The focus of dentistry is prevention, diagnosis and treatment.  It is recommended that patients visit their dentists biannually to ensure proper oral hygiene and functionality. 

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving patients’ gums, teeth and smile by providing elective services.  Cosmetic dentistry treatments include: teeth whitening, composite bonding, veneers, crowns, implants and partials. 

Teeth whitening is the most popular procedure among male and female patients.  There are several factors causing staining of teeth, such as: age, eating habits (dark foods and drinks), smoking, medication and grinding.  In order to whiten teeth, patients can choose one of the following treatments.  In office procedure involves 1.5 – 2 hr chair site time, where special gel is applied to teeth and the light shine on teeth for 15 minutes, repeated 3 times.  Take home kit consists of lab fabricated trays and the whitening gel that patients wear for couple hrs for several days.  Both of those methods give good results, but they do not give permanent results, every couple years patients need to do touch-ups. 

Composite bondings are used in dental offices to fill cavities, repair cracks, close gaps between teeth, repair worn edges.  Composite bonding is applied to teeth surface and molded into desired shape.  The chemical bonding between a filling and the tooth provides strength and lasts for several years.    Composite bonding can also be used in fabricating chair side veneers.  This procedure can be accomplished in one dental visit and there is no additional cost or time for lab processing. 

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that are applied to teeth to correct color, shape, gaps, worn edges or misalignment.  There are several types of veneers.  According to used materials we can distinguish porcelain or composite veneers which are fabricated in a dental laboratory and cemented to teeth by a dentist in the office.  Also some of composite veneers can be chairside made inside patient’s mouth by a dentist.  According to tooth structure, there are veneers that require tooth preparation and veneers that do not require any tooth preparation, therefore no anesthesia, no post-treatment sensitivity and no temporaries worn by patients.  The dentist will diagnose which kind of veneers is recommended for the patient.

Crowns are typically recommended for teeth with large fillings, after root canal therapy, broken or misaligned teeth.  Crowns will not only protect the remaining tooth structure but will improve overall look of patient’s dentition.

Implants are replacements for lost teeth due to decay, root canal failure, periodontitis, trauma or congenital defects.  The implant placement will contribute to the improvement of esthetics, function, nutrition and younger looks.

Another way of replacing missing teeth and therefore improving esthetics is using partials.  There are several kinds of partials: standard one with metal clasps, Valplast which has a framework and clasps made of transparent pink acrylic or the precision partial with no visible clasps.  The type of the prescribed partial is a combination of patient’s desire and dentist’s recommendations.

All of the above treatments contribute to the overall oral health and enhanced beautiful smile that is so desired by many patients.