Cosmetic Dentistry
A beautiful, bright, healthy smile is not only one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your appearance, it can improve your self-confidence as well.
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Tooth whitening is a process in which the discolorations in the enamel of your teeth are whitened. click the title for more information
The discolorations may be due to age, coffee, red wine, cigarettes, or even some foods and medications. Whitening your teeth is a quick and painless process to give you a younger, brighter smile! At Stapleton Dental, we use the Pola Advanced Tooth Whitening System to brighten your smile.
Pola Office is the fastest way to a whiter smile. In just 30 minutes, you will walk out of the office up to 8 shades lighter! Dr. Dougherty and her staff will clean your teeth and apply a resin barrier to protect your gums. A hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to each tooth and a dental light shines on each tooth for about 30 seconds each. The gel is removed from your teeth and the process is repeated 2 more times. You will leave the office with a significantly whiter, brighter smile!
Pola Night is a process in which your teeth will whiten while you sleep. Dr. Dougherty and her staff will make custom trays for your teeth. You wear the trays with Pola Night gel inside them overnight or for as little as 40 minutes per day (depending on the concentration right for your teeth). This procedure is repeated for 5-10 nights.
Pola Day allows you to whiten your teeth at home. After having custom trays made for your teeth by Dr. Dougherty and her staff, you will wear the trays with Pola Day gel inside them for as little as 30 minutes per day (depending on the concentration right for your teeth).
Advantages: Tooth whitening is a safe, harmless procedure that allows you to improve your smile quickly and easily.
Disadvantages: Temporary sensitivity may develop on the teeth and/or gums while whitening. This subsides after a day or two of not using the product. Wear times can be shortened or less frequent and teeth can be brushed with desensitizing toothpaste.
Alternatives: Occasionally, teeth may be stained or discolored in such a way that the effects of teeth whitening may be limited. In these cases, porcelain veneers or crowns may be considered as excellent alternatives.
Porcelain laminates (veneers) are used to treat gaps between teeth, stained or discolored teeth, crooked teeth, chipped teeth, or teeth that are disproportionate in size when compared to the rest of the mouth. click the title for more information
Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth. They are crafted in a laboratory; each veneer custom-made for your mouth.
Advantages: Veneers create the illusion of an exceptionally natural, beautiful smile. They are conservative restorations to place (not much, if any, tooth structure removed) and are resilient and long-lasting when compared to other cosmetic treatments.
Disadvantages: Porcelain veneers have the same downfall as crowns and bridges: while long-lasting, durable restorations, they will have to be replaced over time.
Alternatives: When all that is desired is a whiter smile, chairside tooth whitening should be considered. Cosmetic bonding is an alternative, although less durable, solution to treating gaps between teeth or chipped teeth. If treating crooked teeth, orthodontic treatment is another option to be examined. If treating a tooth with extensive decay, the only option is a full crown.
A dental implant is used to replace the root of a missing tooth. If a patient is missing more than one tooth in an area of the mouth, two or more implants may be placed to offer a base for a fixed bridge (see the section on bridges). click the title for more information
After being surgically attached to the jawbone, a crown is placed on top of the implant. The result is a natural-looking, fully functional replacement for the missing tooth or teeth. Implants can also be used to support a denture, providing greater stability, comfort, and chewing capability.
Advantages: An implant is the next-best-thing to your own tooth. Implants are strong, long-lasting and virtually undetectable in your mouth. By replacing missing teeth, implants restore your bite to its proper state. This helps you to avoid jaw problems that can occur when your bite is off due to teeth shifting to fill in the gap from a missing tooth.
Disadvantages: There are few disadvantages to dental implants. Implants are the modern way to replace a missing tooth or teeth. However, implants do require surgery and time to heal. Although the initial investment for implants is higher than the cost of dentures, implants are a far superior restoration and will last much longer than removable dentures.
Alternatives: When missing just one tooth, a fixed bridge may be an option. Removable dentures are sometimes the only alternative when finances are of primary concern.
