cosmetic
Tooth whitening is the #1 requested and performed cosmetic dental procedure. Tooth whitening is a procedure that lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration.
A thin coating forms on your teeth throughout the day, which attracts stains. The tooth's enamel contains pores that hold stains. Cavities need to be treated before teeth are whitened because the whitening solution can penetrate decay and reach inner areas of the tooth, which can cause sensitivity. Receding gums can cause roots to become exposed. Whitening will not work on exposed tooth roots, because roots do not have an enamel layer. Whitening also does not work on tooth restorations such as crowns or veneers.
Whitening can be done in the dental office or at home.
Lumineers porcelain veneers offer the painless way to a permanently whiter and perfectly aligned smile. Lumineers are applied contact lens-thin "smile shapers" to teeth without any grinding or shaving of your natural teeth.
Lumineers transform teeth into a naturally beautiful appearing smile that looks perfect for every individual. Lumineers can even be placed over existing crown or bridgework without having to replace them.
BENEFITS:
- No shots
- No grinding away tooth structure
- Could be a reversible procedure
There is now new technology that allows you to replace old silver and gold fillings with a more natural looking, composite filling. Composite fillings are bonded to the tooth and research has proven them to be about 90% as strong as healthy, natural tooth material.
Other Benefits:
- Beautiful in appearance
- Completed in a single visit
- No filling leaks
- Less chance of tooth cracking
Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental 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
- To close slight spaces between teeth
- To make teeth look longer
- Or to change the shape or color of teeth
Dr. Ball is a cosmetic dentist in Indianapolis.
A Veneer procedure is a popular cosmetic procedure. Veneers may be recommended in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures to produce optimal results.
Veneers are a thin, semi-transparent tooth shaped "shell" that are custom made of porcelain. They are permanently bonded to your natural teeth which are located in your "smile zone" to enhance their shape, color, length or size.
Veneers can fix gaps between teeth and/or improve the appearance of teeth that are discolored, misshapen or misaligned.
Procedure:
1) The teeth are cleaned and any old surface restorations are removed.
2) An impression is taken of the prepped tooth and sent to a lab where a veneer is fabricated.
3) The veneer is applied with bonding resin and curing light.
4) After the veneer is set, it is shaped and polished to look like a natural tooth.
The most common type of home tooth whitening involves placing a gel-like whitening solution, which usually contains hydrogen peroxide, in a tray that resembles a Nightguard or mouth guard. Over-the-counter mouthpieces are unlikely to fit correctly and can cause gum irritation if the whitening agent seeps out. The tray is then placed over the teeth for a certain period of time, anywhere from an hour or two to overnight.
