What Does Sugar Consumption Do to My Teeth?
March 23, 2016
What Are Dental Sealants?
April 6, 2016
While beautiful smiles begin with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, some smiles may need a little more help. Stains, cracks, chips, discoloration–even the smallest imperfection–can affect your self-confidence. Fort Collins Family and Cosmetic Dentistry of the Rockies believes everyone should be able to go through life with a smile they are proud of. With advances in cosmetic dentistry there is no reason you should have anything less than a brilliant smile. We make it easy for residents of Fort Collins, Colorado, to discover the power of a smile they are proud of. If you have a cracked or chipped tooth, we can use composite resin to reshape your tooth. This process, called cosmetic dental bonding, is one type of restorative treatment used for both cosmetic and health purposes. Dental bonding when combined with teeth whitening can give you the smile makeover of your dreams with little time in the dental chair.
How Teeth Whitening Can Benefit You
As a licensed provider of the Sapphire Teeth Whitening System, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of the Rockies can safely brighten your smile by 8 to 12 shades in just one office visit. Sapphire Teeth Whitening is a fast, safe, and gentle treatment that uses a specially formulated whitening gel and the patented Sapphire Plasma Arc Light to efficiently brighten your teeth. This whitening treatment is the perfect restorative dental solution if:
- you have discolored and stained teeth
- you are seeking significant results in a short amount of time
- you have a busy schedule with no time for multiple office visits
- you have sensitive teeth and gums
If you would rather whiten your teeth at home, we can also talk to you about options for at-home teeth whitening. Both methods offer you different benefits that can help take your smile to the next level.
How Dental Bonding Works
Dental bonding is considered a highly beneficial procedure for teeth that need only minor corrections. A special type of tooth-colored, durable resin is bonded to the tooth, which restores and improves the smile with natural looking results. Compared to other cosmetic procedures, dental bonding is relatively simple and inexpensive. Unlike crowns and veneers, bonding can be done in one office visit (unless multiple teeth are being treated). It also requires the least amount of enamel removed, which minimizes potential tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Because bonding is less invasive compared to veneers and crowns, anesthesia is not required unless it is used as a cavity filling. There is no special care required, besides proper oral hygiene and dental habits. Under reasonable circumstances (proper hygiene, no abusive habits like chewing on fingernails or ice, etc.) the bonding should last between 3 to 10 years before it needs replacement or touching up.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Bonding?
Extensive cosmetic procedures such as veneers or crowns are usually unnecessary for improving mildly imperfect teeth, which can be easily restored with dental bonding. A popular and economical procedure, cosmetic bonding is an ideal corrective dental solution.
While dental bonding can have fantastic results for improving your smile, it isn’t for everyone. Cosmetic bonding may be inappropriate or inadequate for badly damaged teeth. It’s not as strong as veneers, crowns, or porcelain fillings, and are not as stain resistant. For this reason, bonding is usually done on the front or surrounding teeth, which endure the least bite pressure. Dental bonding is recommended by Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of the Rockies on a case-by-case basis, depending on what your smile needs to achieve full restoration. On the other hand, cosmetic bonding is an ideal corrective solution for:
- filling dental cavities, as an alternative to amalgam fillings
- repairing mild chips or cracks in the teeth (ideally the teeth with the least bite pressure)
- improving the appearance of stained teeth
- closing spaces between teeth
- changing the shape or lengthening teeth
- protecting exposed teeth roots due to receding gums
During your initial consultation, we can determine if you are a candidate for cosmetic dental bonding.
Call for a Consultation
If you’d like to know more about our Sapphire Teeth Whitening treatment, or if you’re curious about cosmetic dental bonding and would like to explore the best possible solutions for restoring your smile, we can help. To make an appointment, call our Fort Collins office today at (970) 267-0993. For your convenience, you can also reach us after regular business hours by submitting a contact or appointment request online using the form below.
