Do you want to take your smile from average to dazzling?
Many people desire a brighter, cleaner, more attractive smile, but have
chipped, stained, discolored, unevenly spaced, or even crooked front teeth.
If this sounds like you, we will be glad to help evaluate your specific
situation, listen to the exact changes you have in mind, and show you examples
of the end result, before any treatment is performed.
Often, porcelain veneers can provide a completely improved and dazzling
smile in just a few appointments.
The actual treatment usually involves only two visits. The number of pre-operative
visits, to work out details to insure predictable results, depends on the
complexity of your situation and the changes you desire. There usually
is a follow up visit or two for final adjustments and polishing, and to
review instructions for care of your new smile to insure it lasts years
and years.
What do you think of your smile?
Many people are dissatisfied with their smile but have difficulty pinpointing
the problem areas. Here are some simple questions to help you identify
the details you'd like to improve.
Look directly into the mirror and smile normally. Also ask yourself this:
- Do you have crooked teeth?
- Do you have any noticeable spaces between your teeth?
- Are you missing any of your teeth?
- Are your teeth discolored?
- Do your front teeth have fillings that have discolored?
- Does your smile seem narrow or stop at just the front six teeth?
- Do the teeth look short or worn flat?
- Are silver-mercury fillings causing your back teeth to look gray or
black?
- Do you feel like you show too much gum when you smile?
- Are your gums
red and puffy or a healthy pink?
- Does your smile match the rest of your image?
- Are you self-conscious about your smile?
- What do other people notice about your smile?
- After going through the questions above, what would you change about
your smile if you could?
- Do you find yourself not smiling in photos or
covering your teeth with your hand or lip?
If you would like to see what your best smile could look like please contact
us for a consultation. We can use digital photography and computer-generated
images to help you visualize your smile makeover. We also have additional
before and after photos in our office and will show you real-life results
that may be similar to the changes you seek.
Self-conscious about cracked, broken, decayed or worn teeth?
If you're self-conscious about your smile due to cracked, broken, decayed
or worn teeth, we can bring back your healthy, natural-looking smile with
crowns. A filling can restore a small defect in a tooth, but a crown is
the most durable, strongest way to restore a tooth with extensive damage,
front or back for the long term. With all the materials and techniques
modern dentistry has to offer, crowns can be totally natural looking.
Additional benefits of crowns are correcting bite problems, closing spaces
between teeth, changing the angulations of teeth, and they can be used
to replace missing teeth permanently, as part of a bridge, or over an implant.
Do you have an old-looking smile that has old discolored fillings?
If you're embarrassed about your smile because of decayed, disfigured
or discolored teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins.
A composite resin is mixture of microscopic ceramic and glass particles
dispersed in a plastic resin that can be bonded to teeth. The material
comes in a wide range of shades and can be molded and sculpted to create
almost any shape or contour. The fact that the resin is bonded means a
seal is formed to reduce the change of leakage, which is common with silver
fillings.
Composite resins offer a non-invasive way to improve your smile, if you
have any concerns about the appearance of your teeth, give us a call for
an evaluation to see if bonding with composite resin will give you the
smile you’ve always wanted, and the enhanced self-confidence that
goes along with it.
What is the difference between onlays and inlays?
Onlays: Onlays are used for large restorations. They restore the area
inside the cusp and extend over one or more sides of the tooth. Because
of their size they are usually made of porcelain.
Inlays: These are used to restore the area of tooth inside the cusps. Inlays
are a conservative tooth restoration which means they require far less
drilling and preparation of the tooth than a metal filling. Inlays are
usually made of porcelain or composite resin, making them “invisible” in
your smile.
Onlays and inlays are created in a dental laboratory from an impression
of your teeth. Any shrinkage of the device occurs in the lab and is accounted
for when cemented. Large fillings can shrink and be at greater risk for
breakdown and tooth sensitivity. The final result will fit perfectly with
surrounding teeth and can be as strong as a natural tooth.
Why do teeth look discolored?
Your teeth may become discolored for a variety of reasons. Chemicals in
tobacco, coffee, tea, and red wine can change the color of your teeth when
you enjoy these products regularly. Certain medications (such as tetracycline),
excessive fluoride, and previous dental work may also cause unsightly stains
on your tooth enamel. Even aging can make your teeth more discolored as
you grow older.
Genetics can also determine the color of your teeth. While we think of
tooth enamel as white, the natural, unstained shade of your teeth can range
from pearly white to bluish gray to pale yellow. Even if you brush and
floss daily, you may have genetically inherited healthy teeth that do not
naturally look white.
What are my whitening options?
Of course, you don’t have to live with discolored teeth. When you
explain your desire to have whiter teeth to your dentist, they will examine
your mouth and recommend ways to whiten and brighten your teeth.
In Office Whitening
In office whitening is one of the safest and quickest ways to safely whiten
your teeth. During this process, your dentist will place a protective rubber
dam around your gums and apply a solution of 15 to 35 percent carbamide
peroxide, a chemical found in most bleaching products, to your teeth. Depending
on the whitening method, your dentist may also use a laser or special lamp
to speed up the bleaching process. In office whitening can give you dazzlingly
white teeth in under an hour
