Smile Contouring
Smile Contouring Procedures That Improve Your Smile
Your teeth, gums, and lips all contribute something to the shape and feel of your smile, and we can provide the fixes you need to start smiling again.
At Maplewood Laser Dental Clinic we use a variety of smile contouring techniques to quickly and effectively improve certain aspects of your smile. While we’re not talking about a complete restoration, we are using several techniques to get the healthy, beautiful smile you want.
Teeth – Cracked, misaligned, and discolored teeth can all affect your smile. We can shape your whole smile, which means we go beyond just whitening your teeth and work on the entire structure. Straight teeth are also a critical part of your overall health, so we’ll help you build a great smile on a healthy foundation.
Gums – Too much gum tissue, or uneven gums, may make your smile appear a little crooked and increase feelings of self conscious. We want people to notice your shiny white teeth, not your gums, so we use our laser treatments to reshape and reposition the gum tissue exactly where it needs to go. This is a simple procedure and you’ll be back to most of your normal routines almost immediately.
Lips – A simple grin or twitch of the lips can mean a lot. If you are concerned about blemishes appearing on your lips, we can help you get rid of them with our state-of-the-art equipment.
A Healthy Smile
While smile contouring is basically an aesthetic procedure, it’s not all about appearances. Cracked teeth can make it hard to eat and overcrowding may make it difficult to properly clean them every day. Overgrown or asymmetrical gums may also cause discomfort in other ways. We will use our contouring techniques to get everything into its proper place for a healthy, functional mouth.
Before & Afters:
Teeth Whitening
Brighten Your Smile with Our Teeth Whitening Treatment
Having a beautiful smile is probably easier than you imagine. Many people achieve the look they’ve been dreaming of with our simple “bleaching” procedure.
What are the specifics of teeth whitening?
It’s safe, quick, and inexpensive.
Just let us know at any appointment if you’d like to whiten your teeth. There are methods of bleaching; using bleaching trays at home or in-office bleaching.In only a day or two, your custom bleach trays will be ready for you to pick up. We provide a special bleaching agent that is placed into the trays. Wearing them only a few hours a day, our bleaching agent remove stains from your enamel without altering tooth structure or existing dental work in any way. When your teeth reach the desired brightness, maintaining your new smile will only require occasional treatment. We’ll want to take “after” photos at your next appointment.
Dental bleaching can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Discolorations can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest bleaching technology, we offer a safe method for creating a beautiful, brilliant smile. In extreme cases, crowns or veneers may be the only option available, but because of the low cost of bleaching, it is always worth a try.
How is the whitening accomplished?
An impression is taken to make a specialized mouthguard, or tray, to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about 3-4 hours for 1 or 2 weeks, and by the end of this period, significant whitening will occur. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing, aging, or stained teeth. For severely stained teeth, crowns or porcelain veneers may be appropriate.
With in-office bleaching, three 15 minute sessions of a more concentrated bleach are applied to the teeth. A shade is pre-determined and the teeth are isolated by covering the soft tissues with a protective barrier. The teeth will continue to whiten in the next 48 hours.
Considerations for Teeth Whitening
Over-the-counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at pharmacies, but these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth. It is better to use products that our practice recommends.
Porcelain Veneers
Get a Cosmetic Solution with Porcelain Veneers
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front surface of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular because of their simplicity and versatility.
Placing custom veneers requires a high degree of technical skill plus a great attention to aesthetic detail. We place veneers often and design each case individually to match and enhance the characteristics of each patient’s smile.
Will they look like normal teeth?
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options.
How durable are porcelain veneers?
With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten and protect your smile for well over a decade.
Dr. Guess will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.
Not using your veneers as tools to open and cut things will prolong their life. If accidental breakage or damage occurs, it is usually possible to replace only the veneer involved.
Before & Afters:
