Animated-Teeth.com  – Information for consumers about dentistry, dental procedures and oral conditions.

Cosmetic Dentistry

• Porcelain Veneers – These are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to give them a cosmetic resurfacing. How to handle veneer emergencies.
• Lumineers® Veneers – Lumineers® are a brand of porcelain veneer that can be made so thin that they can often be placed without having to trim back the tooth first.
• Dental Crowns – Dentists have been improving the appearance of teeth by way of placing crowns on them for decades.
• Dental Bonding – While typically not as lasting as other types of cosmetic restorations, bonding may provide a quicker, less expensive option.
• Digital Smile Makeovers – Check out our database of virtual smile makeovers. These before-and-after picture sets illustrate the kinds of cosmetic changes anyone’s own dentist should be able to make.

Straightening Teeth

• Types of dental braces. – Old-style “wire” braces aren’t the only choice any more. Nowadays you have a number of different orthodontic methods to choose from, with each having their own distinct set of advantages and disadvantages.
• Invisalign® – This is a revolutionary orthodontic system that utilizes a series of removable clear plastic aligners to realign your teeth. Our pages explain the technique but also insights like what activities you can do when wearing your aligners and how to prevent them from staining.
• Ceramic (clear) Braces – This aesthetically-pleasing variation of traditional braces involves the use of tooth-colored or clear orthodontic brackets.
• Lingual Braces – Systems like iBraces® are similar to traditional braces but they are placed on the backside of the patient’s teeth where they can’t be seen.
• Traditional Braces – The traditional tin-grin is “out” and a lot of cosmetically-pleasing options are “in,” including fashion brackets and gold braces.
• Orthodontic Retainers – Don’t overlook the fact that after having your teeth straightened you’ll need to wear dental retainers. Our pages discuss the different kinds, along with each one’s advantages and disadvantages.

Whitening Teeth

• Professional (“laser”) Whitening – In-office treatments can make the best choice for people who feel they need whiter teeth immediately. We discuss this technique and some of the controversies associated with it including: Which is better, at-home or in-office whitening?
• Tray Whitening – This at-home technique involves the use of clear plastic “bleaching trays” that are first filled with whitening gel and then placed over your teeth. Individual treatments are performed each day, over some weeks, while the effects of the lightening process take place.
• Teeth Whitening Strips – Products like Crest Whitestrips® come close to creating the same whitening effect as tray-based systems, with a simpler protocol than wearing bleaching trays.
• Teeth Whitening Pens – Brush-on products, like “pens”, offer a way to lighten teeth without the need for wearing trays or strips.

Basic Procedures

• Root Canal Treatment – Does your tooth require endodontic therapy? No dental procedure has more misconceptions associated with it than this one. Our pages try to put some of them to rest, like what to expect afterward or if your original crown can be reused.
• Types of Dental Crowns – Have you been told that your tooth needs a crown? Our pages explain the what, when, why and hows of this procedure.
• White fillings – Dentists routinely use dental composite to create “white” fillings for both front and back teeth. Our page outlines the steps of this procedure.
• Silver fillings – Dentists have literally been placing amalgam fillings for centuries. It often makes the longer-lasting and comparatively less expensive choice. Our page compares pros and cons of white vs. silver fillings.

Full and Partial Dentures

• Denture Costs – Price estimates for having Complete or Partial removable dentures made.
• Denture Care – Tips and pointers about how to clean your dentures (full or partial), including the use of homemade soaks.
• Denture Longevity – Details about how long both Complete and Partial dentures can be expected to last.

Dental Costs and Insurance

• Dental Plans and Insurance – If you’re looking for dental coverage, we can provide the information you need so you can make an informed choice.
• Dental procedure costs – Our index of prices for dental procedures can give you an idea of the expense associated with different types of dental work. But besides just cost, we also explain the different types of options and choices you’ll need to make with each of them.

Oral Surgery

• Pulling Teeth – Having a tooth extracted isn’t nearly as scary if you know what to expect beforehand. Our pages explain what takes place.
• Wisdom Teeth – Scheduled to have a third molar out? Learn about this procedure before you have it done. Along with why your tooth may need to be extracted (like having tooth decay). And the different types of sedation that can be used for your procedure.
• Dry Sockets – If you’re unlucky enough to have a dry socket after your extraction, our pages explain things like treatment your dentist can provide to help you get through it.
• Dental implants – These “artificial tooth roots” can be used to support a dental crown, bridge or denture.

Prevention

• Tooth Decay and White Spot lesions – Are you having problems with cavities? Our pages describe the decay process, how cavities are identified, and give tips on how to get them under control.
• Dental Sealants – Sealing a tooth plastic coats strategic portions of its surface so it’s harder for cavities to form.
• Baby teeth / Tooth development. – Our pages outline when a child’s deciduous teeth usually come in and fall out, and what to do if they’re not on schedule. They also explain how, when needed, a space mainatiner can help to prevent future problems or what to do if extra teeth are present.
• Electric Toothbrushes – We think anything that helps you to brush more effectively is a good idea. And a powered toothbrush can do just that. If you need help figuring out which brand or model to buy, use these links: Sonicare toothbrush models. | Oral-B electric toothbrush models. | Comparing Oral-B vs. Sonicare brushing effectivenss.   Here’s our latest toothbrush review – The 9900 Prestige.
• Toothpaste – Ever wonder which toothpastes really are the best ones? Our pages cover that issue, like which are the best anti-cavity ones. We also give advice about how to avoid the unwanted side effect fluorosis.
• Using dental floss. – If you’re brushing your teeth but not flossing, you’re just getting half of the job done. Our pages cover how to floss, and provide tips and pointers about common flossing mistakes.
• Sports Mouthguards – If you participate in sporting events, of pretty much any kind, you should be wearing an athletic mouthguard.

More about Cavity Prevention

Xylitol – What if there was a great-tasting, all-natural sugar substitute that could help to prevent cavities by over 60%. Well, there is. It’s xylitol. We’ve outlined everything you need to know on XylitolPreventsCavities.com and its FYI facts page.

Oral Conditions

• Cold sores (fever blisters) – We cover it all, stages and identification, causes, risk factors and treatments.
• Canker sores – We’ve got identification, causes, risk factors and treatment information for canker sores too.
• Bad breath – Do you have bad breath? It’s easier to cure than you might expect. Our pages explain how.

Dental Activities

• Dental quizzes for students – We’ve put together a number of dental-related quizzes (both free-to-use and advertising-free), intended for students of all age groups and educational levels.
• Dental Infographics – Infographics that students can use when making online reports or presentations. They cover the subjects: Dental Sealants, Water Fluoridation and Choosing Toothpaste.