teeth whitening Archives - Smile Glen Ellyn Restorative Dentist
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24Jun

People are whitening their teeth now more than ever before, making it crucial that dentists be able to choose safe whitening products for patients. Luckily, the ADA has released a standard regulating the safety of these products.

Standard No. 136 was developed over a period of years by many collaborators, and approved by the American National Standards Institute. It sets requirements on factors like toxicity, how safe products are for the enamel and soft tissue of the mouth, and active ingredient concentrations, among other things. These factors are all cited by Dr. Clifton Carey, of the ADA Standards Committee and the University of Colorado, as being important to consumer safety.

What this means for consumers is that the ADA and ANSI have created a set of guidelines that ensure the health of natural teeth and soft tissue, while still achieving the dazzling smile we are striving for.

For more information, visit our Glen Ellyn teeth whitening page.

3Sep

What’s Your Smile Missing?

We can appreciate that family life is once again busy in Illinois with school back in session, and after-school activities that pull you in many different directions.

At least we still have Labor Day to relax a bit!

At Smile Glen Ellyn, we are here to make your life easier by providing a comprehensive range of dental solutions for your entire family all under one roof.

We want it to be convenient for you to keep your family’s oral health on track, but we also want you to be able to get the smiles you’ve always wanted.

In order to help, you will need to tell us exactly what your smile is missing!

I Want To Work On The Color Of My Teeth

You are not alone if you want to improve the color of your teeth. Whitening services usually top our list of cosmetic requests.

Many of our cosmetic dentistry patients like to have their teeth whitening done quickly in our office.

If that options best fits your needs, we have several ways you can get it done at Smile Glen Ellyn.

On the other hand, if you would rather do your whitening at home, we have take-home kits we will send with you that are also safe and effective.

We even offer a whitening for life incentive program. If you choose to participate, you will receive whitening kits indefinitely. All you have to do is keep up with your routine six month checkup and cleaning appointments.

No matter how you elect to do it, Smile Glen Ellyn will work with you to bring a brighter, whiter smile to your face.

What Can You Do About The Shape Of My Teeth?

Cosmetic bonding is one way we transform your teeth. The bonding material can be molded around your teeth to correct any gaps, fractures, chips and uneven teeth.

We also offer lumineers as a shape-shifting option.

As far as treatments go, these are a half-step up from cosmetic bonding.
This form of thin veneer requires no prep time and can be shaped and fitted to your teeth very quickly.

What’s more, lumineers can radically reconfigure the shape of your teeth to give you the look you want.

My Alignment Needs Adjustment

If your teeth are crooked, overcrowded, or have too much space in between, we have some excellent dental solutions at Smile Glen Ellyn that are painless, discreet, and effective.

Invisalign is a revolutionary approach to orthodontic treatment. Simply put, these are quick, adult braces that are made of clear, removable plastic aligners.

In a matter of months, you’ll have your smile all straightened out and no one will even know that you ever had “braces.”

If you primarily have misaligned teeth in the front of your mouth, you might be a good candidate for another option, Six Month Smiles.

This is truly the fast-track of orthodontic treatment.

Six Month Smiles can transform the look of your smile without bothering with the larger, more stubborn teeth in the back of your mouth (that you never see anyway).

As the name implies, with Six Month Smiles, your treatment will be complete in 3-9 months, depending on your unique situation.

Come Get What You’re Missing

Now that you know what we can do to help get you the smile you want, what are you waiting for?

Contact us today!

The team here at Smile Glen Ellyn is excited to get started on creating your stunning new smile.

17Jul

We love summertime in Glen Ellyn, IL. There’s so much to do and so many people to spend time with! It’s a great season for visiting, taking it easy, and making changes. Patients come into our office during summertime and want to transform their smile to match their happy, sunny mood!

At Smile Glen Ellyn, we are always ready to take on a smile makeover challenge! Our patients love to see their look transformed by quality cosmetic dental care, and our staff enjoys the process of giving a patient exactly what they came in for.

Use what’s left of this summer to create your own smile makeover plan, and let us get to work! By the time the leaves are changing color and falling off the trees, you’ll be well on your way to the smile of your dreams! Depending on the severity of your current smile, you could be completely done with your cosmetic work! First, you have to decide what needs to be done!

What’s Missing in Your Smile?

The first thing we will ask you is to try to figure out exactly what it is about your smile that you don’t love. Why are you seeking a smile makeover in the first place? It can be difficult to self-evaluate, which is why we have put together a set of questions to help you think through the different aspects of your smile. This will help you come up with a list of requests so that we can do the best job possible for you! Take a look at our cosmetic smile questionnaire before you continue to solutions.

Changing the Color of Your Smile

The most common cosmetic request we get is for teeth whitening. With age comes discolored teeth, and discolored teeth are embarrassing! You don’t feel like you can smile freely when your teeth are not a pleasant shade of white. We have whitening solutions here at Smile Glen Ellyn.

Whitening Services
Any way you want to whiten, we offer it at our office. If you prefer to whiten at home, we have take-home kits you can use for safe, effective whitening. If you prefer to have your whitening done quickly in our office, we have several options for you to choose from! We even offer a whitening for life program that allows you to receive whitening kits as long as you maintain your routine cleaning appointments.

Changing the Shape of the Smile

Having beautifully white teeth is nothing if you aren’t happy with the shape of your teeth! We generally want our teeth to be uniform and balanced from tooth to tooth. If one tooth is uneven or misshapen, your entire smile will make you feel self-conscious! We have quick and effective solutions that will transform your smile without any discomfort or damage to your natural teeth.

Bonding – Cosmetic bonding is a fantastic way to transform your teeth. The bonding material can be shaped around your tooth or teeth to correct chips, gaps, cracks, and uneven teeth. Bonding doesn’t require multiple appointments, and the process is completely comfortable!

Lumineers – Lumineers are a step up from cosmetic bonding. This form of thin, prepless veneer can be shaped and fitted to your teeth very quickly. It requires very little prep to your teeth, so you are more comfortable and your teeth are healthier! Lumineers can completely transform the shapes of your teeth to give you the look you’re dreaming of!

Changing the Alignment of the Smile

The alignment of your teeth can be a cosmetic issue, but it is more often a matter of having a healthy smile. Teeth that are misaligned are more difficult to keep clean, and they are more likely to cause issues for your TMJ (temporomandibular joint). It is important that we find a solution that will get your teeth back to their rightful place!

Invisalign – Invisalign is a fantastic approach to quick, adult braces. These clear aligners will fit comfortably over your teeth so that your treatment is just that: yours. No one else will notice! In a matter of months, you’ll have a beautiful, healthy smile once again.

Six Month Smiles – For teeth that are misaligned in the front of your mouth, we recommend Six Month Smiles. This quick and discreet treatment can completely change the look of your smile without messing with the bigger, harder-to-move teeth in the back. Your complete treatment will be done in 3-9 months.

Make an Appointment Today

Is it finally time for you to address the problems you have with your smile? Contact Smile Glen Ellyn to begin the process towards your beautiful new look. We have all of the cosmetic options you need to transform your look into something you are proud to share with friends and family. Get in touch today!

25May

It seems like everyone is getting on the “Superfood” bandwagon these days! The people of Glen Ellyn, IL are no exception, and it appears to be more than a fad. Actual scientific progress is underway in the nutrition field, and more discoveries are being made each day about these special foods.

Superfoods are the foods that not only provide nutrition, but also other health benefits. However, there is something you need to be cautious about: can these superfoods stain your teeth?

The answer is a resounding “Yes!”.

When most people think of things that stain your teeth, healthy foods aren’t usually on the list. Ask anyone on the street and you’ll probably hear these “Most Wanted” teeth stainers:

  • Red Wine
  • Tobacco
  • Coffee and Tea
  • Poor Oral Health
  • Getting Older

Below, we’ve listed a few superfoods that can also stain your teeth. We’re not advising you to stop eating healthy; far from it! Just know that over time, your teeth will begin to stain, and that’s where Smile Glen Ellyn can help. We have a range of teeth whitening and teeth bleaching technologies and services that can get your smile back to an attractive, natural, white and bright smile.

You can look as good as a healthy diet makes you feel!

Tomatoes

We’re a Chicago suburb, so pizza and good Italian food is not hard to come by.
No, pizza isn’t a superfood, but tomatoes are!

Tomatoes have been shown to reduce your chances of developing certain kinds of cancer. That’s great, keep them coming! However, tomatoes are very acidic, which is bad news for your teeth and their look. Also, that bright red color that makes tomatoes (and tomato sauce, juice, ketchup; the list of tomato products is really long!) so appetizing and pleasing to look at is also a strong pigment. Pigment molecules make their way into your teeth’s porous surface and dull their color, which diminishes your whole smile!

Beets and Beet Juice

Recent research has demonstrated that the humble beet (and beet juice) can do a lot of great stuff for you. Beets are a great source of antioxidants, and it may even have anti-inflammatory properties and can lessen your chances for developing heart disease.

Of course, beets just wouldn’t be beets without that bright red color. The red pigment betanin, which is present in beets can really stain your teeth, especially if you’ve added beet juice to your daily regimen.

Blueberries

Who doesn’t like blueberries? They’re an all-American food, and studies show that they can reduce the effects of aging, promote weight loss, and can even protect your brain from the oxidative stresses that can effect your cognitive functioning. Those are just a few of the benefits of blueberries.

Unfortunately, just like tomatoes, their bright blue juice is a very effective stainer (eat enough blueberries in one sitting and you’ll get an idea of what we’re talking about). It’s not just blueberries, either: blackberries, cherries, any berry that is bright and juicy can also have a negative impact on your smile’s look.

Walnuts

Did you know that walnuts have been used for everything from ink to hair dye? Today, walnuts are also used as a multi-purpose abrasive. That said, this shouldn’t dissuade you from eating them; walnuts are an excellent way to get the fatty acid Omega-3. If you’ve ever handled walnuts before, you might have noticed a black coloration on your hands. That’s why walnuts are great as an ink and great as a hair dye. They can also make your teeth lose their shine and color!

Get Rid of Stains with a Teeth Whitening or Bleaching Treatment at Smile Glen Ellyn!

Smile Glen Ellyn can get your teeth back to their natural whiteness and give you an energized new smile and appearance.

Zoom! Whitening and Opalescence

This method uses a combination of powerful teeth whitening gels called Opalescence: these contain varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (which whitening agent and concentration you get depends upon your whitening needs). Your dentist will apply the gel with a special tray that fits in your mouth and protects your gums from the whitening gel (which can be a strong irritant for some; if you know you have sensitive gums, let your dentist know!). Then your doctor will use a Zoom! Whitening lamp; the whitening agents penetrate the tooth and remove stains; the lamp eradicates them.

Smile Glen Ellyn also offers custom-made trays and gels for at-home whitening treatments if you prefer.

Your Teeth Aren’t Going to Brighten Up On Their Own!

If you have a dull smile caused by diet, tobacco use, a coffee or tea habit, or any of the things we mentioned earlier in this post, consider a dentist-supervised whitening treatment! It’s safer and more effective than the kits you can buy in the store, plus the entire treatment is planned and completed with your oral health in mind! You won’t find that in a box.

Call us today! You can reach us at 630-858-8800, or fill out our online appointment form and book it yourself!

Your teeth won’t get whiter on their own. You’ve got to do something about it!

17May

When you look at your smile in the mirror, what do you see?

Do you see an attractive, shiny white smile with a great shape?

Is it a smile you can be proud of, a smile that makes you confident in any situation, whether it’s business or pleasure?

Or…

Do you see a smile with teeth that are dull, misaligned, cracked, or missing?

Have you gotten used to holding back your smile to hide its imperfections? If so, you probably don’t present a very confident appearance.

If the second smile is what you’re seeing, it might be time to consider a Smile Makeover.

Smile Glen Ellyn is one of the leading cosmetic dentists in Glen Ellyn, IL. We’re a practice that is passionate about helping people get the bright, vibrant smiles that show who they are on the inside.

We want to give you the smile that you want, the smile that you deserve, and the smile you’ve earned.

What’s the Value of a Smile Makeover?

Like many people considering a Smile Makeover, you’ve worked hard to build a successful life.

Unfortunately, you were so busy that your teeth have suffered from neglect, and now they’re the worse for wear. Your smile is an important part of your appearance, and a genuine, attractive, natural-looking smile is one of the most powerful tools you have to inspire confidence and trust in the people you meet. A study conducted by Cambridge University in 2001 (and published in The Journal of Economic Psychology) revealed that your smile plays a major role in the basic building of the kind of trust that is needed for cooperation between people.

Your smile should show the world that you’re at the top of your game.

Of course, a Smile Makeover isn’t for everyone. A Smile Makeover takes many appointments, and it requires a lot of diligence at home to get it right. Not everyone can make this commitment! Keep in mind too that a Smile Makeover isn’t just about creating a fabulous new look: getting your oral health in order is a major part of a Smile Makeover. Healthy teeth are good looking teeth, after all!

What Goes Into A Smile Makeover?

A Smile Makeover means something different to everyone. Your dentist will work with you to create a treatment plan to address all the problem areas you can see (and some that only a professional would notice). Your dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine if your teeth are healthy enough for the procedures required and if any additional “pre-work” is needed before the Smile Makeover can begin.

A smile isn’t just about your teeth looking white and straight. Just as everyone has their own face, they have their own smile, and your dentist will take into account your entire look as a part of the evaluation and planning process. For example, the color of your eyes and hair can play a big role, as well as your skin tone. The shape and color of your lips will also be factored in as part of the “Smile Makeover Equation”.

When it comes to your teeth, your dentist will check:

Color:

Many people make the mistake in thinking that a youthful bright smile is composed of teeth that are almost blinding white. That’s true if you want to look like a cartoon character, but natural teeth should look healthy and natural. Teeth that are too white will look false and you won’t get the most out of your smile. We offer many different kinds of teeth whitening and teeth bleaching solutions in our practice, and you and your dentist will work together to decide which one is right for you.

Your dentist will also check the state of any fillings you might have; silver fillings can be replaced with tooth-colored ones if necessary.

Alignment:

Are your teeth crooked, or do they have an unsightly gap? At Smile Glen Ellyn we offer a number of different orthodontic treatments to help your teeth become straight to give you your perfect smile. The best thing about this is, nobody has to know you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. We offer both Invisalign and Six Month Smiles, both of which are designed to minimize the “noticeability” of wearing orthodontic appliances.

Missing Teeth:

Missing teeth just don’t look bad. They can have serious consequences for your bite and can even change the shape of your face. We have a wide range of implants, restorations, and other ways to replace your missing teeth and restore not only your smile, but also your face’s structure. People are usually amazed at the effect replacing missing teeth has on their entire look!

What Are You Waiting For?

We’ve done a lot of Smile Makeovers over the years.

One thing that we’ve learned is those who can afford the necessary procedures and have the discipline to undergo all the treatments share another common trait: they don’t tend to wait for things to happen!

So why start now? Call us today at 630-858-8800 or connect online and make an appointment!

The whole team at Smile Glen Ellyn is ready to give you back your smile. All you have to do is ask!

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