Are You a Smile Makeover Candidate?

In today’s society, beauty is important. An attractive smile can enhance your overall appearance and theres no doubt the confidence of a great smile can positively improve your personal and professional relationships. While the main priority for our team at Aesthetic Smiles is to ensure your overall oral health; we make every effort to enhance your smile so the benefits of our procedures last a lifetime.

Dr. Maryam Motlagh and her team at Aesthetic Smiles offer customized smile makeover treatment plans that use a combination of cosmetic dentistry procedures to improve the appearance of your smile. Generally, patients looking to have a smile makeover already have good oral health and are just unhappy with their smile or any cosmetic dental flaws.

The Process and What We Look For:

Healthy Teeth and Gums

To determine which patients are right for a smile makeover, we take X-rays and examine your teeth and gums to ensure that they are free of infection or other dental problems. If any problem areas are identifed we will need to treat these conditions before moving forward with a smile makeover treatment.

Aesthetic Dental Imperfections

If you have any of the following dental imperfections, you may be a good candidate for a smile makeover.

Tooth discoloration: Tooth discoloration can be reduced with teeth whitening, or we can mask stains with porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

Uneven gum line or gummy smile: We can perform the laser gum contouring procedure to reduce the amount of gum tissue that shows when you smile, or to create a more symmetrical gum line.

Mis-shaped teeth: If certain teeth are too small in proportion to surrounding teeth, or are otherwise misshaped, we can use porcelain veneers or dental crowns to create a more uniform appearance.

Crooked teeth: Crooked teeth can be treated with orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign®. In some cases, we may be able to create an illusion of straight teeth with porcelain veneers.

Gapped teeth: Gaps between the teeth can be filled in with porcelain veneers or dental bonding, or orthodontic treatment can be performed to shift the teeth and bring them closer together.

Smile Makeover Comparison: Dental Bonding vs. Porcelain Veneers

Our team loves to help patients achieve stunning, radiant smiles through cosmetic dentistry. Virtually any smile can be transformed using popular cosmetic dentistry treatments like dental bonding and porcelain veneers, both of which can be customized to the unique needs and goals of the individual patient. When a patient schedules an in my office for a consultation, we explain the benefits and drawbacks of each treatment so they can make fully informed decisions about how to proceed with the process if they choose.

What are the Similarities and Differences Between Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers?

Dental bonding and porcelain veneers share a common goal: to rejuvenate smiles by restoring whiteness to discolored teeth and conceal aesthetic flaws such as chips, cracks, and imperfections in shape or size. Although they are both highly effective, there are very different in their approach.

Dental Bonding

This procedure applies a malleable composite resin material directly onto the front surfaces of the teeth. Once this step is finished, we meticulously sculpt the material so that the treated teeth complement the surrounding teeth perfectly in terms of their size, shape, and texture. After exposing the material to a curing light to harden, a final polish completes the procedure.

While the composite resin material is not quite as natural looking as porcelain, dental bonding produces outstanding results that generally cost less than porcelain veneers. Unlike porcelain veneers, dental bonding is also reversible, as no removal of enamel is necessary prior to the procedure.

Porcelain Veneers

Like tooth enamel, porcelain is translucent, allowing some light to pass through its surface rather than reflecting all light. The natural look of porcelain veneers makes them the most transformative smile makeover treatment. When custom-crafted veneers are bonded to the front teeth, they are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. They can also last for a decade or longer with proper oral hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist.

Porcelain veneers do require a lifetime commitment since a small amount of enamel is removed prior to their placement. They are also more expensive than dental bonding, though most patients find the investment well worthwhile once they see their extraordinary new smiles!

Dental Exams and Cleanings: What to Expect

Daily brushing and flossing are important components of any dental hygiene routine. But for the most comprehensive oral care, patients should also attend dental exam and cleaning appointments every six months. These general dentistry services enable us to identify oral health problems early and reduce the risk of dental problems by removing damaging plaque and tartar from the teeth.

What Happens During a Dental Exam?

Digital X-rays

We take digital X-rays during dental appointments. These X-rays reduce the amount of radiation exposure for patients. In addition, the X-ray images can be displayed on the computer screen in our exam rooms, allowing Dr. Motlagh to enlarge the images and show you any areas of concern that have developed.

For new patients at our practice, we will take a full set of X-rays. Following your initial appointment, we may take smaller, alternating sets of follow-up X-rays to monitor your oral health.

Visual Exam

Look for any signs of redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums, which could indicate the presence of gum disease.Measure the depth of periodontal pockets; large pockets are an indication of gum disease.Check for signs of tooth decay using a small metal probe.Evaluate your bite alignment; problems with the bite can contribute to temporomandibular disorder and bruxism.Check the lymph nodes, tongue, cheeks, lips, and other soft tissues for signs of oral cancer.

Your Unique Analysis

After we have reviewed your dental X-rays and performed your visual exam, Dr. Motlagh will discuss any areas of concern we have found. She may recommend techniques to improve your at-home oral hygiene, or she may recommend restorative treatment to improve the health and function of the teeth and gums.

Professional Dental Cleaning

Dental cleaning involves several steps to thoroughly remove built up plaque and tartar and superficial stains.

First, we use a combination of special dental tools, water irrigation, and suction to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth. We then methodically move from tooth to tooth, addressing the front and back of the teeth to scrape away debris and flush it out of the mouth. Special attention is paid to the gum line, back molars, and between the teeth. These areas are more difficult to clean and are especially vulnerable to dental health problems.

Once we have loosened or removed most of the plaque and tartar, we will floss the teeth to remove any additional debris that remains between the teeth or at the gum line.

Finally, we will polish the teeth to remove surface stains and finish your professional dental cleaning.