Smile analysis, with color correction or alteration is the state of the art for dentistry in the new millennium. Not only are lighter teeth more youthful, but whiter, straighter, properly placed and well-shaped teeth with a pleasant smile are a confidence booster and a lifestyle stimulant. They should not look false but naturally harmonize with your skin tones, eye and hair color, your smile and lip form.

An easy way of changing the initial appearance is with teeth whitening. The most predictable and ultimately the least expensive way to accomplish this is with custom bleach trays fabricated in the dental office. Over the counter products are available but are reportedly messy, are less predictable and may have additional side effects.

Dental bleaching is safe for most teens and adults with healthy dentitions. Age is not a factor to effective bleaching as long as one's teeth are sound and minimally restored. Dramatic results are usually obtained in a few weeks. The drawbacks to bleaching are: it does not affect the color of existing restorations, one may experience mild tooth or gum sensitivity, and color changes are only semi-permanent.

We believe the ultimate in cosmetic dentistry is either Porcelain Laminates or Porcelain Crowns. There are other less expensive, alternative materials, however, in our opinion, they are less color stable, and therefore inferior to Porcelain. What most patients do not realize is that cosmetic dentistry is not a quick procedure. Proper treatment usually requires three to four appointments.

Eighty percent of adults will demonstrate an esthetic compromise in the visible area of their smile. The combination of cracks, incisal wear and dental restorations along with the natural, internal, aging process within these teeth promotes color changes. These changes create a gray to orange/brown opaque cast on the most visible portion of the tooth. This is in contrast to the translucent, blue hue of youth.

In conjunction with bleaching and/or cosmetic dentistry, there exists the occasional need for orthodontic repositioning of teeth or cosmetic sculpturing of the gum tissue. We will often refer to a chosen specialist in the community for these services. Because we strive for excellence, we choose specialists very carefully to be a part of our team.

Another viable design alternative to the cosmetic restoration is the Gold Inlay or Onlay. With indiscernible coverage, while satisfying the objective of strengthening the tooth, this restoration is the treatment of choice when replacing moderate-sized silver fillings on back teeth after they have begun to fail. The dark blue/black residue of the failing amalgam can be replaced with a tooth-colored material to rejuvenate the appearance of the tooth. The advantage of this restoration is the conservation of tooth structure while securing or stabilizing the tooth.

All cosmetic restorations require a deliberate, precise technique by a skilled operator as well as the highest standard of quality control. To ensure this standard, we utilize state of the art equipment and inspect our work under a microscope to provide a beautiful, lasting product. These restorations will last twenty years or more in a healthy patient.