For patients who desire a beautiful smile, general dental care can be just as important as teeth whitening or any other cosmetic procedure. In order to prevent stains and decay, patients need to maintain good dental habits. This includes obtaining routine general care from your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest provides checkups, cleanings, and treatment for a serious medical problem known as TMJ disorder, or TMD. Dr. Fondriest also educates patients on the proper steps for keeping their smiles gorgeous and bright. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest discusses our unique approach to providing the latest in general dental care.

Dental Checkups

According to the American Dental Association, people should undergo a routine checkup and cleaning at least once every six months. A dental checkup allows to Dr. Fondriest to watch for serious dental issues, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Early detection enables Dr. Fondriest to provide immediate treatment, preventing the need for costly and invasive procedures down the road. With a regular checkup, Dr. Fondriest can assess the state of your dental health and recommend the best cosmetic procedures for improving your smile.

Dental Cleanings

Along with a checkup, you should receive a dental cleaning once every six months. A cleaning allows your Lake Forest dentist to remove layers of plaque buildup, brightening your smile and preventing gum disease. The bacteria in your mouth cause plaque buildup. As bacteria break down food particles and multiply, they coat your teeth in a sticky substance known as plaque. In addition to increasing the risk of unsightly teeth stains, plaque irritates the gums, leading to inflammation. Also known as gingivitis, untreated inflammation eventually causes the gums to begin pulling away from the teeth, forming pockets at the gum line. When bacteria invade these pockets, the patient may develop gum disease. Symptoms of gum disease include bad breath, tender or red gums, swelling, gums that bleed easily, and loose teeth. Over time, patients may even begin to lose teeth. But with a simple cleaning from the dental professionals at Lake Forest Dental Arts, your smile can stay beautiful and free of embarrassing discoloration.

Treatment for TMJ Disorder

Do you experience chronic headaches? What about frequent jaw or face pain? If so, you could be suffering from a medical disorder that pains over 10 million people in the United States, alone. TMJ disorder affects the temporomandibular joints. These joints connect the jaw to the skull and control all movement of the jaw, including chewing or speaking. TMD occurs when excess strain is placed on the jaw joints, leading a variety of painful symptoms, including:

• Headaches or migraines
• Earaches or tinnitus
• Jaw and face pain
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Toothaches and worn down teeth
• Clicking or popping sensation in the jaw
• Fractured or broken teeth.

TMD can be caused by a wide array of factors, such as:

• Injury to the jaw or face
• Teeth grinding
• Misaligned jaw
• Wisdom teeth
• Stress
• Poor dental alignment
• Arthritis

At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest provides several general dental techniques for addressing TMD-related pain. After an oral examination, Dr. Fondriest can pinpoint the exact cause of your TMJ disorder. If anxiety is the culprit, Dr. Fondriest may recommend cutting down on the stress in your day-to-day life. Another frequent cause of TMD is teeth grinding or misalignment. To treat these issues, Dr. Fondriest may prescribe an intraoral device. Similar to a mouth guard, this oral appliance repositions the jaw and prevents the upper and lower teeth from touching, eliminating teeth grinding and easing TMJ symptoms.

Preventive Dentistry

In order to keep your smile beautiful, Dr. Fondriest recommends brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once. Also, try to rinse regularly with an antibacterial mouthwash. These routine measures help cleanse your mouth of harmful bacteria and stray food particles, helping your smile stay bright and rejuvenated.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest General Dentist

Do you need a checkup or a cleaning? Interested in our breakthrough treatment for TMJ disorder? Then talk to Dr. Fondriest today. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we offer patients the latest in innovative cosmetic and general dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest general dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

What do you do when you a break a tooth? Many people don’t realize that a broken tooth can lead to serious dental issues if they don’t seek immediate treatment. Thankfully, at Lake Forest Dental Arts, we not only repair your broken tooth, our team of dental professionals can also completely restore your tooth, as well. Using innovative cosmetic dentistry, your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, can transform your smile and correct a broken or fractured tooth. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest discusses how our dental procedures can repair a broken tooth.

Addressing a Broken Tooth

A variety of factors can lead to a broken tooth, from sporting injuries to simply biting down on a popcorn kernel. When you break a tooth, try to save any pieces you find. Then, rinse your mouth with warm water and also try to rinse any pieces of tooth you manage to find. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to control swelling and relieve discomfort. If you experience bleeding, gently place a piece of gauze on the affected area and immediately see Dr. Fondriest.

Importance of Repairing Damaged Teeth

The thin layer of enamel coating your teeth prevents harmful bacteria from reaching the sensitive inner tooth structure. When you chip or break a tooth, bacteria can bypass the enamel, causing tooth decay. Symptoms of tooth decay include tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures and toothaches. Over time, the decay will spread, eventually reaching the inner pulp. Your pulp acts as the tooth’s nerve center and is composed of living tissue. When bacteria reach your pulp, the resulting infection can cause your tooth to develop a painful abscess. If left untreated, an infected tooth may require removal.

Cosmetic Dentistry

To protect and preserve your smile, you need to seek immediate treatment. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest employs a variety of cosmetic and restorative methods to repair damaged teeth. After a through oral examination, Dr. Fondriest can decide which procedure best addresses your smile needs. Dr. Fondriest believes in artistic smile design, or providing custom-made restorations that reflect your personality and blend with your facial features. He will work hard to ensure your newly restored tooth matches your natural teeth and provides a beautiful and whole smile.

Cosmetic Bonding

With cosmetic bonding, Dr. Fondriest applies several thin layers of composite resign to your tooth. The material can be shaded to blend seamlessly with your smile. As the material cures, Dr. Fondriest can mold and reshape your tooth. Cosmetic bonding also provides permanent teeth whitening, and can be used to repair fractures, chips, malformed teeth, and close gaps between your teeth.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin shells of dental porcelain that Dr. Fondriest places on a patient’s front teeth. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we offer both porcelain veneers and no-prep veneers. Porcelain veneers require the removal of a minuscule amount of tooth structure and no-prep veneers can be placed without removing any tooth enamel. Both varieties are stain resistant, and with proper care, and provide years of quality smile restoration. Veneers can also be used to correct the appearance of misaligned teeth, close gaps between teeth, repair fractured or broken teeth, lengthen worn down teeth, and provide instant teeth whitening.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that fits completely over the visible portion of a tooth. A crown protects the remaining tooth structure while preventing further damage or infection. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest provides both porcelain crowns and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. Both use natural looking porcelain to provide durable and esthetically pleasing smile restoration. A dental crown allows Dr. Fondriest to repair damaged teeth resulting from injury or tooth decay.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Do you have a broken or fractured tooth? Dr. Fondriest can provide the appropriate cosmetic and restorative procedures necessary to restore your tooth to full function and appearance. Call today! At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

Do you suffer from a chronic toothache? Do you find chewing and sometimes even talking to be difficult and painful? These are all common symptoms of advanced tooth decay. If left untreated, tooth decay can spread, infecting, and eventually even killing, your tooth. Often, a dental crown will be recommended to restore your damaged tooth. In today’s blog, your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, explains how our state-of-the-art porcelain crowns can repair your teeth and improve your smile.

What is a Dental Crowns?

A crown is a cap that fits completely over an affected tooth. Crowns prevent further infection and help preserve the remaining tooth structure. A dental crown helps restore your smile to full function and appearance.

How Do I Know If I Need a Crown?

Crowns are used to repair teeth damaged by either cavities or injury. When the thin layer of enamel coating your teeth becomes damaged, the inner tooth structure known as dentin becomes exposed. Once bacteria reach the dentin, tooth decay begins. Over time, decay will spread into the dentin and eventually reach the inner pulp. Your pulp is a bundle of living tissue, the nerve center of your teeth. The pulp regulates the flow of blood and nutrients to and from the tooth, keeping your teeth healthy. Once infected, your tooth can become abscessed and eventually die, requiring removal. Symptoms of a tooth that may need a crown include: tooth sensitivity, toothache, and difficulty chewing.

Benefits of Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns are custom-made based on an impression of your teeth taken by Dr. Fondriest.  Porcelain reflects light in a similar manner as tooth enamel, allowing your new crown to look completely natural. In addition, the crown can be shaded to blend seamlessly with your smile. Metal-fused-to-porcelain crowns often leave a dark line along the gum line. This occurs when the gums recede. Since porcelain crowns contain no metal, patients don’t need to worry about the exposure of unsightly dark lines.

Artistic Smile Design

When preparing your crown, Dr. Fondriest takes several steps to ensure you receive a strong and esthetically pleasing restoration. Dr. Fondriest believes in artistic smile design, the idea that your dental work should reflect your personality and match your unique facial features.

Receiving Your Dental Crown

Dr. Fondriest will sit down with you to discuss your smile goals. He will then perform a thorough oral examination. After assessing the state of your dental health, Dr. Fondriest may recommend a dental crown. He will take note of your facial features, lip drape, how your mouth moves during speech, and many other factors before designing your custom-made restoration. After preparing the surface of your tooth, Dr. Fondriest will take the impression that will be used to create your porcelain crown. An expert ceramist will construct your crown, and in the meantime Dr. Fondriest will prescribe a set of temporary crowns. Once your custom-made crowns are complete, you will return to Lake Forest Dental Arts. Dr. Fondriest will check the fit of your new crowns to ensure comfort and accuracy. He will then place your new crown using a powerful bonding agent. When you leave Lake Forest Dental Arts, you will have a gorgeous new smile restoration.

Caring for Your Porcelain Crown

Patients should care for their crowns as they would their natural teeth. Maintain proper dental habits, such as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once. Also, remember to rinse regularly with an antibacterial mouthwash. These steps help cleanse the mouth of harmful bacteria and food particles, protecting your natural teeth and new restoration from tooth decay.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Do you experience frequent toothaches? Do you have a damaged tooth? You may require a crown. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! Porcelain crowns are a popular method of smile improvement, protecting and preserving your smile. Call today for a diagnosis and to discuss whether porcelain crowns are right for you. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

Do you ever find yourself looking in the mirror wishing you could have a more beautiful smile? Often, people feel self-conscious about their smiles due to stains or misalignment. Between work and home, many people just feel they just can’t fit multiple dentist visits into their schedule. But what if there was a dental procedure that could address a myriad of dental imperfections in as little as two visits? In today’s blog, your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, explains how porcelain veneers can transform your smile.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Fondriest understands the importance of a beautiful smile. In fact, according to a recent Kelton Research study, people will bright, gorgeous smiles are considered more attractive and successful. A large portion of the people polled for the Kelton Research study also said a beautiful smile was one of the first things they noticed when meeting someone new. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest provides the latest in cosmetic dental technology to help you receive the smile you deserve! In addition to porcelain veneers, Dr. Fondriest offers professional teeth whitening systems you can use from the comfort of your own home. We also offer natural looking restorations, such as crowns and tooth-colored fillings, to help you maintain optimal dental health. So, don’t hesitate, contact Dr. Fondriest today!

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are composed of thin shells of special dental material. Veneers are placed on a patient’s front teeth, allowing Dr. Fondriest to correct multiple dental issues. With porcelain veneers, patients can undergo a complete smile restoration. Veneers help repair a variety of imperfections, such as:

• Gaps between teeth
• The appearance of misaligned teeth
• Permanent stains
• Worn down teeth
• Cracked or chipped teeth
• The appearance of malformed teeth

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are stain resistant, and with the proper care, can provide decades of smile restoration. In addition, veneers can be shaded to blend seamlessly with your smile, matching your natural teeth. The porcelain material used to make veneers can reflect light in a similar manner as tooth enamel. This means veneers provide esthetically pleasing smile improvement.

Artistic Smile Design

For patients considering porcelain veneers to perfect their smiles, talk to Dr. Fondriest. He will perform a thorough oral examination to see if porcelain veneers provide the best means of improving your smile. Dr. Fondriest takes several factors into consideration when choosing a patient’s procedures, including lip drape, facial asymmetries, and the movement of the mouth during speech. Dr. Fondriest believes in artistic smile design, the idea that your dental work should reflect your personality and unique facial structure.

Receiving Porcelain Veneers

Dr. Fondriest will first sit down with you to discuss your smile goals. Photographs, impressions, and x-rays will then be taken of your smile. These materials will be used by Dr. Fondriest to create a step-by-step plan for applying your porcelain veneers. Next, he will prepare the surface of your teeth by removing a minuscule layer of enamel. In some cases, patients may not require the removal of any tooth structure. Using Dr. Fondriest’s specifications, along with the impressions and photographs, our expert ceramist will craft your porcelain veneers. Often, this step can take up to two weeks. Dr. Fondriest may apply temporary veneers during this period. Once your veneers are complete, return to Lake Forest Dental Arts. Dr. Fondriest will check the fit of your new restorations to ensure comfort and strength. He will then place the veneers using a powerful bonding agent.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Interested in restoring your smile with our innovative porcelain veneers? Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! Porcelain veneers are a popular method of smile improvement, providing multiple dental procedures in just one simple technique. Call today to see if porcelain veneers are right for you! At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

When we age, we may look older but we never seem to feel older. So, why not have a smile that reflects how young you really feel? Over time, our smiles become stained and damaged, losing their youthful luster.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have the glowing smile of your youth. A healthy, beautiful smile improves your overall health, and Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, can improve your smile with cosmetic dentistry. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest explains how cosmetic dentistry can help you look and feel young again!

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Using the latest in dental care technology, Dr. Fondriest can brighten smiles marred by permanent stains and repair damage from injury or tooth decay.

Smile Makeovers

With a smile makeover, Dr. Fondriest employs a combination of both our cosmetic and restorative dental procedures to restore your smile. In addition to teeth whitening and porcelain veneers, Dr. Fondriest can even use dental implants to provide natural looking tooth replacement for one or more missing teeth. When we lose teeth, the body stops supplying crucial doses of nutrients like calcium and phosphorus to the jawbone surrounding the missing teeth. Without these nutrients, the jawbone begins to dissolve. Loss of bone density not only increases the risk of further tooth loss, but alters the facial structure, as well. Over time, some patients develop jowls, sunken cheeks, and a ptotic, or witch’s, chin. Dental implants prevent bone loss, preserving your facial structure.

Artistic Smile Design

Dr. Fondriest believes in the philosophy of artistic smile design. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest takes the time to get to know you. He wants to understand your personality and smile goals. In addition to observing the state of your dental health, Dr. Fondriest also takes note of your facial asymmetries, lip drape, or how your mouth moves during speech. These factors allow Dr. Fondriest to provide natural looking dental work that reflects your personality and blends with your smile.

Cosmetic Procedures

Dr. Fondriest provides an array of cosmetic dental procedures. Our cosmetic services include:

• At-home Teeth Whitening: Brighten your smile from the comfort of your own home using a custom-made whitening tray and special bleaching gel.
• Tooth-Colored Fillings: Dr. Fondriest repairs damage related to tooth decay with powerful and natural looking composite resin.
• Cosmetic Bonding: Using composite resin, Dr. Fondriest erases permanent stains and repairs cracked or chipped teeth.
• Porcelain Veneers and No-Prep Veneers: Dental veneers are thin shells of dental porcelain placed on the front teeth. Veneers are stain resistant and provide instant whitening. Veneers also close gaps between teeth, correct the appearance of misalignment, repair fractured or broken teeth, and with proper care, can provide decades of smile restoration.
• Porcelain Crowns: A crown is a cap that fits completely over a damaged tooth. Porcelain crowns blend seamlessly with your smile while protecting and preserving your tooth.
• Gum Lifts: Using innovative and comfortable laser dentistry, Dr. Fondriest can remove excessive gingival display and correct “gummy” smiles.

Restorative Dentistry

To repair smiles in need of extensive dental work, Dr. Fondriest offers the latest in dental restoration technology. Our restorative techniques include:

• Dental Bridges: A bridge is a replacement tooth with crowns attached to each side. The crowns are placed on the natural teeth sitting on either side of the empty socket. The crowns anchor the new tooth into place, returning your smile to full function and appearance.
• Dental Implants: A biocompatible post is anchored in the socket of a missing tooth and topped with a custom-made and natural looking crown. Dental implants can replace a single tooth or even be used to secure a full set of permanent dentures.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Are you interested in obtaining the gorgeous smile of your youth? At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we transform smiles with our innovative cosmetic techniques. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! We offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

Do you ever feel self-conscious about your smile? Do you want a beautiful smile free of dental damage or embarrassing teeth stains? Your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, understands that a beautiful smile boosts confidence and helps make a great first impression. In fact, according to a recent Kelton Research study, a bright smile can make a person appear more attractive and successful. A large portion of those polled also said a gorgeous smile was one of the first things they noticed when meeting someone new. For people interested in improving their smiles, Dr. Fondriest offers innovative smile makeovers. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest discusses the benefits offered by our quality cosmetic makeovers.

What is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover involves Dr. Fondriest and our team using a combination of our breakthrough cosmetic and restorative procedures to address dental imperfections.

Artistic Smile Design

At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest practices artistic smile design. When a patient expresses interest in a smile makeover, Dr. Fondriest will perform a thorough oral examination. After inspecting the state of their dental heath, as well as their facial asymmetries, lip drape, and mouth movements during speech, Dr. Fondriest can recommend the best procedures to improve smiles. Dr. Fondriest believes dental work should reflect the patient’s personality and blend seamlessly with their natural teeth.

Makeover Procedures

Dr. Fondriest provides an array of cosmetic and restorative techniques to transform smiles. A smile makeover may involve one or more of these state-of-the-art procedures:

• Teeth Whitening: Dr. Fondriest offers Nite White Excel 3, which allows patients to brighten their smiles from the comfort of home. Dr. Fondriest will take an impression of your teeth and use it to create a custom-made whitening tray. He will then prescribe a powerful bleaching gel. Simply wear the gel-filled trays during sleep to whiten smiles and remove stains. For patients with sensitive teeth and gums, Dr. Fondriest may recommend Day White. This system also uses a tray and gel, but is only worn for 30 minutes daily.
• Cosmetic Bonding: Using a special composite resin, Dr. Fondriest can repair chipped or cracked teeth, fill cavities, and reshape malformed teeth. The composite material can be shaded to match your natural teeth and provide esthetically pleasing repair.
• Porcelain Veneers: Thin shells of special dental porcelain are placed on a patient’s front teeth. Porcelain veneers are stain resistant and with proper care, can provide decades of restoration. In addition to instantly whitening smiles, veneers can mask the appearance of misalignment, repair broken or fractured teeth, close gaps between teeth, and lengthen worn down teeth. We also offer no-prep veneers, which require no loss of tooth structure and can be placed in a single visit.
• Porcelain Crowns: A crown is a cap that fits completely over an affected tooth, protecting and preserving the remaining tooth structure. Crowns address damage from injury or severe tooth decay. Our porcelain crowns are durable and natural looking.
• Dental Bridge: A bridge allows Dr. Fondriest to replace a missing tooth. A replacement tooth is crafted with a crown attached to each side. The crowns are placed on the teeth sitting on either side of the empty socket. The crowns anchor the new tooth into place, restoring your smile to full function and appearance.
• Dental Implant: A dental implant allows Dr. Fondriest to replace one or more missing teeth and prevent loss of jawbone dentistry, preserving your facial structure and protecting your smile. Dr. Fondriest places a biocompatible titanium post into the socket of the missing tooth. The bone tissue bonds with the post. Dr. Fondriest then places an abutment and a custom-made crown onto the top of the post. Dental implants provide a lifetime of smile restoration.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Interested in obtaining a gorgeous smile free of dental imperfection? At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we provide smile restoration with our innovative smile makeovers. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! We offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

Our tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. But unfortunately, our teeth are still vulnerable to damage and discoloration. While teeth are meant to withstand a lifetime of wear and tear, your smile can still lose its youthful luster. Many people assume restoring their smiles will require multiple office visits and innumerable procedures. Thankfully, a dental procedure exists that can completely transform your smile in as little as one or two visits. Dental veneers allow your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, to provide natural looking and long lasting smile repair. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest explains how dental veneers work and how you can rejuvenate your smile.

What are Dental Veneers?

So, how do they work? Well, a dental veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that Dr. Fondriest will place on a patient’s front tooth. Using a powerful bonding agent, the veneers adhere to the surface of the tooth, and with proper care, can provide decades of smile repair. Veneers are stain resistant and the porcelain material reflects light in a similar manner as tooth enamel, which means patients receive restorations that look completely natural. Veneers address a number of dental imperfections, enabling Dr. Fondriest to:

• Mask permanent stains
• Close gaps between teeth
• Repair chipped or cracked teeth
• Lengthen worn down teeth
• Correct the appearance of misalignment

Cosmetic Consultation

Interested in obtaining a gorgeous smile with dental veneers? The first step involves a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Fondriest. He will perform a thorough oral examination, and take special care to note your facial asymmetries, lip drape, and facial movements during speech. Dr. Fondriest can then decide whether dental veneers will provide the best choice for smile improvement. Dr. Fondriest believes in artistic smile design, and strives to ensure your dental work reflects your personality and blends seamlessly with your smile. We want your new veneers to be an extension of your natural smile. No one should know you have had dental work except you and Dr. Fondriest.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers require preparation of the tooth. Dr. Fondriest will remove a minuscule layer of tooth enamel in order to make room for the new veneers. Then, he will take an impression of your teeth. The impression will be used by an expert ceramist to craft your custom-made veneers. Once your veneers are ready, Dr. Fondriest will check the fit to ensure comfort and accuracy. After that, he will place your durable and esthetically pleasing porcelain veneers.

No-Prep Veneers

Unlike porcelain veneers, no-prep veneers require no loss of tooth structure. Using incredibly thin ceramic shells, Dr. Fondriest can attach the veneers to the surface of your teeth without removing any enamel. In many cases, no-prep veneers can be created and placed in one visit, saving our patients both time and money. Some patients prefer this route, as they receive many of the same benefits as porcelain veneers, but with a minimally invasive and less time consuming alternative.

Caring for Your Veneers

You should care for your dental veneers the same way you would care for your natural teeth. Always maintain proper dental habits, such as:

• Brushing twice a day
• Flossing once a day
• Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash

In addition to keeping your breath fresh, these steps also cleanse the mouth of harmful bacteria and food particles, aiding in the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. Also, be sure to attend your routine checkups and cleanings with Dr. Fondriest. The American Dental Association recommends patients receive a checkup and cleaning every six months. This allows Dr. Fondriest to check the status of the your restorations and watch for the potential signs of serious dental issues.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Do you have permanent and unsightly tooth stains? Do you have teeth damaged from injury or tooth decay? At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we provide smile restoration using porcelain and no-prep veneers. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! We offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity to hot or cold drinks? Are you currently suffering from a chronic toothache? You may have a cavity. Tooth decay is a common, but serious, dental issue. Over time, tooth decay can even threaten the stability of your teeth and the appearance of your smile. Thankfully, your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, offers a simple and effective method of dental repair. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest explains how our natural looking tooth-colored fillings can repair cavity-related damaged and help you maintain a beautiful smile.

What are Dental Fillings?

Fillings allow Dr. Fondriest to address decay caused by cavities. Dr. Fondriest first prepares the tooth, removing the damaged and decayed portion. He then uses a filling to fill the exposed area, protecting the tooth from further infection and preserving the remaining tooth structure. Dental fillings can also repair cracked or chipped teeth and teeth that have been worn down by teeth grinding.

Symptoms of a Cavity

How do you know if you have a cavity? Patients suffering from tooth decay report several similar symptoms, including:

• Tooth sensitivity
• Toothache
• Pits in the surface of the tooth
• Pain when biting down or chewing

In the advanced stages, patients may also experience a bad-tasting discharge. If left untreated, tooth decay can eventually lead to an abscessed tooth. In some cases, this requires the removal of the infected tooth.

Causes of Tooth Decay

A variety of factors can cause a cavity to form, from lack of fluoride exposure to genetic predisposition. But the most common cause of tooth decay is simply poor oral hygiene combined with eating foods high in sugars and other starches. Bacteria break down sugars, increasing the presence of oral acids. These oral acids weaken tooth enamel, allowing bacteria to reach to inner layers of dentin and form cavities. When we don’t care for our teeth, bacteria can flourish. When a cavity forms, a dental filling can stop the decay from reaching the pulp at the center of your tooth and causing a painful abscess.

Advantages of Composite Fillings

Traditionally, most people have received metal, or amalgam, fillings. Metal fillings contain trace amounts of mercury and aren’t esthetically pleasing. Over time, an amalgam filling may expand, damaging the tooth and exposing the inner tooth structure to bacteria, increasing the risk of further decay. Tooth-colored fillings are made from a special composite resin. This material can be shaded to blend seamlessly with your smile. Composite fillings are durable, and can provide years of quality dental restoration. With tooth-colored fillings, your tooth can be returned to full function and appearance.

Preventing Cavities

Did you know a few simple habits could help prevent tooth decay? To safeguard your smile, always brush twice a day. You should also floss at least once a day and try to rinse your mouth an antibacterial mouthwash. These simple measures help cleanse your mouth of harmful bacteria and stray food particles. Avoid foods high in sugars and other starches, such as candy or soda. Instead, drink water and add more fruits and fresh vegetables to your diet. Don’t forget to always attend your regular checkups and cleanings with Dr. Fondriest. Checkups allow Dr. Fondriest to watch for any warning signs of developing dental issues, such as tooth decay or gum disease. Early detection enables Dr. Fondriest to prescribe immediate treatment and help patients avoid costly and invasive procedures in the future. Cleanings help remove layers of plaque left by bacteria, reducing the risk of tooth decay or periodontitis.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Are you experiencing the uncomfortable symptoms of tooth decay? You may need a dental filling. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we provide natural looking and durable tooth-colored fillings. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! Remember, fillings are essential for helping to protect and preserve your teeth. We offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

A bright smile instills confidence. According to a recent Kelton Research study, the majority polled said a beautiful smile makes a person appear more successful and attractive. In addition, a large portion of the people polled said a smile was one of the first things they notice when meeting someone for the first time. Many of us are embarrassed of our smiles due to teeth stains. In an effort to improve their smiles, Americans spent over 1.4 billion last year alone on over-the-counter teeth whiteners. Unfortunately, for those with permanent, or intrinsic stains, store bought whiteners are often unable to address stubborn discoloration. This is why your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, provides patients with permanent whitening options. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest explains how our cosmetic dental procedures can offer brighter, more confident smiles.

What are Intrinsic Stains?

The most common teeth stains are known as extrinsic stains. These occur on the surface of our teeth and can typically be removed with traditional teeth whitening systems. Intrinsic stains affect the layers of dentin beneath your tooth enamel. Your teeth are composed of three major layers. The enamel coats the surface and protects your teeth from bacteria and injury. Beneath the enamel is a layer of tooth structure known as dentin, which surrounds the third layer, your inner pulp, the nerve center of the tooth. A variety of factors can lead to intrinsic stains, including:

• Injury, such as cracks or chips, that expose the dentin
• The use of certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline
• Overexposure to fluoride at a young age

Thankfully, at Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest can mask intrinsic stains using the latest in cosmetic dental care.

Cosmetic Consultation

The first step in improving your smile involves a consultation with Dr. Fondriest. He will perform a thorough oral examination. Dr. Fondriest believes in artistic smile design. He believes that your dental work should reflect your personality and blend with your facial structure. Dr. Fondriest studies your lip drape, facial asymmetries, and the way your mouth moves when you speak, to help him design the perfect restorations to correct your smile. He will sit down with you to discuss your smile goals and what the procedure will work best to address your esthetic dental needs.

Our Whitening Options

Our permanent whitening systems not only mask intrinsic discoloration, they help protect and preserve your teeth. Our cosmetic techniques include:

• Porcelain Veneers: After preparing the surface of your teeth, Dr. Fondriest will apply thin shells of dental porcelain. Our veneers are shaded to blend seamlessly with your smile, and custom-made for a comfortable and natural looking fit. Veneers are stain resistant, and with proper care, can provide decades of smile improvement. In addition to permanent whitening, porcelain veneers repair cracked and chipped teeth, close gaps between teeth, correct the appearance of misalignment, and lengthen worn down teeth.
• No-Prep Veneers: Unlike porcelain veneers, no-prep veneers require no preparation of your teeth and therefore no loss of tooth structure. No-prep veneers are composed of incredibly thin porcelain, and their translucency and color can be altered to ensure they match your natural teeth. With no-prep veneers, patients receive smile restorations that completely mask stubborn intrinsic stains.
• Dental Bonding: Made of a special composite resin, our bonding material can be shaded to match your smile. Dr. Fondriest uses dental bonding to provide tooth-colored fillings for cavity repair. Dental bonding can also restore fractured or broken teeth. The bonding material can also be used to erase unsightly intrinsic staining. Dr. Fondriest applies several thin layers of bonding material, then sculpts and molds the tooth as the material cures.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Interested in transforming your smile with our innovative cosmetic procedures? At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we provide permanent teeth whitening solutions. A healthy smile doesn’t just affect your teeth, but helps maintain your overall health, as well. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! We offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.

Our bodies change as we age, but not always for the better. Over time, our cheeks can appear sunken, jowls can form, and some people may even develop a ptotic, or witch’s, chin. Did you know that a beautiful smile can address many of these issues? As we grow older, wear and tear causes our teeth to shorten. Our bite can become misaligned, and in some cases, we may lose one or more teeth. This causes an array of detrimental affects to our facial structure. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry provides patients with a non-surgical option for regaining their youthful visage. In today’s blog, your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, explains how our cosmetic procedures can provide facelifts and a younger appearance.

How Poor Dental Health Ages Our Face

Do you grind your teeth or clench your jaw? Also known as bruxism, grinding your teeth can wear down your teeth. With shortened teeth, a patient appears older. But the greatest harm to our facial structure results from missing teeth. Even if a patient loses a single tooth, this affects the entire smile. Once a tooth is lost, the body responds by suspending the flow of nutrients to the jawbone surrounding the lost tooth. Starved of crucial doses of calcium and phosphorus, the bone begins to degrade. This increases the risk of further tooth loss. In addition, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth may begin to drift towards the empty socket. This causes misalignment, which makes chewing and speaking difficult. As patients lose more teeth and experience further loss of bone density, their facial structures starts to change. Soon, jowls, sunken cheeks, ptotic chins, and a host of other facial imperfections start to appear. Thankfully, with cosmetic dentistry these problems can often be reversed.

Artistic Smile Design

Dr. Fondriest believes in artistic dentistry. When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Fondriest, he performs a thorough oral examination. He studies your dental health; speech patterns, facial asymmetries, and lip drape to prescribe treatment that reflects your personality. The goal is to provide a dental restoration specifically designed for you, returning your smile to optimal function and appearance while rolling back the clock.

Our Cosmetic Procedures

At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest provides an array of cosmetic techniques to restore your smile. Each is designed to address one or several imperfections, offering non-surgical facelifts and a gorgeous smile. Our services include:

• Porcelain Veneers: Veneers allow Dr. Fondriest to lengthen teeth and repair cracked or chipped teeth. Veneers can also erase permanent stains, close gaps between teeth, and correct the appearance of misaligned smiles. Dr. Fondriest simply places thin shells of durable, stain-resistant porcelain onto a patient’s front teeth. With veneers, patients receive an instant smile transformation that can last for decades.
• Cosmetic Bonding: Using a composite resin, Dr. Fondriest can repair fractured or broken teeth, reshape malformed teeth, and hide embarrassing discoloration. Dr. Fondriest applies several thin layers of the resin, molding and sculpting the material as the resin cures.
• Dental Bridges: Do you have one or more missing teeth? For quality tooth replacement, Dr. Fondriest offers dental bridges. A dental bridge involves a replacement tooth with crowns attached to each side. The crowns are placed on the teeth sitting on either side of the missing tooth, anchoring the replacement tooth into place, allowing patients to regain a whole smile.
• Dental Implants: With dental implants, a biocompatible post is placed into the socket of the missing tooth. The bone tissue bonds with the post, preventing bone loss and securing the implant. A natural looking crown is placed on top of the post. Dental implants can provide a lifetime of strong and esthetically pleasing smile restoration.

Schedule a Visit with Your Lake Forest Cosmetic Dentist

Interested in regaining a youthful appearance through our cosmetic procedures? A healthy smile doesn’t just affect your teeth, but helps maintain your overall health, as well. Talk to Dr. Fondriest today! We offer patients the latest in innovative restorative and cosmetic dental procedures to obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Call your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist at 847-234-0517. Our 60045 dentist office welcomes patients from Lake Forest and North Shore suburbs near Chicago, including Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.