Cosmetic Dental Procedures

In-Office Whitening

What is TEETH WHITENING?

Everybody wants a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours. Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from daily oral hygiene and regular cleanings at your dentist’s office, but if you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your whitening options. There are many reasons that teeth can be discolored. Dr. Alexander can discuss different bleaching options that will give you the best individual results based on the causes of your tooth discoloration. Zoom Bleaching is an option that Dr. Alexander offers for in-office bleaching.

With Philips Zoom in-office whitening, you can unlock a smile up to 8 shades whiter in just 45 minutes. The added bonus? You get outstanding results with little to no sensitivity.

Why choose Philips Zoom in-office whitening?

When you choose in-office tooth whitening, stronger whitening ingredients are used to safely complete your treatment. The result? Instantly brighter teeth, with little to no sensitivity.

Treatment starts with Dr. Alexander checking your current shade, so you can both see the dramatic difference after your treatment is complete. Before pictures will be taken so you can compare.

Your dentist preps your mouth for whitening and applies a layer of advanced whitening gel to your teeth.

To speed up the whitening process, a blue LED lamp will shine onto your teeth. This accelerates the whitening, plus the lamp’s variable settings ensure you’ll get a comfortable experience.

This is repeated three times – and is completed in just 45 minutes!

Once you’ve reached your desired shade, we will apply a post-treatment gel to help protect enamel and reduce sensitivity.

Before you leave the office, you’ll receive customized whitening trays and a take home whitening kit if you elected to also have at-home bleaching trays made. This way, you can top-up the brightness of your smile whenever you want to.

At Home Bleaching

At-home Bleaching Trays

Peroxide-containing whiteners actually bleach the tooth enamel. They typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard made specifically for you in our office. Impressions will be made of your teeth to fabricate your guard. Dr. Alexander will tell you how to use the trays and load the bleach. Extra bleach can always be purchased at the office. There are potential side effects, such as increased sensitivity or gum irritation associated with bleaching. Speak with Dr. Alexander if you have any concerns.

At-home Bleaching Strips

These strips can be purchased over-the-counter but have a decreased amount of whitener in them so they take longer to achieve desired results.

Whitening Toothpastes

All toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives. “Whitening” toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not change the color of teeth because they can only remove stains on the surface.

Veneers

PORCELAIN VENEERS

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel. It is often the material of choice for those looking to make slight position alterations, or to change tooth shape, size, and/or color. Talk with Dr. Alexander to see if veeners are right for you.

What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?

  • Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth.

  • Teeth that are worn down

  • Teeth that are chipped or broken

  • Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped

  • Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

Porcelain laminate veneers consist of a compilation of several thin ceramic layers which replace original tooth enamel, and an adhesive layer. To apply a veneer, a very small amount of the original tooth enamel must be removed, usually less than a millimeter. This is essential as it creates room for the porcelain veneer to fit within the mouth and most accurately restore natural tooth function while creating an even better appearance than the original tooth.

The bond between original tooth and porcelain veneer is critical as it not only provides the aesthetic perfection desired, but also a strong bond which is essential for correct veneer function. Light-sensitive resin is placed between the original tooth and the veneer and then hardened using a special curing light.

Bonding

Bonding is a popular treatment option because it provides a successful attachment between the filling material, a tooth colored composite resin, and the tooth’s original enamel and dentin. It looks like the original tooth and functions like it as well. The procedure is called bonding because the material bonds to the tooth.

What is Bonding Used for?

Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. The composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Most often, bonding is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It also can be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth.

Sometimes, bonding also is used as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede.

Bonding has many uses in dentistry today! Let Dr. Alexander discuss with you if bonding can be used to solve you cosmetic concerns.

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