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General Dental Information and Education Page
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Cosmetic Dentistry Cosmetic dentistry is usually treatment of healthy teeth to correct or enhance their appearance. Teeth Whitening, Veneers and Bonding are the most common cosmetic dental procedures. Whitening is used when the teeth have satisfactory shape and position, and all that is desired is a whiter smile. Veneers and Bonding are used when the teeth are badly stained or when spacing and/or shape needs enhancing. Teeth Whitening
Whitening or Bleaching the teeth to achieve a whiter smile is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure performed today. Over the years, you've experienced a natural buildup of organic pigments on your teeth. Colorized proteins from coffees, teas, and other foods have darkened the natural whiteness of your teeth. The use of tobacco, antibiotics, and certain minerals usually speeds the darkening process. Whitening is gentle and safe when supervised by your dentist. In fact, dentist-supervised whitening has been done for nearly a century, but has increased in popularity in recent years as yellowed teeth are becoming less and less acceptable, both socially and professionally. There are many different kinds of whitening, the two most common are bleaching trays and in office bleaching. The first step regardless of which method chosen, is for the dentist to check your teeth and gums to make sure that you are a good candidate for this procedure and begin treatment in good dental health. With bleaching trays you will see results usually within two-three days of starting the whitening process. The complete process normally takes 2 weeks, but treatment times will vary depending on the sources, type and depth of discoloration. The dentist will take an impression of your teeth in order to provide you with a custom-fit plastic tray designed to hold the bleaching gel next to your teeth. Some patients might feel an increased sensitivity to cold foods during the whitening process, but this sensitivity ends a two-three days after treatment is completed. With in office bleaching you will see results immediately and the process is completed in one appointment. The dentist applies a gel to your teeth that is then light activated. This process is repeated as needed to get the desired shading. No follow-up visits are necessary. In our office we use for in office whitening, which we have found provides the most satisfactory results according to our patients and is the choice of stars like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Calista Flockhart, Lisa Kudrow, Regis Philbin and Noah Wyle to name a few. For whitening trays, home whitening, we use Discus Dentals
The result can be dramatic, as you can see.
Graphic showing differences between in office and tray bleaching systems.
The whitening process will not affect your enamel, tooth structure, bonding or restorations. Whitening acts only on the molecules that carry the discoloration. Non-smokers who don't drink coffee or tea often see little or no change over 5 years. But your own long-term results will depend on your habits and the specific foods you eat. Based on those variables, some patients may require a "touch up" treatment at regular intervals. What is the difference between dentist-supervised and the over-the-counter bleaching trays treatments? There are many differences, starting with the fact that your teeth and your own dental situation are absolutely unique. Which is why the safety of your treatment requires a dentist's evaluation and supervision. You'll also find that custom trays designed by a dentist will fit better and will expel far less bleaching gel than the unsupervised, over-the-counter, one-size-fits-all treatment alternatives. If you want to obtain a more confident smile by improving the whiteness of your teeth, talk to us. Our office is well experienced in tooth whitening treatments, and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have Veneers and Bonding "Bonding" is simply a method of "micromechanical" retention of a restorative material to the tooth. "cosmetic bonding" is the bonding of restorative materials to the tooth to enhance esthetics. Bonding is used to whiten, straighten, lengthen, reshape or restore teeth using either chairside or custom-fabricated materials. . Chairside veneering is a process of bonding a quartz filled resin to the tooth, and improves as materials and techniques improve. Porcelain veneering is bonding of a lab-fabricated porcelain veneer to the tooth. It is generally more durable and stain-resistant, although a small amount of the tooth is usually removed along the front of the tooth to allow room for the thin layer of porcelain.
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