An Overview of Cosmetic Dentistry

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ADMS
Health & Medical
Sunrise Dentistry
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/an-overview-of-cosmetic-dentistry/
An Overview of Cosmetic
Dentistry
B L O G  |  S U N R I S E  D E N T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
At Sunrise Dentistry, Dr. Strietzel and
his assistants strive to accomplish
beautiful, high functioning, and healthy
dentistry for all of our patients. When
we are protecting the life of a molar with
a crown, filling a cavity to meet both
restorative and aesthetic goals, or
helping a patient get back their smile,
we want the best for our patients.
We think of those who, after they have
spent years not smiling in public or
covering their mouth when they laugh
because they have been embarrassed by
their teeth. We remember the giddy
patients who were so excited for the
results of their teeth whitening, veneers,
or the removal of their mercury fillings.
In this blog, we will focus primarily
on cosmetic dentistry and provide
brief overviews of options that are
available in dentistry today.
Cosmetic dentistry can bring out the
best in ourselves. When you like the
teeth you see when you look in the
mirror, you are more likely to smile and
laugh, work up the courage to ask the
person you like out on a date, or even
just let yourself shine, all because you
are not worried someone is judging
your teeth.
Unique, individualized crowns and
veneers, made to fit the face and
mouth, can bring back the shape and
look of youthful teeth and even build
confidence. Our office strives to make
all our work fully address each
patient’s unique needs, so work is
customized for them, resulting in
stunning dentistry created around
optimum bite, erosion, and wear
needs.
Teeth Whitening
One of the more common cosmetic
questions we are asked in our office is
“How do I get my teeth whiter?”
When a patient has done all they can
through their dental and diet
regimen to keep their teeth white,
sometimes it takes a little help.
In our office, we use whitening trays;
with these, patients take home a
whitening kit that they use until they
are satisfied with the results. A mold is
made of the teeth, and after applying a
whitening solution, patients wear
them for a set period of time. The
molds can be used for many years, and
new solutions can be purchased when
patients run out.
There are many other methods for
whitening teeth. In the office, some
dentists can use a high peroxide solution
on the teeth, wait for a while, rinse, and
then reapply if needed.
Veneers
Many stars walking the red carpet are
sporting their veneered smiles. This is
perhaps one of the most common
cosmetic dentistry procedures being
done all over the world.
Though these are also considered to
be a whitening solution, veneers are
meant more for cosmetic restorations
that address deformities in the smile
line, such as permanently discolored
teeth, chips, and gaps. A veneer,
typically porcelain, is placed by first
slightly filing down the teeth that will
be getting the veneers. It is laid over
the tooth and cemented on. It is
thinner than a crown, and not
thought to be as strong as crowns.
Mercury fillings: YOU HAVE A
CHOICE!
For me personally, I had an experience
a few years ago that really made me
think about aesthetics and teeth. Each
person has their own opinion about
their teeth. Some may be quite happy
with what they see when they look in
the mirror, and others may feel
downright embarrassed.
I was ok with mine until one day,
when I was sitting across from a five-
year-old girl trying to teach her some
new guitar chords, she said to me,
“What is all that black on your
teeth?” Taken aback by such a
question, knowing she was looking
at all the mercury fillings I had all the
way up to the edge of my upper and
lower front (anterior) teeth, I replied,
“Oh those are all fillings I got from
cavities I had when I was a kid.
Much to my chagrin, she asked, “you
had THAT many cavities?” While I
took the opportunity to counsel her
on the evils of sugar, in the back of my
mind it raised questions to me. “Is this
what people see when I open my
mouth to sing? Laugh? Engage in
lively conversation? And should I
consider mercury filling removal?” 
(After all, most of those fillings were
more than 30 years old and I hadn’t
been to a dentist in more than two
decades to see if they were still holding
up).
Compatibility with Orthodontic
Accessories
In a conversation with a dental
assistant, I asked her if she had
cavities as a kid. When she said yes, I
asked her if they were mercury
fillings she said, “My mom wouldn’t
let the dentist use mercury fillings. 
In most dentists’ offices, when back
teeth are diagnosed with decay that
needs to be addressed, the dentist will
prescribe treatment of an amalgam
filling (aka mercury). If the filling is on
the surface of a tooth that will be seen
when you smile, the dentist will
prescribe a composite filling, which is
a filling that is matched to the shade
of your tooth and uses materials other
than mercury.
The reason for this is that, due to the
cost of continued research into resins
and curing methods, composite
material is slightly more expensive
than amalgam material. Insurance
companies expect a dentist to use
cheaper material on fillings that are
not usually visible on teeth. Because of
this, they will often only pay up to the
cost of an amalgam filling if a
composite is used on teeth they feel
should receive an amalgam filling
instead.
In our office, we have made the choice
not to offer mercury fillings. We
recognize that we do not have only an
obligation to our patients to provide
top quality, restorative care to
maintain tooth health and
functionality. We also have a
responsibility to our patients to help
them look and feel their best.
Therefore, we offer cosmetic
dentistry. When we hear, “that looks
great! Thank you!” so often, we know
our patients like what they see. This
makes me think of the unabashed
five-year-old asking about the blobs
of metal in my mouth (my
interpretation). How could I EVER
look at those and say, “That looks
great!”?
We want you to know, that if you do
not want metal fillings for ANY
reason, you can choose what you DO
want, like the mom telling her
daughter’s dentist not to do ugly
amalgam fillings. Know that there
may be a slightly higher out-of-
pocket expense, even with insurance.
It is worth it to be able to look at all
your teeth and say, “I like what I see!”
I did eventually have all of my
mercury fillings replaced, and today,
when I open my mouth and see tooth
shade instead of black blobs that
almost looked like rotting teeth, I
realize I like what I see.
I also remember what I was thinking
nearly every time I brushed my
amalgam-loaded teeth. “That look’s
terrible.” I said it so much that I just
got used to it, accepting it, thinking at
least people don’t see it. It turns out,
they did see it. Today I am so happy to
say, “My teeth look great!” Through
cosmetic dentistry, I have a reason to
smile much bigger!
dale@durangolive.net
EMAIL ADDRESS
(970) 247-3303
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https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
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