“Cosmetic Dentistry” refers to a wide range of dental procedures which, instead of just improving or repairing the structure and function of a tooth, it improves the appearance of your tooth, or your whole smile. It can be as simple as dental fillings that are not gold or silver colored, but rather made of materials that are the same color as your teeth. New methods use porcelain or composite materials to fill a cavity and are bonded to the tooth with resin adhesives. In addition to looking natural, the newer materials do not contain mercury which some people may be sensitive to as a permanent addition to their teeth.
Porcelain Veneers:
Porcelain and composite fillings match the color of your teeth while repairing the structure and ensuring continued healthy function. Porcelain veneers are custom-made squares applied to the surface of the teeth to whiten discolored teeth, fill uneven gaps between teeth, repair broken edges and chips, and even out a mildly crooked smile without braces.
The procedure involves removing a thin layer of enamel (the outer layer of the tooth) and taking molds of all the teeth involved. Temporary veneers are placed on the teeth to protect them while a lab creates permanent veneers to match the molds, in the correct color. It usually takes about two weeks to get the permanent porcelain veneers. At your final appointment, we bond the veneers to the front of your teeth, which takes one to two hours depending on how many teeth are involved. A special light-sensitive resin is applied to the tooth, the veneers are placed on, and then we use a special light to harden the resin and allow the veneers to set.
After you have veneers placed, you should avoid some foods or beverages that can stain them such as coffee, tea or red wine. Veneers are thin layers on top of each treated tooth, and they can last years.
Usually we recommend veneers for the top six teeth – but it all depends on your smile. We can give you a quote for the cost and the time involved, just call and make an appointment and we will answer all your questions.
Dr Brent Adams