Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental Implants

What is a Dental Implant?

When teeth are lost they may be replaced with removable dentures. Partial dentures may be attached to the remaining teeth in the patient’s mouth. Full dentures will rest on the gums and have more mobility than that of partial dentures. Dental implants may be placed to replace missing teeth or aid in the retention of full or partial dentures.

A small hole is created in the patient’s jaw, under local anesthesia, and a hollow titanium implant is inserted into the prepared implant site. Over a short period of time bone will grow into the implant and it will become a solid anchor for a cap or denture to be attached to. These implants are very stable anchors and do not move. They may last the lifetime of the patient and provide the framework for individual teeth or dentures.

Porcelain Veneers

What is a Veneer?

Over time teeth and fillings may discolor or fracture. These teeth may be restored with porcelain veneers in order to correct discoloration, or fractures. A small amount of tooth structure is removed from the teeth in question and a thin layer of porcelain may be bonded over the tooth. Teeth may be bleached prior to the veneer fabrication in order to lighten their shade.

 

Teeth Whitening & Bleaching

What is Bleaching?

Patients often desire to lighten the shade of their teeth. Dark teeth can quite often cause people to be uncomfortable in social situations or at work. Light bright teeth are equated to youth and beauty.

Thin plastic trays can be fabricated by your dentist for bleaching. A gel of bleach which ultimately breaks down to hydrogen peroxide is placed within the custom trays. These trays are left in the patient’s mouth for approximately one hour per day. Within a week or two the teeth will usually lighten several shades. In-office bleaching will allow your dentist to place a more concentrated bleaching gel over the teeth and more rapidly lighten the shade of teeth. This is then followed by at-home bleaching with the trays in order to fine-tune the final shade. If the teeth darken at a later date the original trays may be reused to bleach the teeth.