Savannah Cosmetic Dentistry

What Can a Cosmetic Dentist Do for You?

“Cosmetic Dentistry.” You’ve heard the term before but maybe you aren’t aware there are a variety of new techniques in dental care that can restore your smile. Our doctors are excellent cosmetic dentists. They want you to feel great about your teeth and achieve the results you’ve always wanted. It’s worth the trip to our office.

A “Smile Makeover” (cosmetic dentistry) can involve one or more of the following approaches:

• 1. Dental Veneers
• 2. Dental Crowns
• 3. Teeth Bleaching or Whitening
• 4. Dental Implants
• 5. Replacing mercury fillings with white fillings.

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry includes a wide range of procedures that are designed to make your smile the best that it can be. If your teeth are healthy but unsightly, cosmetic dentistry can give you the smile you have always dreamed of. If you need fillings or other procedures to restore your oral health, they will be performed first, providing an optimal blank slate for your smile makeover. Tooth whitening and veneers are two of the most popular, but are by no means the only available cosmetic dentistry procedures.

What is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover is a cosmetic enhancement of your smile. It differs from a full mouth reconstruction in that a smile makeover is elective and is performed for aesthetic reasons, while a full mouth reconstruction is essential and is performed to remove disease.

Your smile makeover begins with a comprehensive assessment of your current smile and your goals for the makeover. You might bring in photos of smiles that you like, or even of your own smile at a younger age.

Your dentist will consider numerous factors, such as tooth length and proportion, tooth texture and color, your facial shape and fullness, the alignment of your teeth, and even your overall facial geography. Together, you and your dentist will develop a comprehensive plan of action.

Treatments depend on your individual needs, but might include some combination of orthodontics, porcelain veneers, dental implants, composite bonding, and tooth whitening. A full smile makeover typically takes several visits to complete, as each treatment must be performed in a particular sequence for maximum benefits.

Will You Need a Crown?

If areas of a tooth are worn down or broken off, a crown, sometimes referred to as a cap, can be placed over the remaining tooth structure to save and strengthen it. Today’s crowns are made to have a very accurate fit and restore the full functionality of a tooth. They look so good, no one will know it is not your natural tooth.

What is dental bonding?

One of the easiest and least costly cosmetic dental procedures, dental bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin to repair such as issues as chipping, discoloration, or small gaps. Unlike lab-created porcelain veneers, dental bonding can be completed in a single visit.

First, your dentist will select a shade of resin that most closely matches the natural color of the tooth. Then he or she will lightly abrade, or roughen, the tooth surface and coat it with a conditioner. Next, your dentist will apply the putty-like resin to your tooth and gently mold it into the desired position and shape. Finally, a dental laser or specialized light will harden the material.

Your dentist will then trim and shape the hardened material as needed before polishing it to match the tooth’s natural sheen. Bonding typically takes 30 minutes to an hour per tooth.

Dental bonding is more prone to staining than porcelain veneers. Avoid eating or drinking tooth-staining foods and beverages, and do not smoke, for the first 48 hours. Be sure to brush your teeth frequently and have them professionally cleaned twice a year or as instructed by your dentist.

What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

When a tooth is more damaged or decayed more than a filling can correct, but the damage is not extensive enough to require a crown, dental inlays and onlays can help. An inlay sits between the tooth’s cusps, covering the center surface. An onlay may cover one cusp or the entire chewing surface of the tooth.

Most of the time, dental inlays and onlays are crafted from highly realistic, long-lasting dental porcelain. If budget is a concern, though, they can be made from composite resin. If additional strength is needed, gold may be used. Your dentist will help you decide what is best for you.

‘Smile Makeovers’ in Only Two Visits!

We have your answer to correct misshapen teeth, unsightly gaps, or severe discoloration. The solution may be veneers – thin coverings made from porcelain that are applied over and bond to your natural teeth. They are made from the highest quality dental ceramic and are durable, functional, and give you the ideal smile you’re looking for.

Dazzling Results to Whiten Your Teeth in Just One Visit!

If you thought the stains or discoloration on your teeth could not be removed, we have a small miracle for you! Perhaps you have seen power whitening on TV or in a magazine. With this professional in-office method, you can return your teeth to a brilliant white – in just one visit – and the whiteness can last for years!

Another option is custom-made whitening trays that we produce for you in our own lab. We give you instructions and supplies to take home. It is also an effective method that produces results in 1 – 14 days.

KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching^™ System – BEYOND Extreme!

Sometimes severely stained teeth will need a bleaching system to return them to a brilliant white. Discoloration may have occurred from use of the antibiotic tetracycline. It can be a difficult case, but excellent results have been produced with KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching. We are some of the first dentists in our region to use this system, and we are very pleased to be able to offer this to patients who have been disappointed with other methods. These patients will be very happy with their new, dazzling smile that they thought impossible.

Learn more about Teeth Whitening Deep Bleaching

No Mercury! No Metals! No Kidding!

The silver-mercury amalgam filling has been the standard material for restorations from cavities. It hasn’t been the best option, however, as a metal filling does not bond well to teeth, eventually letting decay seep into the tooth. Also, the appearance of a dark, contrasting filling is not visually pleasing, being very noticeable when you talk or laugh. While many practices still use this filling material, we offer durable composite resin fillings that bond very tightly to the tooth, greatly reducing the chance of decay. As the filling matches the shade of the tooth that is being restored, it is not noticeable and makes for an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Learn more about Metal Filling Replacement