Invisalign for Nearly Invisible and Comfortable Teeth Straightening

We want to offer our patients the most comfortable experience for their dental work. For those who are interested in braces, but do not want to go through the process wearing the noticeable and physically irritating metal braces, Invisalign is an option here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Invisalign is a teeth straightening system that uses clear, plastic trays to move teeth instead of brackets and wires. They are not nearly as noticeable as the traditional metal braces and also not nearly as irritating to the mouth. The plastic is smooth and shaped to your teeth, so your cheeks and gums are not scratched and calloused.

Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and then create a step by step process for straightening your teeth. The tray aligners are created and changed out every two weeks. You will go back to see your dentist once every four to five weeks to make sure that the process is going as planned. The trays should be worn as much as possible, about twenty to twenty-two hours per day. You can take them out when you eat and brush your teeth, which is another clear advantage over traditional braces!

If you are looking to straighten your teeth and want to see if Invisalign could be right for you, schedule a consultation with our dentists here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center located in Philadelphia, PA. To schedule or for more information, call (215) 279-1193 or visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

Inlays and Onlays

At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia want to provide their patients with options when it comes to repairing damaged teeth. Since each patient’s dental needs are different, the best treatment for one patient may not be the best treatment for another.  That’s why we provide options for replacing teeth damaged by decay or injury.

Traditional fillings, also called direct fillings, are a good choice for patients who need to repair damaged teeth. However, when restorative needs are more than a filling can provide, inlays and onlays are the ideal dental option. Inlays/onlays are used to repair a tooth that has been damaged due to cavity or injury. These molded dental prosthetics are applied to the damaged tooth, preserving its structure and the health of your smile.

Some advantages of an inlay/onlay are it often covers less area of a tooth than a traditional filling. This means more of the natural tooth is preserved. In addition, inlays/onlays fit precisely, which reduces the amount of bacteria that can get between gaps or spaces. Inlays/onlays are also stronger than traditional fillings and tend to last longer.

Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia will be happy to discuss inlays/onlays with you and help you decide what works best for you. To schedule an appointment at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, call (215) 279-1193 or visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com for more information.

Dental Bonding

Of all the cosmetic and restorative procedures, dental bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable. Called bonding because tooth-colored resin is bonded to your teeth, the procedure is used to repair teeth that are discolored, unevenly shaped or chipped. At our Philadelphia, PA office, Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia use bonding as an alternative to amalgam fillings in cases when only a small filling is required.

Bonding is achieved by applying incredibly strong resin to the tooth in need of restoration. The procedure can usually be accomplished in one visit and allows you to keep most of your tooth’s original enamel, which makes bonding preferable to veneers or crowns in many cases. Once the right color resin has been chosen for your smile, Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia will slightly abrade your teeth to roughen the surface. Then a conditioning liquid is applied to help the resin adhere. The putty-like resin is then applied to your tooth and molded and smoothed until it is in the proper shape. It is hardened with an ultraviolet light or laser. After the bonding material has hardened, your dentist will trim and shape it even more and then polish it until it shines like a tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for one tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your teeth but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your smile quickly and effectively.

Importance of Regular Cleanings

Although you may not think about going to the dentist until you have a problem, such as a toothache or loose filling, routine checkups are very important! Coming in for a checkup and regular cleanings plays a vital role in maintaining good oral health and preventing dental problems.

At Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, we offer a variety of dental services including regular cleanings and oral hygiene upkeep. Regular dental cleanings involve removing plaque and tartar from the teeth and gum line. Even if you brush your teeth and floss regularly, you still need a dental cleaning.

A professional cleaning involves the use of special tools, which helps remove tartar that brushing can’t. In addition, the hygienist and dentist can detect signs of gum disease early and recommended treatment. Regular cleanings also give your doctor at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center the opportunity to follow your dental health and compare your current condition with previous visits. This helps determine if gum disease is progressing.

Current research indicates gum disease may increase your chances of developing health problems, such as heart disease. Maintaining good oral health is not only about having a nice smile and white teeth. Preventing gum disease and keeping your mouth healthy can have an impact on your overall health. Schedule an appointment at our Philadelphia, PA practice with Dr. Shireen Malik or Dr. James Cavalancia by calling (215) 279-1193.

Night Guards

Night guards provided here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center help our patients get relief from their jaw pain and headaches, and protect their teeth. Some patients find themselves clenching and grinding their teeth either during the day or, more often, at night while sleeping.  Most patients are not even aware that they even have this problem that is slowly damaging their teeth.  It is more problematic at night because it can happen for hours at a time while sleeping. Teeth clenching and grinding stresses and wears down tooth enamel.  These problems can also cause irritation to the gums. Not only do our patients complain of headaches, and jaw pain, but can also have ear pain frequently because of excessive teeth clenching and grinding.

Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia offer a solution from our Philadelphia, PA dental clinic in the form of night guards. Night guards are custom made mouthguards for the patient, based on impressions taken of their teeth. Every night, the patient is instructed to wear the night guard which protects their teeth if they start clenching or grinding them. It acts as a barrier between the top and bottom teeth, so they can’t grind anymore and their teeth are protected.

Professionally created night guards tend to be of a higher quality and superior fit because they are made in a special laboratory from an impression of your mouth. The main function of your night guard is to prevent the surfaces of your teeth from grinding together. These devices are comfortable and will not disrupt your sleep patterns.

For more information about night guards at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, visit our website, www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com. 

Root Canals

If you have an infected nerve in your tooth, a root canal procedure is necessary for saving your tooth and alleviating your pain. Once a nerve becomes infected, it is incredibly important to have this procedure performed or the infection could become an abscess, which can lead to the infection spreading into your jawbone. When the infection reaches this point, it could result in a loss of bone mass in your jaw. If you are experiencing extreme pain in one of your teeth, you may have an infected tooth in need of a root canal Drs. Shireen Malik and James Cavalancia of Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA have the skills and experience to help you.

During a root canal procedure, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the infected tooth. Your doctor then drills into the tooth to access the canal and remove the infected tissue. Then the canal is cleaned before being filled with a sealant. A crown is used to cap the tooth, which improves the strength and appearance of the remaining tooth structure. It will also help protect the tooth from further infection.

If this process sounds scary, you should know that advances in modern dental technology have made root canals a much easier process with many more benefits than disadvantages. There is little pain in root canal procedures thank sot local anesthetics and pain medications, and any resultant soreness is well below the pain of infection.

If you are feeling pain and sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure in one of your teeth, you may need a root canal procedure. For relief from you pain, schedule an appointment with at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center  in Philadelphia, PA by calling (215) 279-1193. For more information about the dentists or their services, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com.

Tooth Extractions

If decay has reached too deeply into a patient’s tooth or if an infection has damaged too much of the supporting bone or tissue, that patient will need a tooth extraction, and at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center in Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia perform extractions to ensure that their patient’s oral health is restored.

Before the procedure is performed, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the area around the extraction site. If it is a simple extraction, the tooth will be loosened with an elevator and then extracted with forceps. Your dentist at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center may also choose to smooth and contour the underlying bone after the tooth is removed. Once finished, your dentist will suture the gums.

After the extraction, it is critical for patients to keep the area clean to prevent infection. A dry, sterile gauze will be placed over the gums to limit bleeding. Patients must make sure to keep it in place for 30 to 45 minutes while the blood clots. During the 24 hours after the procedure, patients should not smoke, rinse their mouth vigorously or clean the teeth immediately adjacent to the extraction site. Strenuous activity, hot liquids and straw drinking should also be avoided. A certain amount of pain and discomfort accompanies an extraction, so a painkiller may be prescribed.

Patients suffering pain from decay, infection or impaction can turn to Dr. Shireen Malik or Dr. James Cavalancia to determine if a tooth extraction is required to save their smile.  Schedule an appointment in Philadelphia, PA by calling (215) 279-1193. For more information about Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center and its services, please visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com.