Cosmetic Dentistry

A smile makeover is a series of cosmetic dental procedures used to enhance the appearance of your smile. Each person has a different idea of what their perfect smile looks like. Here are a few reasons why you might want to seek a smile makeover:

• Some patients want to straighten their crooked teeth or close unsightly gaps
• Some want to fix their broken or discolored teeth
• Others want to reverse the wear-and-tear on their teeth and rejuvenate their smile

Your smile makeover should be customized according to your specific needs. The result is a brand new smile with teeth that sparkle and shine! Getting a smile makeover will boost your self-confidence and make you fall in love with your smile again.

What are the most common dental treatments involved in a smile makeover?

Most people associate a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. While it’s true that porcelain veneers are commonly used in most smile makeover cases, there are many other procedures that assist your dentist in giving you the perfect smile. Here are examples of a few common dental treatments you may come across when receiving your smile makeover:

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are the treatment of choice to replace old, worn-down natural teeth with beautiful, white porcelain teeth. Cosmetic dentists love using porcelain veneers because they are conservative and natural-looking. Plus, porcelain veneers maintain their appearance over time. Most smile makeovers require 6 to 10 porcelain veneers in each arch (top or bottom), or basically 12 to 20 porcelain veneers when performing a full mouth smile makeover.

Dental bonding, inlays, onlays & crowns

These are a few other cosmetic methods used to restore damaged teeth. Dental bonding is a good choice to restore teeth with very minor cosmetic defects that don’t require a porcelain veneer. On the opposite hand, crowns, inlays, and onlays are used to restore teeth that are so badly damaged that porcelain veneers won’t properly protect your teeth. These types of restorations provide for additional tooth coverage to protect more severely damaged teeth.

Braces & clear aligners (Invisalign®)

Many times your dentist will use porcelain veneers to straighten slightly crooked teeth or close small gaps. However, sometimes you need to straighten your teeth before beautifying them. In these cases, you may have to resort to orthodontic treatments, like braces or Invisalign®, prior to completing your smile makeover.

Dental cleaning & gum treatment

Dental cleaning is the key to treating infected gums and reversing gingivitis and gum disease. This is why a thorough dental cleaning is almost always a part of any smile makeover. In fact, receiving a dental cleaning is usually the first step towards fixing your smile. Your gums are the foundation of your teeth, and you can’t achieve the perfect smile without having healthy gums!

Gum lift

Gum lift is another common procedure associated with many smile makeovers. The purpose of a gum lift is to remove excessive gum tissue surrounding your teeth. Performing a gum lift allows your dentist to place larger porcelain veneers on your teeth. This is used to reduce gummy smile appearance while at the same time, giving you larger, bolder looking front teeth. Gum lift is a rather simple procedure and is typically performed using laser.

Fillings, root canals, bridges & dental implants

You can’t forget about tooth decay when fixing your smile. Fixing cavities, infected teeth, and missing teeth is an essential part of every smile makeover. Your dentist may use fillings to restore cavities, root canals to treat infected teeth, or bridges and dental implants to replace your missing teeth.

Tooth whitening

Tooth whitening may be used to put the final touches on your smile makeover. Placing porcelain veneers on your teeth will make them look much whiter and brighter. This can create a contrast against your natural teeth, the ones that haven’t receive a veneer. A professional tooth whitening will make your natural teeth better match your porcelain veneer shade, and completes your smile transformation.

What should you look for when designing a new smile?

Designing a new smile is more than just making your teeth look straighter and whiter. Your new smile must fit the rest of your facial profile. Cosmetic dentists look at your lips, cheeks, jaw, chin, etc. to design the perfect smile specifically for you. There are many different things to consider when designing your new smile, for example:

Tooth color

Some patients want their teeth to be as white as possible. Others want their teeth to be white without looking like fake teeth. Your dentist will work with you to come up with a tooth color that works for you and your smile.

Tooth size

It’s not uncommon for patients undergoing a smile makeover to have suffered from a collapsed bite. A collapsed bite causes your teeth to become shorter than they used to be. Your dentist can fix the appearance of these worn-down teeth by opening up your bite or performing a gum lift, among other treatments.

Tooth shape

You can design your custom veneers to your exact liking. Choose shorter teeth with a rounded edge if you’re looking for a more feminine appearance. Choose bulkier square-shaped teeth if you prefer a more masculine look.

Teeth proportion

You can’t change the proportion of your teeth when placing one or two crowns or veneers. However, you can change the relative size of your teeth when placing multiple veneers. For example, your dentist can make a larger tooth appear smaller by increasing the size of its adjacent teeth. Your dentist will work with you to figure out teeth proportions that compliment your new smile.

Smile line

A smile line is an imaginary line that follows the edges of your upper teeth. Improving your smile line gives you a more proportionate and even smile. Your dentist may correct your smile line using braces, clear aligners, porcelain veneers, or a combination of different dental treatments.

How much does a smile makeover typically cost?

Smile makeovers are not cheap. On average, you’re looking at anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens-of-thousands of dollars for a complete smile makeover. Prices vary significantly based on where you choose to go and how much work you actually require. It’s not a good idea to look for the best bargain or the lowest prices when looking for a smile makeover. Your priority should be finding a reputable cosmetic dentist. One who has been part of the community with a great track record, especially when it comes to cosmetic procedures. Having dental insurance won’t help much either since most cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance.

Why are smile makeovers so expensive? Smile makeovers require lots and lots of work. Receiving Invsialign®, whitening your teeth, lifting your gums, and placing multiple veneers can add up quickly. Despite its high costs, most patients who receive a smile makeover are very happy with the final outcome. There are few things in life as transformative as having an attractive and beautiful smile. With a smile makeover, you can reverse 10, 20, or 30 years of damage and neglect to your teeth and gums. Luckily, most dentists who perform smile makeovers also offer plenty of different financing options to help you afford your smile transformation.

How do I find a cosmetic dentist for my smile makeover?

The first step to receiving a smile makeover is to find a highly skilled and reputable cosmetic dentist. The results of your smile transformation will vary significantly based on which dentist you choose. Be sure to do your research, look through their body of work, and find a great dentist who has the skills and experience to deliver the smile of your dreams. Click on the link below to use our dentist Search Engine to browse local dentists, read reviews, view treatment photos, and find a great cosmetic dentist today:

Bonding is a cosmetic dental restoration that is used to repair broken front teeth, teeth with fracture, as well as minor cracks. You can also use bonding to enhance the appearance of your smile. Bonding comes in a wide variety of shades. This way, your dentist can match your existing tooth color. You bonding should blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth color, making it virtually indistinguishable.

Benefits of bonding

Bonding has many uses in cosmetic dentistry:

• Repairing small to medium-sized tooth defects
• Fixing broken front teeth
• Matching the color of your front teeth
• Closing small gaps between your teeth

Bonding your teeth is a simple and affordable process that can yield amazing results. Furthermore, bonding your teeth costs far less than other similar cosmetic dental procedures, such as porcelain veneers or Lumineers®. At the same time, it produces nearly similar results as those more expensive cosmetic procedures. Bonding gives your broken teeth a natural-looking appearance while at the same time restoring your teeth’s original shape.

What are the limitations of dental bonding?

Bonding your teeth is a great way of fixing small to medium-sized dental defects. However, bonding does have certain limitations. Here are a few examples of when bonding might not be your best option:

Larger defects

While bonding works just fine for small-to-medium defects, it is not as effective for larger defects. This is because dental bonding is only held in place by a special glue. Therefore, it doesn’t work as well for fixing very large defects, since the glue is incapable of holding your bonding in its place. Consider placing a porcelain veneer or crown to fix these larger defects instead.

Smile makeover

While bonding is very effective at fixing individual teeth, it’s not as effective at restoring your entire smile. Placing bonding on 6, 8 or even 10 teeth is not nearly as effective as placing porcelain veneers or Lumineers ®. on them. Placing multiple bondings on your teeth causes them to gather stains and change color over time. If you’re looking for a smile makeover, you’re probably wanting to go with porcelain veneers or Lumineers ®. to achieve the best end results.

What is the process of bonding your teeth?

Bonding is among the easiest of all cosmetic dental procedures. The entire procedure is completed during a simple visit which usually takes no longer than an hour. Here’s what you should expect during your appointment:

Consultation

Your dentist needs to assess your tooth to see if you’re a good candidate for dental bonding. Not every dental condition can be fixed with bonding. You may require a crown, porcelain veneer, or some other dental treatment instead.

Tooth preparation

You typically don’t need much or any numbing before bonding your teeth. Your dentist prepares your tooth, applies the bonding agent (glue), and adds the bonding material to your tooth. Afterward, your dentist polishes and trims your bonding. Your dentist also makes sure that you can bite and floss on your new bonding. Make sure that you;re happy with the color and shape of your new bonding. That’s pretty much your whole appointment! If you have any issues with your new dental bonding, contact your dentist to have them take a closer look at it.

Another good news is that you typically don’t need much or any numbing to bond your teeth. Your dentist prepares your tooth, applies an adhesive (glue), and adds the bonding material to your tooth. Afterward, your dentist polishes and trims your new restoration. They also make sure that you can bite and floss comfortably. Make sure you like the color and shape of your new tooth and you’re good to go! If you have any issues, contact your dentist to have them take a closer look at your new restoration.

Getting started with bonding your teeth

To fix your tooth with bonding, you need to find a dentist nearby. Look for a cosmetic dentist, one who has an eye for beauty, to get the best results. If you don’t already have a dentist, you can find one using our dentist Search Engine. Read reviews, view treament photos, learn more about your new dentist, and even book your appointment online. Find a great dentist near you today so that you can get your beautiful smile back!

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Lumineers® are a special type of porcelain veneers that are made exclusively by DenMat dental laboratory. They are commonly referred to as “no-prep” veneers. This is because, in contrast to traditional porcelain veneers, Lumineers® usually don’t require the removal of tooth structure. Now, you might think to yourself “this sounds great, why wouldn’t everyone get Lumineers® over veneers?” In order to answer this question, you need to understand the pros and cons of Lumineers®. Let’s take a closer look at how Lumineers work so you can better compare them to other cosmetic dentistry procedures:

Applications for Lumineers®

Lumineers® can address many different cosmetic concerns:

• Lumineers® are perfect for correcting that one snag front tooth
• They can also be used to fix color mismatches on your front teeth so you can finally get rid of that one tooth that’s always sticking out
• You can even correct stains, enamel wear, small gaps, and many other minor dental discrepancies simply by putting Lumineers® on your front teeth

Lumineers are made from high-quality laminate, meaning that they maintain their beautiful appearance many years. While they may not always be permanent, you’re likely to get a good decade or two of dazzling smiles from well-placed Lumineers®.

What are the benefit of Lumineers® over porcelain veneers?

The biggest advantage of Lumineers® over porcelain veneers is that Lumineers® require almost no reduction of tooth structure. All your dentist has to do is take an impression of your teeth and send them to the laboratory. Your Lumineers® arrive within a few weeks, your dentist cements them in place, and your new smile is all set to conquer the world! In contrast to this, preparing your teeth for porcelain veneers requires the removal of significant tooth structure. You also don’t need to get numb for Lumineers® wheras porcelain veneers typically require several shots (painful ones too!) Overall, Lumineer® treatment is a much simpler process as compared to porcelain veneer treatment.

What are the disadvantages of Lumineers® as compared to porcelain veneers?

The main disadvantage of Lumineers® is that they are not as long-lasting as porcelain veneers. For one, Lumineers® are more likely to chip, break, or fall off of your teeth. They’re also susceptible to losing their initial luster over the years. As your teeth continue to stain and darken, your Lumineers® can also change color. This is because Lumineers® are so thin that they don’t fully block out your tooth color from showing through. Finally, placing Lumineers® on your teeth can make them appear bulky in some occasions. The fact that there is almost no tooth removal also means that there’s less room to correct issues with your smile. As a result, while Lumineers® can look very appealing, they are usually not as attractive as porcelain veneers are.

What are the alternatives to Lumineers®?

There are several acceptable alternatives to Lumineers®, depending on what you’re looking for and your budget:

• Snap-on-smile®: The least expensive alternative to Lumineers® are Snap-on-smile® (also made by DentMat). Snap-on-smile® is a removable set of teeth that resembles porcelain veneers or Lumineers®. However, Snap-on-smile® goes in and out of your mouth and they are likely to break over time. Overall, Snap-on-smile® is designed more for temporary use than for daily wear.
• Dental bonding: A second alternative treatment to Lumineers® is dental bonding. Dental bonding is permanent. It’s also less expensive than Luimineers® since there’s no lab costs involved. However, dental bonding changes color rapidly since bonding can scratch and gather stains. Lumineers® on the other hand, tend to hold up their shape and color over the years much better than dental bonding does.
• Porcelain veneers: Finally, the last alternate to Lumineers® is porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers usually look nicer than Lumineers® since they are thicker and block out the tooth color. They also lost longer than Lumineers® and most porcelain veneer cases never require a redo. Also, porcelain veneers can actually correct underlying dental problems whereas Lumineers® only mask them. However, porcelain veneers are a more complex treatment, they’re irreversible, and are more expensive than Lumineers®.

How much do Lumineers® usually cost?

Lumineers® typically cost just a bit less than porcelain veneers. They don’t cost much less either, as you’re still looking at somewhere around $1,000 per tooth (depending on where you seek treatment). If you’re just trying to fix a single tooth, then one Lumineer® is all you need. However, most people decide to place Lumineers® on their front 6 to 10 teeth and the costs can add up. As you can see, Lumineer® treatment is not cheap by any means. Then again, beautifying your smile and shaving a decade from your appearance is worth the money to those who decide to go for Lumineers®!

How do I get Lumineers® on my teeth?

You can only get Lumineers® from a local dentist who’s certified in Lumineers® technology. Look for a dentist who has a good track record, with plenty of cosmetic dentistry experience. Consider using our dentist Search Engine if you’re searching for a good cosmetic dentist near you. You can find dentist near you, read their reviews, view their treament photos, check out their list of services, and even book your appointment all online from one convenient place. Let’s find a great dentist near you today to see if you are a good candidate for rejuvenating your smile with Lumineers®!

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Porcelain veneers are one of the most common treatments used in cosmetic dentistry. Essentially, a porcelain veneer is a thin covering that is placed on the front surfaces of your teeth. They are made in a laboratory from perfectly shaped, dazzling porcelain jackets. You can use porcelain veneers for a variety of different cosmetic concerns including repairing chipped, broken, discolored, or misshapen front teeth. By placing porcelain veneers on your teeth, you can whiten your smile and enhance the appearance of your front teeth at the same time.

What are the benefits of porcelain veneers?

The biggest benefit of porcelain veneers is that they give you amazing results while preserving maximum tooth structure. Since porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory, they look and feel extremely natural and beautiful. Porcelain veneers far surpass dental bonding when it comes to color and appearance. Plus, porcelain veneers maintain their appearance over the years, whereas dental bonding tends to gather stains and loses its effectiveness within a few years. Another benefit of porcelain veneers is in its conservative approach. Porcelain veneer treatment only requires the removal of your front teeth surfaces. This is far more conservative than crown preparation that requires 360 ° tooth removal. As a result, teeth with porcelain veneers on them tend to have fewer problems over the years. Also, they are less likely to break off or get infected if something does go wrong with them.

How many porcelain veneers will I need?

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For example, you may just want to fix a broken or stained front tooth that doesn’t match the rest of your teeth. In this case, one porcelain veneer is all you need to fix your tooth and improve your smile. Others place porcelain veneers on their teeth to rejuvenate their appearance and achieve the perfect “Hollywood smile”. In these cases, you need anywhere from six to ten veneers in each arch. By placing multiple porcelain veneers you can achieve a perfectly symmetrical, bright, and more attractive smile in a matter of few weeks.

What is the process for porcelain veneers?

The first step to receiving porcelain veneers is to consult with a cosmetic dentist. Discuss your concerns, what you would like to accomplish, and what the perfect smile is to you. Your dentist will examine your smile and help you decide if you’re a good candidate for porcelain veneer treatment. They will help you deiced how many veneers you need to place on your teeth. If you end up not being a good candidate, then you may be given other treatment options to restore your smile. These would include treatments such as dental bonding, crowns, Invisalign, or Lumineers.

The next step is to start actual treatment. Porcelain veneer process usually takes a few weeks to complete from start to finish. Your first visit involves getting numb and preparing your teeth for the veneers. Your dentist will shave down the front portion of your teeth and take scans or impressions of your teeth. They will also make you a set of temporary veneers that will cover your teeth while the laboratory is fabricating your porcelain veneers. You need to be careful with your diet and brushing habits for the next few weeks until your permanent veneers are ready.

Delivery appointment is typically scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks after. During this visit, your dentist will try in your porcelain veneers to make sure that they fit well. You will also have a chance to verify that you like the way your new smile looks. If you want to make any changes to your veneers, such as altering the color or size of your veneers, discuss your concerns with your dentist. It’s much easier to change your veneers before you have received them than afterward. So be sure to voice your concerns so that your dentist can address them.

Don’t forget, it’s not enough to like your new smile, you should love it! Once you and your dentist are 100% satisfied with the results, your dentist will cement your porcelain veneers in place. You and your new smile are now ready to take on the world and conquer the universe!

How do I get started?

The first step to receiving porcelain veneers is to find a reputable and skilled cosmetic dentist. It’s important to find the right dentist who’s going to deliver the best results. There’s a huge difference in the outcome you get based on your dentist’s skill level and the quality of lab which they use. So do your research, look through some cosmetic cases your dentist has completed, and find a dentist who has the skills and experience to give you the smile of your dreams. Click on the link below to use our dentist Search Engine to search local dentists, view their treatment photos, and find a great cosmetic dentist near you today:

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