Cosmetic Dental Care

Teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic dental procedure that is relatively inexpensive and incredibly safe. With teeth whitening, you can choose either to whiten just your upper teeth or both the top and bottom rows. Just one whitening treatment can make such a difference in your smile and appearance.

Teeth whitening is especially effective for patients who have a yellowish hue; however, brownish hued teeth aren’t as likely to bleach well, and grayish hued teeth are the least likely to bleach well.

Also, keep in mind that if you’ve had either tooth-colored fillings or bonding put on your front teeth, the whitener will not change the color of the fillings or bonding, which means these materials will become more obvious after you have your teeth whitened. If this could happen, you might want to consider getting veneers or dental bonding, which looks more natural.

Dental bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin (plastic) to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured, discolored tooth, to make teeth appear longer, or to change the shape or color of teeth. After the resin is molded and smoothed into its proper shape, the material is hardened with ultraviolet light. After the material hardens, your doctor further trims and shapes it, and polishes the material until it matches the sheen and color of your other teeth.

Porcelain crowns are restorations, but they can be used for cosmetic enhancement too. If you have a tooth that’s bothering you because it looks abnormal, a porcelain crown can reshape it. And if you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, porcelain crowns will effectively hide the discoloration and give you a beautiful white smile.

Crowns are also a great solution for attaching bridges and restoring fractured teeth to their original shapes and sizes. You’ll most likely need a crown if a tooth breaks down and a filling won’t be enough to fix it. If your tooth cracks, a crown will seal the crevices and hold the tooth together so the damage doesn’t worsen. If you have a tooth that’s not strong enough to support a large filling, a crown can correct that too.

A veneer is a tooth-colored shell that covers the front side of your tooth. You might be interested in veneers if you have chipped, stained, crooked or decayed teeth. During your visit, Dr. Tinkle or Dr. Yoon will make a model of your teeth and then craft veneers that fit your teeth perfectly. A small amount of enamel has to be removed from your tooth before a veneer can be added. Once a veneer is on, you will get years of enjoyment with your new smile.