Cosmetic dentistry is one of Dr. Spear’s many passions. To have a patient come in with complaints about their smile of any kind and transforming the patient’s smile and confidence is such a rewarding task for doctor and patient. A person’s smile can light up a room. The biggest transformation is in how the person sees themselves and this radiates from them. It’s so much more about how they feel than how others perceive them.
Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the functionality) of teeth, gums and/or bite. It primarily focuses on improvement in dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance.
There are four main types of cosmetic dentistry that are offered in our office:
Teeth whitening: used to make teeth whiter offering a younger-looking smile. In-office or at-home trays with differing levels of hydrogen peroxide that are worn for 30 minutes to two hours depending on the form of treatment. We use Ultradent products as well as the Kor whitening system.
Teeth straightening trays: Patients with mild to moderate crowding can utilize clear teeth straightening trays to achieve their desired smiles. Successive trays are often used to reposition crowded teeth or teeth that are out of place.
Lab fabricated veneers/crowning: Bonded to the facial surface of a tooth, a veneer serves to improve the cosmetic appearance on a front tooth that is otherwise sound. Crowning a tooth can also be used to improve esthetics. This might be done if conservative treatment will underserve the situation and can be done for various reasons.
Chairside bonding: In much the same way fillings are done, we use composite resin to bond to the tooth to improve the appearance. Called chairside veneering, this direct bonding (no use of lab to fabricate a restoration) can be cost-effective and efficient for those looking for a different option. While there isn’t necessarily the control of appearance that we have with lab fabricated veneers, it still gives us another tool to effectively and profoundly affect patient’s smiles. The example of chairside bonding and lab veneers can be seen in the same case in our before and after’s photos.
The first step to transforming your smile is to set up a consultation in our office. You’ll meet with Dr. Spear and discuss how you would like your smile to look and be changed. Dr. Spear will discuss your options and a treatment plan can be formulated. Know that the treatment you need may not be what you expect. There are different options to achieve changes to your smile including combinations of the above.
If you are unhappy about any of the following aspects of your smile you may be looking for cosmetic dentistry:
- Gap Closure – spaces between teeth
- Whitening – discoloration of teeth
- Appearance – small, misshapen teeth
- Customizable – unique formations
- Durability – thin, sensitive teeth
- Damaged Teeth – cracked or chipped teeth
- Straightening – crooked teeth
Transforming the smile you have into the smile you love and are proud of is our main objective and through cosmetic dentistry, we are able to achieve exactly that. No matter how we get there we will support you the whole way.
Please see our cosmetic dentistry before and after video to see some of the transformations our patients have experienced. We are always grateful for the opportunity to create the smiles patients want.
Dr. Spear and his team want to help you achieve your oral health care goals. If you would like to come in for a consultation please call us at 817.920.1488.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/zdQdb-vpkC0