Monday, April 18, 2016

Veneers As A Way To Improve Smiles

Are you self-conscious about the way your smile looks?

Are you considering oral surgery to fix the shape of your teeth?

Are you nervous about getting a cosmetic dentistry procedure done?

You’re not alone! Oral surgeries and cosmetic procedures can be scary, especially if you’ve never been to your dentist for anything but a general checkup before.

Don’t worry, your dentist wants to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted! There are several ways your dentist can help you get your confidence back. One that you might not know about is dental veneers.

How Can Veneers Improve My Smile?


Veneers are applied to the face of your tooth and can give the appearance of a white, perfect tooth even if your originals are discolored, misshapen or cracked.

Porcelain veneers can cover up a variety of imperfections on the face of the tooth, and can be matched to the color of your existing teeth.

In addition to covering up any insecurities you might have about your smile, porcelain veneers don’t stain as easily as a natural teeth, and can last longer, allowing you to have the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted for years to come.

Are Veneers a Painful Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure?


The process of bonding the veneers to the teeth typically takes two to three dentist visits to complete, and the dentist will apply a local anesthetic before the procedure. The overall process is not very painful, but can be uncomfortable.

Where Can I Get More Information About Cosmetic Dentistry?


For more information about porcelain veneers, the process of getting them applied to your teeth, and how to take care of them afterwards, visit our website! On our site you can also find information about other cosmetic dentistry procedures that Dr. DiStefano & Associates provides.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Princeton Scientist Creates “Tooth Tattoos”

Do you like tattoos? Do you have a few of your own?

What if you could get one on your teeth?

It sounds silly, but a Princeton scientist is developing a tattoo that could detect bacteria in the mouth.

This could help doctors and patients identify when someone is coming down with a cold, or worse.

According to scientist Michael McAlpine’s interview on Princeton’s website, “the system not only has the ability to supply fast results, but is able to detect very small amounts of bacteria — a feature that could prove critical in treating certain diseases.”

You’ve probably heard before that the mouth can tell your dentist and your doctor a lot about your overall health. Health problems like heart disease can often be diagnosed in a dentist office rather than your primary physician’s office.

How cool would it be to have a tattoo on your tooth that could tell you when you’re getting a cold?

According to the article on Princeton’s website, “The researchers created the tattoo by bundling the silk and gold with graphene — an extremely thin sheet of carbon in which atoms are arranged in a honeycomb lattice. The material's unique properties allowed the researchers to construct a small, flexible device able to detect bacteria at a much higher sensitivity level than traditional methods.”

The team at Princeton’s plan is to conduct more studies to better understand how they could make this a real life solution. You can read the full article and see prototype pictures here.

What do you think? Would you ever consider getting this type of cosmetic dentistry procedure done?

Dr. DiStefano’s office provides a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures in Howell, Michigan, and is always available to consult you. If you’re looking to improve your smile and your health, visit our website today to schedule an appointment!