"The first thing thats involved in a smile makeover is the patients goals. Every patient has something different that they want to accomplish with their smile so you have to find out what is it that they really want to accomplish. Once we know that we can do what we need to do. Usually we perform what's called a wax-up. We make a mock, so to speak, of the smile makeover. We show it to the patient so they can see kind of the shape that their teeth are gonna be, the length, the width, all those things that go along with it so that's kind of what's involved. After that we start the prep work and the delivery of the case." - Dr. Ban Barbat

If you have ever seen anyone with porcelain veneers you have seen how great they can make your smile appear. You may not even realize that someone has veneers because of the way they look like natural teeth. Like any dental procedures there are ideals about them that may not be true.

The first myth is that veneers are only for your front teeth.

Veneers can be used on any of your teeth. Usually patients choose to affix veneers to the most visible teeth but the option for all teeth is there.

Another myth is that veneers are out of the average person's price range. Veneers are available through credit lines and payment plans which makes them available for more and more patients. To find out more about veneers contact Dr. Ban Barbat & her experienced staff at her Utica Cosmetic Dentist Office.

Source: http://www.seniorfitness.com

Here is a short video with me describing what we do to make our patients comfortable at Our Metro Detroit Sedation Dentist Office.

1.    A smile can help lower your blood pressure. Don’t believe it? Try it next time you take your blood pressure.

2.    Smiling can help boost your immune system. Smiling reduces stress, which causes your immune system to beef up.

3.    When you smile you look younger. A smile can go much further than plastic surgery. Smile and watch the age fade away.

4.    Smiles make us more attractive. When you smile you attract more positive energy.

5.    Smiles are FREE. Not much in this world is truly free but you can improve your quality of life by just remembering to smile.

If your teeth are giving you a reason to not smile contact an experienced and knowledgable dentist team like the team at Ban R. Barbat DDS, Michigan Cosmetic Dentist.

Earlier in the morning or late at night circadian rhythms are at the lowest point. The study suggests that people with sleep loss had slower reaction times during that time. The reaction times were not affected from sleep loss during the later afternoon/early evening.

"Many people have a false sense of reassurance that they can quickly recover from a chronic sleep debt with just one or two days of good sleep," the lead author of the study, Daniel Cohen, said in a news release. ". . .However, the lingering effect of chronic sleep loss causes performance to deteriorate dramatically when these individuals stay awake for an extended period of time, for example, when they try to pull an 'all-nighter.' "

You can find the whole study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Sleep loss can often be linked to other health issues.

If you do not feel rested when you wake up and just can’t seem to get enough sleep you could be suffering from sleep apnea. Dr. Ban Barbat can help you determine if you are getting the best nights rest possible. Contact our Metro Detroit Cosmetic Dentist office today for more information.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com

There are some atheletes that swear by them. Under Armour and Makkar have both put out a version on the Pure Power Mouthguard. This New York TImes Fitness article talks a little about both and some benefits. Check it out by CLICKING HERE. And visit our Shelby Township Cosmetic Dentist Office today to learn about getting your own Pure Power Mouthguard.

“As a dentist, I am concerned that many adults never associate teeth grinding and nighttime clenching with sleep deprivation,” states Dr. Barbat.
For most humans, eight hours of sleep is the ideal. When sleep time is sacrificed or interrupted on a regular basis, the losses are devastating. Sleep loss has been calculated at 90 billion dollars a year due to absenteeism, car accidents, lost productivity, and medications.

As little as six hours of sleep per night can result in some serious problems, such as:

* Problems with memory or concentration
* Irritability
* More susceptibility to infection

Sleep loss related to clenching or grinding teeth can often be easily resolved. Dr. Barbat creates a custom-fitted mouthpiece that is small, comfortable, and prevents clenching and grinding. If you are losing sleep, or feel clenching or grinding may be a problem for you (or a mate), call our Shelby Township Cosmetic Dentist Office at (586) 739-2155 to discuss this concern.

Answered by Dr. Ban Barbat

As with any patient, it is necessary to first diagnose what caused the gap to occur. Assuming that gum disease did not contribute to tooth movement, there are several ways to repair a gap between your front teeth.
Depending upon the width of the gap, bonding may be the easiest method to close the space. In this process, a tooth-colored resin material is applied to the teeth. Shading is carefully matched and the surface is polished to give a natural appearance. This is the least expensive method; however, bonding, particularly on front “biting” teeth, is more vulnerable to chipping or breaking than with porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers are customdesigned “shells” that are attached to the front of teeth. Veneers give the most durable, natural feel and appearance possible, even reflecting light as a natural tooth. This method also requires minimal disruption to the natural tooth, although the design of the veneer can reshape or resize the tooth for a more flattering look.

If teeth are badly turned or misshapen, porcelain crowns can be used to close the space.

This method requires existing the tooth to be reshaped to accept a custom-designed crown. The crown covers the top and sides of the tooth, while protecting the natural tooth portion underneath. Crowns, like veneers, give excellent longevity and have natural appeal.
If the space is wide, other front teeth may need to be involved in treatment. This keeps the teeth visible in your smile to balanced proportions. Otherwise, you could end up with two, very wide front teeth that close the gap but doesn’t result in an appealing smile.
After an examination at the Shelby Township Cosmetic Dentist Office, Dr. Barbat can determine which option will give you the best results. You also learn the process and fee involved. By understanding your choices, you have already taken the first step to regain a smile you’ll love!

This joint is very fragile and can be easily hurt during a car accident. Usually head or neck injuries are blamed for the pain but if left undiagnosed TMJ can get worse over time.

Whiplash resulting from a car accident can be a cause of the TMJ injury.

When you are hit from behind your head can go in many different directions. This happens so Fast that the neck muscles can’t relax so they don’t hold the jaw in place. The impact on the head can force it backwards and the mouth overreaches, causing further injury.

Sadly, there are not a lot of medical and dental professionals that specialize in the training necessary to diagnose TMJ correctly. Physical exams that involve radiographic surveys can help diagnose your condition. After diagnosis, you can begin TMJ treatments which may include a bite splint, temperature therapy, trigger point injections, nutritional, & physical therapies involving the jaw. Contact Dr. Ban Barbat at her Michigan Cosmetic Dentist Office for more information.

Without adequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by plaque, the potential for cavities greatly increases. Other common problems that result from dry mouth include a constant sore throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and dry nasal passages.

Certain medical disorders can contribute to a dry mouth. Often, a side effect of antihistamines, decongestants, painkillers and certain high blood pressure medications includes dry mouth. Even beverages such as coffee and those that contain alcohol can inhibit saliva flow. Along with a decrease in our sense of taste and smell, part of the normal aging process reduces saliva as well.

To help keep your mouth moist, sip at least eight glasses of water per day. Dr. Ban Barbat also suggests asking your physician to suggest medications that may be less drying. Chew sugar free gum to stimulate saliva flow. When practical, we can recommend oral rinses to replace moisture.

Please remember to make us aware of any medications that you have begun taking since your medical history form was last completed. This information helps us unify your oral well being with your overall health at our Michigan Cosmetic Dentist Office.