Anesthesia is often an unknown component of surgery - patients will be informed about the actual procedure but be unaware of their anesthesia options. When it comes to anesthesia for dental implant surgery, there are three common options. The first, local anesthesia, is usually a medication known as lidocaine, administered via syringe to the area to be worked on. This numbs the "local" area while leaving other areas with feeling. Other than the local numbness, there are no side effects to lidocaine, leaving the patient awake and alert. Nitrous oxide, or "laughing gas," is a second option in which the patient is administered nitrous oxide gas, resulting in a feeling of euphoria and giddiness. Nitrous oxide is effective at relieving stress or fear about the procedure, and is used in conjunction with a local anesthesia. Finally, for more serious surgeries, intravenous (IV) sedation is used, resulting in a state of "twilight sleep" for the patient during the surgery, and ending with the patient not recalling the procedure. The medication can remain in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours, so the patient may not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery after undergoing a dental procedure with this type of anesthesia.

Anesthesia is a personal choice that should be worked out between patient and dentist; what may be right for one patient may not be right for another. If you or a loved one are in the Chicago area and considering dental implant surgery, please contact the dental implant surgery experts at the Colonial Dental Group to schedule a consultation today.

Dark or discolored teeth can ruin an otherwise perfect smile. You may suffer from darkened teeth for a number of reasons.

Drinking liquids such as coffee, tea, soda and red wine can lead to a staining of teeth, while the acid in soda can break down the tooth enamel, revealing the darker inner tooth material, known as dentin. The heat of coffee and tea can also cause tiny cracks in the enamel, hastening enamel decay. Age also plays a role, with the tooth enamel weakening and shrinking as we get older. Tobacco use can stain teeth orange or yellow, while medications like tetracycline, an antibiotic, can discolor teeth, especially in childhood. Another childhood tooth darkener is fluoride - too much fluoride can result in fluorosis, a darkening of the teeth. On top of these causes, heredity can also cause our teeth to be darker than we might desire.

We do not have to live with dark or discolored teeth; teeth whitening is becoming more and more effective, with a number of types of treatments available. If you or a loved one live in the Chicago area and are unhappy with the color of your teeth, please contact the teeth whitening experts at the Colonial Dental Group to schedule a teeth whitening consultation today.

If you want to get quality cosmetic dentistry, you need to use care in selecting your cosmetic dentist. Your cosmetic dentist needs to be well-qualified, to be up-to-date with the latest in cosmetic dentistry technologies, techniques, procedures and literature, to be able to provide proof of the quality of their work (before and after photos are a good way), and to provide you with an in-depth and comfortable consultation. Membership in dental organizations such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, training at advanced cosmetic dentistry schools like the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies, and expertise in cutting edge dental techniques such as laser dentistry, neuromuscular dentistry, and advanced computer mapping are also trademarks of high-quality cosmetic dentists.

Choosing the right cosmetic dentist for you and your procedure can mean the difference between a disappointing experience and a procedure that positively changes your life. If you or a loved one are in the Chicago area and looking for a cosmetic dentist, please contact the cosmetic dentistry experts at the Colonial Dental Group to learn more about finding the right Chicago cosmetic dentist for you.

Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures we perform at our Glenview, Illinois office. With our professional tooth whitening options, you can improve the shade of your teeth in as little as an hour, or you can take a tooth whitening kit home to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home.

Our tooth whitening options penetrate deep into the enamel of your teeth to remove stains from pigmented foods and drinks. After tooth whitening, you can expect your smile to be at least six or eight shades brighter.

Dental restoration materials (porcelain and white composite resins) do not respond to a whitening procedure. Therefore, if you are considering porcelain inlays or onlays to replace old metal fillings, or a dental bonding procedure, we suggest that you have your teeth whitened first so that we can match your restoration to your new bright color.

If you are suffering from deeper stains that cannot be removed with teeth whitening, porcelain veneers can cover them, as can dental bonding, so that you have a beautiful white smile.

To learn more about tooth whitening, please contact our cosmetic dentistry office to schedule your personal consultation.