Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells placed over stained, misshaped, damaged, or unattractive teeth. They can also close gaps between teeth and magically improve your smile. The thin layer of porcelain appears very natural due to the translucency of porcelain. They are stain resistant, not susceptible to decay, and long lasting.

Veneers can be made from either porcelain or resin, with porcelain the more natural looking of the two. Typically porcelain veneers require that you have two appointments. Resin veneers can sometimes be placed in one visit. Since veneers are applied to your natural teeth, they must be fundamentally healthy to provide a strong foundation for the veneers.

Veneers represent the most highly “cosmetic” of dental procedures. Many times they are applied simply because the patient is unhappy with their current smile. The results can quite often be dramatic.

Crowns

Dental Crowns, when cemented in place, fully replace the visible portion of a tooth but rely on your original root structure for support. Crowns have often been referred to as “caps” because they form a cap over your tooth. They can be made of porcelain, gold, metal alloys, or a combination of materials.

The reasons you may need a crown include: restoring a tooth weakened by decay, holding together parts of a cracked tooth, covering misshapen teeth, covering badly stained teeth, holding a bridge in place, covering an implant with a tooth, and when large fillings have weakened a tooth

While waiting for your crown to be made, your dentist will fabricate an acrylic “temporary crown” on the tooth and secured with temporary cement. When your permanent crown is ready, it will be cemented in place.

Composite Fillings

The chief advantage of composite fillings is their natural tooth color. Your dentist can blend the composite to match virtually any tooth shade.

The amount of tooth structure removed is far less with composite fillings. Amalgams required that the cavity be undercut to hold the amalgam in place. The composite filling adheres to the tooth, making a smaller depression possible.

Composite fillings can actually improve the strength of a tooth with significant decay. The composite resin adheres to the tooth and helps to hold it together. Large amalgam fillings expand and contract with heat and cold, compromising tooth strength. In addition, amalgams do not adhere to the tooth material.

It is much more difficult for decay to get under a composite filling because of this adhesion. With amalgam fillings, shrinkage often took place giving bacteria a pathway under the filling.

Composite resins are environmentally safe and eliminate the possibility of mercury allergies, or having to dispose of mercury.

Teeth Whitening

For years we have watched an array of in-office teeth whitening products hit the market. We have felt that until recently they have all had major drawbacks to the patient, including high cost. We are happy to announce that we can now offer One-Hour Teeth Whitening that is safe, ADA approved, and affordable.

It is now possible to whiten your teeth up to 10 shades in one hour without pain or discomfort, messy mouth guards, or multiple visits. By whitening all your teeth in one visit we can achieve the highest level of shade uniformity throughout your mouth. The whitening generally lasts for several years, but we also offer “Take Home” kits if you choose to do touch-ups from time to time.

While teeth whitening kits purchased in drug stores can achieve some whitening, our in-office whitening produces more even results and many more shades of whitening.

Bonding

Bonding can often be used to accomplish the following:

• Close spaces between teeth
• Repair chipped teeth- Lengthen teeth
• Change the shape of a tooth
• Whiten permanently stained teeth
• Protect teeth roots exposed due to gum recession

The Bonding process is simple, and often does not require an anesthetic. The tooth is etched, or roughened slightly, so that the composite will adhere to the tooth. Your dentist will then select a shade of composite to match your existing teeth. It will be applied to the tooth and then shaped. And finally, the composite is hardened with visible light. The entire procedure generally takes between 30 and 60 minutes per tooth.

Bonding can be easily “touched up” by your dentist as the restoration ages. Care for your bonding is the same as for your natural teeth; bruising, flossing, and regular teeth cleanings.