When Whitening...

Everybody wants to look great, and we all want to feel great about the way we look.  People notice our teeth, and nowadays, we want our teeth to look white.  White teeth make us look younger, healthier, and more vibrant.  Did you know that you can over-whiten your teeth?  A good rule of thumb to make your teeth white and still natural-looking is to compare the whites of your eyes with your teeth.  If your teeth are whiter, especially if you notice a blue hue to your teeth, then they may not look natural.  Another thing to remember is that crowns and fillings and veneers don't transmit light the same way that natural teeth do, so your teeth may be different hues in different lighting:  teeth look different on a sunny day as compared to the inside of your home.  Keep in mind that the best way to keep your teeth looking good is to take care of them, including seeing your dentist regularly for prevention and cleaning the spots you may not be reaching when you clean your own teeth.

Amalgam VS. Composite

What is the difference between composite fillings and amalgam fillings?  They are different in color, obviously one being tooth colored and the other being silver.  In addition, there are structural differences and differences in placement technique that are important to consider when you are deciding between the two.  Silver fillings tend to cost less, however, silver fillings require that a certain amount of your tooth be removed so that the silver will be strong.  This means that even if the cavity is small, the filling requires that healthy tooth structure may be removed.  A composite filling is bonded to teeth, and can remain small:  only the cavity need be removed to restore the tooth.  New advances in composite fillings are making them more similar in longevity and strength as silver fillings without having to drill so much of the tooth out.  Ask your dentist to recommend a filling material to you according to your individual needs.