
Having a healthy smile is always the highest priority at The Dental Center of Midlothian. But we understand that many patients wish they could improve certain aspects of their smile, even if they’re sent home with a clean bill of dental health. Whether it’s minor imperfections or total smile makeovers, Dr. Johnson will take all of your cosmetic goals into consideration when recommending treatment. Don’t wait to get your smile looking brighter than ever before, give our dental office a call to get started!
Is your smile filled with permanent discoloration that teeth whitening struggles to fix or have cracks and chips that you’d prefer to cover up quickly? Porcelain veneers utilize ultra-thin sheaths of ceramic to hide these imperfections while still looking incredibly natural. Once bonded to your natural teeth, your friends and family members won’t know the difference between your actual teeth and your veneers! With proper care, they should last between 10 and 15 years.
Minor cracks or chips can happen, especially if you’re active in contact sports. Of course, enamel wears down over time and becomes more fragile, resulting in minor damage as well. If your teeth are healthy but appear damaged, cosmetic bonding can help! This treatment uses composite resin that is blended and shaded to match your existing teeth. It’s also considered to be an affordable alternative to veneers, especially if you only have a few teeth to repair.
Tooth enamel dulls over time, especially if you drink many staining foods and beverages. When your teeth lose some of their luster, teeth whitening can invigorate its appearance and give you newfound confidence in your smile! Our dental office offers both in-office teeth whitening for fast results while our take-home whitening kits provide convenience for those on the go. In-office teeth whitening only takes about one hour, while take-home whitening can be performed over the course of two weeks.
Dr. Johnson is specially trained to perform adult orthodontics, which is why his dental office provides revolutionary treatments like Invisalign! This alternative to traditional metal hardware is ideal for those who want to keep their current appearance as well as avoid the inconveniences typically found with braces. Their transparent appearance ensures that no one notices that you’re undergoing treatment. They are also removable, which allows you to eat the foods you want and maintain your current oral care technique.
Given what you’ve already read, you may want to see a cosmetic dentist in Midlothian. It’d certainly make sense — they could transform your smile from the ground up! However, you likely want to learn more about cosmetic dentistry first. After all, how else can you confirm if its treatments are right for you? Luckily, we at the Dental Center of Midlothian can help: below are the answers to some oft-asked questions concerning cosmetic dental work. Please read them over and learn what our procedures entail. Otherwise, feel free to call our office for details!
If you don’t love how your teeth look, chances are you’d benefit from cosmetic dentistry. Its various treatments can correct all sorts of smile flaws.
Consider tooth stains or discoloration, for instance. These often can’t be fixed with over-the-counter whiteners, which have lackluster ingredients. In contrast, professional whitening is strong enough to do the job. Plus, it results in a bright smile that even makes your face look younger!
Cosmetic work could fix your chipped or cracked teeth, too. After all, veneers and crowns hide such damage beneath protective, tooth-colored layers.
Of course, the only way to confirm treatment benefits is to consult a dentist. They can suggest procedures that make the changes you want.
Your improved smile’s lifespan will depend on the specific service(s) you get. As you might expect, some treatments’ results last longer than others.
Quick and easy treatments — teeth whitening, direct bonding, etc. — don’t usually have long lifespans. They rely on cheaper materials and tools, so they need frequent touchups. Exceptions do exist, though.
Meanwhile, lengthy procedures tend to last longer. For example, veneers have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. Likewise, the results of Invisalign and other clear aligners can last a lifetime if you wear a retainer.
While you might fear cosmetic dentistry hurts, you shouldn’t. Its treatments are generally painless since dentists make care comfortable.
For starters, most cosmetic dental work is non-invasive. Patients can (and do) get nicer teeth just by applying harmless gels or resins. Teeth whitening and dental bonding don’t even need anesthetics.
Furthermore, dentists take precautions during invasive procedures. For instance, when reshaping teeth for veneers, they’ll numb your mouth beforehand. There might be some soreness post-treatment, but this effect is mild and temporary.
If done by a trained professional, most cosmetic dental treatments are perfectly safe. They won’t cause any harm to your teeth, gums, or general oral health.
That said, not every procedure is ideal for every patient. Some services might not produce the right results, while others are risky if an underlying issue isn’t treated first. As an example, it’d be unwise to get a veneer for a decayed tooth — doing so would make the decay harder to fix. Therefore, you should talk to your dentist before making a final decision.