Posted by Meghan Weaver on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 12:52 PM
Whether you’re on a first date, a job interview, or meeting clients for the first time one thing’s for certain—you want to make a good first impression. Many factors go into the impression that you make but it certainly starts with a bright, healthy smile.
Studies show that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. During the first few minutes of your first interaction with someone new, they’ll often make assumptions about your economic and educational level, your trustworthiness and your level of sophistication—just from the quality of your smile.
Your breath also plays a huge role in shaping first impressions (and it goes without saying that bad breath is a huge strike against you). That being said, here are 3 helpful tips to keep bad breath at bay:
- Use a mouth rinse daily to clean out bad breath causing bacteria
- Don’t forget your tongue when brushing (make it part of your twice daily teeth brushing routine or perhaps use a tongue scraper)
- Get regular dental cleanings (if you’re looking for a new dentist, our plan has a growing network of Boston dentists plus other Massachusetts dentists and specialists to choose from)
On top of bad breath, crooked, missing or broken teeth create can negatively effect your first impressions, causing a stigma in both your personal and professional life. Individuals can restore their smile and self-esteem with various cosmetic dental procedures (i.e. dental implants) and orthodontia. But, these procedures can get very expensive, especially for those without insurance (or an affordable dental plan).
Universal Dental Plan is a Massachusetts dental insurance alternative that saves its members 20-50% off all procedures according to a fixed rate fee schedule (dental implants and braces included). Visit our website to learn more about us or just give us a call.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 @ 02:08 PM
Never discount the impact of a good first impression, or the role your smile can play in making or breaking it. Studies show that your smile is the first thing people remember about you and a bright, healthy smile conveys success, power and happiness. On the other end of the spectrum, individuals with visible dental problems (i.e. crooked or broken teeth, visible plaque buildup, etc.) often suffer low self-esteem or even stop smiling all together.
That’s where cosmetic dentistry comes in. There are many cosmetic dental procedures available to help you regain your bright healthy smile and the self-confidence you may have lost along with it.
Here are a few of the most popular ones (plus some great advice on how to access them at affordable prices).
Teeth whitening:
We all want a brighter smile. That’s why teeth whitening is one of the most common forms of cosmetic dentistry. For whatever reason, many of us have teeth that aren’t as white as they could be. Perhaps we’ve consumed too much coffee or tea, or forgotten to brush our teeth twice daily on too many occasions. Effects of these actions all add up and our teeth lose their luster as years go by.
Whatever the reason, you have 2 options for making your teeth bright again: at-home dental whitening kits or treatments performed by a dentist. We go over the pros, cons and specific details on these in an earlier blog entry.
Porcelain Veneers:
Another popular solution for teeth discoloration is porcelain veneers. However, they do more than just brighten up the appearance of your smile. Veneers are placed by dentists over the front teeth to change their shape and color. So, they’re ideal for individuals with oddly shaped teeth, chipped or crooked teeth or teeth with small holes in them and can significantly enhance the look of their smile in a very short period of time.
Veneers are very popular with cosmetic dentistry patients because they’re very difficult to stain, last roughly 10 to 15 years and come with very little maintenance short of follow-up visits after the procedure plus regular brushing and flossing.
Dental Implants:
Dental implants are fixtures of titanium surgically screwed into a patient’s jaw bone. The implants themselves act as anchors for a naturally-appearing false tooth or a set of false teeth.
Dental implants generally have a very high success rate and are an excellent alternative to dentures. Learn more about the dental implant process and advantages here.
Dental Bonding:
Many individuals with close, small gaps between their teeth, as well as teeth that are chipped or cracked have embraced dental bonding to even out their smiles. During the procedure, your dentist uses a composite resin to essentially bond your teeth together.
The dentist begins the bonding procedure by applying a thin coating of plastic material on the front surfaces of your teeth to cover natural flaws. Then, he or she will apply a bonding material, sculpting and shaping it to provide desired results. A high intensity light hardens the bonding material after the bonding is complete and the dentist will finely polish the surface of your teeth to complete the procedure.
As you’ve seen above, dentists can perform one of many cosmetic procedures to restore the brightness and contours of your smile. However, cosmetic dentistry can be expensive and most dental insurance will not cover it.
That’s where Universal Dental Plan comes in, with 20-50% discounts on all procedures performed by Massachusetts dentists and specialists. Visit our website to learn more and sign up.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, Apr 23, 2010 @ 11:54 AM
Teeth whitening, or bleaching is the single most requested cosmetic dental procedure in the U.S. for patients 20-50 years of age. When this procedure's popularity first started taking off 5 years ago, patients went straight to their dentist to get it done. However, in recent years, many dental product manufacturers have jumped on the whitening bandwagon.
Now individuals considering teeth whitening have a few options:
- Go to the dentist
- Use one of several OTC products available at the local pharmacy
How do you know which option is best?
According to the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), all whitening products will whiten your teeth because they all have the same active ingredient-either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. The difference lies in how much of the ingredient your product has.
Over the counter, store bought teeth whitening products have just 5% or less of the active ingredient whereas a dentist will use a product that contains anywhere from 10-35%. So is more always better?
In this case it is. With store bought dental whitening products, you generally need to use a lot more of the product to get your desired result and they take a lot longer to work too.
Teeth whitening options at the dental office:
When you go to your dentists for a teeth whitening treatment, you'll generally have 2 options.
- Chairside bleaching: In this procedure, your dentist will apply a chemical solution to your teeth and may also shine a special light on your teeth to activate it. The procedure generally takes about 60-90 minutes and may require multiple visits.
- At-home bleaching: With this procedure, a dentist produces a custom-fitted mouthguard that holds bleaching gel. The mouthguard is worn during the day or at night for the duration of the treatment period recommended by your dentist. Those who use the store-bought kits lose the benefit of a custom-made mouthguard to apply the gel, and their results may not be uniform.
Although teeth whitening performed by a dentist generally has much more immediate and sustained results than store-bought products most cosmetic procedures, including whitening, are typically not covered by dental insurance. As a result they can get very costly.
Fortunately, Universal Dental Plan members can get guaranteed 20-50% discounts on all cosmetic procedures performed by any of our Massachusetts dentist or specialists. To brighten your smile at prices you can afford, visit our website (www.universaldentalplan.com) and sign up today.
