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Cosmetics
 Smile Makeovers can entail an entire spectrum of
complexity, from simple whitening to makeovers that
utilize orthodontics, root canals, gum surgery,
implants, porcelain veneers, crowns ,bridges and
even jaw surgery.
Some individual makeovers may need different
specialists and many months, if not years to
complete, but often we find we can get by with a
little whitening, some straightening, and a crown or
laminate here or there.
We
treat a considerable number of TMD (temporomandibular
joint disorder) patients with limited jaw function
and many times suggest they limit their elective
cosmetic work to a minimum.
Such as,
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1. |
Whitening alone
may be sufficient to get the improvement you
had in mind. If that’s the case, it’s ideal
because studies show bleaching doesn’t harm
enamel and in general is the best value for
your cosmetic dollar. |
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2. |
Whitening along with orthodontics for crooked teeth.
If your chief complaint is that you hate
your crooked teeth, sometimes your smile can
be corrected with porcelain veneers, but
sometimes it makes more sense to take time
and straighten your smile with orthodontics.
Orthodontics is considered less invasive.
Invisalign orthodontics makes it a more
practical adult alternative. |
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3. |
Whitening
along with placing a few
select porcelain restorations.
Blending a single porcelain veneer or crown
into a smile filled with natural teeth can
be extremely challenging. We try, we often
succeed, and it can be so much less
expensive, but sometimes it’s not quite
enough of an improvement as far as the
patient is concerned. In that case 10 or 12
porcelain veneers often will give the smile
improvement you are searching for. |
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are also known as porcelain
laminates. Imagine fake fingernails and you are
close to envisioning veneers. They are usually a
major part of the dramatic smile transformations you
see on the makeover shows. The esthetic improvement
can be dramatic and sometimes startling. Veneers are
definitely less invasive than full crowns and
therefore are preferable.
Veneers are often described as “minimally invasive.”
When your tooth is prepared with a drill for a
veneer, while the enamel removal is minimal compared
to the amount removed for a conventional crown,
enough enamel is removed so that you’ll need at
least a veneer on that tooth for the rest of your
life. Porcelain laminates consistently give a superb
cosmetic result, as fine as any restoration in
dentistry; they are less invasive than porcelain
crowns, but veneers in our office (we do not speak
for other practices) are not a reversible procedure.
Laminates generally last from 5 to 15 years and may
last longer, however, they might need repair prior
to the 5 year mark if they chip from grinding or get
recurrent decay. |
