Cosmetic Dentistry

Smile Makeover

At Smile Arts, we take a holistic approach towards your Smile Makeovers to enhance and aesthetically improve our patient smiles. We combine cosmetic treatments including orthodontics, veneers, implants, teeth whitening and many other treatments.

Porcelain Veneers

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit over teeth, providing a natural, attractive look. They can be used to fix chipped, stained, misaligned, worn down, uneven or abnormally spaced teeth. The two most common materials used in dental veneers are composite resin and porcelain. Both types of veneers can be fabricated by a dental technician in a laboratory and are bonded to the patient’s teeth in a dentist’s office. Dental veneers are bonded to the teeth with resin cement. Porcelain material is brittle; however, when it is firmly bonded to the tooth it can become very strong and durable.

For teeth that are severely discolored, chipped or misshapen, veneers create a durable and pleasing smile. Plus, veneers are difficult to stain, making them popular for people seeking a perfect smile.

Dental veneers should be cleaned like your own teeth. Flossing once a day and brushing two to three times a day with fluoride toothpaste will help to remove food debris and dental plaque bacteria. Talk to your dentist about the oral care products you should consider helping maintain the longevity of your dental restorations.

Your dentist will remove a small amount of the tooth surface to permit placement of the veneer. An impression is taken of the tooth and sent to the dental laboratory. The dental veneer is then made to fit the tooth and mouth. The veneer is bonded to the tooth with resin cement.

Teeth Whitening

Brightening your smile is as easy as visiting your dentist for a whitening treatment or purchasing one of the many at-home treatment options available. You don't necessarily have to change your habits to whiten your teeth. Simply replacing your regular toothpaste with whitening toothpaste is a great way to start whitening your smile gradually. Using a whitening mouthwash, trying whitening pens, strips or trays are all good ways to supplement your normal oral hygiene habits.

If you regularly chew gum after meals, there are some brands of chewing gum that claim to whiten teeth.

Certain foods and beverages can cause teeth to become discolored. These foods include coffee, tea, wine and sports drinks. Smoking can also cause teeth to stain. While our teeth are not, by nature, perfectly white, most people feel that they could improve their smile with brighter, whiter teeth. Over time, our teeth acquire extrinsic stains because of eating and drinking certain foods and beverages. They also yellow with age, because of acquiring pigmentation inside the teeth. There are various ways to safely remove the extrinsic stains and the intrinsic yellowing, leaving a whiter, more radiant smile.

Practicing good oral hygiene is essential for anyone who wants whiter teeth. Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash are all great ways to take care of your teeth and help prevent stains from forming.

Flossing teeth at least once a day can help remove dental plaque that has built up.

It is important to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing, after eating and drinking acidic foods. Acids weaken tooth enamel and brushing teeth when enamel is in its weakened state can damage teeth.

Using a straw when you are drinking beverages can help keep stain causing dyes away from teeth. This is especially true for beverages like coffee, tea, wine and sports drinks.

There are many ways to whiten your teeth; here are a few of the popular types of whitening procedures: 

• At Home Whitening 

To keep teeth white, it's not enough to get your teeth whitened once and expect them to stay that way. If your dentist recommends using an at home whitening kit, she will send you home with this whitening treatment with instructions to use it according to label directions. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and excessively drinking stain-causing liquids, may require more frequent touch-ups. Speak with your dentist for more information about the at-home whitening method best suited for you.

If you are looking for a cheaper option, you could try using over-the-counter products, like whitening toothpaste, whitening strips or a whitening pen. These products are all available in supermarkets and drugstores. 

• Professional Teeth Whitening 

For the fastest and most efficient whitening, your dentist can offer professional treatments. These in-office options contain whitening agents in higher concentrations and produce results much more quickly than over-the-counter options. In fact, your teeth may be visibly whiter in just one visit. You also have the added benefit of a treatment that is supervised by a dental professional. Additional home whitening will be indicated with long-term success of these in-office whitening treatments.

Dental Bonding

Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin (plastic) to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured, discolored tooth, to make teeth appear longer, and as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings. Bonding can be done in a single visit to our office.

Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedure. The composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Most often, bonding is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It also can be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth.

Sometimes bonding is used as a cosmetic alternative to fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed because of gum recession.

Tea, coffee, cigarette smoke and other substances can stain the resin used in bonding. To prevent or minimize stains, avoid eating or drinking these types of foods and drinks during the first 48 hours after any composite procedure. In addition, brush your teeth often and have them cleaned every six months by a dental hygienist.

The first step is to schedule a consultation with your dentist, so you can discuss your treatment goals. Your dentist will use a shade guide to select the composite resin color that matches the color, of the tooth or teeth, most closely.

Once your dentist has chosen the color, she will slightly etch the surface of the tooth to roughen it. The tooth will then be coated lightly with a conditioning liquid, which helps the bonding material adhere.

When the tooth is prepared, your dentist will apply the tooth-colored, putty-like resin. The resin is molded and smoothed until it's the proper shape. Then the material is hardened with an ultraviolet light or laser.

After the bonding material hardens, your dentist will further trim and shape it, and polish the material until it matches the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.

The procedure usually takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete. If you're having more than one tooth done, you may need to schedule more time or additional visits.