Cosmetic Dentistry
Establishing Your Smile Goals
It’s a predicament we run into frequently: a patient comes in, dissatisfied with the overall appearance of his or her smile, but has a difficult time articulating exactly what’s wrong. To help our patients figure out exactly which elements of their smiles need changing, we recommend scheduling a cosmetic consultation.
A cosmetic dental treatment plan can be easily customized to fit your unique smile goals as well as your lifestyle demands and budgetary needs. Since dental insurance generally will not cover cosmetic dentistry services, we work with CareCredit to help you pay for treatment. In many cases, our front office staff can devise a phased treatment plan, which allows you to undergo each step of your overall plan gradually. This way, your budget can keep up with your lovely new smile.
Our Cosmetic Services
Teeth Whitening
Bonding & Contouring
Porcelain Veneers
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth. The most popular method is using a home teeth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically. Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate the replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.
Teeth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up may be needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, or drink coffee, tea, or wine.
What does teeth whitening involve?
Teeth whitening usually requires two visits. At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear, plastic, trays. At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary. The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes, or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during this time, but it should subside.
Bonding
Bonding is a cosmetic procedure that allows the dentist to reshape or repair your smile using composite resin. Cosmetic bonding is particularly ideal if you’re insecure about the appearance of your smile or want an affordable alternative to invasive and more costly procedures such as orthodontics or veneers. With bonding, chipped or uneven teeth can be repaired easily and affordably, restoring your self-confidence. Additionally, bonding is often completed in a single visit and doesn’t require any anesthetic!
As with most cosmetic procedures, bonding will wear and discolor over time, eventually needing to be replaced; however, bonding is very durable and typically lasts many years.
Reasons for cosmetic bonding may include closing spaces or gaps, fixing chipped or decayed teeth, restoring discoloration, or lengthening uneven teeth.
What does dental bonding involve?
To begin, the dentist will isolate the teeth included in the procedure, etching them in preparation for bonding. After applying the etching conditioning liquid, the surface of the teeth will have small crevices that allow the tooth stronger adhesion with the bonding agent. The dentist will then apply a bonding resin which cements the composite in place. After several layers of tooth-colored composite are applied, the composite and bonding resin are shaped and hardened with a specially calibrated light. Once the composite is fully set, the bonded areas are smoothed, buffed, and polished to blend in naturally with the surrounding teeth.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are very thin pieces of durable, tooth-shaped porcelain that are custom-made (for shape and color) by a professional dental laboratory. They are bonded onto the front of the teeth to create a beautiful and attractive smile. As with most dental restorations, veneers are not permanent and may someday need replacement. They are very durable and will last many years, giving you a beautiful long lasting smile.
Some get veneers to create a uniform, beautiful smile, while others choose them to fix crooked, misshapen, stained, or chipped teeth.
What does getting porcelain veneers involve?
Getting veneers usually requires two visits to complete the process, with little or no anesthesia required during the procedure. The teeth are prepared by lightly buffing and shaping the surface to allow for the thickness of the veneer. A mold or impression of the teeth is taken and a shade (color) will then be chosen by you and the dentist. On the second visit the teeth will be cleansed with special liquids to achieve a durable bond. Bonding cement is then placed between the tooth and veneer and a special light beam is used to harden and set the bond.
