Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry focused on improving the aesthetic appearance of your smile. While traditional dentistry addresses oral health and function, cosmetic procedures primarily aim to enhance the color, shape, size, alignment, and overall look of your teeth and gums. Cosmetic dentistry can help you get your confidence back by giving you a bright, beautiful smile.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a popular and versatile cosmetic dental procedure used to improve the appearance of your smile. It is an alternative to teeth veneers and can be used as a restorative procedure for teeth that are chipped, cracked, discolored or misarranged.
The tooth is prepared for dental bonding by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid. Once the liquid sets, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance.
The bonding procedure can often be completed in a single office visit and improves the appearance of a tooth significantly. However, since the plastic resin used is not as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is likely to stain, chip or break. Bonding typically lasts between three and five years but can easily be repaired again.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility.
Placing custom teeth veneers requires a high degree of technical skill as well as attention to cosmetic detail. Choose our experts here at Portland Dentistry to place your veneers perfectly. We design each case individually to match and enhance the characteristics of each patient’s smile.
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options.
Doctor Mauren and Doctor Thelen will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced materials available. Porcelain veneers are incredibly durable, however refraining from using your veneers as tools to open and cut things will prolong their life.
It’s safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment if you would like to whiten your teeth. You can lighten only your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on the structure of your mouth when you speak or smile.
In only a day or two your custom bleach splints will be ready for you to pick up. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you place into the clear splints. With only a few hours of wear per day, our special bleaching agent bubbles stains right out of your enamel in a very short time. With our whitening process, your tooth structure and existing dental work will not be altered in any way. When your teeth reach the desired brightness, only occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile. Be sure to bring your brand new bright smile to your next appointment so that we are able to take “after” photos!
Dental whitening can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Staining from food, aging, or chemical damage to teeth can cause this discoloration. At Portland Dentistry, we use the newest in whitening technology so that we can provide you with a safe method for creating a shining smile. In cases of extreme tooth discoloration, crowns or veneers may be the only choice, but because of the low cost of whitening treatments, teeth whitening is nearly always worth a solid try.
An impression is taken to make a specialized “mouthguard” or “stent” to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about 3-4 hours for a week or two, and at the end of this time, significant whitening will occur. In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or dental veneers may be more appropriate.
Over-the-counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at drug stores and pharmacies. However, since these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth, it’s better to talk to your doctor here at Portland Dentistry and see what is best for your overall oral health.
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We are the leading providers of dental implants and cosmetic dentistry in Portland, Michigan.
