Social Media and the Rise of Veneers: A Perfect Smile Revolution

In the age of video calls and selfies, where every smile is under the scrutiny of high-definition cameras and social media’s ever-watchful eye, the quest for the perfect smile has taken on new significance. Among the most popular cosmetic procedures to achieve that flawless look are dental veneers. These custom-made shells cover the front of the teeth, improving their appearance by altering the color, shape, size, or length. The surge in the popularity of veneers coincides with the rise of social media and the influence of digital culture on personal aesthetics.

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How Fixing Your Teeth Can Make You Look More Youthful

When we think of looking more youthful, we often think of anti-aging products, makeup or wardrobe changes, and diet and exercise. However, one key aspect of looking youthful is often overlooked–our teeth. Our teeth can greatly impact our appearance and how we are perceived by others. Whether it’s fixing crooked or chipped teeth, whitening discolored teeth, or replacing missing teeth, getting the perfect smile can make you look years younger. In this blog, we’ll explore how fixing your teeth can make you look more youthful and confident.

Straight Teeth

One of the most common ways fixing your teeth can make you look more youthful is by straightening them. Straight teeth not only look more aesthetically pleasing, but they also give the impression of youthfulness. Crooked teeth can make you look older, whereas straight teeth can make you appear more vibrant and lively. Additionally, straight teeth are often associated with good dental hygiene, which reflects positively on your overall health. Invisalign is a popular method for straightening teeth without the visual distractions of brackets and wires.

Whiter Teeth

Another way to achieve a youthful smile is to whiten your teeth. As we age, our teeth naturally become less white due to wear and tear, diet, and lifestyle factors. Whitening your teeth can instantly lift years off your appearance and give you a more youthful glow. A brighter smile can also improve your self-confidence, leading to a more youthful and outgoing personality.

Fixing Chipped Teeth

Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can also make us look older than we actually are. When we have missing or damaged teeth, we may avoid smiling or try to hide our teeth, which can make us seem less approachable and friendly. Fixing chipped teeth can restore our confidence and make us look more youthful and polished.

Replacing Missing Teeth

Missing teeth affects our speech and eating habits and can also make us look older. When teeth are missing or not properly aligned, it can make our face appear sunken or sagging. Replacing missing teeth can give us fuller, younger-looking faces and boost our confidence when smiling and speaking.

Health Benefits

In addition to the aesthetic benefits of fixing your teeth, there are also numerous health benefits. Straightening teeth can improve your bite and chewing ability, making it easier to digest food properly. Whitening teeth can remove harmful bacteria and improve overall oral health. Fixing chipped or broken teeth can prevent further dental problems such as cavities or infection, leading to improved overall health.

Park 56 Dental’s Cosmetic Treatments Can Make You Look More Youthful Today!

Fixing your teeth can be a simple and effective way to look more youthful and confident. Whether it’s through straightening, whitening, fixing chips or breaks or replacing missing teeth, achieving a perfect smile can do wonders for your appearance and overall health. At Park 56 Dental in New York, we offer a variety of dental services to give you the perfect smile you deserve. Schedule an appointment today and start your journey towards a more youthful and confident you!

How to Care for Dental Veneers

If you’re looking to improve your smile, dental veneers are a great way to do it. But like anything else, proper care is essential to get the most out of your dental veneers. Park 56 Dental in New York can help you understand how best to take care of them so that they look their best and last as long as possible. Here’s what you need to know about taking care of your dental veneers.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are small pieces of porcelain or composite material that are custom-made to fit over the front surfaces of your teeth. They can be used to cover chips, discoloration, gaps between teeth, or other minor issues with your smile. Veneers can also help improve the alignment and shape of your teeth while providing a natural-looking result.

Avoid Grinding and Clenching Teeth

Veneer-related tooth damage is most often caused by grinding or clenching the teeth excessively. This type of wear-and-tear is often caused by stress and can cause damage to both natural and veneered teeth if left unchecked. If you have been grinding or clenching your teeth, it’s important to visit Park 56 so one of our dentists can assess the situation and come up with a plan for treatment.

Use Veneer-Friendly Toothpaste

It’s also important that you use toothpaste that’s specifically designed for people who have veneers on their teeth—these products are specially formulated not to damage dental work like composites or porcelain restorations. Our team at Park 56 can recommend specific products that won’t damage your veneers while still delivering excellent cleaning power!

Daily Maintenance

The best way to extend the life of your dental veneers is to practice good oral hygiene every day. This means brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing at least once a day, and using an antiseptic mouthwash when needed. Make sure to use gentle strokes when brushing and avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes that may scratch the surface of your veneers.

Regular Checkups

It’s important to visit Park 56 Dental regularly for checkups, cleaning, and maintenance—at least twice a year—to ensure that your teeth are healthy and that your veneers look their best. During these visits, our professionals will check for signs of decay or damage and provide advice on how you can continue caring for your dental veneer investment.  In addition, they can also repair or replace any damaged or worn-out veneers if necessary.

Avoid Certain Foods

You may still be able to enjoy some unhealthy foods such as candy or chips after getting dental veneers, but there are some foods that should still be avoided whenever possible to protect them from staining or cracking. Hard foods like nuts and apples should be chopped into smaller pieces before eating; sticky treats like chewing gum should be avoided altogether; acidic drinks such as coffee or soda should be consumed with caution; and darkly pigmented foods like blueberries can leave stains behind if not properly rinsed away afterwards.

Schedule an Appointment with Park 56 Dental Today!

With proper maintenance and regular checkups at Park 56 Dental in New York City, your dental veneers will stay looking beautiful for years to come! Taking just a few simple steps each day can extend the life of your investment significantly while helping you maintain a healthy smile overall. So don’t hesitate—contact us today if you have any questions about taking care of your dental veneers!

Should You Get Veneers?

Are you considering veneers? If you’ve ever felt the need to hide the imperfections in your smile, veneers might be the perfect solution for you. A natural-looking option, veneers are an excellent way to adjust your smile and help you feel more confident.

A veneer is a thin shell made of tooth-colored porcelain and customized to match your existing teeth. It fits on the outside-facing portion of your tooth and blends seamlessly into your natural smile. Veneers are a discreet option for improving your smile and can conceal imperfections without causing unnecessary damage.

To start the process, your dentist creates a model of your teeth, which the dental technician will use to create your veneers. Each tooth will be prepared by cleaning, polishing, and etching it slightly to remove a little bit of enamel so the veneer will adhere correctly to the tooth’s surface. Once it’s in place, it will be evaluated to make sure it’s functional and aesthetically pleasing. If necessary, the dentist will make adjustments to create a natural fit, feel, and look.

Using veneers, dentists can address issues that include:

• Crooked teeth: Veneers aren’t a replacement for orthodontia but can be used in some cases to improve the look of crooked teeth.
• Gaps: If your teeth don’t fit together as they should but have gaps between them, it can detract from the look of your smile. However, a more pressing concern is that gapped teeth can be more vulnerable to cavities and gingivitis. If your teeth are poorly aligned, you probably need braces or a retainer. However, if your teeth are gapped because they’re small, veneers might solve your problem.
• Discoloration: If you’ve tried tooth whitening and are not getting the look you want, veneers can give you a sparkling white smile.
• Imperfect teeth: Maybe some of your teeth are smaller than others, or perhaps your teeth are worn down or oddly shaped. If your imperfect teeth are making you self-conscious, veneers can fix the problem.
• Chipped teeth: Most people chip a tooth at some point in their lives. A veneer applied to a chipped tooth can make the chips invisible.

If you need more persuading, consider the benefits of veneers. First, they look and feel just like your natural teeth, so no one will even know they’re there. They’re also stain resistant, so your teeth are likely to stay white once they’re in place. Veneers are also strong and durable enough to protect your smile for up to 15 years.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to get veneers, choose the practice that was voted best dentist in NYC! At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.

Celebrities Who Have Had Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

The first stanza of a poem by Phyllis McGinley, called “Reflections Dental” reads:

How pure, how beautiful, how fine
Do teeth on television shine!
No flutist flutes, no dancer twirls
But comes equipped with matching pearls.
Gleeful announcers all are born
With sets like rows of hybrid corn.

Have you noticed that every celebrity seems to have perfect teeth? Are they born that way? Actually, many celebrities choose cosmetic dentistry procedures to make them look more perfect. Did you suspect the stars on this list of improving their pearly whites?

• Tom Cruise: His winning smile is the result of whitening, straightening, and an upgrade to porcelain veneers.
• George Clooney: Although his smile was always gorgeous, his history of tooth grinding shortened his teeth until they were lengthened with veneers
• Gary Busey: Speaking of having teeth lengthened, Gary Busey opted for outsized veneers after an accident.
• Mike Tyson: He had a gold tooth and a gap, but then he had the gap narrowed and traded in the gold for veneers. Surprisingly, because it was his signature look, he had the gap added back!
• Hillary Duff: After chipping a tooth on a microphone during a show, she decided to get a full set of veneers instead of a single repair.
• Ben Affleck: He used to have an overbite, but after lengthening, porcelain veneers, crowns, and whitening, he’s got a dazzling smile.
• Victoria Beckham: Posh Spice’s teeth used to be less than posh, but she’s had them fixed with a set of veneers.
• Jim Carrey: He once had a broken tooth capped, and he removed that cap for his snaggle-toothed Dumb and Dumber smile. Since then, he’s gone for veneers.
• Morgan Freeman: He was successful when he had gapped teeth, but in recent years he’s gotten whitening and used veneers to straighten his teeth.
• Miley Cyrus: The slightly crooked teeth of this child smile were replaced with veneers once she grew up.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones: Teased as a child over crooked teeth, she fixed her alignment with orthodontics and upgraded her smile with veneers.
• Chris Rock: The success of Lethal Weapon allowed him to spend $150,000 on a new smile!
• Zac Efron: His charming gap-toothed grin has been replaced with the perfection of veneers, but he wore false teeth to play Bundy.
• Nicolas Cage: He had two teeth pulled for the 1984 film “Birdy” but has since gotten a full set of veneers.
• 50 Cent: Shot in the face in 2000, he lost a tooth a gained a gap. He later fixed his teeth with whitening and veneers.

Do any of these names surprise you? Here’s some good news: the same procedures used by celebrities are available for you. At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer dental care, including smile restoration, providing the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Contact us online or call us at (212) 826-2322.

Smile Restoration Services

At Park 56 Dental, nothing is more important than our patients’ oral health. If you have missing, discolored, decayed, or crooked teeth, we can help! Learn about our smile restoration services to find a solution that works for you.

Dental Implants

Missing teeth are among the most noticeable oral health problems. When decay or a traumatic injury results in tooth loss, dental implants are often the best restorative option available. An implant features a screw-like titanium body, which takes the place of the missing root. Then, a tooth-colored crown is cemented on top of the implant. The result is a functional, natural-looking replacement tooth that can last decades with proper care.

Dental Bridges

As another option for treating tooth loss, dental bridges “bridge the gap” between two teeth without implanting anything into the gums. Bridges can be placed more quickly and cost less than implants, but they require healthy surrounding teeth to prevent the gums and jawbone from degrading. We can help you decide if implants or bridges are best for your tooth loss scenario.

Dental Veneers

Do you have chipped, misshapen, or stained teeth? With veneers, you no longer have to hide your smile! Veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that adhere to the front of your natural teeth. They can be whatever shape, size, and color you want to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. Thanks to their durable porcelain construction, you can expect veneers to last many years with proper care.

Root Canals

If one of your teeth has a deep cavity or diseased nerve, it may be possible to save the tooth with a root canal treatment. While root canals have a reputation for being painful, the intent is to remove pain and swelling. Our dentists can complete this procedure in one to three office visits. By the end of your treatment, you’ll be ready to show off a healthy, pain-free smile!

Invisalign

Have you always wanted straighter teeth but balked at traditional metal braces? Invisalign is the answer! This treatment uses a series of clear, plastic aligners to straighten your smile over an average of nine to 15 months. Invisalign is comfortable, removable, and BPA-free for your safety. Best of all, the aligners are virtually invisible, so no one will even know you’re wearing them!

Zoom! Whitening

Many at-home products claim to whiten your teeth, but only in-office Zoom! whitening can give you the results you want in a single, one-hour visit. Remove years of staining and brighten your smile by an average of eight shades with this safe, simple, and relaxing process. Our dentist will ensure your teeth are healthy and eligible for whitening before treatment begins.

Are you ready to fall in love with your smile like never before? The dentists at Park 56 Dental have the skills and experience needed to perform restoration services for our New York City patients. If you are dissatisfied with your smile for any reason, please contact us at (212) 826-2322 and schedule a consultation today!

How You Can Get the Smile You Want with Veneers

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you have flawed teeth, you may be all too aware of this, smiling with closed lips or covering your mouth with your hand to hide them. What if you could smile confidently? With veneers, you can!

A veneer is a thin, custom-made shell that bonds to the front of your tooth. It’s made of tooth-colored material, such as porcelain, which is carefully matched to your existing teeth for a completely natural finish. Here’s how you can get the smile you want with veneers.

Straighten Crooked Teeth

Veneers aren’t meant to replace orthodontic treatment, but if you have crooked teeth, this could be an option. An oral exam and digital X-rays are the best way to determine if braces or veneers will improve your smile most effectively over the long term.

Fill in the Gaps

You want your teeth to sit snugly side-by-side. If there are gaps between some of them, your mouth may appear neglected and be more vulnerable to cavities and gum disease. You could bring your teeth together manually with braces or a retainer, but if the gaps are caused by small teeth rather than poor alignment, veneers could be the superior solution.

Correct Discoloration

Have you tried to whiten your discolored teeth without success? While professional in-office teeth whitening can remove surface stains, it can’t touch deep stains or discoloration caused by traumatic tooth injury. Fortunately, veneers can! As long as your teeth are healthy, you can cover them with custom-made veneers in a sparkling shade of white.

Hide Imperfections

Is one of your front teeth longer than the other? Are you self-conscious about a snaggletooth? Maybe one or two of your teeth are smaller than the rest. Whether uneven, worn, or oddly shaped, veneers can almost certainly hide your imperfect teeth.

Smooth out Chipped Teeth

Tooth enamel is the hardest material in the body, but it’s not impervious to chipping. Veneers restore your appearance by smoothing out chips, making them invisible. Anyone who sees you smile after having this restoration work performed will only notice beautiful, healthy-looking teeth.

The Veneer Procedure

When you set an appointment at Park 56 Dental to discuss your cosmetic dentistry questions, we’ll show you what veneers can do. If you decide to move forward, we’ll begin the restoration process by taking impressions of your teeth. Custom veneers are made based on these impressions for a precise fit.

On the day of your fitting, the dentist will prepare your teeth by shaving them down slightly so the veneers align with your natural teeth. Next, the veneers are attached using dental cement. A curing laser speeds up the drying process and ensures a permanent bond. After a final cleaning and polishing, you’ll be left with the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted!

To learn more about hiding flawed teeth with veneers, or to schedule a consultation with our NYC dentist, please contact Park 56 Dental at (212) 826-2322.

9 Dental Procedures that Will Help Restore Your Smile

When cavities, stains, or traumatic injuries damage your teeth, you may find yourself covering your mouth every time you smile. To help you regain your confidence, you need restorative dentistry from an experienced dentist in NYC. Take a look at nine dental procedures we offer that can restore your smile.

1. Crowns: A dental crown is an effective way to restore a discolored or oddly shaped tooth. This solution can even protect a weak tooth from breaking or repair one that’s already broken.
2. Tooth-colored fillings: Many people assume that fillings are always metallic, but new materials and techniques mean you have the option of getting more natural-looking, tooth-colored fillings. Talk to your dentist about what option is best for you. Factors such as the size of the filling, location of the tooth, price, and personal preference must all be considered.
3. Veneers: This cosmetic solution covers the front side of chipped, stained, or misshapen teeth with a natural-looking porcelain veneer. The finished product looks great and functions flawlessly. Your dentist may recommend avoiding coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco to maintain your beautiful new smile.
4. Bonding: Similar to veneers, bonding is a cosmetic treatment that involves attaching tooth-colored resins to your teeth to improve their shape and color. The results are strong, long-lasting, and natural-looking.
5. Contouring and reshaping: Dental contouring and tooth reshaping may be all that’s required to fix elongated or roughly shaped teeth. This process involves removing a small amount of tooth enamel to alter the surface or shape of the tooth. This technique is often combined with bonding to create the most attractive smile possible.
6. Implants: Dental implants consist of a titanium body, which takes the place of the missing root, and a crown, which fills the gap and replaces the function of your missing tooth. Implants can last a lifetime if properly maintained.
7. Bridges: The purpose of a dental bridge is to replace one or more missing teeth. It involves installing crowns on the adjacent teeth and “bridging” the gap with an artificial tooth called a pontic. Unlike implants, no titanium root is inserted into the gums.
8. Whitening: Years of drinking coffee, sipping on wine, and enjoying brightly colored berries can take a toll on your pearly whites. Luckily, you can turn back the clock with Zoom in-office whitening. Our dental professionals can brighten your smile by an average of eight shades in just one hour. Plus, the process is safe, simple, and pain-free!
9. Smile makeovers: If several different problems exist in your mouth, you can combine two or more of the above dental procedures for a complete smile makeover. Your self-esteem will soar like never before once you feel confident enough to smile naturally around your friends, family, and new acquaintances.

Need help deciding which dental procedure is right for you? Ready to get the process started? Contact Park 56 Dental at (212) 826-2322 to ask questions or request a consultation at our New York dentist office.

Dental Veneers FAQs

Are you self-conscious about a chipped tooth or that gap in your smile? Stop hiding your mouth behind your hands, and restore your confidence with dental veneers! Here are the most frequently asked questions we hear about this type of cosmetic dentistry.

What are dental veneers?

Veneers are thin, strong pieces of tooth-colored porcelain that resemble an artificial fingernail. They are custom-made to fit your teeth using an impression or digital scan of your mouth. Veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth to improve their color, shape, size, and function.

How much do veneers cost?

The cost range depends on the dentist’s experience, the quality of the material used in making your veneers, and how many veneers you receive. Sometimes, insurance will cover the cost of one or two veneers when a fracture or decay is present.

How long do veneers last?

Thanks to the durability of porcelain and the strength of the bonding agent used to attach each veneer, you can expect the results to last decades. As long as the work is done right, the only time a patient should have problems with a veneer is after a traumatic event. Porcelain can crack, just like real teeth, but it takes a hard hit to the face or biting down on a bone to make it happen.

Are there any dietary restrictions?

It’s always wise to treat your teeth gently, whether you have veneers or not. This means avoiding using your teeth as tools and biting tough foods (like taffy, beef jerky, or French bread) with caution. Also, while veneers are stain-resistant, your dentist may recommend avoiding coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to help your beautiful new smile last.

What happens to the tooth under a veneer?

To ensure a natural appearance, about 0.5mm of your existing tooth must be shaved down in preparation for placing the veneer. There’s no need to damage the tooth structure aggressively to achieve authentic-looking results.

Will my teeth be immune to cavities?

Veneers can’t decay, but the natural tooth underneath can still get cavities. The most vulnerable spot is the junction between the veneer and your natural tooth. Sealing this area while placing the veneer closes it off to help prevent decay. Continue to brush and floss as usual to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

How many veneers should I get?

Eight is the most common number of veneers patients receive. With veneers on the four upper and lower teeth, a bright, white shade can be selected to make your smile look its best. If you get fewer veneers than this, the color must match your existing teeth to avoid standing out.

At Park 56 Dental, we help our patients look their best with dental veneers and other cosmetic dentistry. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us at (212) 826-2322 to schedule a complimentary consultation. We serve Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and the surrounding Manhattan and NYC areas.

The Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Have you ever felt self-conscious about smiling with your slightly chipped, misshapen, or discolored front teeth? If so, it’s time to consider porcelain veneers. These cosmetic corrections hide your teeth’s imperfections behind thin, natural-looking shells that blend in perfectly with the rest of your smile. 

Not sure if restorative dentistry is right for you? Consider the benefits of porcelain veneers to help you make the right decision for your oral health. 

Correct a Variety of Cosmetic Flaws 

Veneers are incredibly versatile. You can install one of a slightly different size or shape than your natural tooth to hide small gaps or create the appearance of a straighter smile. The coating can mask tooth discoloration and cosmetic chips or level out the length of mismatched front teeth.  

As long as the underlying tooth is healthy, you can correct its appearance in many ways just by installing a veneer. Don’t worry—if the tooth is not healthy, you still have options, such as installing a dental crown or implant instead. Either way, you can find a solution to fix your smile with restorative dentistry! 

Keep More of Your Natural Tooth 

When a dentist installs a crown, most of the natural tooth must be removed to make room for it. With a veneer, only a small amount of the enamel must be shaved off the front to ensure the coating sits flush with the rest of your teeth. This sounds like an uncomfortable procedure, but it’s noninvasive and may not even require anesthesia! 

The process takes only two visits to complete. At your first appointment, the dentist removes a portion of your enamel and takes impressions of your teeth to have custom porcelain veneers made. Temporary veneers are installed to protect your teeth until your next appointment, where they are replaced with permanent veneers that look and feel completely natural.  

Smile Confidently for Years to Come 

Having dental veneers requires no additional maintenance, but you should continue to take good care of your smile by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist for regular checkups. Whether you have one veneer or several, you can expect them to last about 10 years before needing to be replaced. 

Resist Cavities and Staining 

Veneers protect against decay, making cavities less likely to occur in the teeth they cover. Simply continue to take care of your smile like you normally do, and you shouldn’t have any trouble! Veneers are also non-porous, helping them retain their original color. However, it may be best to avoid food and drinks that stain teeth—such as coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco—to maintain the beauty of your smile. 

At Park 56 Dental, our NYC dentists are highly skilled and have years of experience installing dental veneers. If you are displeased with your smile for any reason, feel free to contact us at (212) 826-2322 for a consultation. We’ll discuss the possibility of restoring your smile with porcelain veneers and educate you on any other viable options that may suit your needs better.