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The treatment of choice for large restorations is NOT a filling. If the width of the restoration approaches one half of the width between the chewing points of a posterior tooth, a material hardening in the mouth is NOT the material of choice. Inlays and overlays will last much longer than a large filling. If the tooth is badly broken down, it will probably need a crown (cap), or a root canal and a crown. Esthetics, comfort, and long lasting results are all of our concerns.
In addition to fillings, crowns, bridges and veneers, Smiles of Skokie also offers new and revolutionary techniques in tooth restoration.
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Similar to crowns, inlays and overlays are much stronger than filling material and achieve both esthetic and functional results in restoring discolored posterior teeth. They are also a simple and painless solution to conventional silver or composite fillings. Silver amalgam fillings make teeth appear gray and old, composite bonding tends to chip and discolor overtime. Inlays and overlays are extremely strong and long lasting and protect the tooth against further fracture. Almost all gold and silver fillings can be replaced by inlays and made to match your natural tooth color.
At Smiles of Skokie any material fabricated outside of the mouth is not just cemented, but BONDED to place. This is a very important procedure since conventional cements, used traditionally in dentistry, leak away over time. The latest research on bonding materials shows that they are very insoluble and will not leak away for 2 to 3 lifetimes.
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One of the first things you notice about people is their smile. When you meet someone with a bright, beautiful smile it catches your attention. However, over time, the natural aging process and your lifestyle can stain your teeth.
Our office uses the Rembrandt whitening system. This treatment provides dramatic whitening in a little over an hour. When followed up with Rembrandt Plus toothpaste the whitening effect lasts much longer. |
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| Crest Whitening Strips are available at our office. Please note that the gels offered by dental offices are much more effective than any over-the-counter product. |
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Since December 2004 our office offers Cerinate Lumineers, the newest and strongest porcelain veneers on the market. Made by the revolutionary Cerinate porcelain, Cerinate Lumineers are thin, strong, permanent and painless. While traditional veneers are thick, and require drilling to adhere to the tooth, Cerinate Lumineers are placed without removal of sensitive tooth structure, then bonded to your natural teeth and set in place with a curing light. For more information please call our office or visit www.lumineers.com. |
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Our office is now utilizing tooth colored resin/glass restorations for immediate restoration of teeth. According to current research, these new restorative materials are very wear resistant, help prevent future decay and reinforce surrounding tooth structure better than silver amalgam. However, they could be brittle and should not be used for very large restorations.
One such material is called compomer. It is more flexible than conventional tooth colored materials, absorbs and releases fluoride, and has no appreciable shrinkage. It is not as wear resistant as other materials, thus it is not to be used on chewing surfaces of the posterior permanent teeth. It is best used at the gum line, and under more wear resistant materials between teeth. This material absorbs fluoride from your toothpaste, and releases it over a long period of time in amounts significant enough to help prevent recurrent decay. We use this material whenever possible.
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| Smiles of Skokie also offers the Total Control at Home Tray Whitening system, a prescription-strength whitening technique. Please keep in mind that laboratory time is required to fabricate custom trays, which fit much tighter than any over-the-counter tooth whitening kit. The result is a whiter smile and great confidence! |
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Smiles of Skokie is an Invisalign certified office. The Invisalign system is the clear alternative to braces, so most people won’t even notice you are in treatment. You will look great and feel confident while you are getting an incredible smile.
Dr. McWhinnie has taken many hours of post-graduate training in orthodontic treatment and believes Invisalign to be a wonderful alternative for many people to conventional braces. We also offer other braces-free treatments to straighten teeth, which can be used as a supplement of the Invisalign treatment. Please call our office for more information.
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