Hillsboro Aesthetic Dentistry - Many Different Choices

Even if you're lucky enough to have straight teeth, there may be small imperfections, such as gaps or dingy stains, which you'd just as soon do without. This is what cosmetic dentistry is all about.

With a technique called bonding, for example, we can repair damaged areas by applying a paste made of a material called composite resin. The resin comes in a wide variety of shades. It hardens almost instantly when it's exposed to a special ultraviolet light and it can be sanded, smoothed and buffed until it exactly matches the tooth shine.

The most popular cosmetic dental procedures include bonding, whitening the teeth and tooth-colored fillings, which, unlike traditional amalgam fillings, are nearly invisible.

Many cosmetic techniques can be done without cutting or with minimal preparation of the tooth's enamel structure.

There are many cosmetic options to choose from, depending on what you need to have done. For example:

Stained or discolored teeth
The enamel that covers the teeth isn't impervious to stains and the underlying tooth structure (the dentin) often yellows over time. Teeth Bleaching is an option for healthy teeth.
Chips or rough spots
These can be filled with a tooth-colored material called composite. The color of the composite can be chosen so that it matches the color of your teeth. Once the material has been smoothed and polished, it's virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding area.
Cavities
Traditional amalgam fillings work fine in the back of the mouth, but most people don't want to reveal a metal mouth when they smile. An alternative is to use tooth-colored fillings, which match the color of the teeth. These fillings are made with composite material similar to that used to repair chipped front teeth. The tooth colored filling (direct composites) are carefully placed into the prepared space and cured (hardened) with a special ultraviolet light.
Uneven teeth
It's not uncommon for a tooth to be slightly longer or have a different shape than its neighbors. With a procedure called recontouring, your dentist can reshape the tooth so that it's a better match.
Gaps between the teeth
Small gaps can be closed by applying composite material between the teeth. For large gaps or other imperfections on the surfaces of the teeth, your dentist may recommend porcelain veneers. Porcelain Veneers are among the most expensive cosmetic procedures. Made from ultra-thin shells of porcelain that come in every shade of white, veneers are permanently bonded to the fronts of the teeth, giving them an entirely new esthetic appearance.
Broken or crooked teeth
If a tooth has been badly broken or is structurally weak, you may need a crown. Crowns used to be made of metal, but today they're often made of tooth-colored porcelain materials.

Perfect Smiles by Hillsboro Aesthetic Dentistry

People who come to the United States from other countries are often amazed by the uniform perfection of people's teeth. White is hardly good enough any more; cosmetic dentists say that one of the most popular shades is the blindingly bright "Hollywood White."

Cosmetic dentistry is a real boon for people who have lived most of their lives with damaged or discolored teeth. Even simple procedures such as bleaching or bonding can be real confidence-boosters.

But, unless you are planning a career as a runway model, beware of choosing the whitest of white for your teeth. Teeth are rarely pure white, and you may not be satisfied once the shade is on your smile. A less intense shade may be more likely to give the look you are seeking.

Return to HTML Home Page

Dr James A Miller, Aesthetic Dentist - Providing cosmetic and bioaesthetic dentistry and smile artistry to the areas of Hillsboro and Portland, Oregon.