Cosmetic dentistry comprises correcting the imperfections in the appearance of the mouth. Anyone who is unhappy with his smile can have it fixed. While smiling, the upper teeth usually show and the lower teeth remain hidden. This is reversed while talking, when the upper teeth remain hidden and the lower teeth show. The color, alignment, spacing as well as regularity of the teeth are the characteristics that make up the overall appearance, and the good news is any and all of these can be repaired to give a stunning look to the mouth.
We offer a wide variety of cosmetic options. Some of these options are smile design, whitening, recontouring of the shape of the teeth, veneers, bonding, and all ceramic/porcelain crowns.
Whitening – Including Zoom!
This is the procedure of making teeth whiter, and hence more attractive. Our office uses several methods: Zoom!, passive tray whitening and professional strength white strips.
Zoom! is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. It is safe, effective and fast, very fast. In just about an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. The convenience of Zoom! in comparison to days of using strips or wearing trays makes it a perfect choice for the busy individual. The Zoom! Whitening procedure is simple. It begins with a short preparation to isolate your lips and gums. The clinician then applies the proprietary Zoom! whitening gel which is activated by a specially designed light. The typical improvement in tooth color is by at least six to ten shades, sometimes even more. A fluoride treatment completes the procedure. The results will amaze you. In most cases, teeth continue getting whiter the first few days after the procedure.
Trays with gel are recommended afterward for maximum whitening and maintenance. The tray method consists of having impressions from which laboratory fabricated custom vinyl trays are made. A carbamide peroxide gel is filled in the trays and the trays with gel are worn for about 3 hours, or overnight. The entire procedure takes 3-4 weeks of daily use. Three different strengths of gels may be used, however the higher the strength the greater the likelihood of reactions or tooth sensitivity. The tray method is commonly prescribed for badly stained teeth, such as tetracycline staining, and it may take several months of use to see significant color improvement. For maintenance of whitened teeth the trays should be used every several months.
The end results either with using trays at home or doing Zoom! is the same. The cost of the tray method is about half compared to Zoom!, and there is usually less post-treatment sensitivity.
Veneers
Veneers are a dental procedure in which a covering is placed over the visible area of the tooth. Veneers are usually done to only that part of the teeth that show while talking or smiling. The procedure can be either direct or indirect.
The direct technique commonly involves placing composite resin on the outside of the tooth using bonding. This method is often referred to as bonding.
The indirect technique usually involves two appointments because the veneers will be fabricated at a dental laboratory. At the first appointment the teeth are prepared, impressions are taken, and the teeth are given a temporary covering. In two to three weeks time, the veneers are back from the laboratory, the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. The laboratory fabricated veneers are usually made using porcelain or pressed ceramic, and are very esthetic.
The advantage of veneers over crowns is that much less tooth material is removed, and the procedure is generally less uncomfortable. Veneers are recommended for teeth that have large fillings or little tooth structure.
Clear Correct
Clear correct straightens your teeth without the unsightly look of wires and brackets on your teeth. Using a series of clear, removable custom made aligners, Clear Correct straightens your teeth with results you’ll notice sooner than you expect. The course of treatment consists of changing the aligners approximately every two weeks, moving your teeth into straighter position step by step, until you have a more beautiful smile. And unlike braces, these clear aligners can be removed while you eat and brush your teeth as usual.
