Progressive Dental Cosmetic Dentistry Options

Porcelain Veneers, also called porcelain laminates, are laboratory fabricated ceramic restorations offering some of the very best in shade matching and esthetic design.

Porcelain veneers are a desirable restoration/cosmetic technique when the underlying tooth is fairly strong and free of large caries (cavities) or restorations; they are also very desirable when the appearance of the tooth is important.

Porcelain veneers require a minimal amount of tooth reduction when compared to other restoration techniques, which in most cases leads to greater patient comfort during and after the procedure.

Porcelain veneers achieve their excellent reputation for shade matching and esthetics because, before they are placed with special shaded cements, porcelain veneers are translucent. Translucency allows natural light to pass through, just like a natural tooth does, Some other dental techniques that use opaque materials don’t give the same natural appearance.

Porcelain veneers are usually done in multiples of two. Often the front two or four teeth are done. In the case below the front eight teeth were done. The result speaks for itself in the photos below.

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Before Porcelain Veneers After Porcelain Veneers

all ceramic crowns

All Ceramic Crowns are similar to porcelain veneers, in that they are cosmetic restorations made without the traditional metal framework that the porcelain fused to metal crown has.

There are several advantages to not having metal under the porcelain. First of all is the matter of color.

In cosmetic dentistry shade, or color, is obviously crucial. Since the all ceramic crown is translucent, sometimes with a tooth colored all ceramic core, the color is more natural, and easily controlled.

Have you seen other crowns that have dark gray or black looking edges or margins? Perhaps you even have a restoration or two like that yourself? All Ceramic Crowns don't have metal margins to show like that. No dark metal margins make for a nicer, far more natural looking restoration.

The other primary advantage of the all ceramic crown is that it’s often more biocompatible than other types of crowns.

Gum tissue responds better to the all ceramic crown than it sometimes does to a porcelain/metal one.

Why would you use an all ceramic crown instead of a porcelain veneer? Usually when more strength is required.

When a tooth has been overly compromised by large fillings, decay, previous endodontic therapy (root canal) or if it’s just plain broken, the all ceramic crown is a great choice. Not every case is a good candidate for the all ceramic restoration.

Dr. Salah can personally advise you how to make your smile the best that it can be!

In many cases the restoration of a smile uses both porcelain veneers and all ceramic crowns in concert. When the same laboratory, and the same technician fabricate them, at the same time. The results are incredible!

The photos below show what happens when the teeth are bleached, and all ceramic crowns replace worn, stained bonding.

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Before Bleaching and All Ceramic Crowns After Bleaching and All Ceramic Crowns

cosmetic whitening

Bleaching or whitening of the teeth is one of the fastest, most popular, least expensive, most comfortable ways to make your smile look it’s best!

Dr. Salah uses two very effective techniques to whiten your teeth. The first, least expensive way is with bleaching trays.

First, impressions of your teeth are taken in our office in a brief appointment or at your regular preventive care visit. Then our assistants use those impressions to create stone models. With the precision stone models Dr. Salah fabricates your custom bleaching trays.

The trays are usually worn, with the professional strength bleaching gel, at night while sleeping. Day by day the patient notices their rapidly improving shade!

There are three important things to remember about cosmetic bleaching:

Usually after approximately two weeks maximum whitening is achieved.

Bleaching is safe. The dental profession, for almost twenty years, has used the basic bleaching technique.

Side effects are minimal and temporary.

Side effects include transient cold sensitivity, usually limited to the two weeks when the trays and gel are being used.

Also sensitive gum tissue can occur, but this too is temporary, and usually only happens if too much bleach is being used on each application.

Bleaching is often recommended before other cosmetic techniques are done, to maximize the appearance of your great new smile!

The second, most modern and by far the post popular method for cosmetic whitening in our practice is using the ZOOM® cosmetic whitening system.

ZOOM® uses a special, high intensity light that activates a professionally applied bleaching gel for rapid results in just one appointment.

Because of product costs, chair time and the professional attention from Dr. Salah and his assistants, the fees for this procedure are slightly higher than using a take home tray system. But over one hundred people in our practice and thousands nationwide have been thrilled by the power of ZOOM® in office whitening in just one appointment!

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Before Bleaching After Bleaching

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cosmetic bonding

Bonding is a technique that is done just in the dental office; no outside laboratories are used. This gives bonding two big pluses

First, since there is no lab, there is no waiting. Your cosmetic work is done the moment you leave the office.

Second there is the matter of expense. One visit and no lab bill, equals less overhead for the office. Those savings are passed on to you, the patient, in the form of lower professional fees.

Like the porcelain veneer there is very little, if any, tooth reduction. This makes bonding usually quite comfortable for the patient during and after the procedure.

Unlike the porcelain veneer, bonding is a plastic material. Since it is light cured, not fired in a vacuum/kiln like the porcelain veneer, it is more porous and less hard.

What this means to you is that the lifespan of the bonded restoration is shorter than the all ceramic one. They show stains and scratches more readily and require replacement sooner.

Since Dr. Salah fabricates the bonded restoration right on your teeth, he doesn’t have the same shading options as the laboratory technician does who is making the porcelain veneer at a workbench in their studio.

The bonding material does come in many shades and good results are common. Spectacular results however, usually come from the all porcelain restorations.

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Before Cosmetic Bonding After Cosmetic Bonding