Cosmetic Dentistry
Your smile is one of your most distinctive and individual features. Dentistry is always evolving, and with an assortment of advanced treatment options, achieving a beautiful, functional and healthy smile is easier than ever for patients of all ages. In our experience, most people considering cosmetic dentistry are looking for one of three things: to improve some aspect of their smile, to make their smile look more youthful, or simply to whiten their teeth.
If you’re wondering if cosmetic dentistry could benefit you, ask yourself a few questions, such as:
Are you reluctant to smile?
Would changes to your smile make you feel more self-confident?
Would you like your smile to help you appear more youthful?
Is looking your best in social or professional situations of importance to you?
Have you had a past restoration or dentistry that no longer matches adjacent teeth?
Is there a particular issue with your smile that you’d like to address?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, a cosmetic dental procedure could be the solution you’ve been seeking!
Dentistry is both a science and an art
The science of modern dentistry is well-established, and with ongoing advances in technology and materials, there has never been a wider range of effective treatment options available for achieving a healthy and functional smile. But there is also an artistry to dentistry, and Dr. Phillip has long had a passion and gift for not only keeping your teeth healthy, but transforming your smile into one that will bring joy to you and those around you for many years to come.
Although most people associate cosmetic dentistry with having a “Hollywood smile” or blindingly white teeth, the foundation of a healthy, aesthetically pleasing smile starts with having proper function and appropriate symmetry and proportion among teeth, gum lines and the facial structure.
Sometimes patients don’t know what they don’t like about their smile - they just know they would like it changed in some way. Dr. Phillip has extensive experience working with patients to both diagnose their aesthetic and functional needs and to listen to their concerns and desires to come up with a comprehensive plan for treatment. We can help you feel more confident about yourself with a smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy.
Improving Your Smile
There are many ways in which a smile can be improved. Some common examples include;
Chipped, missing, crooked, or discolored teeth can be beautifully restored to a natural appearance
Spaces or gaps between teeth can be reduced or eliminated
Excessive wear on teeth can be treated and restored to provide both better function and better aesthetics..
Adjustments can be made to your “smile line” relative to your facial structure if too much or too little gums are showing when smiling.
Recreating a more youthful smile by reversing certain visual characteristics of aging teeth, which can become darker in appearance due to the increased translucency of older teeth that will show more interior color
Teeth that have become stained or discolored due to a variety of causes can be whitened and made to look more youthful and natural.
The shape of teeth on edges (for example, the point of a canine) can be lengthened to reverse wear patterns that can make a smile and facial appearance look years younger.
Dr Phillip utilizes a variety of procedures and techniques to accomplish cosmetic objectives, always taking care to ensure that the cosmetic restoration is also contributing to good function and sustainable dental health. Some of the techniques and restorations used for cosmetic dentistry are described in more detail below. We’d love to answer any questions you may still have concerning your smile.
Teeth Whitening
The most frequently requested cosmetic procedure is simply to whiten teeth or remove stains or discoloration. Of course, the easiest and most cost effective means to keep your smile white and bright is regular professional cleanings and good home dental care! There are also over-the-counter products for home bleaching, ranging from special toothpastes to “whitening strips” to various mild abrasives. Care should always be taken when using home treatments without consultation with a dental professional, because excessive use of certain materials can actually damage gum tissue and tooth enamel, which can lead to undesirable long term outcomes very different than those sought in the short term.
We also offer professional bleaching services, where appropriate, such as Zoom in-office whitening, where you can whiten your smile up to 8 shades brighter in just over an hour. We can also dispense professional bleach products to be used at home.
In some cases, simple bleaching cannot achieve the desired cosmetic improvement. In these situations, we can discuss alternatives such as porcelain veneers and cosmetic bonding.
Porcelain Veneers
Whereas bleaching represents perhaps the simplest, least expensive and most temporary option for whitening teeth, veneers are near the other end of the spectrum - a long term restoration that tends to resist staining and can enhance the durability of a tooth, but at a higher up front expense than other options.
A dental veneer is a thin piece of tooth-colored porcelain bonded to the front surface of your natural tooth. In the right circumstances, veneers can be an effective way to address a variety of functional and aesthetic problems. Since veneers are a permanent restoration, however, it is best to understand both the benefits and limitations before choosing such an option.
Professional or home bleaching can whiten teeth, but they will be prone to staining again. Since veneers are more stain-resistant than your natural tooth surface, they can be an effective means to provide a longer-term solution to whitening a smile,
Veneers can also be used to address certain functional and cosmetic issues such as damaged enamel, some types of chips in a tooth, gaps between teeth, or a slightly crooked tooth for which orthodontic treatment is not desired by the patient. More serious long-term functional problems such as enamel abrasion or erosion due to conditions such as acid reflux can sometimes also be treated with veneers.
Because of the high cosmetic impact of veneers and their permanent nature, it is important that the materials, color, shape, size and function of the restoration be properly specified and executed. Dr. Phillip has nearly thirty years experience mastering both the science and artistry of tooth-colored restorations, and would be happy to discuss any questions you may have regarding the applicability of veneers for your smile.
Composite Bonding
A less costly but also less permanent alternative to veneers is composite bonding. Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin to repair certain instances of a decayed, chipped, fractured or discolored tooth. Unlike veneers, which are typically custom-made in a laboratory and require a customized impression and fit to achieve a proper fit, bonding can usually be completed in a single visit.
Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic restoration 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. As with a veneer, It may also be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth. Sometimes bonding is also used as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings.
The composite resin used in bonding is not always as strong as a natural tooth, nor is it completely resistant to staining or as color-stable as a veneer. Biting your fingernails or chewing on ice or pens can chip the material. Bonding usually lasts several years before it needs to be repaired or replaced. How long it actually lasts depends on how much bonding was done and your oral habits.
Making your smile appear more youthful
Color is not the only characteristic that affects the aesthetics of your smile. One of the greatest benefits of cosmetic treatment for many patients is adjusting a smile to create a more youthful appearance. As we age, our teeth and sometimes facial structure also change in appearance. Examples may include:
Loss of facial muscle tone causes the upper lip to cover more tooth structure when the lip is at rest
Wear on teeth with advancing age both shortens the length of teeth and flattens the edges of teeth, including canines, which can create an aged look (and can also impact bite function).
As discussed above, as we age our teeth can become more translucent, making the shade appear darker as the interior color of the tooth becomes more visible.
All of these factors can be addressed by Dr. Phillip to help you achieve a more youthful look.
Gum RecontourinG and Crown lengthening
Gum recontouring or reshaping is a procedure sometimes used when gums are uneven or cover too much or too little of the teeth. This effect can be caused by genetics, as a side effect of untreated periodontal disease or even by the use of certain prescription medications. It results in what is commonly called a "gummy" smile, with teeth that appear smaller than they should. It can also be appropriate in cases where the patient's gums have receded, exposing more tooth surface than necessary.
Gum recontouring is medical procedure that often requires interdisciplinary care with a general dentist and a periodontist. Dr. Phillip works with some of the top periodontists in Austin, and has had wonderful success for her patients with this procedure.