Philly Dentistry

A bright, white smile can increase your overall mood and morale.  Here at the Dr. Cirka‘s Philadelphia office, we offer two types of whitening to benefit varying schedules and budgets to help all of our patients achieve the breathtaking smile they’ve been wanting.

At-Home Tray Bleaching is the perfect option for the patient on a budget, or the patient who would rather spend the money elsewhere.  We quickly make and deliver your  custom trays to you and provide detailed instruction on what you can do to get your teeth as white as possible.  We advise you of what stains your teeth and give advice on foods and drinks to stay away from while whitening.  As we are with all procedures, we are available to answer your questions and our knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you have while whitening.

Zoom! 1-hour In-Office Whitening is a fast and effective form of whitening that allows the on-the-go patient the chance to reap the benefits of 2 WEEKS of at-home whitening in just about an hour.  Using the latest technology, we can provide you with a convenient appointment time to increase the brightness of your smile more than you could imagine in such a short amount of time.  We use techniques to decrease sensitivity and we value your appointed time and assure you will be in and out of the office quickly.  We also send you home with custom trays, should you want to touch-up your smile down the road, as various foods and drinks can dull the shade of the teeth over time.

Call us today and schedule a consultation to see what type of whitening is best for you, or schedule your custom whitening tray impressions or in-office Zoom! appointment today.  We are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and we can’t wait to hear from you!  Email us at info@phillydentistry.com or call us at (215) 568-6222.

-Dr. Cirka

As a cosmetic dentist in Philadelphia, I am often asked by patients about the different types of veneers and why I frequently choose to use Lumineers (a type of thin veneer).  Patients also inform me that they have heard horror stories about veneers looking too big, too thick, too opaque, or breaking or falling off the teeth.  There are many types of veneers and each has its own purpose.  I advise patients that there are a lot of variables that the dentist must weigh in order to choose the right type of veneers for each patient.  It is not that veneers are prone to look bad, break, or detach; it is often that the incorrect veneer was chosen for that situation.  When possible, I prefer to treat patients with LUMINEERS, because they are thin, so they require less removal of natural tooth structure yet they are as strong and effective as traditional veneers.

Questions during the initial consultation with the patient should minimally include the following:

Is there another alternative to veneers (can the patient whiten their teeth and do bonding/patching or would moving the teeth be a better option)
Does the patient have wear on their teeth which indicates they may be grinding their teeth
Are the teeth very dark in shade
Are the teeth very sensitive
Do the lower teeth hit against the front upper teeth excessively
Does the patient have gum disease/infection/cavities or have they been prone to these in the past
Does the patient have unreal expectations (in which case veneers should not be placed)
How full is the upper lip
Are there wrinkles around the mouth
Are the teeth already too prominent
Do the upper and lower teeth touch when the mouth is closed
Are there any existing restorations on the teeth

The dentist must take into consideration the following BEFORE deciding if veneers are appropriate and what type to use.  It is important to plan ahead, since the type of veneer will dictate the type of preparation.  A dentist must figure out how they will reshape the tooth, including the depth (deeper for darker or more crowded teeth), the shape (if rounded teeth are desired with naturally-occurring square teeth, the corners must be rounded), how the margin (edge of veneer) is planned (feather edge or definite edge), and whether or not the edge of the tooth will be wrapped (will shell of the veneer go over the edge and cover the inside of the tooth).

To schedule a free consultation to discuss this with me in person, please call (215) 568-6222.  I look forward to meeting you!

-Dr. Cirka

You have probably heard about or seen porcelain veneers before, but do you know all of the benefits they offer and problems they can fix?  Here’s the low-down on the quickest way to achieve your dream smile.

Veneers are thin layers of material attached to the front of the teeth to:

• Close gaps
• Lengthen short teeth
• Widen narrow teeth (often side teeth dentists call “peg laterals”)
• Whiten discolored or yellow teeth
• Straighten crowded teeth
• Repair chips or cracks that are extensive
• Cover a front tooth that had root canal treatment
• Cover teeth whereby the enamel did not develop properly (e.g. childhood illness that altered the formation of that layer of the tooth)
• Cover teeth whereby the enamel did not form properly, due to a genetic mutation or inherited change in the tooth formation
• Cover teeth due to bulimia or other eating disorders
• Cover teeth damaged by acids from foods, fruits, and drinks (commonly drinking lemon water or sucking on lemons)
• Cover teeth due to habits such as chewing on pens, pencils, and pins (seamstresses), and opening packages (such as potato chip bags) with the teeth

Veneers are also called by other names, such as porcelain veneers, porcelain laminate veneers, laminates, laminate veneers, and brand names like Lumineers or DaVinci Veneers.  As technology evolves, new names for veneers are occurring frequently.

We provide the highest quality of materials and care to our patients and see the best results around.  If you want to learn more about veneers, please call and schedule a free consultation.  You can reach us at (215) 568-6222.  I look forward to hearing from you!

-Dr. Cirka