Focus on Smiles Blog

Invisalign is a new alternative to metal braces. It is an invisible method for straightening your teeth without the hassle and look of braces. Invisalign was made public in May of 2000, and consists of a series of snap-on, custom fitted aligners. These removable mouth trays work by applying a controlled amount of force to your teeth. Within months, this force causes your teeth to shift and move into their proper alignment.

At Focus on Smiles of Edmonton, Alberta, we know the importance of a dazzling smile and are dedicated to achieving the smile of your dreams.

How the Aligners Work

These clear, medical-grade plastic aligners should be switched every two weeks as your teeth shift into place. Each set of aligners should be worn at all times, and only removed to eat, brush and floss.

Invisalign Benefits

The number one benefit of Invisalign is that it is clear, so no one will be able to tell that you are wearing them. This means that Invisalign will fit your lifestyle and your daily interactions with others. Because it is removable, you can eat and drink what you would like during treatment with the ability to brush and floss accurately to prevent gum disease.

Because it does not contain metal braces or wires, Invisalign will not cause irritation or pain. Since you will not need bracket adjustments, you will spend less time in the dental chair.

If you want to correct your crooked smile, cosmetic dentistry may be right for you. If you live in the Edmonton area, please contact knowledgeable Edmonton cosmetic dentist Dr. Christine Fialka-Eshenko to arrange a consultation today.

When you visit our office for a consultation on crooked teeth, Dr. Fialka-Eshenko will give you a thorough exam to check your bite as well as your teeth and gums. If your teeth are crooked because you are suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, she will discuss that with you and explain treatment options to correct your misaligned jaw joints as well as crooked teeth.

There would be little purpose in correcting crooked teeth without also correcting misaligned jaw joints, as the crookedness would likely return. Misaligned teeth and misaligned jaw joints can cause each other.

Porcelain veneers are an excellent option for mild crookedness. They are thin, custom-made covers for the front surfaces of front teeth. Dental bonding would be another choice, where Dr. Fialka-Eshenko would use a putty-like paste to correct tooth shapes, hardening it to a durable, white finish.

If your teeth are more than slightly crooked, Invisalign would be a possibility. It is a popular orthodontic treatment for adults, as it uses transparent, custom-made trays that can be removed. You would have no “metal-mouth” with wires and brackets.

If you want to correct your crooked smile, cosmetic dentistry has top-quality answers. If you live in the Edmonton area, please contact cosmetic dentist, Dr. Christine Fialka-Eshenko, to set up a personal consultation.

Tooth whitening and porcelain veneers are cosmetic dentistry procedures which have been gaining popularity as methods to correct an imperfect smile. Both can be used to help with discoloration or staining of teeth, but it is important to consult with your cosmetic dentist so you can choose the right option for your needs.

Porcelain veneers use a thin piece of custom-shaped ceramic to give new front surfaces to front teeth. They are bonded to your teeth, completely covering any imperfections. Besides covering stains that cannot be removed by tooth whitening, they can correct slight crookedness, mismatched tooth sizes, gaps, and chips, all in the same procedure. They are a more comprehensive treatment than tooth whitening.

Tooth whitening is easier and quicker, being done in one visit instead of two. If your teeth are straight and well-matched, veneers would not be necessary, and to brighten your smile, you could have an in-office tooth whitening treatment or use a take-home kit with customized trays.

Dr. Fialka-Eshenko will have those trays made for you so that the whitening gel will not leak out, as it does from store-bought whitening kit trays. Your trays will fit snugly and apply the whitening gel evenly for best results.

If you are interested in dental veneers or tooth whitening to help with your smile, please contact our cosmetic dentistry office in Edmonton to set up a consultation.

Porcelain, or dental, veneers are a great option for those who want a permanent, pain-free improvement in their smile.

What issues can porcelain veneers fix?
Dental veneers are great for fixing common issues like:

• Gaps
• Chips
• Crooked teeth
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Uneven teeth

What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are custom-made pieces of ceramic bonded to the front surface of your tooth. They are very durable and in some cases they are a good alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment because the entire procedure only takes two visits. Hence, porcelain veneers are often referred to as "instant orthodontics."

However, if your teeth are too severely crooked or uneven, dental veneers would not be the answer. Instead you could use Invisalign aligners to straighten them and a tooth whitening treatment to brighten them.

How do I take care of my dental veneers?
Your dental veneers need basically the same care as your natural teeth:

• Maintain good oral heath with regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups
• Avoid grinding or clenching your teeth
• Avoid excess force on your teeth, like chewing on pens or ice, or even biting your nails

Please see our page on common questions about dental veneers for more information.

If you live in or around Edmonton and have been considering dental veneers, please contact Dr. Christine Fialka-Eshenko's office for an evaluation. We can help create the smile you've always wanted.

There are very few people who do not want to change something about their smile. Whether it is stains, discoloration, cracks, chips, or gaps, there is always something that could give you that perfect smile you see in movies. Porcelain veneers might a great way to achieve a smile you can be proud of.

The porcelain veneers process is a great option for a perfect smile because it can be completed in as little as two visits. It is also virtually pain free and is done in a few simple steps:

• Dr. Fialka-Eshenko will prepare your teeth by removing a thin layer of enamel
• She will take an impression of the teeth so that the dental lab can custom-create your porcelain veneers to fit exactly
• Once the veneers have been made, you will come back to the office and Dr. Fialka-Eshenko will bond them to your teeth

In just two quick and painless trips to the office, you will have a brand new smile. If you live in the Edmonton area and have been considering porcelain veneers, now is the time to contact the office of Dr. Christine Fialka-Eshenko for a personal consultation. Your new smile is just around the corner.

Many people suffer from stained or discolored teeth. It is part of the aging process and it can make a person feel self-conscious about their smile. Besides aging, pigmented foods and drinks stain the teeth, and also certain minerals in our drinking water.

Fluoride Can be Over-Used
Most city water has fluoride added. Fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay and it can help teeth repair themselves if minor decay has started (a process called remineralization). But too much fluoride can discolor the teeth and can cause a condition caused skeletal flurosis, where the bones become brittle and break easily.

Most often, fluoride discoloration is found in children. If the drinking water is fluoridated and the parents also give a fluoride supplement to their children and have them use fluoride toothpaste, staining can result. When the teeth are stained early in life, as they are developing in the child, that is deep staining that will be harder to remove with any teeth whitening procedure than the surface stains from pigmented food and drink.

Other minerals that stain teeth are iron and manganese, which cause brown stains. Well water may contain these minerals as well as city water.

Teeth Whitening a Good Remedy
Most tooth staining can be removed by a teeth whitening procedure done by a qualified dentist. Dr. Fialka-Eshenko offers an in-office tooth whitening treatment that will give you dramatic whitening results in about 90 minutes. She also offers whitening kits you can use at home. They are far superior to store-bought whitening kits, as she will have two trays custom-made for a snug fit on your teeth, upper and lower, and will supply professional-grade whitening gel.

If you live in the Edmonton area and are interested in teeth whitening, please contact Dr. Christine Fialka-Eshenko for a consultation. We will help you select the whitening option that's right for you.