The Blog of Dr. Firouzi Babak, D.D.S.

Years of drinking red wine, dark colas and coffee can leave your teeth looking dark or yellow. Tooth whitening can brighten your mouth, enhance the aesthetics of your smile, and increase your overall self-confidence. There are two primary methods available for tooth whitening through your dentist: in-office power bleaching and custom-designed take home kits.

In-Office Power Bleaching

The most powerful, effective method for whitening your teeth is in-office power bleaching. This method utilizes a concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel that is activated with a light source, and can whiten your teeth by 16 shades. After the in-office treatment, you will be given touch-up trays to use at home to keep your smile bright and dazzling.

At the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry, we offer the Dr. Rod Kurth's Deep Bleaching system, a highly effective procedure that provides permanent, predictable results every time with little or no tooth sensitivity.

Customized Take-Home Kits

If you are looking for a more affordable tooth-whitening option for one-third of the price, customized take-home trays may be right for you. The trays are created in a dental laboratory using impressions of your teeth, and can brighten your smile about five shades.

The primary difference between these two options is the strength of the peroxide and the cost of treatment. In-office power bleaching provides immediate, permanent results (with touch-ups needed every few months), costing between $750 and $1,500. Customized take-home trays cost between $200 and $600, with results lasting several months.

If you live in the Pittsburgh area and want to brighten your smile, please contact highly trained Pittsburgh cosmetic dentist Dr. Babak Firouzi at the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry to arrange a complimentary consultation.

Choosing the right dentist is an important decision, not only to your oral health, but your overall well-being. If you have excessive bacteria in your mouth, you can breathe it into your lungs, which can lead to respiratory diseases like pneumonia. Studies also reveal that people with gum disease are two times more likely to develop coronary artery disease and are at a higher risk of stroke and heart attack. Dr. Babak Firouzi is a highly talented and experienced cosmetic, general and neuromuscular dentist serving the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania.

How to Search

When looking for the right dentist for you and your family, start your search by talking to friends and relatives to gather recommendations. Once you have a list, research each qualified Pittsburgh dentist to read about their credentials, training and what organizations they belong to. Also look at before and after photos to make sure that your dental goals coincide with the dentist's work.

What to Look For

During your initial consultation, look to see if your prospective dentist:

• Listens to your dental goals and develops a treatment unique to you
• Fully discloses any and all costs associated with your procedure
• Is friendly and thorough
• Will provide you with patients (current or past) who you can talk to about their experiences
• Is someone you feel comfortable with

If you are looking for a skilled dentist, please contact LVI-trained Pittsburgh dentist Dr. Babak Firouzi at the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today to schedule your free consultation. We serve patients in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.

Can you afford to get that perfect smile? Believe it or not, you can. With the available financing plans offered by Pittsburgh cosmetic dentist Dr. Babak Firouzi, you will find that cosmetic dentistry fits within your budget.

Financing Cosmetic Dentistry

It used to be that only the rich and famous could afford cosmetic dentistry procedures. Now, there are several options that make cosmetic dentistry affordable for everyone. These include:

• Dental Insurance - While most cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as porcelain veneers, are not covered by insurance, there may be some that are determined necessary for health reasons.
• CareCredit - CareCredit is credit designed specifically for surgeries not covered by medical or dental insurance. CareCredit offers many payment plans including the three month, no interest payback plan.
• American Benefit Finance - ABF is a loan provider offering loans of up to $100,000 for cosmetic surgery including cosmetic dentistry procedures. The payment plans offer interest rates for as low as 1.25% for qualified borrowers.
• Credit Card – Dr. Firouzi accepts all major credit cards. While credit card interest rates tend to be high, occasionally, there are good reasons to pay for your cosmetic dentistry procedure using a major credit card including low interest rates and cash back rewards.

If you live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and want more information on financing cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers, please contact the Pittsburgh cosmetic dentistry office of Dr. Babak Firouzi at the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today.

Dental implants are actually replacements for the roots of your teeth. These artificial replacements are made to attach to your jaw bone for strength, and they are made to match the color of your natural teeth for appearance.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Unlike dentures, many people find that dental implants are actually better than their original teeth. Here's why:

• Dental implants look like your teeth.
• In the past, dentures would slip out of patients' mouths. With dental implants, there is no fear that the implant will slip out of your mouth since it is fastened to your jaw.
• Dental implants feel just like all the other teeth in your mouth.
• Dental implants never leave your mouth. They work like real teeth and can chew just as well.
• You can brush and floss a dental implant just like regular teeth.
• As long as you maintain proper oral care, you will never need to replace your dental implants.
• Dentures have to be removed often and need to be attached to your mouth using expensive adhesives. Dental implants are not removed.

If you live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, have lost a tooth or teeth, and want more information on dental implants, please contact the Pittsburgh cosmetic dentistry office of the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Babak Firouzi.

Did you know that about 5 million teeth are knocked out each year in the United States alone? Sports can be dangerous without the proper protection. Custom made sports mouthguards fit well, protect well, and can be worn for any sport, including soccer, baseball and basketball. Mouthguards found in the store just don’t very well. Wearing these, how can you breathe while running during soccer or basketball? You can’t.

Protection during sporting events is of special interest to Dr. Firouzi. This is why he provides these mouthguards to all the athletes in his practice. Don’t take a chance with your child’s teeth. We’re anxious to help. Contact our Pittsburgh dental office today

Porcelain inlays and onlays are similar to typical dental fillings. In the past, when a cavity was removed, the tooth was filled with amalgam or another metallic substance. This filling was visible and unsightly, often making people cover up their teeth and feel insecure about their smiles.

Now with porcelain inlays and onlays, no one will ever know your teeth have been treated. Some of the advantages of onlays and inlays include:

• Inlays and onlays preserve as much of your original tooth as possible.
• Inlays and onlays are made out of porcelain and designed to blend in with your teeth. No one looking at your teeth would ever know that they have been treated.
• Unlike fillings, porcelain inlays and onlays are stain resistant.
• Because the onlays and inlays are fitted perfectly onto your teeth, there is no difference cleaning a treated tooth than you would a normal tooth.
• Porcelain is a very sturdy material. Due to the perfect fitting of an onlay or inlay, a damaged tooth actually becomes reinforced and strengthened.

If you live in the Pittsburgh area and want more information on porcelain inlays or onlays, please contact the Pittsburgh cosmetic dentistry office of Dr. Babak Firouzi at the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Have you wanted that perfect smile, but neglected to get your teeth straightened due to a reluctance to wear braces? Now, there is an option for adults who want a perfect smile without the social issues that come with having braces. With an Invisalign treatment, you can have the smile of your dreams.

Invisalign Process

Invisalign is a series of teeth aligners that are clear and removable. Each aligner is custom designed to fit the unique aspects of your mouth. Every two weeks, you get a new aligner with slightly different calculations. Over a year's time, the different aligners gradually shift your teeth until you have a perfect smile.

Benefits of Invisalign

There are many benefits to Invisalign, both for oral health and cosmetic purposes. Some of the benefits include:

• You will begin to have an improved smile in a short amount of time
• Each aligner is custom made to meet the specific needs of your mouth
• Smooth edged aligners offer greater comfort
• Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, so no one will know you are wearing them
• Aligner is removable, enabling you to eat whatever food you want

If you live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and want more information on Invisalign, please contact experienced Pittsburgh cosmetic dentist Dr. Babak Firouzi at the Center for Aesthetic Dentistry today to schedule a complimentary consultation appointment.