What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the appearance of teeth that show when a person smiles and talks. Feeling self-conscious about smiling? Then it is time to get cosmetic dentistry in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

 

Practiced doctors want to make sure patients have all the facts they need to make an informed decision for their smile, whether they are interested in professional teeth whitening or porcelain veneers. Continue reading to learn about the cosmetic services this office offers patients.

 

What Are The Different Types Of Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry refers to any procedure designed to improve and enhance the appearance of a patient’s smile, whether it be through lifting stains or repairing cracks. Here are the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures that this Bloomfield Hills, MI office offers:

White Fillings

While fillings in the past were made of a metal amalgam that were highly visible within the tooth. Today, a dentist will use composite resin to create white fillings that match the rest of a patients smile.

A cosmetic dentist is careful to make sure a patient’s white tooth filling is the right shade of white to match the rest of their natural teeth. Composite fillings don’t shift around due to changes in temperature, unlike their metal counterparts. This means that patients will be able to enjoy a bowl of ice cream or a cup of coffee without worrying about their white cavity filling staying in place.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are wafer-thin porcelain shells that dentists are able to bond to the fronts of their patient’s teeth. A cosmetic dentist may recommend porcelain veneers if patient’s have front teeth that are slightly chipped, cracked, stained, or discolored. A dentist can also use veneers to close slight gaps between teeth or to cover teeth that are slightly misshapen.

To make room for the dental veneers, a dentist will need to remove a thin layer of enamel from the fronts of the patient’s teeth. The entire veneers procedure takes about two appointments, and veneers can last for more than a decade with proper care. They are also more resistant to staining than natural tooth enamel, so patients will have white teeth for years to come.

Teeth Bonding

A cosmetic dentist is able to apply a tooth-colored resin material to the surface of patients’ teeth during dental bonding. The dentist will then use a special light or laser to harden the material to the teeth. The overall effect is similar to that of veneers, but dental bonding requires less tooth enamel to be removed beforehand.

A cosmetic dentist may recommend teeth bonding if patients have a small cavity or chip in their front tooth. Teeth bonding can also be used to improve the appearance of misshapen teeth or close slight gaps without the use of braces. While the material is not always as sturdy as dental veneers, many people find dental bonding to be more affordable.

Teeth Whitening

A dental professional can help patients achieve the white smile they have always wanted. A professional whitening treatment can whiten a patient’s teeth by several shades in just one appointment, without the sensitivity or potential for damage that can occur with over-the-counter teeth whitening options. A dentist can help patient’s determine which teeth whitening method is best for their smile.

Teeth Contouring

For patients with slightly misshapen teeth, a dentist may recommend teeth contouring. During this procedure, a dentist will use a laser or drill to gently remove tooth enamel. Cosmetic dentistry is as much an art as it is a science. By removing enamel, a dentist is able to effectively reshape the tooth so it’s more aesthetically pleasing.

ZOOM! Teeth Whitening

As is probably known from looking at all the products available in a local pharmacy, big box retailer, or grocery store, tooth whiteners are very popular. People have to be careful with what they put on their teeth, though, because the integrity of the tooth enamel will want to be kept and tooth sensitivity will want to be avoided. In other words, it is best to work with a trusted dentist. And many patients opt for ZOOM! Teeth Whitening.

The ZOOM! Teeth Whitening procedure carries a lot of benefits. First, it has a reputation for producing excellent, safe results. In fact, ZOOM! Teeth Whitening is quite predictable. Secondly—and arguably one of a patients’ most-appreciated aspects of the ZOOM! Process—is how fast it works. It takes under an hour for the special whitening formula to lift and remove stains from a patient’s teeth.

Finally, a patient will get to keep up their whitening at home. The ZOOM! Teeth Whitening treatment includes a kit for home care. Maintaining a patients gleaming smile for months is easy!

What makes ZOOM! Teeth Whitening such a winner among popular whitening treatments? ZOOM! relies on both a bleaching product and an LED light. When the product is exposed to the light, it speeds up the brightening process. Is it any wonder that patients rave about their ZOOM! experiences?

More About At-Home Teeth Bleaching

As mentioned above, a ZOOM! Teeth Whitening treatment includes an at-home kit. The kit can be used as needed to bleach teeth whenever stains from coffee, tea, soda, berries, and other foods and beverages cause a patient’s teeth to get a little yellow or lose their luster.

When using an at-home teeth bleaching kit, patients need to give it some time to work. Unlike an in-office treatment, patients can expect to see results from at-home use in about two weeks. This is perfectly normal. Accordingly, if patients have a special event coming up like a social celebration, holiday party, professional interview, wedding, or anniversary, start using an at-home ZOOM! Teeth Whitening kit around two weeks in advance.

Want More Tips For Keeping Your Teeth Their Whitest?

Patients should keep brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. When eating or drinking stain-causing items, brush again.

Start tooth whitening with a professional, one-hour ZOOM! Teeth Whitening procedure with a dentist. It can be the kickoff needed for patients to achieve their goals related to cosmetic dentistry in Bloomfield Hills, MI!

Finally, patients should Keep up with their whitening after they start it. Once a patient has the whiter teeth they want, they should stay on top of their smile by getting future treatments about every year or two.

A memorable smile could be as easy as one tooth whitening appointment away!

 

Come To Our Office

Our office offers teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and other dental services. Get in contact with our doctors, Dr. Timothy Steimel and Dr. James LoPrete, in our Bloomfield Hills Dental Group office to schedule your next appointment today!