Patient Services | Cosmetic Dentistry

You can look good and have a healthy smile. Most people who are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth do not realize the numerous ways cosmetic dentistry can heal a smile. Cosmetic dentistry can correct crooked teeth, spaces between your teeth, stained or discolored teeth, chipped teeth, broken or missing teeth and having a "gummy" smile. Your Flagship Dental dentist creates a customized treatment plan for you, based on your age and goals for your teeth as well as your finances.

Porcelain Veneers

Most of the smile makeovers you have seen on television or in magazines are the result of porcelain veneers. These custom made, thin strips of porcelain are adhered to the fronts of existing teeth to create a natural, beautiful smile. Issues like crooked teeth, chipped teeth, gaps in teeth and discolored teeth are all easily correctable with porcelain veneers. Just a few appointments are all that separate you from the beauty and self-confidence that come from a brilliant smile.

Tooth Whitening – At Home

You can have the confidence that comes from a bright, white smile. If you are happy with the alignment and spacing of your teeth, a tooth whitening procedure may be all that separates you from a dazzling smile. Tooth whitening is safe, effective and long lasting.

Your custom home whitening kit involves a special tray that is customized to fit over your teeth. You also receive prescription whitening gel, which is inserted into the tray before you wear it. Dr. Dullea, Dr. Smith or Dr. Kelliher gives you detailed instructions about how long you should wear the tray each day and you should expect the entire home whitening process to take between two and four weeks, leaving you with a dazzling smile.

Porcelain Bridges

Sometimes gum disease, injury, decay or simply wear results in the loss of a tooth. A large gap in your smile can create significant problems for your dental health if it isn't corrected. Over time your bite pressure may shift to other parts of your mouth to compensate for an inability to chew efficiently in the area of the missing tooth. Neighboring teeth may begin to move about, moving into the gap and resulting in discomfort, pain and more problems down the road. Porcelain bridges "bridge the gap" in your smile. Drs. Dullea, Smith and Kelliher create a lifelike, functional bridge to correct your smile, restore your bite and alleviate your discomfort. A porcelain bridge is created out of metal, alloys or porcelain and utilizes the teeth on both sides of the gap as its supportive structure. After some preparation of the two neighboring teeth, crowns are created for them. A prosthetic tooth, or pontic, is fused between the crowns to fill the gap. A bridge is a semi-permanent dental restoration, meaning it can only be removed by a dentist, so you can rest assured that your porcelain bridge will be a lasting restoration to your oral health.

Porcelain Crowns

Your teeth undergo a tremendous amount of wear and tear during your lifetime. Teeth may show this wear in a variety of ways, including discoloration, chipping and cracking. Crowns restore your teeth and your smile to look brilliant once again. Porcelain crowns can be made out of porcelain pressed to metal or are porcelain throughout and can be shaded to match your other teeth. Crowns made of precious metal are also an option. After some tooth preparation, crowns are specially fitted to give you back the look and functionality of your smile. If you have pain when chewing or temperature sensitivity, ask Dr. Dullea, Dr. Smith or Dr. Kelliher if crowns are for you.

Tooth-colored Fillings

When the decay has been taken out of the tooth, it is replaced with "filling" material. In the past, amalgam (silver) fillings were placed into the cleaned out portion of the tooth. With advancements in dentistry, you can now have tooth-colored fillings instead of silver fillings resulting in a brighter, whiter smile. Tooth-colored fillings are made from a composite resin that can be shaped and shaded by your dentist to match you natural teeth. The filling is bonded to the tooth, creating a seal and reinforcing the natural structure of the tooth. Tooth-colored fillings look great and have similar durability to silver fillings. Many patients even elect to exchange their old silver fillings with tooth-colored fillings.

Bonding

Bonding is a tooth-colored material applied and adhered to the surface of the tooth without reducing the structure of the tooth in most cases. Then, your Flagship Dental dentist will sculpt the material to create a natural-looking tooth. Bonding corrects chipped and broken teeth, discolored teeth and in some cases can correct gaps. It is less expensive than veneers but doesn't last as long and can stain. A benefit of bonding is that generally, the natural structure of the tooth can be maintained.