At Ashley Flowers Family Dentistry, we offer advanced materials and techniques for our crown and bridge treatments. Todays restorations can give you healthy teeth that last for years while looking completely natural.

Dr. Flowers may discuss the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment with you. Crooked and crowded teeth are harder to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, gum disease, and lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints known as the TMJ. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or jaw pain.

Invisalign aligners are clear and designed for orthodontic changes to improve your smile. They are custom-made for you, virtually invisible and fit snugly over your teeth. Dr. Flowers will design a custom treatment plan for you after digitally scanning your teeth. The aligners come in sets that you will change along your course of treatment as your teeth shift and move into more ideal positions to help give you the smile youve always wanted!

Brushing and flossing are everyday ways to keep your teeth bright, white and healthy. Still, if you might feel like your smile is lacking some sparkle or is more yellow than it used to be, youre not alone. When the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry asked people what theyd most like to improve about their smile, the most common response was whiter teeth. The American Association of Orthodontists also found that nearly 90% of patients requested tooth whitening.

Two chemicals found in tobacco create stubborn stains: Tar and nicotine. Tar is naturally dark. Nicotine is colorless until its mixed with oxygen. Then, it turns into a yellowish, surface-staining substance.

Tooth darkening can be a side effect of certain antihistamines, antipsychotics and high blood pressure medications. Young children who are exposed to antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline when their teeth are forming (either in the womb or as a baby) may have discoloration of their adult teeth later in life. Chemotherapy and head and neck radiation can also darken teeth.

Teeth whitening is a simple process. Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter.

No, which is why its important to talk to your dentist before deciding to whiten your teeth, as whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow teeth will probably bleach well, brown teeth may not respond as well and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all. Whitening will not work on caps, veneers, crowns or fillings. It also wont be effective if your tooth discoloration is caused by medications or a tooth injury.

All toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives that scrub the teeth. Look for whitening toothpastes that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance for stain removal (it will tell you on the package). These toothpastes have additional polishing agents that are safe for your teeth and provide stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these types of ADA-Accepted products do not change the color of teeth because they can only remove stains on the surface.

This procedure is called chairside bleaching and usually requires only one office visit. Dr. Flowers or her assistant will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect your gums. Bleach is then applied to the teeth.

Your dentist can provide you with a custom-made tray for at-home whitening. In this case, Dr. Flowers will give you instructions on how to place the bleaching solution in the tray and for what length of time. This may be a preferred option if you feel more comfortable whitening in your own home at a slower pace, but still with the guidance of a dentist. Out-of-office bleaching can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

You may see different options online or in your local grocery store, such as toothpastes or strips that whiten by bleaching your teeth. The concentration of the bleaching agent in these products is lower than what your dentist would use in the office. If you are thinking about using an over-the-counter bleaching kit, discuss options with Dr. Flowers and look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. That means it has been tested to be safe and effective for teeth whitening. Get a list of all at-home bleaching products that Dr. Flowers recommends.

Some people who use teeth whiteners may experience tooth sensitivity. That happens when the peroxide in the whitener gets through the enamel to the soft layer of dentin and irritates the nerve of your tooth. In most cases the sensitivity is temporary. You can delay treatment, then try again.

If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or dont want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to Dr. Flowers to see if dental implants are an option for you.

Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. In fact, the development and use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. They are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth.

Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth used to be. Bridges can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and are attached to surrounding teeth for support. Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist like Dr. Flowers.

An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under the gum tissue. Depending on which type of bridge Dr. Flowers recommends, its success depends on the foundation. So its very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is the formal name of the dental specialty concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, interception, guidance and correction of bad bites. The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy bitestraight teeth that properly meet opposing teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak.

If your teeth are crowded, protrusive, spaced too far apart, meet in an abnormal way, or do not meet at all, correction may be recommended. Braces and aligners are the appliances orthodontists most commonly use to guide your teeth into their proper positions. Retainers preserve and stabilize the results of your orthodontic treatment.

In the past, orthodontic treatment was associated with children and teens, but today many adults seek orthodontic treatment to correct long-standing problems, or problems that stem from maturational changes. Dr. Flowers can help people of any age achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.

Dr. Flowers is a Preferred Provider of Invisalign. Invisalign are clear aligners that fit over teeth and are worn full time. Many times treatments using these clear aligners can be completed over a shorter span of time than with traditional metal braces. Please contact our office to schedule a complimentary Invisalign evaluation to determine if you or your teenager would be a candidate for this course of treatment. More About Invisalign.