Now that the masks are coming off, you might be looking at your smile and wondering how you can improve its appearance. This week’s blog will feature several of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments that we provide for our patients and the specific way in which they improve the smile.
1. Teeth Whitening
The fastest and most conservative way to improve your smile is through teeth whitening. It is conservative because it does not remove any tooth structure or change the shape of the teeth. With professional teeth whitening, you can experience a lightening of three to four shades in just an hour! We offer several different types of teeth whitening in order to meet all of our patients’ needs.
- Go! Teeth Whitening – With Go! whitening trays, you can begin whitening your teeth with professional strength whitening ingredients immediately. The Go! name comes from its availability to grab and go with your whitening. These generic-fit trays carry powerful whitening gel and simply apply it to the teeth. You do not need to make an appointment for Go! whitening.
- Take-Home Professional Whitening – With custom-made whitening carrier trays, you can customize your teeth whitening. The intimate fit of the trays to your teeth is essential for great results. This type of teeth whitening requires two visits with the dentist: one to obtain a model of your teeth, and the second to deliver the trays and professional gel with instructions for use. The trays will last for many years, and refill kits of the whitening gel are available for purchase as needed for maintenance. We offer several different concentrations of the whitening gel to meet a variety of needs.
- In-Office Professional Whitening – With BOOST in-office teeth whitening, you can achieve the fastest whitening results. Basically, we do the work for you in the dental chair. In-office whitening is a great treatment option for those who need white teeth in a hurry. In a one-hour dental visit, we apply a high strength whitening gel to the teeth for a powerful effect.
2. Clear Correct
Clear Correct is an almost invisible method of teeth straightening using clear aligners that fit over the teeth. With Clear Correct, we can perform full orthodontic treatment to reposition the teeth into proper alignment. Patients can correct smile problems like crooked teeth or small gaps by using these aligners. We say that “patients can correct” them because Clear Correct requires great patient involvement. Unlike traditional orthodontic treatment with brackets and wires, the patient can remove the clear aligners. Clear Correct patients must remain dedicated to achieve the best results.
Typical orthodontic treatment with Clear Correct for an adult will last around a year to a year and a half. The length of treatment depends on the amount of movement we must accomplish to put the teeth in the best position.
3. Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are a way of covering the natural teeth to recreate a smile. With porcelain veneers, we can change the size, shape, and color of the teeth to help you meet your smile goals. Veneers require some pre-operative planning for Dr. Jill, Dr. Cara, and Dr. Summer to achieve the best results and meet your unique goals. After planning the treatment, you will have two visits with your dentist. During the first, the dentist reshapes the teeth to make room for the porcelain and applies a temporary covering over the teeth. At the second visit, she removes the temporary covering and cements the final porcelain restorations.
4. Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is a more conservative treatment option for changing the shape and/or size of the teeth. With composite bonding, we apply perfectly-matched tooth-colored material to the teeth without removing a significant amount of tooth structure. Composite bonding makes minor changes to the teeth, so it is not appropriate for every situation. Your dentist can show you how composite restorations can improve the smile. If you desire more extensive changes, you may choose to opt for porcelain veneers instead.
5. Gum Recontouring
The teeth aren’t the only important features in a smile. The shape of the gums can affect the way your smile looks. By changing the shape of the gums, we can make the teeth appear larger and/or straighter. Sometimes gum recontouring involves minor adjustments to the edges of the gum tissues in order to create symmetry. In other cases, we need to remove a significant amount of excessive gum tissue to expose the full shape of the front teeth.
We are proud to offer gum recontouring with a dental laser, which leads to less post-operative discomfort for the patient and faster healing!
More Questions about Improving Your Smile?
Call Prosper Family Dentistry at 972-347-1145 to schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Jill, Dr. Cara and Dr. Summer. They can answer any questions you have about the available treatment options to improve your smile and help you decide which one is best for you!
Prosper Family Dentistry Blog 