COSMETIC DENTISTRY OPTIONS
Today everyone wants a beautiful smile. When a person feels and looks good, they have a strong self image. People who feel good about themselves interact positively with family, friends and business contacts. A beautiful, confident smile plays a significant role in your self image.
Advances in modern dentistry make it easy to restore a life-like beauty to teeth that are stained, chipped, crooked, missing or separated by a wide space. The choices available to you will be largely governed by the present condition of your teeth. Procedures might include:
• Whitening. This is a means of lightening discolored or stained teeth without altering the shape of the teeth in any way. This may be done in the office or by means of take-home whitening kits.
• Veneers. Thin porcelain laminates can be bonded to the front teeth to close gaps or change the size, shape or color of your teeth. The skill of the dentist designing the smile as well as the technician fabricating the veneers is crucial in creating a beautiful smile.
• Bonding. Often used to fill spaces or to repair chips, gaps or tooth shape. The composite material is bonded to your tooth and then shaped and polished for optimal function and appearance.
• Fillings & Inlays. Composite material to match your tooth color may be used in place of silver/mercury amalgam and save more tooth structure than fillings.
• Onlays. Used to protect fractured or damaged teeth from further damage, porcelain onlays also match tooth color. They extend over the cusps of the teeth and save more tooth structure than crowns.
• Bridges or Implants. To fill a space where teeth are missing, a bridge – two or more crowns and an artificial tooth – may be used. A newer technology uses a titanium implant in the jawbone that supports the artificial tooth.
• Porcelain Crowns. After removing badly damaged or decayed material, a toothlike “cap” is cemented in place. Crowns can be matched to your tooth color. Pocelain crowns are in general more biocompatible than metal crowns.
• Full Mouth Reconstruction. Restoring all of the teeth is called a “full mouth reconstruction”. Usually elected when major changes to your bite are required, one of the benefits of this procedure is that it allows you and the dentist latitude in pre-selecting the size, shape and arrangement of your teeth. Some people also receive the benefit of a more comfortable bite and jaw position which can result in decrease of tension and discomfort in the TMJ system.
• Orthodontics. Various procedures, including Invisalign can be used to realign your teeth and change your bite to enhance your smile.
We treat patients one at a time so the patients don’t feel rushed or ignored. You can be assured that when you are under our care, we are fully focused on you, your dental care and your comfort.
Our office décor is modern yet soothing. The office smells pleasant with natural aromatherapy oil scents instead of the traditional unpleasant “dental office smell’. Our treatment rooms are equipped with relaxing music and state-of-the-art patient entertainment system, which includes DVD selections and Satellite TV options.
Our therapist from our on-site spa will further ease your mind by providing a relaxing hand treatment, massage or reflexology, compliments of Impression Dental Care.
If you are one of those patients that need more than the relaxation that our spa dentistry can deliver, there is always Nitrous.
Where Do I begin?
The first step is to discuss your concerns with your dentist. Simple problems or procedures are often quickly resolved. If not, the next step would be to schedule a full evaluation and diagnosis. If the result produces more than one option as to how you might proceed, you should discuss them in detail with the dentist or treatment planner.
Ask about the advantages or disadvantages of the possible options. Don’t be embarrassed to discuss costs. Most purely cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance, but your dental office welcomes discussion of cost and various payment options.
How Do You Rate Your Smile?
Yes No
___ ___ I would like to have a nicer smile.
___ ___ My teeth are stained or discolored.
___ ___ I have dark and unsightly fillings.
___ ___ My teeth are crowded and crooked.
___ ___ My gums are red, swollen, receding and/ or bleeding.
___ ___ I don’t like the spaces between my teeth.
___ ___ I have old unsightly crowns with black lines.
___ ___ My teeth are chipped and worn with rough edges.
___ ___ I cover my mouth when I smile.
___ ___ My teeth seem out of proportion.
How did you rate? Is your smile all you want it to be? We will be happy to answer your questions and show you how easy it is to create a beautiful new smile.
"Million Dollar Smile"