Silver fillings can be replaced with white tooth fillings

Many people in the Bolingbrook area have had silver fillings placed into their teeth because they had “cavities”. These silver fillings are called amalgams. Amalgam fills the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed.

However, over time, the amalgam corrodes and leaks which blackens the silver, and many times the tooth. This is easily seen as soon as a patient opens his or her mouth and is usually a source of embarrassment for the patient.

At Radiant Dental we can provide you with composite fillings that are made of a porcelain-like material that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal. They are strong and stain-resistant, and they are color-matched to the natural tooth, making them “invisible”.

Composite fillings also lack the sensitivity that is often associated with silver amalgam fillings. They are especially suited for smaller cavities and for Bolingbrook area patients who may be allergic to metal fillings.

Please don’t hesitate to call us at Radiant Dental with any questions you may have about the benefits of replacing silver amalgam fillings with invisible composite fillings.

Fix cracked, worn, discolored or broken teeth with cosmetic dentistry

For over 100 years, dentists have been using silver-mercury amalgam fillings to restore decayed or broken teeth. The only other alternative was gold and that was too expensive for most folks.

Now there is a new and economical way to restore teeth in the Bolingbrook area using tooth-colored resin fillings. The resin is made up of glass particles in a plastic matrix. We bond the putty-like material to the tooth with a high-intensity light. This hardens the material and allows it to be shaped and polished for immediate use.

Once completed, the tooth has a natural appearance and is actually stronger than before due to the strength of the adhesive agent used to bond the resin to the tooth. Resin restorations not only look better, but they are stronger and last longer than the old silver-amalgam fillings. Resin restorations can range from $150 to $350 per tooth.

Please call our office at Radiant Dental with any questions you may have about the benefits of resin restorations.

Discolored, dark or stained teeth fixed with tooth whitening dentistry

Tooth bleaching involves the placement of a bleaching solution on the teeth to eliminate stains and discoloration. The solution is held in place by a custom- made, see-through tray that fits over the teeth – much like a mouthpiece worn by a professional boxer.

Bleaching is a safe, effective and relatively easy means of producing a whiter smile.

Two bleaching methods are available at Radiant Dental: In office bleaching for instant results and At-Home-Bleaching, which provides for home use (not to be confused with over-the-counter bleaching products available in local area drug stores).

The difference between the two is the strength of the whitening agent and the time it takes to get effective results. Our one hour in office bleaching can be a boost prior to using our take home trays. While home bleaching may take up to four weeks of regular use.

Sensitive teeth, or those that are chipped, eroded or weakened by cavities, should be repaired or protected before they are bleached.

Please don’t hesitate to call Radiant Dental at 630 226 1100 with any questions you may have about the benefits of tooth whitening or tooth bleaching for a whiter smile.

Dental restorations that are tooth-colored

For over 100 years, dentistry has restored teeth primarily with a material made of mercury and silver. It has done its job well, although we have had to live with its weaknesses. Those weaknesses consist of cracking teeth due to expansion of the material, and restorations turning black as the silver in the material corrodes.

Now we have many ways to provide tooth-colored restorations at Radiant Dental. We can use adhesives to bond tooth parts that look and act like teeth. We can provide a bright, healthy and strong smile with these exciting new techniques in adhesion dentistry.

Please don’t hesitate to call us if you believe you would benefit from these advancements. Together we can help bring a smile back to your face.

Silver-mercury filling replacement

For over 100 years, dentistry has restored teeth primarily with a material made of mercury and silver. It has done its job well, although we have had to live with its weaknesses. Those weaknesses consist of cracking teeth due to expansion of the material, and restorations turning black as the silver in the material corrodes.

Now we have many ways to provide tooth-colored restorations at Radiant Dental. We can use adhesives to bond tooth parts that look and act like teeth. We can provide a bright, healthy and strong smile with these exciting new techniques in adhesion dentistry.

Please don’t hesitate to call us if you believe you would benefit from these advancements. Together we can help bring a smile back to your face.

Tooth-colored “resin” fillings

For over 100 years, dentistry has restored teeth primarily with a material made of mercury and silver. It has done its job well, although we have had to live with its weaknesses. Those weaknesses consist of cracking teeth due to expansion of the material, and restorations turning black as the silver in the material corrodes.

Now we have many ways to provide tooth-colored restorations at Radiant Dental. We can use adhesives to bond tooth parts that look and act like teeth. We can provide a bright, healthy and strong smile with these exciting new techniques in adhesion dentistry.

Please don’t hesitate to call us if you believe you would benefit from these advancements. Together we can help bring a smile back to your face.

Low self-esteem, the result of poor self-image

The appearance of the teeth has a dramatic effect on both the person’s attractiveness to others and on their own self-image and self-esteem. Studies have shown that a person’s appearance will have a strong effect on their social and career success, by influencing how others perceive them.

While the appearance of the teeth is one of the most important contributors to facial beauty, it is also probably the most often neglected when improvements to appearance are sought. A person with low self-esteem connected to their facial appearance, can often be greatly helped by cosmetic dental procedures.

Dental makeovers at Radiant Dental have become more common, less invasive, and more effective in correcting deformities and cosmetic dental problems. The effect of these procedures can be nothing short of dramatic both in terms of appearance and also in terms of correcting, at least partially, personality deficiencies caused by poor self-image. Ugly teeth are no longer a matter of fate; they are now becoming a matter of choice.

Please call our office at Radiant Dental with any questions you may have about the benefits of a dental make-over.

Porcelain veneers and your smile

When teeth require significant changes in their shape or contour, veneers may be the answer. By placing veneers, small or misshapen teeth can be built up to regain a more natural appearance, spaces between teeth can be closed by making the teeth wider and teeth that are too short can be lengthened.

The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain similar in size to a fingernail. Once it is “bonded” onto the tooth it becomes extremely strong. We also blend the veneer in with the remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable to the naked-eye. Once in place, it looks, feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.

At Radiant Dental we can use porcelain veneers to change the shape and color of a single tooth or, if necessary, revamp an entire smile. Porcelain veneers can also be used to correct teeth that have been worn from clenching and grinding.

Please call us at (630) 226-1100 for consultation. You may ask any of our professional team questions you have about the benefits of porcelain veneers.

Broken teeth are comfortably repaired through cosmetic dental bonding

Bonding is typically comfortable and can yield dramatic results in a single office visit. Essentially, bonding hides any natural flaws through the placement of a thin plastic coating on the front surface of the teeth. After treating the tooth surface, we apply a putty-like bonding material that is then sculpted, shaped and colored to suit your needs. A high-intensity light causes the plastic to harden after which the new surface is smoothed and polished.

Bonding can lighten stains, close gaps and even alter crooked or malformed teeth. At Radiant Dental we can even utilize it to change the shape or color of a single tooth or if necessary to remake your entire smile.

Please call our office at (630) 226-1100 for a cosmetic consultation

Dental crowns – Cosmetic dentistry

A Crown for a Tooth
Teeth are often restored with fillings of silver or composite plastics. These materials can often accomplish the aim of replacing the part of the tooth that has been lost in a strong and good-looking manner.

However, there comes a point where the damage to the tooth has removed too much structure to hold a filling. The restoration must be done by a technique that will attach to the remaining tooth, stand up under heavier use and meet more elaborate cosmetic requirements.

The crown is the dental restoration that can strengthen and restore the entire top of a tooth. The crown can also be part of the attachment of a fixed bridge for the replacement of teeth. The tooth is strengthened because it is covered from the outside with a casting of metal or ceramic that will wrap up and splint the tooth.

The chewing of the tooth can be improved because it can be reshaped to match more efficiently with the opposing teeth. A crown can improve cosmetics by the use of modern ceramic processes that produce translucency and color that is more natural than has ever been possible.

Please call our office at (630) 226-1100 for a cosmetic consultation.

Composite Veneer
The major advantage of the composite veneer is treatment time. If composite is used, the veneers can be done in one appointment. The dentist will actually make the veneer directly on the prepared tooth.

The veneer is then smoothed and polished to look like your natural teeth. Since it takes only one appointment, you can leave Radiant Dental with a brand new smile.

One of the disadvantages of composite veneers is that they are not as strong as the porcelain veneer and therefore are more prone to fracture. However, if a fracture does occur, they can be easily repaired because the same material that was used initially to make the veneer can be added in the same manner to fix it.

Another disadvantage is that the color, although stable, is not as stable as the same porcelain veneer restoration. This means that over time the veneers may get darker or turn yellow. Eventually this change in color can warrant the replacement of the veneers.

If you have any questions regarding composite veneers, please feel free to call our office at (630) 226-1100.

Porcelain Veneer
A porcelain veneer requires a longer treatment time. At the first appointment, your teeth are prepared and an impression is made of them. Temporary veneers are made out of plastic and placed on your teeth. They are used to protect your teeth while the real porcelain veneer is being fabricated. You can also use them to evaluate the look and feel of your teeth so that any changes you desire can be incorporated into your real veneers.

At the second appointment, we remove the temporary veneers and bond the porcelain veneer to your teeth. Once the dental veneers are cemented, color alteration is no longer possible. Dental cement is applied between the dental veneers and tooth.

Although they are thin, a porcelain veneer is much stronger than the composite veneer, so the risk of fracture as compared with composite veneers is much less. However, if a fracture does occur, repairing it is more difficult and may result in the veneer having to be remade.

Once teeth have been veneered, they will require periodic treatment and regular visits to Radiant Dental. The result is a beautiful and long lasting smile you will love.

Please call Radiant Dental at (630) 226-1100 with any questions or concerns regarding veneers.

The functions of dental crowns
The crown serves two important functions. First, it restores the appearance of your teeth and your face. If your tooth is severely decayed or cracked, the dentist will need to restore it prior to preparing a cap. Teeth also support the muscles in our faces, so anything less than a full tooth may affect the way you look.

Second, a crown will be the same size and shape as the natural tooth. As a result, it will keep your jaw and bite aligned; it will also make sure that other teeth don’t shift locations or take on a greater share of the work of biting and chewing.

For more information on dental crowns, call our office at (630) 226-1100

Dental crowns are made of …
At Radiant Dental our dental crowns are most often made of gold or porcelain. Crowns also can be made of stainless steel, but those crowns are often temporary and not designed for long-term wear.

Porcelain crowns usually are built on a metal base, which fits snugly over the natural tooth. We will choose a porcelain that matches the color of your natural teeth.

Porcelain crowns usually are so carefully matched in color, they cannot be distinguished from your natural teeth. Many people choose porcelain crowns for their cosmetic appearance and the confidence it gives them.

New materials are now available that allow the use of “all-ceramic” crowns in some cases. They have a beautiful life-like appearance and short-term studies support their success, with long-term trials ongoing.

Crowns also can be made of all gold. Some people prefer not to use gold because it stands out from the other teeth in appearance. At the same time, if the crown is on a back molar, some people feel the cosmetic issue is not a big one. At Radiant Dental we will discuss the types of materials available if we recommend a crown.

Dental hygiene with dental crowns

An Ounce of Prevention Is Still the Rule!
Once your crown is in place, make sure the area is brushed well and that you floss below the gum line. While the crown protects your remaining tooth from further decay, you must protect the base of the crown from bacterial growth and gum disease.

Regular brushing and flossing as you would your natural teeth will ensure that your crown will be in place for years to come!

Dental crowns that reflect light with a natural healthy glow are now available at Radiant Dental.

Veneers for Discolored Teeth
There are many situations that arise that lend themselves to treatment with veneers.

One indication is for restoring teeth with discoloration that have been unaffected by the more conventional tooth whitening approaches, such as bleaching. Some examples of this are teeth that have severe tetracycline (an antibiotic) staining or discoloration from a previous injury to the tooth. Veneers are considerably more durable and stain- resistant than bonding.

If you have any questions about veneers for discolored teeth, please call Radiant Dental at (630) 226-1100.