Safest Cosmetic Dentistry in Oro Valley, AZ
You no longer have to suffer from missing, chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth.
Your smile is one of your most important features. Dentistry is constantly evolving with new treatment options making it easier to achieve a beautiful and healthy smile for patients of all ages.
Never again will you feel the need to hide your smile because of stained, distorted, or gapped teeth. Your smile is meant to be shared with the world. Our goal is to leave our patients with a smile that they are proud of. Porcelain veneers can fix those minor imperfections, with a natural tooth-colored overlay. This is a versatile cosmetic option, bringing your desired smile to life.
Veneers can help you with any of the following imperfections:
- Discolored teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Slight tooth misalignment
- Small teeth gaps
- Irregularly shaped teeth
What are Porcelain Veneers?
A porcelain veneer is a wafer-thin shell made from materials that give it a natural tooth color, making appearance corrections unnoticeable. These shells cover the surface of teeth, adjusting the size or shape of teeth.
Veneer- How it works
First Appointment: Your initial appointment with your dentist will include an examination to see if a porcelain veneer is the best option for you, keeping your desires and health in mind. Sometimes an x-ray is needed during this initial appointment.
Tooth Preparation: The tooth in need of the veneer will be cleaned, polished, and roughened up so that it can eventually stick to the veneer. An impression of the tooth is taken to have a customized veneer created.
Bonding: Once the veneer is ready for placement, it is cemented into place and bonded to your natural tooth.
A New Smile: When you look in the mirror, you’ll be pleased to see that the imperfections have disappeared almost as if they never existed.
When your veneers are placed, you’ll be pleased to see that they look like your natural teeth. While veneers are stain-resistant, your doctor may recommend that you avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to maintain the beauty of your new smile.
As with most dental restorations, veneers are not permanent and may someday need replacement. They are very durable and will last many years, giving you a beautiful long lasting smile.
Often used to improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile. Tooth bonding, also known as composite bonding, a tooth colored composite material, either a plastic or resin, is bonded to an existing tooth. Unlike veneers or crowns, composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth.
Tooth bonding is the application of a tooth-colored resin material using a high intensity curing light. Typically used in cosmetic dentistry, for cosmetic purposes, tooth bonding literally bonds the materials to the tooth. Applications for tooth bonding include;
- To fill the spaces between teeth
- To make teeth look longer
- To change the shape of a tooth
- To change the color of a tooth
- As an alternative to amalgam dental fillings or to protect a tooth with exposed gum or nerve
- To repair decayed teeth
- To repair chipped or cracked teeth
Tooth bonding, also called dental bonding is a procedure that takes very little time to prepare. Typically, unless the bonding is used on exposed nerves or to fill a decayed tooth, dental bonding does not require the use of anesthetics, making it a fast and comfortable procedure.
Generally there are two types of dental bonding:
Direct Bonding
The process where a dentist uses tooth-colored composites to fill cavities, repair chips or cracks, close gaps and build up worn down teeth. These materials may also be directly applied and sculpted to the surface of teeth in order to maximize the enhancement of a smile.
Adhesive Bonding
Caring for bonded teeth is the same as caring for natural teeth. Brushing twice a day, flossing, and routine check-ups, as directed by your dentist, will help to maintain the bonded teeth and make them last a long time. One thing to avoid with bonded teeth is biting hard objects such as fingernails, ice, or hard types of food.
Dental bonding is a good choice that can solve a number of dental health problems. It is typically the most common and least expensive cosmetic dentistry procedure. Overall dental bonding is a relatively short procedure and requires little to no removal of tooth enamel. It is also relatively pain free and seldom requires the use of anesthetics, making for a short and comfortable dental appointment.
With our in-office whitening treatment, you are just one dental visit away from brighter teeth. This process generally takes about 90 minutes and brings immediate results. Prior to this in-office treatment, you’ll need a consultation to see if your teeth and restorations (fillings, crowns, etc.) are a good fit for a whitening treatment.
During your whitening appointment, the dentist will place a protective shield over the gums to keep the procedure safe. As the whitening process begins, a safe and professional bleaching agent is used directly on the teeth. A special light helps the bleach to penetrate the tooth, giving it that glowing white color. After a short 90 minutes of sitting in the dentist chair, you’ll be able to look in the mirror and see a rejuvenated and vibrant smile.
Teeth bleaching isn’t permanent and you may need future treatments to keep your teeth at your desired brightness. Contact us today to see if you are a good candidate for our teeth whitening services.
Whitening trays, only available through dentists, involve a custom-made tray and a specially formulated whitening gel that is inserted into the tray. This gel contains safe ingredients that can whiten stained or discolored teeth within 10 to 14 days. However, some see dramatic results after only 5 days. The tray is uniquely designed and will fit perfectly over the patient’s teeth, providing a comfortable fit and effective whitening treatment. Typically patients will use the whitening tray one hour per day for two weeks. This could change depending on the severity of your teeth discoloration.
At-home whitening is a great way to enhance your smile from the convenience of your home. Schedule an appointment today to discover if a take-home whitening tray is the best option for you.
If you’re unhappy with your smile because of decay or dark fillings in your teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins, or tooth colored fillings.
Tooth-colored fillings are made of a blend, or “composite,” of plastic resins and silica fillers. These substances mimic many of the qualities of natural tooth structure, Composite resins represent several advantages over traditional silver, or amalgam, fillings.
Because composite resins are not the old metal fillings, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. Another advantage is that the tooth/composite bond supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage. Medium and small composites can last 7 to 10 years – just as long as metal amalgams. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams. We believe in taking a conservative approach to your dental care – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.
The best way to determine whether tooth-colored fillings are right for you is to schedule a dental consultation. Call us today for an appointment.