Animated-Teeth.com - Information about teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, dental products and insurance, dental procedures and treatments, and oral conditions for consumers.

At-home Tray Teeth Whitening

tray-based teeth bleaching: Are white teeth important to you? If so, read our discussion about using an at-home tray-based teeth whitening system as a way to whiten your teeth and create a brighter smile. Tray teeth whitening technique involves the use of a plastic "bleaching tray" that is filled with whitening gel and then placed over your teeth. The tray is worn each day, for some weeks, while the effects of the tooth whitening process take place. Our topic's discussion covers why teeth can become stained and dark, the steps involved when at-home tray teeth bleaching systems are used, and information about safety concerns and side effects associated with this whitening technique.

Professional Teeth Whitening

dentist in-office teeth whitening: Professional teeth whitening (whitening treatments performed by a dentist in their office) may be the best choice for those people who feel they need whiter teeth immediately. In just a matter of an hour or two, a dentist can apply a professional strength bleaching gel, "activate" it with their bleaching light or a laser, and that's it, you're finished. Your smile shows whitening results the very same day of your very first bleaching treatment.
Our professional teeth whitening systems review includes information about the The Zoom! ®, Opalescence ®, BriteSmile ®, LaserSmile ™, Rembrandt ®, LumaArch ™, NUPRO ® White Gold / Illumine ™, and Niveous ™ teeth whitening systems.

Teeth Whitening Directory

professional teeth whitening directory: We've started compiling a directory of dentists who provide professional teeth whitening treatments in their offices. If you are interested in Zoom! ®, Opalescence ®, BriteSmile ®, LaserSmile ™, Rembrandt ®, LumaArch ™, or Niveous ™ whitening (or are a dentist who uses one of these systems and you want to be included in our listings) check out our directory. If you don't see your city listed, check back later to see how our directory has grown. Cities included in our teeth whitening directory:   Atlanta • Austin • Baltimore • Chicago • Dallas • Detroit • Fort Myers • Fort Worth • Houston • Indianapolis • Kansas City • Las Vegas • Los Angeles / Orange County • Minneapolis • Palm Springs • Philadelphia • Phoenix • Pittsburgh • Raleigh • Sacramento • San Antonio • Seattle • St. Louis • Tampa • Washington, D.C.

Teeth Whitening Strips

(including: Crest Whitestrips ®, Rembrandt ® Whitening Strips, and Listering Whitening ® Quick Dissolving Strips)

teeth whitening strips: Teeth whitening strips offer an innovative way to perform teeth bleaching treatments. This type of over-the-counter whitening system touts similar results as with tray-based bleaching, without the hassles associated with the use of whitening trays. While our review of this topic places most of its focus on the use of Crest Whitestrips ®, it does also provide a comparison of Crest Whitestrips ®, Rembrandt ® Whitening Strips, and Listering Whitening ® Quick Dissolving Strips.

Paint-on Teeth Whiteners

(including: Colgate Simply White ®, Colgate Simply White Night ®, and Crest Night Effects ®)

paint-on teeth whitening products: Paint-on teeth whiteners offer a way to whiten teeth without the need for bleaching trays or whitening strips. In our review we discuss the use of Colgate Simply White ®, Colgate Simply White Night ®, and Crest Night Effects ®.

Porcelain Veneers

dental veneers: Are you interested in cosmetic dentistry? Porcelain veneers can be an excellent way to change the appearance of discolored, chipped, or misaligned teeth. Let our pages explain to you when placing porcelain veneers can be an appropriate choice, what types of changes they can be expected to make, the advantages of this type of dental veneer, and the steps involved when they are placed.

Lumineers ® Porcelain Veneers

Cerinate ® Lumineers ® veneers: Lumineers ® veneers are a type of porcelain veneer that is crafted from the patented porcelain Cerinate ®. Because Cerinate ® has great strength properties, Lumineers ® veneers can be made so they are ultra-thin. The minimal thickness of Lumineers ® veneers allows a dentist the option of placing them using protocol where no tooth drilling and no dental anesthetic ("shot") are needed. Our pages discuss the pros and cons of Lumineers ® veneers and give examples describing when it might be (or might not be) a good idea to place them using a "no drilling, no shots" technique.

Cosmetic Dentistry Makeovers

cosmetic dentistry: Does your smile need a makeover? Would you like to see what kinds of changes cosmetic dentistry can create for you? Email us a picture of your smile and we'll touch it up using our dental imaging software, or just browse through the before-and-after makeover simulations we have created for others.

Tooth Bonding

dental bonding: Tooth bonding encompasses a number of separate dental procedures, each of which is related because it makes use of a type of tooth-colored dental restorative dentists call dental composite. Our pages explain different types of bonded restorations ranging from white fillings for front teeth, to cosmetic tooth bonding, to dental composite fillings for back teeth. Our discussion also includes information about advantages and disadvantages of tooth bonding as compared to other types of dental restorations and treatments.

Electric Toothbrushes

(including: Sonicare ®, Braun Oral B 3D ®, Rota-dent ®, Interplak ®)

electric toothbrushes: The designs of some of today's electric toothbrushes are little changed from those brushes first introduced more than fifty years ago. Other electrics, however, including the sonic toothbrushes (i.e., Sonicare ®) and the oscillating / pulsating electric toothbrushes (i.e., Braun Oral B 3D ®), are founded on relatively new designs and technologies.

Dental Insurance and Dental Plans

dental insurance: If you're looking for an individual dental insurance plan for you or your family, or else you're trying to decide if you should participate in the dental plan offered by your employer, read the pages of our dental insurance topic. We outline the different types of dental insurance plans that are available and what features a good dental plan should offer.

Sports Mouth Guards

mouthguards: If you participate in sports events, you should be wearing an athletic mouthguard. It's been estimated that during any single season a player participating in a contact sport runs about a 10% of experiencing some sort of mouth trauma. A sports mouthpiece can go a long way toward helping to guard against this type of injury. In the case of wearing a mouth protector, a stitch in time really can save nine.

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Oral Conditions

Bad Breath

halitosis: Do you have bad breath or maybe suspect that you do? Our pages about bad breath (halitosis) describe how you can test your own breath, yourself. They also explain the relationship between bad breath and bacteria. Read further and you'll discover where these bacteria live, how to effectively remove them, and learn about specialty products marketed to help cure halitosis such as tongue scrapers and mouthwashes.

Cold Sores 

fever blisters: Cold sore outbreaks can be painful as well as unsightly. Read about how the herpes simplex virus causes cold sores and what triggers cold sore formation. Learn how to identify cold sore lesions and what home remedies, over-the-counter products, and prescription medications can be used to treat them.

Canker Sores

aphthous ulcers: Canker sore outbreaks can range from being mildly annoying to being so painful that they interfere with normal oral functions. Read about what triggers canker sore outbreaks and how to identify canker sore mouth ulcers. Learn about remedies for canker sores, including over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Tooth Decay

dental cavities: Tooth decay ("cavities") can be a serious problem for both children and adults alike. If this is true for you or your child, don't give up hope. Let us explain to you how tooth decay can, to a very large degree, be prevented if you just understand and practice a very few basic concepts.

Dry Sockets 

dry sockets (alveolar osteitis): Dry sockets are a fairly commonplace complication of having a tooth extracted. Our pages discuss what dry sockets are, describe some of the factors that seem to place a dental patient at greater risk for experiencing a dry socket, and explain how dentists treat and manage dry socket pain.

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Dental Treatments and Procedures

Dental Implants

dental implant procedure: Endosseous dental implants (tooth implants) are cylindrical or screw shaped devices fabricated out of titanium. Dental implants are surgically embedded in the patient's jawbone and after a suitable healing period has transpired these "artificial tooth roots" can be used to support a dental prosthesis such as a dental crown, dental bridge or denture.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

wisdom teeth extractions: Ever wonder what a wisdom tooth is and what the term "impacted wisdom tooth" means. Let our pages provide these definitions for you and also guide you through some of the reasons why dentists and oral surgeons recommend the removal of wisdom teeth, as well as reasons why they may not. Additionally, our pages review some of the concerns and costs associated with wisdom teeth oral surgery and suggest some steps you might take during your postoperative recovery period so to minimize the potential for experiencing complications during the healing process.

Root Canal Treatment

endodontic therapy: Do you need a root canal? Would you like to know more about what the process of having root canal treatment involves? Our pages describe the rational behind root canal treatment, its individual steps, and what additional dental work might be required after it has been completed.

Tooth Extractions 

oral surgery: Have you had a toothache or tooth abscess and now find that you need to have your tooth extracted? Let our pages outline for you some of the principles of oral surgery, the steps involved with the tooth extraction process, and some postoperative tips that can help the healing process you experience after your dental surgery to go more smoothly.

Dental Crowns 

dental caps: Has your dentist advised you that one of your teeth needs the protection that only a dental crown can provide? Our dental crowns topic can explain the when's, why's, and how's of this procedure as well as its cost and possible alternatives.

Dental Sealants 

tooth sealants: Dental sealants are a preventive measure aimed at preventing tooth decay ("cavities"). This technique involves bonding plastic into the grooves of teeth (pits and fissures) so it is more difficult for tooth decay to start. Learn about the indications for utilizing tooth sealants and the steps involved when placing them.

Using Dental Floss: 

dental flossing technique: If you're brushing your teeth but not using dental flossing you're really just getting half of the job of cleaning your teeth done. Let us provide you with some tips and suggestions in regards to proper dental flossing technique.