It’s no secret that regular visits with an experienced dentist are an essential part of maintaining a healthy smile. But did you know that your dentist can give you a smile that feels good and looks amazing, too? Here at Boger Dental, we’re proud to provide our patients with a variety of cosmetic dentistry services. Cosmetic and restorative dentistry is increasingly popular as more and more adults look for innovative ways to transform their smile into something special.
Cosmetic dental treatments usually involve procedures that brighten, shape, or straighten the teeth. These aren’t the only benefits, however! Cosmetic procedures can also help restore functionality to the teeth and optimize oral health. If chipped, cracked, or discolored teeth have you hiding your smile and feeling self-conscious, our treatments could be the answer you’ve been looking for. To learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how we can use it to give you a gorgeous smile, keep reading below!
What is cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry includes a variety of elective procedures that are aimed at improving the appearance of your teeth and smile by creating a positive change. Modern cosmetic dentistry has evolved to address both functional and aesthetic concerns, and we can now deliver a variety of treatment options to improve your appearance, enhance your natural smile, and give you a boost of self-confidence. Our practice has three qualified cosmetic dentists who are able to provide more than common procedures like tooth whitening and veneers—they can give your smile a total makeover!
Boger Dental offers the following cosmetic dental services.
Professional Teeth Whitening
As we get older, our teeth can become stained or discolored. Sometimes this is simply due to age, but the effect can be exacerbated if you’ve ever smoked, taken certain medications, or had a heavy tea or coffee habit! Our practice offers numerous teeth whitening options to suit your lifestyle needs and deliver exceptional results. This includes Zoom! Advanced Power™ and Opalescence Boost.
Zoom! Advanced Power™ is an in-office teeth whitening service. Once you schedule a consultation with us, we’ll ensure you’re a good fit for professional teeth whitening then perform a shade assessment. We’ll then schedule you for the actual procedure, which usually takes about two hours to complete.
The treatment itself is a cinch. One of our dentists or dental assistants will apply Zoom’s hydrogen peroxide whitening gel in three 15-minute sessions. This gel works in conjunction with a special Zoom light to help remove staining and discoloration. Once this is complete, we’ll apply a sensitivity paste to help combat sensitive teeth.
Opalescence Boost is a minimally invasive teeth whitening option. It utilizes 38% hydrogen peroxide, potassium nitrate, and fluoride in one bleaching gel to produce exceptional results. Because potassium nitrate helps with sensitivity and fluoride strengthens enamel, you’re battling more than just discolored teeth with this treatment!
The application of Opalescence Boost is similar to Zoom’s. The gel will be applied to the front of your teeth and left to sit for 10-15 minutes. The gel is actually powerful enough on its own that you won’t even need to use a light with it! These sessions can be repeated up to five times for maximum results.
With either system, your treated teeth will continue to whiten for 12-24 hours after your in-office appointment. We may also provide you with a take-home system to sustain and maintain your newly brightened smile.
Teeth Bonding
Cosmetic bonding is a process where we attach or “bond” materials directly to your teeth in order to change their color and shape. The tooth enamel is then fused together with bonding materials such as porcelain and resins, creating a strong structure that still feels like your natural tooth.
Tooth bonding is multi-purpose but used most often for repairing chipped teeth. The bonding materials and porcelain used are a natural color, so they can also improve the appearance of broken, stained, or cracked teeth. The bonding materials can even address teeth that have excess space between them, fill small cavities, and protect the exposed root of a tooth!
Tooth bonding is a long-lasting treatment and can be effective for several years. However, it is more likely than other types of restoration to chip, stain, or wear down over time.
Veneers
Veneers are one of the best and most well-known cosmetic dentistry procedures. These custom-made shells are crafted from a thin tooth-colored material, like porcelain or plastic, and are designed to cover the front side of teeth. Veneers can improve teeth with excess spacing as well as teeth that are worn, chipped, stained, or crooked. The look and fit of veneers is superior and long-lasting, which is one reason they remain so popular, year after year!
Having veneers placed is usually an irreversible process since it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell. You may need to avoid certain foods and beverages if you have veneers, since things like coffee, tea, and red wine can stain or discolor them. While a veneer might occasionally chip or fracture, they are generally known for being very durable.
Crowns
Crowns, which are also known as caps, completely cover a tooth and help restore its natural shape and appearance. We often use crowns to:
- cover a misshapen or discolored tooth
- protect a weak tooth
- restore a broken or worn tooth
- cover a tooth that has a large filling
- hold a dental bridge in place
- cover a dental implant
- cover a tooth that’s had a root canal procedure
Crowns are usually created from materials like metal, porcelain fused to metal, resin, or ceramic materials. They improve the look and function of your teeth, and can have a long life if you take good care of them.
Invisalign clear aligners
For patients who want to correct crooked teeth or a misalignment, Invisalign is the most popular alternative to traditional metal braces. The system uses a series of clear removable aligners that are custom-made to move the teeth gently over time. The thermoplastic material is clear so the aligners are virtually invisible, while their removability offers patients a great deal of freedom throughout the treatment process.
Invisalign relies on patient compliance to work, so if you opt for this treatment, you’ll need to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours each day. The aligners will also need to be switched out for the next in the series every 1-2 weeks in order to keep up with the movement of the teeth.
This low-maintenance system is able to successfully correct a range of dental and orthodontic issues, including over- and underbites, crossbites, crowded teeth, and teeth that have too much or not enough spacing. When worn as directed, they can be just as effective as traditional braces with no metal or wires required.
Bring your smile back to life with cosmetic dentistry from Boger Dental
Here at Boger Dental, we believe in bringing your natural smile to life by restoring and enhancing it with cosmetic dentistry. Whether you’re looking for brighter teeth, a straighter smile, or anything in between, our experienced team can help you achieve it!
If you’re in Plymouth or the surrounding areas and looking to take your smile to the next level, get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation with one of our amazing dentists. We’re excited to help you bring out the best in your smile!