Not too long ago, dentistry was more about function than form. Pulling teeth, filling cavities, performing root canals — the basics got done, but not much more.
With today’s technological advances, much of the focus of dentistry has shifted to cosmetic issues. Many patients are concerned about how we can make their teeth and their smile look much better.
At Portrait Dental in Katy, Texas, we hear these concerns and we’ve got you covered. Not only can Dr. Minh Nguyen and our team restore the natural function of your teeth, we can improve the visual appearance of your smile as well. Here are five of the most common cosmetic dental treatments we offer.
Teeth whitening is one of the easiest and most popular cosmetic dental improvements you can make. Cosmetic teeth bleaching is a $3.2 billion global industry, and it’s not slowing down.
Your teeth naturally become more yellow with age as the outer layer of enamel cracks and flakes away through wear-and-tear. Add in coffee, tobacco, and more, and your teeth no longer sparkle.
We offer Zoom! teeth whitening, which involves a bleaching solution and a special laser that causes a chemical reaction that can make your smile up to eight shades whiter. We also offer a take-home system you can do yourself.
If your teeth don’t respond to whitening or your smile isn’t symmetrical, veneers might just do the trick. These thin ceramic shells are perfect to fix a variety of cosmetic imperfections, such as chipped teeth, small teeth, pointy teeth, severely discolored teeth, or a gap in your teeth.
During a series of appointments, we add the veneers over your natural teeth to create a clean, uniform appearance. Veneers can last 10-15 years if you take proper care of them.
If you have a tooth that’s significantly damaged, an inlay or onlay can be bonded to the tooth to reconstruct it, restoring both its form and function.
These are a good alternative to fillings because they can actually increase the strength of your tooth rather than weakening it, as fillings do.
Inlays and onlays are traditionally made of gold, but porcelain is becoming more popular.
Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic aligners to address orthodontic issues in your mouth, such as teeth that are crooked, misaligned, or crowded.
You wear each set of plastic aligners for a week or two before moving to a new set that further adjusts your teeth. You just take the aligners out to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
Many people love this option because it allows them to straighten their teeth without the process being so noticeable.
If veneers aren’t right for your situation, bonding can also restore teeth that are chipped, cracked, or discolored. We apply a bonding liquid to your teeth followed by a plastic resin that we sculpt into the desired shape.
Once the resin sets, we trim and polish it to achieve a natural appearance. This procedure usually takes just one office visit.
If you’re ready to pursue a cosmetic dental treatment to improve the appearance of your smile, call our office or use our online scheduler to request an appointment today. We can’t wait to make your smile great!
