn more, you should consider visiting a practice with experience in veneer dentistry. Austin is home to several high-quality offices, so it should be fairly easy to find one that’s right for you. What Are Veneers? A veneer is a restorative prosthetic, made from porcelain or a composite material, which is applied to a tooth in order to improve its appearance. Unlike whitening or bleaching, veneers can correct the appearance of damaged teeth, and are an important tool for cosmetic dentists. Traditional porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory by a specially trained dental technician to the unique specifications of your teeth. Composite veneers, however, can often be assembled in-office by your cosmetic dentist, meaning they can be fabricated and applied much more quickly. Ultimately, you should discuss your needs with your dentist before you decide which route to take. What Can Veneers Correct? In many ways, veneers fill the service gap left by simple whitening or bonding. A wide number of imperfections can be corrected by plastic or porcelain veneers, including: • Disproportionate teeth, whether they are too large or too small • Teeth with uneven or unattractive surfaces • Oddly shaped teeth • Cracked or pitted teeth • Teeth that have small holes • Crooked teeth • Teeth that have an odd appearance Simply put, veneers can correct a diverse range of cosmetic deficiencies, and can be used on as many or as few teeth as desired. How Are Veneers Applied? The first step in the veneers process is a consultation appointment, during which the dentist discusses your concerns and desires with you, and then makes the necessary impressions to ensure that the veneers are a perfect fit for your teeth. Because veneers very slightly increase the size of the tooth, the existing tooth will need to be slightly buffed down to make room. This is usually a fairly painless process, and the reduction of tooth size is barely perceptible. After buffing, temporary veneers are applied to the teeth, and give you the opportunity to experience a trial set. You should tell your dentist about any flaws or issues you have with the temporary veneers, so that they can be corrected on the final set. When the permanent set is completed, the temporary set is removed and the permanent ones replace them. Lumineers Lake Austin Family Dental is one of several Austin cosmetic dentist offices that use Lumineers, an advanced form of veneer that requires very little preparation of the tooth and does not require a temporary set of veneers. Lake Austin Family Dental We may be able to help you if you are looking for an experienced cosmetic dentist. Austin is home to many high-quality cosmetic practices, and Lake Austin Family Dental is among the best. Contact us today to learn more.

Understanding Tooth-Bleaching Options

Understanding Tooth-Bleaching Options: Teeth-whitening procedures are among the most commonly performed cosmetic dental procedures, yet many people don’t necessarily understand how they are performed. If you’re looking for an [url=http://lakeaustinfamilydental.com]Austin dental clinic[/url] that offers high-quality teeth whitening, it helps to be familiar with the different whitening options on the market and what differentiates them from each other and from at-home kits sold in drugstores and supermarkets. The Whiteness Scale: Understanding the efficacy of teeth whitening requires understanding the scale used to measure it. While different services use different scales to classify the whiteness of teeth, one of the most commonly used is the Vitapan Classic Shade Guide. It breaks teeth whiteness down into 16 shades, making it easy to gauge the effectiveness of whitening and to predict results. Tooth Bleaching: Tooth bleaching is perhaps the most common whitening procedure performed today. As the name implies, it involves chemically altering the whiteness of the teeth, usually with a bleaching gel. Since the process was introduced in the 1980s, bleaching has become very common, and most high-quality cosmetic dentists use advanced products that can lighten teeth by up to eight shades. The basics of tooth bleaching are fairly simple. The dentist applies high-concentration bleaching gel to the teeth, usually for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. The application trays are removed and the process is repeated one or two more times. The active agent in these gels is typically either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Different [url=http://lakeaustinfamilydental.com]Austin cosmetic dentists[/url] will employ different proprietary procedures to whiten teeth, so it’s important to set up a consultation appointment beforehand to determine what you can expect in terms of whitening. Depending on the technique and product used, a dentist can lighten your teeth between two and eight shades. Light-Accelerated Tooth Bleaching: Most top-quality cosmetic dentists utilize a modern technique known as light-accelerated bleaching, in which the efficacy of the whitening gels is augmented by light energy. While the procedure is sometimes erroneously referred to as “laser bleaching,” actual lasers have not been used for the light-energy source in years. After the bleach is applied to the teeth, the dentist uses a light source to accelerate the bleaching process. Halogen, plasma arc, and LED can all be used as light sources, and are typically in the blue spectrum. One of the primary benefits of the light-accelerated bleaching process is that it drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to whiten the teeth. A single 30-to-60 minute session is often all it takes to dramatically increase the whiteness of a patient’s teeth. At-Home Bleaching: Several different companies offer over-the-counter products which claim to offer dentist-quality teeth-whitening results. While many of these products can indeed increase tooth whiteness by several shades, most lack the quality and effectiveness of true teeth-bleaching options. Additionally, some at-home kits slightly damage the enamel on teeth, which could potentially have adverse effects. An experienced Austin teeth-whitening dentist is still the best way to get healthy, noticeably whiter teeth. Contact Us: If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of high-quality teeth whitening, contact the compassionate Austin cosmetic dentists of Lake Austin Family Dental today. http://www.lakeaustinfamilydental.com

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