Modern cosmetic dentistry can completely transform a person’s individual teeth and overall smile. If you’re displeased with your smile because of chips, cracks, discoloration, odd spacing, overlapped teeth, or teeth that appear too large or small, a great cosmetic dentist can deliver the smile you want–the smile you’ll feel proud to share. In addition to strictly cosmetic treatments, natural-looking restorations and prosthetics may be part of your cosmetic treatment plan.
Within cosmetic dentistry are various procedures that we can administer independently or in combination to achieve desired results. In today’s blog, you’ll learn:
- The most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures and treatments
- What those procedures and treatments achieve
- Which procedures and treatments are often combined
- What a full smile makeover involves
Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments and Procedures
It’s important for you to understand that cosmetic dentistry should be performed after good oral health is achieved. An imbalanced bite, teeth grinding, or TMJ order, for instance, can cause natural teeth and dental work to prematurely wear, and to chip, crack, or break. By applying cosmetic dentistry to a completely healthy mouth, we build on a solid and sure foundation. This treatment philosophy is best for the patient’s health, as well as the longevity of cosmetic dental work.
Now, here are some of the most popular cosmetic treatments and procedures we offer:
Teeth Whitening
Without a doubt, teeth whitening is the single most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment across the globe. A brighter smile makes a person feel more confident and attractive, and he appears younger, healthier, and more intelligent.
Teeth whitening is affordable, fast, easy, and it yields fantastic results. Some whitening treatments boast of lightening tooth enamel by up to 10 shades. With a professional home whitening kit, you can lighten your teeth as often as you like, to whatever degree you prefer.
Porcelain Veneers
For patients who need brighter, straighter, shapelier teeth, porcelain veneers are the prime choice. Made of thin, layered, durable porcelain, veneers reflect light like tooth enamel, so they look natural. One veneer is hand-crafted for each tooth in the smile zone (teeth that show when you smile), for the upper, lower, or both arches. With proper care and good oral health, veneers can last up to 20 years.
Bonding and Contouring
Our dentist uses cosmetic bonding to add structure to chipped, widely spaced, or oddly shaped teeth. For bonding, we mix composite resin with coloring to blend the perfect shade so that the material matches the tooth on which it’s applied. Then the dentist sculpts the resin to the ideal shape.
Contouring removes tooth enamel to make sharp, jagged, or uneven teeth appear more smooth and balanced. A small chip, for instance, may be smoothed out with contouring instead of needing a more invasive restoration, like a veneer, or a crown.
Orthodontics/Invisalign
Porcelain veneers and bonding can often correct the appearance of misaligned front teeth to create a more appealing smile. However, when a patient’s bite (occlusion) is not balanced, or when teeth are significantly crowded, traditional orthodontics or Invisalign clear aligners may be recommended.
Combining Cosmetic Treatments and Procedures
In short, all cosmetic dentistry treatments and procedures can be performed in virtually any combination. A custom cosmetic treatment plan depends upon:
- the patient’s desires
- the patients’ current oral and overall health
- the patient’s budget
We work with our patients to make cosmetic dentistry, and all dental care, as affordable as possible. We accept credit cards as well as CareCredit, a reputable lender that offers qualified patients low- and no-interest loans with convenient monthly installment plans.
Here are some popular cosmetic treatment combinations:
Whitening +
Teeth whitening is commonly combined with other cosmetic procedures because patients want to achieve their brightest smile before permanent restorations, like veneers and bonding, are placed. Note that restorations won’t lighten with chemical whitening, and over time they will stain. However, natural tooth enamel can undergo professional teeth whitening, again and again, to erase stains so that enamel blends with restorations.
Teeth whitening is often recommended in conjunction with:
- Bonding and contouring
- Porcelain veneers
- White fillings and crowns
- Orthodontics/Invisalign
- Bridges, Partials
Restorations +
Tooth-colored dental restorations and prosthetics (fillings, crowns, bridges, partials, implants) make a smile complete, healthy, and attractive. Often times, we provide adjunct treatments for a more comprehensive esthetic result. We may recommend any of these, in combination with tooth-colored restorations:
- Teeth whitening
- Bonding and contouring
- Orthodontics/Invisalign
The Full Smile Makeover
Patients who want to completely transform their smile may opt for a full smile makeover. In some cases, teeth whitening + upper and lower porcelain veneers achieve desired results. Other cases require tooth-colored restorations, orthodontics/Invisalign, bonding, contouring, gum reshaping, and even prosthetics.
Call Today for Your Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation
Want to learn more about cosmetic dentistry? Call us today! Our experienced dental team offers complete cosmetic, restorative, prosthetic, and preventive dental care. We’d like to partner with you to ensure your excellent oral health, beautiful smile, and high quality of life for years to come.