The Most Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
So You Want a More Attractive Smile
By survey, the thing that people notice first about your smile. So it’s no wonder that all of us want to have an attractive healthy appearing smile. Not many people were blessed to be born with that perfect smile, so cosmetic dentistry gives the rest of us an opportunity to get the smile we desire and deserve. Cosmetic Dentistry is any dental procedure that improves the appearance of your smile, or uses restorative materials that are tooth colored. This could range from simple non-invasive procedures like teeth whitening to more invasive procedures that replace missing teeth with dental implants. While cosmetic dentistry was limited to a few experienced dentists 30 years ago, all dentists today are well versed in providing cosmetic dental procedures. This has really become standard practice in today’s dental offices.
Teeth Whitening
One of the most popular and easiest way to improve your smile is by whitening or bleaching your teeth. This is a noninvasive procedure. Over time teeth accumulate stains from coffee, tea, wine, chocolate, berries, tobacco or any strongly colored food or drink. At first the stains appear on the surface of your enamel which can be controlled by good brushing habits and regular professional cleaning appointments with your hygienist. However, eventually the stains penetrate the enamel and darken the teeth. Depending on your enamel and your dietary habits this may take only a few years to notice that your teeth aren’t as bright as they used to be. At this point the only way to whitening your teeth are by bleaching them.
Tooth Colored Fillings
Anytime you have a new cavity or need an old restoration replaced, you always have the option of having a direct placed composite tooth colored restoration. These materials have continued to improve and are now as durable and predictable as the old standards. Nobody wants to smile and show silver, or gold restorations, or worse, discolored old black looking fillings. There are many reasons to consider tooth-colored fillings, but one reason is because they blend and disappear in your mouth, leaving your smile looking all natural. We provide tooth-colored restorations for every situation.
Teeth Straightening
Many people are self-conscious of their crooked or crowded teeth when they smile. Not many people were blessed to be born with perfectly straight teeth and this is where orthodontics comes into play. Years ago, your only option to straighten your teeth was with braces and wires. While this may still be the best approach for a few smiles, today we can accomplish most smile correction with clear trays or aligners. These trays gently move teeth, and you change trays on average every two weeks until your smile is straight. This is a comfortable and more convenient way to straighten your smile. We have extensive experience with clear aligners, please ask us if this is the right solution for you.
Cosmetic Veneers
Television in the 1990’s had several shows about the extreme makeover, helping many people overhaul their appearances. An important part of that process was their smile. Dentists in the television shows relied on porcelain veneers to create straight white smiles in a short period of time. Veneers were first introduced in 1979 and their popularity has grown dramatically over the years. A veneer is just that, a thin veneer of porcelain that is bonded to the front of your teeth to improve the color and alignment. Veneers are usually made by dental laboratories from models of your teeth, so they are very precise and custom fit. It requires some experience working with these materials to make sure they are properly placed and the outcome is predictable. We’d be happy to discuss veneers with you, they may be your best option, or there may be better options to create the smile you desire.
Full Mouth Reconstruction and Implants
Replacement of missing teeth will certainly improve anybody’s smile. Nobody wants to have a huge gap in their smile. This is accomplished by dental implants, a minimally invasive and predictable new standard of care for people. If your smile has more difficult concerns, it may also require completely reconstructing your teeth, providing a beautiful smile and a functional bite, so you can look good, and chew comfortably. This is a more involved procedure and requires the right diagnosis, to have the best outcome. We will be happy to discuss your smile and examine your options with you.
Dentures
Some people’s teeth and smile are beyond reasonable repair and sometimes dentures are the best answer. We like to think of dentures as a last resort, but for the people who need them, they are a lifesaver. Dentures give us the opportunity to recreate your smile from scratch, so it is easier to provide you straight white and perfect looking teeth for a smile you can be confident about and feel your best. Dentures can also be supported with dental implants, which greatly improves their stability and chewing, and your confidence. If you think dentures might be your best option, we’d be happy to discuss this procedure with you.
Your Smile
We want you to have the smile you desire and deserve. Please ask us about your vision for your smile and let us help make that happen for you.