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Cosmetic Dentistry
Before you read this article, take a moment to rate your
smile with our quick and easy
questionnaire. Bring your results with you to your
next appointment.
Projecting a healthy image is important. While bright
eyes and an attractive hair style contribute to this
image, it is your smile that speaks volumes about you
and helps others establish first impressions.
 According
to speech communication experts, individuals form an
initial opinion of new acquaintances within the first
four minutes of conversation, this impromptu analysis
dictating the tone of the relationship. During these
crucial four minutes, little attention is paid to shoes,
slacks, or jackets. Rather, it is the face of the
speaker which is most critically scrutinized. A
dazzlingly white smile projects an air of confidence and
healthfulness, giving you many conversational benefits.
Modern dentistry has developed numerous techniques to
improve smiles. From whitening to a new look for
traditional restorations, cosmetic dentistry can give
you the smile of your dreams.
Brighten Your Smile
Have
you ever noticed that your favorite television and movie
personalities have pearly-white teeth? Improved
teeth-whitening methods of the past decade have proven
to be both simple and effective. In most situations,
yellowed, discolored and old-looking teeth can be
whitened in just a few hours at the dental office. Or,
if you prefer, several weeks of home whitening can give
similar results. When properly performed, modern
teeth-whitening procedures are quite safe and can be
repeated periodically to maintain a dazzling, white
smile.
A New Look for Traditional Restorations
 In
the past, when broken-down or missing teeth required
repair or replacement, visible metal crowns and bridges
were used. In an effort to create more realistic teeth,
dentists began fusing porcelain to the surfaces of metal
crowns and bridges. While these metal-based crowns and
bridges were very strong, they lacked the color and
warmth of natural teeth. Under certain lighting
conditions, these restorations looked artificial, often
displaying a gray, crescent-shaped shadow at the gum
line. Dentists now use yellow gold substructures or gold
coatings to give these new traditional metal-based
restorations the warmth and appearance of natural teeth.
Undetectable Fillings
Silver amalgam has been traditionally used to fill
cavities. It does not enhance the appearance of teeth,
but it does a good job restoring teeth. Over time,
silver amalgam may darken the appearance of the repaired
teeth. In most situations, modern dental materials are
strong enough to eliminate the need for any visible
metals. For example, metal-free fillings made from
all-ceramic or composite materials are more natural
looking and are often completely undetectable. And,
small composite fillings have an additional benefit in
that they can often be completed in a single
appointment.
Natural Looking Metal-free Solutions
Among
metal-free options, all-ceramic crowns and bridges are
often preferred, especially in the front teeth, because
they look so natural. All-ceramic materials are
translucent, and blend very naturally with adjacent
teeth. The translucency permits light to penetrate the
restoration and reflect from within the tooth structure,
eliminating the unnatural look of metal shadows at the
gum line.
Porcelain Veneers for a Beautiful Smile
 Similar
to putting a thin layer of decorative marble on the
front of a plain building, porcelain veneers are used to
repair broken down, chipped, stained or uneven front
teeth. Porcelain veneers can change an unattractive
smile into one that is absolutely beautiful. To allow
for the thickness of the porcelain veneer and bonding
material, about one millimeter of the tooth's surface is
removed. Resulting in a breathtaking cosmetic change,
porcelain veneers can produce a dramatic smile.
Putting it All Together
Our
general dentists can recommend the best course of action
for beautifying your smile. Make the smile of your
dreams a reality and call us today for a free in-office
consultation!
Disclaimer: Patient response to care may vary. We are
not guaranteeing your perceived response to our care. We
are general dentists that provide a wide range of
services, but have no specialty license in an
ADA-recognized specialty area.
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