Cosmetic Dentistry

Teeth Whitening

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, most Americans associate healthy, white teeth with success in love and business.

Nothing freshens up your appearance like a bright, white smile. A beautiful smile is one of the first things you notice when you meet someone.

Many people realize that a whiter smile is a relatively easy way to look younger and more attractive.

Having a whiter, brighter, more dazzling smile has never been easier! In fact more and more people across the world are requesting whitening treatments as it has become the most popular smile enhancement treatment in the world.

Our Team Offers two options for Excellence in Whitening.

If you are looking for immediate improvement consider ZOOM Advanced Power or Opalescence Xtra Boost. In about an hour our team can whiten your teeth using the patented in-office laser whitening systems.

ZOOM!

Over time our teeth tend to become discolored or stained. Whether this is from smoking, coffee, or any other foods, a beautiful smile could be closer than you think. We offer a safe, inexpensive solution to an unsightly smile. Whitening your teeth is a very simple procedure that can be completed in relatively short period of time.

Procedure

Our office utilizes the Zoom! Chair side whitening procedure as seen on the television show Extreme Makeover. The procedure for Zoom! Whitening is quick and painless.

The first step is to isolate the teeth and protect the gums and lips. When this has been accomplished, the whitening gel is placed on the teeth. The gel is activated by a specially designed light that is directed at the teeth. The entire procedure takes just over an hour. The results are usually between 6 and 10 shades whiter.

If you would rather whiten over a week or two then a professional take home gel and tray system is a great choice, our team offers high powered whitening gel with customized trays that are easy to use.

A smile can light up anyone’s face and make him or her look confident and radiant.  People these days are obsessed with making their teeth whiter.  And while this is important, you should also be conscience of keeping your teeth clean and healthy.

Modify your intake of some foods and drinks (like coffee, tea) to keep stains off of your teeth. Make sure to brush two to three times a day and to floss, and you’ll be looking forward to showing off your smile.

Laminate Veneers

Dental Veneers are an excellent cosmetic remedy for a variety of dental conditions that affect the appearance of the front teeth.

Durable and color-stable, veneers are, in many cases, the perfect way to restore the natural function and beauty of your teeth, so you can smile with confidence!

If you are ready to instantly straighten crooked teeth, restore chipped or broken teeth and have a dazzling white smile then you are an excellent candidate for smile design! Smile design blends the art and science of creating your ideal smile with specialized, custom porcelain veneers. Smile Designs can be completed in as little as two visits and require little or no down time.

Before creating your customized Smile Design, our dentists meet with you to determine your smile goals. They involve you in every step of the process.

When crafting your ideal smile, they consider your face shape, coloring, bite, gum health, and many other factors that will keep your veneers looking brilliant, natural and healthy for years to come.

The Facts about Dental Veneers.

Veneers, usually fabricated from porcelain, are a thin, semi-translucent, “shell”, custom made to fit precisely over an existing tooth.

They are permanently bonded, held in place by a special resin that adheres the back of the veneer to the front of the tooth.

The finished result is extremely strong and durable. Though veneers are not suitable for every patient, they are a cosmetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions affecting the front teeth.

• Closing diastemas (spaces between the teeth) 
• Restoring broken or chipped teeth 
• Covering unsightly, stained or discolored teeth 
• Correcting uneven or crooked teeth 

Advantages and Benefits of Veneer

• Only a small amount of natural tooth structure (if any) is removed during the procedure.
• A healthy, natural look is achieved with little or no discomfort.
• Veneers are strong, durable and color stable.

How Are Veneers Different from Fillings or Crowns?

A composite resin filling is used when only a small amount of tooth structure needs replacing or repair. A full crown is indicated when a tooth has had root canal treatment or when a substantial amount of the entire tooth structure (enamel) has been lost. A porcelain veneer is indicated when a portion of the front surface of a tooth needs a “face lift.”

What Can You Expect from Your Veneers?

Veneers can last for years, depending on how well you take care of them. Because veneers are stronger than simple bonding, they are also more resistant to stains and chipping. However, it is important to maintain regular oral hygiene, to avoid bad habits such as biting nails or chewing ice and to visit us regularly for routine cleaning and exams. These precautions will help ensure that your veneers will last a long time and keep looking good as new.

A Final Word

The decision to enhance your smile with porcelain veneers is a personal one. Even a subtle change in your smile can make an exceptional difference in the way you look and feel and on your social outlook. There’s no question that a beautiful smile goes a long way toward improving your self confidence in both personal and professional circles.

Take a moment to evaluate the appearance of your teeth. If you’re not completely happy with what you see, ask us what options we can recommend for a more satisfying smile. We’ll be glad to show you how veneers or other restorative techniques fit into your total oral health program.

Bonding and Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth Colored Filling

Before	After

A bonding is a composite resin that is used as an alternative to amalgams and veneers.  This is an excellent cosmetic option for those patients who do not want the look of silver in their mouths and do not want the expense of veneers.  Bondings can be used on teeth that are decayed, cracked, or stained.

Procedure

The bonding procedure is usually completed in one visit.  The first step is to remove the decayed or unsightly portion of the tooth.  The tooth is then etched with a liquid or gel and a bonding agent is then applied.  This will allow the composite resin to be placed in the prepared tooth.  The resin is then trimmed and polished, leaving you with a beautifully sculpted, natural-looking restoration.

Bonding Durability

Although composite resins are cosmetically pleasing and easily placed, their durability is not as strong as other types of restorations.  These resins typically last from 4-7 years before they begin to chip and wear away.  When this happens, the restoration will need to be replaced.

Before	After

Tooth Reshaping and Contouring

Before	After

Is there a small defect in your smile that always draws your eye in the mirror?

A chip in a front tooth, some worn edges, or shallow pits or grooves in the tooth enamel are all minor issues, but they do stand in the way of having a perfect smile. the Tooth reshaping, also called dental contouring, is a cosmetic dentistry that removes small amounts of tooth enamel (the outer covering of the tooth) in order to change the shape, length, or surface of one or more teeth. Even a few millimeters of reduction in the right places can really improve the appearance of teeth.

Contouring creates better alignment and can create a more feminine or masculine smile shape. The process is often combined with bonding, a cosmetic dentistry treatment that uses tooth-colored composite material to sculpt and shape the teeth.

Ceramic Inlays – Onlays

An inlay is similar to a filling and lies inside the cusp tips of the tooth. They are custom-made to fit the prepared cavity and are then cemented into place. An onlay is a more extensive reconstruction that covers one or more cusps of a tooth. Onlays are indicated in situations where a substantial reconstruction is required. However, more of the tooth structure can be conserved compared to the placement of a crown.

To repair damage to the tooth’s biting surface, rather than using a simple filling, or a crown, a dentist will often use an inlay, or an onlay. Inlays and onlays can be made from porcelain, gold, or composite resin, although porcelain is now becoming the material of choice because of its strength and potential to match the natural color of your tooth.

Inlays and onlays are applied in two dental visits. At the first visit, your old filling, or decay, is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay / onlay. Our dental specialist will then make an impression of the tooth, and send this impression to our dental technician.  This impression will be used by our technician to construct, a porcelain inlay / onlay that will fit exactly into your tooth. At this time our dental specialist will place a temporary sealant on your tooth and schedule a second appointment.

At the second visit, your temporary sealant is removed. Our dentist will then ensure that the inlay / onlay fits properly in the tooth and does not interfere with your bite. Once correctly fit, the inlay / onlay is bonded into the tooth with a strong bonding resin, and polished smooth.

Inlays and onlays are more durable and last longer than traditional fillings.

Full Ceramic Crowns

Dental crowns are restorations that protect damaged, cracked or broken down teeth. A crown strengthens your existing, damaged tooth so as to preserve its functionality. Dental crowns are also commonly known as caps (because a crown sits over your existing tooth, covering the entire outer surface).

Why might I need crowns?

• If your tooth has undergone significant decay and there is not enough tooth structure remaining to support a filling or an inlay and maintain functionality.
• If a large portion of your tooth has fractured and it cannot be built up using traditional composite bonding techniques.
• If you have a large cavity and opt for the additional protection a crown offers to your tooth over a large composite filling or an inlay.
• If you have had a dental implant to replace a missing tooth, a crown will be fitted to the abutment of the titanium implant.
• Following root canal treatment, a crown is often needed to strengthen the tooth.
• If you grind your teeth and have a poor diet, acid erosion may reduce your teeth to a point where the only option available is to crown them.
• For cosmetic reasons, to improve the aesthetics of your smile, you may opt for all porcelain cosmetic crowns.

Are dental crowns always the best option?

Crowns should not be the first choice just to improve the aesthetics of your teeth, because a dentist needs to grind a significant portion of the original tooth away. Less invasive alternatives include veneers or dental bonding. Crowns are required when the strength of the tooth supporting the restoration is compromised, since veneers and dental bonding restorations are only as strong as the supporting tooth.

What materials are crowns made from?

In modern day dentistry, there is a wide variety of dental materials to choose from. Some crowns are made from full gold, where as others are made from an alloy of metals fused to a porcelain outer shell. After time, crowns that are made from a combination of metal fused to porcelain can begin to show dark gum lines that are not aesthetically attractive. All-porcelain or -ceramic crowns are the best choice for a natural cosmetic look. There are many different brands and types of porcelain crowns, and the variation between the costs of dental crowns at different dental practices may well reflect the quality of the materials used.

What does the procedure of having dental crowns fitted involve?

Once you have had a consultation with your dentist and discussed all the treatment options, he/she will prepare the tooth for crowning. The first stage is to clean the tooth, remove any decay and reshape it using a burr (a special dental drill for shaping teeth) under local anesthesia. The shape of the prepared tooth is usually tapered to allow the crown sit comfortably over the top of it. Once the tooth is prepared, an impression (mould) of your teeth will be taken using special “dental putty”. This impression is sent to a dental laboratory, which will use the impression of the prepared tooth as a guide to fabricate the new crown to fit perfectly. It usually takes between two to three weeks for a laboratory technician to custom-fabricate your new crown. During this time, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown to cover and protect your prepared tooth.

On your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and roughen In modern day dentistry; there is a wide variety of dental materials to choose from. Some crowns are made from full gold, where as others are made from an alloy of metals fused to a porcelain outer shell. After time, crowns that are made from a combination of metal fused to porcelain can begin to show dark gum lines that are not aesthetically attractive. All-porcelain or -ceramic crowns are the best choice for a natural cosmetic look. There are many different brands and types of porcelain crowns, and the variation between the costs of dental crowns at different dental practices may well reflect the quality of the materials used.

Once you have had a consultation with your dentist and discussed all the treatment options, he/she will prepare the tooth for crowning. The first stage is to clean the tooth, remove any decay and reshape it using a burr (a special dental drill for shaping teeth) under local anesthesia. The shape of the prepared tooth is usually tapered to allow the crown sit comfortably over the top of it. Once the tooth is prepared, an impression (mould) of your teeth will be taken using special “dental putty”. This impression is sent to a dental laboratory, which will use the impression of the prepared tooth as a guide to fabricate the new crown to fit perfectly. It usually takes between two to three weeks for a laboratory technician to custom-fabricate your new crown. During this time, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown to cover and protect your prepared tooth.

The outer surface of your prepared tooth will be applied with a special etching acid to give the dental cement a good surface to bond to. Your dentist will sit the crown over your tooth to see if it fits with your smile correctly and is the right color and shape. Once you are both happy with the restoration and how it looks, your dentist will cement the crown firmly into place.

How long do crowns last?

This will depend largely on how well you look after your teeth. Dental crowns require the same level of care and attention as your natural teeth. Provided you have a good oral hygiene program, attend regular checkups at your dentist, don’t grind your teeth, maintain a tooth-kind diet and don’t do things like open beer bottles with your teeth, a high-quality dental crown can last 10-15 years.

Smile Make-Over

Hollywood Smile, Celebrity Smile

Are you unhappy with your smile? Do you want to change your smile to improve the color, shape or length of your teeth? Or change the appearance of your gums or lips to give your overall smile a more appealing look?

A recent survey revealed that:

• Over 75% of people don’t feel confident to smile in a photograph.
• Over 45% of people make judgments about people by the look of their smile.
• Over 75% of people think that a beautiful smile helps people psychologically.
• Over 65% of people think that an attractive smile helps romantically.

A smile makeover involves one or more cosmetic, dental or facial rejuvenation procedures to improve the aesthetics of your smile. A smile makeover to one person could mean something completely different to another, and it is a very individual choice. For example, some people want the perfectly white Hollywood smile makeover, or the celebrity smile with pearly white porcelain veneers. Other people may just want a simple improvement, such as the replacement of amalgam fillings with composite and teeth whitening. Whatever the reasons for your dissatisfaction with your smile, there are many different ways in which you can improve your smile using modern cosmetic dentistry:

• Crooked teeth can be straightened with Invisalign braces or conventional orthodontics. They can also be covered with porcelain veneers for a faster solution, often referred to as “instant orthodontics”. In this situation, the main disadvantage is that your teeth need to be prepared for veneers.
• Chipped, broken teeth can be repaired – the treatment will depend on the extent of damage, but the options include cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.
• Missing teeth can be replaced – gaps between your teeth can cause functional problems as well as being unsightly. Often, a smile makeover involves the replacement of existing restorations or gaps between teeth. Solutions include dental implants, a dental bridge or a denture.
• Gaps between your teeth can be closed to give your smile a more even look. This can be achieved instantly with porcelain. Orthodontics can also be used to move the teeth and close the gaps between them. Invisalign invisible braces, the Inman aligner, Damon braces, lingual braces and fixed orthodontics are just a few options for moving your teeth to close gaps.
• If you have a gummy smile, this can easily be remedied by surgical or laser gum contouring.
• If you are not satisfied with the color of your teeth, or if you have badly stained teeth, they can be treated with prophylaxis cleaning or professional teeth whitening.

The end result of a smile makeover for many people is a smile to be proud of, one that is straight, white and perfectly aligned.

Dental Jewelry

What is a dental jewel?

Dental jewel is a special decoration, for example diamond or another stone, which can be attached to your teeth.

Make your smile bright and sparkling with jewels.

The jewel has no side effect and it doesn’t damage the teeth tissue and the procedure for fixing a jewel in your teeth is also painless.