2012 - Robert Rapisarda DMD

Dental Flaws and Cosmetic Bonding

by drrapisarda
When we are consistent with our dental habits, we can usually maintain a healthy mouth, which is great. But, let’s face it; we want our smile to look good, too. The appearance of our smile is what shows to the outside world so, in many ways, it is just as important as our oral health. Just because a mouth is healthy, that doesn’t mean it is free of cosmetic flaws. When these flaws are present, Dr. Robert Rapisarda, a respected Worcester cosmetic dentist, uses dental bonding to correct imperfections and improve patients’ smiles.

When to Use Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a cosmetic solution. Dental bonding is only used to correct flaws that affect the appearance of your smile. Dental bonding is not a solution for severe damage or tooth decay. Problems that directly affect a patient’s oral health will require restorative dental treatments. Dental bonding can be used to improve the color of a patient’s teeth as well as cover up minor cracks or chips. In some cases, bonding can be used to improve the shape of the teeth or make teeth appear straighter. There are two types of cosmetic bonding; direct composite bonding and adhesive bonding.

Direct Cosmetic Bonding

The term “dental bonding” usually refers to direct composite bonding. This is a procedure in which a composite material is applied directly to the teeth. This is a natural looking material (made to match your tooth color) that can be placed around the edges of the teeth to fill in gaps or build up any edges of the teeth that may have become worn down. The material can also be smoothed over the front surface of the tooth to cover staining, cracks, or chips. Direct cosmetic bonding is the ideal treatment for small areas of cosmetic flaws.

Adhesive Bonding

If you have cosmetic flaws that are more extensive, adhesive bonding is probably a more appropriate solution. Adhesive bonding uses a liquid bonding material to attach a restorative piece to the surface of the teeth. Adhesive bonding is most commonly used for porcelain veneers. As with direct bonding, adhesive bonding can improve your smile by covering up stains, discoloration, or injuries. Because porcelain veneers can be applied to numerous teeth at once, adhesive bonding is best for larger areas of cosmetic flaws.

Alternate Treatments

At Dr. Rapisarda’s practice, cosmetic bonding is just one of the treatments available for cosmetic issues. For our patients in Worcester, teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to enhance your smile. With professional teeth whitening, you can drastically brighten your smile and eliminate stains. For teeth that have severe aesthetic flaws, dental crowns may be the right solution. Depending on the amount of damage you need to correct, Dr. Rapisarda can recommend the best cosmetic treatment for you.

Schedule an Appointment

There are many quick and painless procedures that can greatly improve your smile. If you would like to restore your teeth to their natural beauty, schedule an appointment with Dr. Robert Rapisarda to learn more about our cosmetic dentistry treatments.

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Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry

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by Robert Rapisarda
We understand that going to the dentist can be intimidating – for some, it’s terrifying. For those who suffer from dental anxiety, we offer oral conscious sedation dentistry. We welcome you to schedule a consultation at the Worcester cosmetic dentistry practice of Dr. Robert Rapisarda to see if sedation dentistry is right for you.

What Is Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry?

Oral conscious sedation dentistry is a form of sedation dentistry administered orally. The sedative is given in a pill form about an hour before treatment. The amount of sedation depends on the dose given and can range from minimal to moderate sedation. In either case, oral conscious sedation puts patients in a relaxed state without being completely unconscious. Once the sedation wears off, many patients will have little to no memory of their dental procedure.

The amount of sedative given to the patient depends on the level of sedation desired. This is usually based on the degree of dental anxiety the patient suffers from. Minimal sedation is used for people with mild anxiety. Minimal sedation simply relaxes the patient while leaving them awake and more aware. Moderate sedation may be necessary if the patient suffers from more severe dental anxiety. With moderate sedation, the patient is still awake but will feel drowsier and will most likely not be able to remember the dental procedure.

Am I a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

Candidates for oral sedation typically suffer from dental anxiety. You may have dental anxiety if you experience any of the following:

Fear of going to the dentist. If your fear of the dentist is so severe that you have avoided seeing the dentist, you most likely have dental anxiety and would greatly benefit from sedation dentistry.
Feelings of uneasiness leading up to your dental visit. Sufferers of dental anxiety often begin to feel uneasy before a dental appointment, with feelings of uneasiness increasing as the appointment approaches.
Feeling stressed before or during a dental visit. Feeling stressed before and during a dental visit is another indicator of dental anxiety.
Feeling panicked or shortness of breath. Feelings of panic, including shortness of breath, are a common trait of dental anxiety.
Feeling increasingly nervous leading up to your dental examination. As with feelings of uneasiness, nervousness can increase as the dental visit approaches.
Feeling physically ill before a dental visit. Those with severe dental anxiety may feel physically ill before a dental visit.
Feeling like crying or actually crying at the thought of going to the dentist. In the most extreme cases of dental anxiety, sufferers may feel like crying or actually cry at even the thought of going to the dentist.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Robert Rapisarda

Don’t let dental anxiety prevent you from getting the care you need. With oral conscious sedation dentistry, you can stay relaxed and stress-free during your dental exam. Even if you don’t suffer from dental anxiety, oral conscious sedation dentistry can be used during your next dental procedure. For our Worcester dental implants patients, oral conscious sedation dentistry is a great option to ensure each stage of the treatment process is pleasant. Contact our offices today to see if oral conscious sedation dentistry is right for you.

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KÃ–R Whitening

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by drrapisarda
One of the quickest and most cost effective ways to improve the aesthetic of your smile is teeth whitening. The natural aging process, normal wear of the teeth, and the consumption of certain beverages and food can all cause discoloration and staining to occur in the teeth’s enamel and dentin. Smoking and certain medications can also cause staining to occur in the teeth. It is not surprising, then, to learn that teeth whitening is one of the most popular dental treatments performed today. If your smile is not as brilliantly white as you would like, you may benefit from teeth whitening.

KÖR Whitening

While there is an abundance of choices when considering your teeth whitening options, including toothpaste, strips, and mouthwash, no teeth whitening treatment is as effective as the KÖR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System.

Teeth whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes cannot improve the color of the teeth. Indeed, these at home teeth whitening options are designed only to lighten superficial stains. Teeth whitening strips may provide more visible results, but can be difficult to apply and remove and are not able to whiten tetracycline-stained teeth. Another downside to these teeth whitening products is that they can take days or even weeks to produce even minimal results.

If you desire a bright, white smile with results that can be seen right away, KÖR Whitening may be an ideal solution. By utilizing the KÖR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System, Worcester cosmetic dentist Robert Rapisarda is able to provide his patients dazzling white teeth that are both healthy and natural looking. The aesthetic benefits of KÖR Whitening are seen immediately and are incredibly long lasting. Another advantage of KÖR Whitening is that there is little to no discomfort associated with this teeth whitening technique. For our patients in Worcester, teeth whitening through the KÖR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System provides a safe, effective, easy, and long-term way to achieve the dazzling white smile they deserve.

Tetracycline-Stained Teeth and KÖR Whitening

One of the biggest and most frustrating challenges in the world of teeth whitening has been tetracycline-stained teeth. When this antibiotic is administered during early childhood, permanent teeth can be affected by staining. Teeth that are affected by tetracycline may appear bright yellow, dark brown, or gray. Sadly, patients suffering from tetracycline-stained teeth have had to live with the embarrassment of yellow, brown, or gray teeth without a truly effective treatment. KÖR Whitening can remove staining that other whitening treatments are ineffective at removing, including staining caused by exposure to tetracycline. Indeed, the majority of our Worcester KÖR Whitening patients are able to achieve the bright, white smile they have always wanted using this teeth whitening technique.

Contact Our Worcester Cosmetic Dentistry Practice Today

If whitening and bleaching techniques were not effective at whitening your teeth, or if you have been told that your teeth are too dark for teeth whitening, you may be an ideal candidate for the KÖR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System. Through this teeth whitening technique, your teeth can become dramatically whiter than they were before treatment, with many of our Worcester patients achieving a lightening of 16 shades or more. To learn more about KÖR Whitening, or to schedule an examination, please contact Worcester cosmetic dentist Robert Rapisarda today.

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