The life expectancy for Americans increased from about 50 in 1900 to about 80 in 2015.

Now that people in Los Angeles and nationwide are living longer, it follows that they need their health to last, which means maintaining strong teeth and gums, often with the assistance of a general and cosmetic dentist like Dr. Vorperian at Five Star Family Dental.

When you have questions about when might be the ideal time for a particular cosmetic dentistry procedure, or about how long you can expect a particular treatment or dental device to last, please contact our office to schedule time with Dr. Vorperian :  818-342-1894.

 

Which Treatment is Right for You?

Cosmetic and restorative dentistry have advanced light years from the “olden days” when people used rocks or wood in place of missing teeth.

With today’s advanced dentistry technology, our smiles can now thrive throughout the ages and stages of our lives.

Here is a rundown of some of the cosmetic dentistry treatments that tend to be appealing to seniors and older adults.

Teeth Whitening: Several factors affect the long-term brightness of your teeth. The longer you live, the more likely it will be that a lifestyle or medical issue will impact how bright you smile. Some of the issues that can cause tooth discoloration include:

• Medications

• Your diet

• Tobacco products

Although patients can be too young for professional teeth whitening as the materials used in this treatment may be too powerful for still-developing teeth, young adults and older adults both see outstanding cosmetic results from this type of treatment.

Durathin Veneers: Sometimes, deep, lasting tooth stains fail to respond well to teeth whitening treatments. This scenario, along with more obvious cosmetic flaws such as mismatched tooth shape or size, present an opportunity for our dentists to makeover a patient’s smile with the help or porcelain veneers. Dental veneers go right on top of your natural teeth and provide an instant update to your smile. To place a veneer, a very thin layer of enamel comes off of the tooth and then a paper-thin veneer is permanently bonded on top of the tooth. Adults of any age can be excellent candidates for porcelain veneers.

Dental Bonding: Patients who are nagged by tooth chips can have them filled using this procedure. Our dentists also can smooth away rough spots on teeth, and diminish the appearance of teeth that are different heights. This type of treatment is suitable for patients of any age.

Porcelain Crowns: Although a crown, or “cap,” is often a solution for adults who have permanently damaged teeth, children who are experiencing extreme decay also may receive crowns to protect their teeth.

Dental Implants: This is the strongest, most lasting solution that our cosmetic dentists can provide for people with seriously damaged smiles. Dental implants are considered the closest possible replacement to a person’s natural teeth. However, this procedure requires that a patient’s jaw is fully-developed, which means a dentist will generally only consider dental implants for a person who is of adult age. There is no upper age limit for dental implant patients, many of whom happen to be well in their retirement.

Whenever you have questions about the right cosmetic dentistry treatment to address both aesthetic and functional issues with your teeth and gums, Dr. Vorperian at Five Star Family Dental in Reseda can help. You can contact our office practice online or call our offices directly at 818-342-1894.