Austin Laser Dentist - Helen Ragsdale DDS, 11615 Angus Rd Ste 101, Austin 78759, United States (US) - Phone: 512 346-4690

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Porcelain Veneers for The Perfect Smile

woman with porcelain veneers drinking coffee with two friends at outside table

Do you take great care of your teeth and still feel unsatisfied, insecure, or disappointed with your smile? Although your teeth may be healthy, stains, chips, and decay would leave anyone feeling this way about their teeth. If this has been your experience, porcelain veneers can help!

These veneers are lined with ceramic and placed over the front teeth to display a bright and beautiful smile. Compared to composite bonding, these are far more resistant to staining caused by things like coffee, red wine, and tea (however, they are not completely immune to the damage these things can cause).

If you are in the Austin, TX area, Dr. Helen Ragsdale – your Austin Laser Dentist – can assist you in creating the smile of your dreams. Placing porcelain veneers is a common, non-intrusive dental procedure with very little risk involved. Call us today to schedule your appointment!

The Process

Setting up a consultation with Dr. Ragsdale is the first step in this simple, two-part process. On your first visit, she will examine your teeth to be sure the enamel is strong enough to support the veneers. The next step is to prepare the teeth by removing a minimal amount of enamel from the surface of your teeth. This is to create a strong bond between your teeth and veneers, and helps the veneers not look bulky once they are placed. Impressions will then be taken of your teeth and sent to the dental lab to be formed.

On your second visit, Dr. Ragsdale will be able to place the thin, ceramic covering over each tooth. If any adjustments to the size and shape are needed, that can be done before being permanently fastened. Once they are placed, and any needed adjustments are complete, you can walk out of the office with a dazzling smile!

Why Veneers Are a Good Investment

The cost of veneers can be a deal-breaker when it comes to going through with the procedure, but it doesn’t have to be. Not only do some insurances help cover the expense, the benefits far out-weigh the cost. These benefits include:

  1. A whiter smile. Whiter teeth usually mean a more confident you in your everyday life and especially on occasions like family vacations when pictures are being taken around the clock. Can you really put a price on that?
  2. Treatment for enamel abrasion and erosion. Enamel is paramount in protecting the inner, more sensitive layers of your teeth. Unfortunately, once the enamel on teeth is damaged, it doesn’t come back. However, porcelain veneers can replace it!
  3. A lasting investment. When taken well care of, your veneers can last anywhere from 10-20 years! In that amount of time, your gorgeous new smile will have encountered thousands of people, been in hundreds of photos, and made many other people’s days better.

It is important to remember that veneers are an irreversible procedure and must be taken well care of. Thankfully, you can take care of them with these three easy steps:

  1. Brush twice a day with ADA-approved, minimally abrasive toothpaste.
  2. Floss at night.
  3. Visit your Austin Laser Dentist for regularly scheduled check-ups.

If this sounds like an investment you would like to make, contact Dr. Ragsdale and her team today to begin the process to a whiter, brighter, picture-perfect smile!

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Find Your Beautiful Smile with Porcelain Veneers

Find Your Beautiful Smile with Porcelain Veneers

Does your smile turn heads? Porcelain dental veneers are often the most dramatic cosmetic smile solution, for patients who desire a smile worth displaying. Dr. Helen Ragsdale, Austin Laser Dentist, can help you achieve the incredible new smile you desire through porcelain veneer treatment in Austin TX.

Looking for a cosmetic dentist with a gentle touch and patient-focused approach to care? Choose Dr. Helen Ragsdale. Known as Austin’s gentle dentist, Dr. Ragsdale has completed advanced studies of dental esthetics at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and has been helping Austin patients create beautiful, healthy smiles since 1985. Call to schedule your cosmetic consultation at 512.346.4690.

What are veneers?

Created with very thin pieces of ceramic, veneers cover the entire visible surface of the front teeth displayed in your smile. Veneers conceal a host of blemishes in otherwise healthy, functional teeth. For example, veneers may be a good cosmetic solution if your teeth are:

  • Minimally chipped or have fracture lines
  • Crowded or gapped
  • Dull or discolored
  • Deeply stained (stains which cannot be treated through whitening treatments)
  • Misshapen, or over-/under-sized teeth

What can I expect during treatment?

Before treatment can begin, Dr. Ragsdale completes a thorough examination to ensure that your teeth are healthy and strong enough for veneers. Any restorative work, such as fillings, dental crowns, or dental implants, should be completed before cosmetic treatment begins.

Then, Dr. Ragsdale takes 3D images or physical impressions of your teeth. This acts as the foundation for the dental lab team to fabricate seamless, perfect-fitting veneers. Our team will also complete a custom tooth shade analysis to help you reach your desired tooth brightness and color. Afterwards, your veneers are carefully created by dental lab technicians skilled in finely shaping and coloring medical-grad ceramic veneers. Once the finished pieces are completed and sent back to our practice, Dr. Ragsdale will place the veneers onto your teeth.

To begin, Dr. Ragsdale files down the natural tooth enamel to create a receptive surface for the permanent dental bonding agent. She also shapes the back of the veneers before applying a dental adhesive and securely placing the veneers onto each tooth’s surface. Final tweaks to ensure a comfortable bite and smile take just a few minutes before your new smile is ready!

Are veneers permanent?

Before deciding if veneers are right for you, it’s important to know that porcelain veneers are considered a permanent cosmetic solution. Today’s veneers, thanks to improved technology, require less enamel to be removed than traditional veneers may have required. However, the amount of enamel removed during the placement process is still significant, and teeth should always be protected with a veneer layer once veneers are placed. This is because, unfortunately, once enamel is removed it cannot be replaced. While your first set of porcelain veneers won’t last forever, they do last quite a long time before needed to be replaced; most veneers hold up to daily eating and drinking for 15 to 20 years when combined with routine care and good oral hygiene.

How can I receive porcelain veneers in Austin, TX?

If you are interested in a cosmetic solution such as porcelain veneers, schedule a consultation with Austin’s gentle dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale! She can work with you to ensure your smile goals are attained through our comprehensive cosmetic dentistry services. Call us today at 512.346.4690.

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What do porcelain veneers feel like?

What do porcelain veneers feel like?Porcelain veneers can create instant, beautiful results for patients looking for a dramatic smile makeover. However, because veneers are applied over the surface of teeth, many patients wonder if the veneers will feel bulky or strange. Below, learn what to expect when adjusting to new veneers, and when you can expect your new, beautiful smile to feel normal again.

If you are in the Austin, TX, area and are unhappy with the current appearance of your smile, Dr. Helen Ragsdale and our team at Austin Laser Dentist can help! Dr. Ragsdale has been helping patients craft beautiful smiles for over 30 years, and can discuss your cosmetic treatment options during a one-on-one consultation. Call us today to schedule your appointment!

What to Expect During Treatment

Before placing porcelain veneers, Dr. Ragsdale takes comprehensive impressions or 3D images of your smile to ensure that the custom-fabricated veneers match seamlessly with your existing smile. To prep the front teeth for veneers, Dr. Ragsdale will file the surface of the front of the teeth. This allows the dental bonding agents that fix the veneers to the teeth to develop a stronger hold. Once the veneers are created in our dental laboratory, DR. Ragsdale can then place each thin, ceramic covering on each natural tooth. Final tweaks to the size and shape can be made before they are polished. A completely new, beautiful smile comes together in just two to three appointments!

Recovery and Adjusting to Your New Smile

After placement, your veneers will last up to 20 years if you practice proper oral hygiene care. It’s completely normal for your new smile to feel odd or different right after your veneers are placed. Most patients find that getting used to their new veneers takes about one or two weeks at most, however. Your veneers will not affect your ability to speak, smile, or eat normally. Typically, any feelings of “bulkiness” go away as you become used to the new outline of your smile.

Your mouth is extremely sensitive to change; think about just how familiar your mouth feels to you. Whenever you receive dental work that even slightly alters the shape or placement of your teeth or gums, your mouth will pick up on any small, nuanced changes. Veneers are a great example of this; this cosmetic procedure changes the front of your smile, so it’s no doubt the visible changes will also feel quite different. The tongue will probably constantly run over the new veneers during the first few days after treatment.

Tips for Care and Maintenance

There’s not much to learn in terms of veneer care and maintenance; it’s very similar to taking care of your natural teeth. Daily flossing, twice daily brushings, and bi-annual dental cleanings and examinations are the best way to keep your veneers shiny and new for as long as possible.

Also, remember these tips:

  • Avoid biting straight into hard or tough foods; cut apples, carrots, and similar snacks into smaller pieces before eating.
  • Avoid “whitening” toothpastes; these often contain baking soda and can actually scratch veneers. Plus, you no longer need to use whitening products; veneers do not stain like natural tooth enamel.
  • Avoid chewing on ice, pens, or hard objects. Just like teeth, veneers can chip if exposed to excessive force.

Gentle Care for Sore Gums

Your gums line around the new veneers could become inflamed or tender right after treatment. Don’t’ worry; this is a temporary side effect that should go away within a few days as your gums become used to the new veneers. Be careful when brushing and flossing to reduce further irritation. A simple saline solution can also help to protect the vulnerable gums from infection. Rinse twice a day with salt water to protect your teeth and ease gum soreness. If pain or irritation does continue after the first week, contact our office for further instruction.

Schedule a Cosmetic Consultation Today

If you desire a smile that you can’t help but show off, contact our Austin, TX practice today. Our cosmetic treatments, including dental bonding, professional whitening, and porcelain veneers, are designed to help you create a more beautiful.

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5 Benefits of Restorative Dentistry

woman holding picture of beautiful smile in front of her faceOur smiles are one of our most visible physical attributes. The benefits of healthy teeth goes beyond physical looks, though. When teeth become damaged, the results can have significant health implications. Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing or replacing damaged or decayed teeth. If you are interested in having the perfect smile, contact Dr. Helen Ragsdale at (512) 346-4690 to schedule an examination at Austin Laser Dentist in Austin, TX. Here are just a few of the benefits of restorative dentistry.

#1: Improved Chewing Function

The act of chewing is a complex balancing act that requires close coordination between the jaw, teeth, and tongue to ensure that food is properly ground and crushed before being digested. When food is not properly chewed, choking and digestive problems may occur. Over reliance on one side of the mouth due to pain from a damaged tooth is one common cause of impaired chewing function. (Some patients experience improvements in speech following the dental restoration procedure.) Restorative dentistry is one way to help restore chewing ability.

#2: Reduced Jaw Discomfort

Misaligned teeth can cause a number of oral problems ranging from jaw pain and stiffness of the jaw muscles to persistent teeth clicking and unintentional self-biting of the gums. In some cases, the discomfort can even lead to recurrent headaches and trouble sleeping. Austin Laser Dentist offers several procedures to help realign teeth and end discomfort. Those options include fillings, dental implants, bridges, crowns, and teeth straightening.

#3: Long-term Cost Savings and Preservation of Bone Structure

The preferred outcome for any dental procedure is to preserve all or part of a tooth when possible. Dental crowns (caps) preserve damaged teeth by physically encasing the remaining structure. The crowns are designed to maintain the natural look and feel of the tooth they are capped onto.

A healthy smile speaks volumes. It is commonly associated with health, happiness, and beauty. While not every part of our bodies can go through life appearing ageless, our teeth can. Whether you’re looking to close gaps between your teeth, restore chipped teeth, or cover stains, the staff at Austin Laser Dentist has the right options for you.

#4: Look Younger

It’s no wonder models and celebrities pay special attention to their smiles. Studies have shown that the appearance of our teeth is a key factor in how age is perceived. One study conducted by Oral B found that a healthy smile can add or subtract five years to your “age.”

#5: Improved Appearance

The shape, evenness, and color of your teeth define how “healthy” your smile appears to others. Having the assuredness to smile wide and show your pearly whites can be a boost to your self-confidence. It can also influence how old you look. Dr. Ragsdale’s dental office provides a variety of procedures that can restore and improve the appearance of your teeth. Discoloration can result from years of drinking coffee and tea or simply for genetic reasons. Austin Laser Dentist offers one-hour Laser Whitening. The process is no mere whitewashing. A beautiful smile must appear natural. Dr. Ragsdale and her staff approach each laser whitening treatment mindful of the patient’s natural skin tone in order to ensure that the results complement the surrounding facial features.

Rejuvenate Your Smile With Restorative Dentistry in Austin, TX

Are you interested in learning more about restorative dentistry? Call Dr. Helen Ragsdale at (512) 346-4690 to arrange for an appointment.

 

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