Many of us dream of having more attractive smiles and cosmetic dentistry interventions can put that goal within reach. Whether you want to correct a congenital defect or restore the appearance of a tooth that has been damaged by injury or deteriorated due to wear and tear, cosmetic dentistry can help. Our office provides a variety of procedures, ranging from teeth whitening to veneers to crowns. These treatments will allow you to flash your smile as confidently as possible. We can also give you a plan for maintaining those results for as long as possible in order to maximize your investment.
Common Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
The most frequent complaints we hear from patients about their smile’s appearance are discoloration and unsightly damage to the teeth. These issues often can be corrected by routine cosmetic dentistry interventions, such as the following:
Teeth Whitening (Zoom!)
Teeth whitening treatments apply a bleaching gel that releases stains from the surface of the teeth. Patients can undergo teeth whitening at home, wearing custom-designed trays filled with bleaching gels for indicated periods of time. However, this process takes a few days to begin to achieve results. Patients who want whiter teeth with a quicker turnaround can take advantage of our in-office Zoom! teeth whitening, in which the gel is activated using a special light and treatment is complete in about an hour.
Veneers
Veneers are the all-in-one tool of the cosmetic dentistry world. They can address a number of aesthetic flaws, including teeth that are chipped, undersized or misshapen. Veneers can also create the illusion of correct alignment in slightly crooked teeth or conceal deep stains that aren’t eliminated by teeth whitening. A dentist may also place veneers to fill in a space between teeth.
Ceramic Crowns
These are ideal restorations for teeth that have suffered fairly substantial damage that cannot be corrected with smaller restorations. Ceramic crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are placed on top of biological teeth to restore their shape and function after a large amount of damaged tooth material has been removed.
Snap-On Smile
This innovative treatment gives patients a perfectly straight “smile” in just two appointments. Your dentist will design a prosthetic arch of teeth that slides on top of your biological teeth. It’s an affordable, convenient way to enhance your smile!
What To Expect From Cosmetic Dentistry
The different cosmetic dentistry interventions have different treatment timelines, so it can be helpful to know what to expect when beginning the process. As noted above, teeth whitening treatment can be administered in as little as an hour or so. The other cosmetic dentistry treatments require two appointments.
During the first appointment, the dentist gathers the information needed for the design of the restoration or appliance by examining the teeth and taking photos and dental impressions. If needed, the tooth (or teeth) may be prepped by removing a thin layer of enamel to make room for the veneer or crown. The relevant data is then forwarded to the dental lab that creates the prosthetic, and the patient returns to the office to have the veneer, crown or Snap-On Smile placed when it is ready.
Maintaining Your Results
After investing your time, energy and dollars in cosmetic dentistry treatments, you want to do everything possible to extend your results. Your dentist will work with you to develop a plan to do so. For example, you may want to steer clear of things that can stain your teeth – like smoking or drinking red wine or coffee – if you want your teeth whitening results to last longer before getting a touch-up treatment. Generally speaking, good oral hygiene practices will be beneficial in protecting any cosmetic dentistry treatment that you may receive.