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.  

Dentures

If you’re looking to restore your smile after losing multiple teeth, dentures offer a great solution for patients in Philadelphia, PA. Drs. Shireen Malik and James Cavalancia of Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center offer three different types of dentures: partial dentures, conventional full dentures and immediate full dentures, and they can help determine which choice is best for you.

Conventional full dentures are one type of dentures that are used once all of a patient’s teeth have been removed. However, they are not placed until after the patient’s gum tissue has healed from the teeth extraction, which usually takes a few months. During that healing time, the patient would not have any teeth at all. If the idea of living for a few months without teeth doesn’t appeal to you, you can receive immediate full dentures instead. For this type, you would have your mouth measured prior to tooth extraction. Then after your teeth are removed at the next appointment, the dentures could be placed immediately. This method, however, requires a follow-up visit for refitting and tightening your dentures because your jaw will naturally change shape as it heals with no teeth.

When a patient does not need all their teeth removed but still have a significant portion removed, partial dentures are a common solution. They are similar to bridges except bridges are permanent while partial dentures are removable. Whichever type of dentures you get, they do take time getting used to since the flesh-colored base is placed over your gums, which can feel bulky or make your mouth feel crowded. However, as you train yourself, eating and talking will begin to feel more natural.

Whether you’ve already lost a significant amount of teeth or are in need of extractions, dentures are a popular option, and Drs. Shireen Malik and James Cavalancia can help their patients find which choice is best for them in Philadelphia, PA. To schedule an appointment at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center, call (215) 279-1193. For more information about the dentists and their services, please visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com.

Take Home Tray Whitening

White teeth are an important part of a beautiful smile and can help you feel more confident about your appearance. However, even with diligent brushing and flossing, your teeth can become dull and darker due to constant exposure to the acid present in food and drinks. Teeth whitening procedures can help to restore the color and gleam to your teeth, which is why Dr. Shireen Malik and Dr. James Cavalancia provide take-home whitening trays to help you achieve a smile you will love to show off in Philadelphia, PA. 

Teeth whitening services are becoming more and more popular, and as the demand for whiter teeth increases, patients are realizing that over-the-counter techniques just aren’t as effective as options offered by their dentist. The team here at Nicholas Cosmetic Dental Center offers take-home trays to help patients achieve exceptional smiles in only a few sessions.

The tray system can be completed in two steps. First, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to craft custom whitening trays that you can use over and over. Second, you will apply the gentle, whitening gel to the trays and wear the trays for a short period of time. With this method, patients can whiten their smile four to eight shades in only a few days! For best results, use the whitening system after your regular dental cleaning.

Whitening your teeth is an easy and dramatic way to improve the look of your smile. If you are looking to make your pearly whites white again, schedule an appointment with Dr. Shireen Malik or Dr. James Cavalancia for teeth whitening services in Philadelphia, PA by calling (215) 279-1193. For more information about the dentists and their services, visit www.nicholascosmeticdentalcenter.com.