Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry and general dentistry go hand in hand. No one hopes for a smile that is healthy but hideous, or teeth that are beautiful and diseased. Contrary to what the word “cosmetic” may suggest, cosmetic dentistry is anything but frivolous. Though this branch of dental care makes smile aesthetics a priority, many cosmetic procedures also strengthen and heal damaged teeth. Our Oakland CA dental team strives to enhance both form and function.

An ideal smile is something with which few of us are born. While some are lucky enough to possess attractive teeth in youth, they may become stained, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged over years of wear and tear. An imperfect smile affects the way you approach the world, and the way the world views you. The inherent truth of a smile is that our teeth speak to our personal health and strength, and dictate first impressions. Your teeth say so much – are you comfortable with their message? With cosmetic dental procedures, you can dictate exactly what your teeth express about you. Whitening, dental bonding, veneers and crowns will transform your smile however you and our Oakland cosmetic dentist see fit. Cosmetic dentistry is easily personalized; your treatment will be custom-tailored to your hopes and needs.

Begin cosmetic dental treatment to make today the last day you stifle a laugh or cover your smile.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is the simplest way to dramatically enhance your smile. Some patients considering more drastic cosmetic changes find that whitening sufficiently complements their smile. Healthy, whole teeth can be whitened a number of shades, revitalizing a smile. Whiter teeth express youth and wellbeing. White teeth also help your smile stand out. They heighten your happiness by highlighting moments of joy and laughter. We recommend trying whitening and noting the resulting boost in self-confidence and personal interactions. With our in-office and at-home treatment options, whiter teeth are accessible, even for those with busy lifestyles. The best teeth whitening system is the one with which you are the most comfortable.

Professional Teeth Whitening

For individuals who prefer not to wait for results, in-office whitening provides a stunning, same-visit change in tooth shade. Summit Dental offers Zoom! 2 and Lumibrite Sapphire teeth whitening treatments to cater to patients with slightly different whitening needs. Whitening can take place at any point during your workday, and requires only 60-90 minutes of your time. In-office whitening is ideal for patients wishing to:

–       Whiten quickly
–       Whiten as efficiently as possible
–       Whiten on a schedule, for an upcoming special event
–       Whiten consistently
–       Whiten with the aid of a professional. Many patients appreciate the proximity of a dental assistant to answer any questions during the whitening procedure.

zoom-whitening3Your whitening session will begin with gum isolation via a rubber dam, which eliminates soft tissue irritation from the whitening gel. The whitening gel will be applied directly to your teeth. A specialized light shines on the gel to catalyze the whitening agent and kick start stain removal. Our hydrogen peroxide whitening gels penetrate the pores in superficial enamel to eradicate discoloration beneath. The whitening treatment is performed in separate 15-minute blocks, until your teeth are the desired shade. On whitening completion, your teeth will be up to 12 shades brighter. Our Oakland cosmetic dentist will discuss proper care for your newly whitened teeth and suggest you avoid dark liquids like red wine, coffee, cola and tea to ensure that your newfound whiteness is with you for years.

Home Teeth Whitening

Some patients find it difficult to make time for professional whitening appointments. Our Oakland cosmetic dental staff understands, and offers take-home teeth whitening treatments as an alternative. Home teeth whitening prioritizes convenience, and can be performed on your own schedule. Results will not be as intense, speedy, or enduring as those obtained with professional teeth whitening, but your teeth will be noticeably whitened. Some patients with sensitive teeth also find the lower-intensity peroxide gel used during home treatments makes whitening painless.

Summit Dental offers professional strength Crest White Strips, in addition to custom bleaching trays. The strips are pre-loaded with whitening agent, and simply need be applied to your upper and lower teeth each day until you are satisfied with the results. Custom bleaching trays are crafted to fit snugly against your teeth. They may be lined with whitening gel (provided by your Oakland dentist) and worn for one hour per day. Though home whitening takes several weeks to produce significant results, it is ultimately effective and so comfortable.

Painless Teeth Whitening

Have you struggled to whiten in the past because of eroded enamel and sensitivity? If whitening causes twinges and discomfort, prepare for the gel by using a fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride strengthens enamel and can make whitening possible for patients who have not been able to whiten in the past. If your teeth are extremely sensitive, a permanent whitening and strengthening option exists in porcelain veneers.

Porcelain Veneers

Cosmetic dentistry tackles dental problems of all intensities – from a discolored tooth to a missing tooth. Porcelain veneers are something of a happy medium on this cosmetic dental gradient. They eliminate the majority of superficial concerns, namely cracks, chips, gaps, tooth length, and significant discoloration. Our Oakland cosmetic dentist may employ a full set of porcelain veneers to make over a smile. Porcelain veneers are customizable, meaning they can match whatever shape and shade you and your dentist choose together. Our skilled Oakland cosmetic dentist is able to craft veneers that remove the asymmetry from your smile, correcting problems you’ve worried over for years. But your new smile won’t be overly uniform: our talented dentists will craft and shade each veneer to produce a smile that is beautiful and natural.
Oakland Porcelain Veneers
Smiles that have fallen prey to age and wear are wholly revitalized with porcelain veneers. An updated smile will bring youthfulness to your entire face, and to your mood. When you smile at the world, it smiles back.

Why Summit Dental Chooses Porcelain Veneers

Just like a veneer on wood, a dental veneer covers a structure and makes it aesthetically pleasing. Veneers are bonded to the natural surfaces of teeth to strengthen and beautify the tooth, masking malocclusion, chips, cracks, gaps, and stains. Veneers are super-thin yet durable: the perfect dental combination. Due to their thinness, minimal tooth preparation is required for the veneers to fit over teeth. You won’t need to undergo significant drilling or local anesthesia. Moreover, the porcelain material isn’t opaque but translucent, matching veneers to surrounding natural teeth and causing them to reflect light similarly. No one, yourself included, will recognize your veneers as anything other than natural tooth surface. These factors make porcelain veneers the best option for subtle yet impressive cosmetic dental work with a comfortable treatment process.

The Veneer Procedure

Veneer placement will take the course of two appointments with our Oakland cosmetic dentist. The first visit will involve an in-depth discussion of your cosmetic dental goals, an exam, and a conversation about the treatment process. Dr. Ghassemi and our dental team are devoted to cosmetic dental work you are excited about and comfortable with, and will discuss every move with you prior to making decisions. Next, minimal enamel will be removed from teeth to create space for the veneers and ready the surface for bonding. Your dentist will take an impression of your prepared teeth so that Summit Dental’s laboratory may fabricate perfectly fitting porcelain veneers. Should you require a temporary veneer while waiting for the final prosthetics, we will secure temporaries to the affected teeth.

Next appointment: you receive your gorgeous veneers! Temporaries will be removed and replaced with the final veneers. When bonding the veneers to your teeth, our Oakland cosmetic dentist will ensure it fits precisely to the gum line and against neighboring teeth.

Porcelain Crowns

Veneers accomplish superficial repairs and dental upgrades. But what if a patient is missing a substantial amount of tooth structure? Porcelain crowns carry the cosmetically enviable qualities of porcelain veneers, but are built to withstand the forces of biting and chewing. Porcelain crowns may be applied to front or back teeth to restore structural integrity and create beautiful, powerful new teeth.

Crowns vs. Veneers

Whereas veneers are replacements for teeth surfaces, porcelain crowns are caps that replace tooth structure. Crowns may be employed to replace entire missing teeth (in combination with dental implants), or strengthen teeth that have decayed or suffered trauma. Porcelain crowns look and feel like natural teeth, but are actually less prone to decay, as their smooth surfaces resist adherence of bacteria. Crowns may be bonded to teeth alone, or used to support dental bridges. They are versatile, durable, and aesthetically superior.

Receiving Dental Crowns

Like porcelain veneers, crowns require two appointments. At the first appointment, your course of treatment will be determined and the tooth/teeth will be prepared. Crowns involve a greater amount of tooth reduction than veneers, as they must surround the existing tooth structure. In order for the porcelain cap to fit over the natural tooth, it’s likely that our Oakland dentist will need to remove a portion of your enamel. Our dental team will take a mold of your prepared teeth and send it to a dental lab for the porcelain crowns to be created. You will receive temporary crowns to keep your smile beautiful until your bonding appointment. Temporaries are not as strong as permanent crowns as should be treated with caution.

Upon your return to Summit Dental, Dr. Ghassemi will bond the permanent crowns to your existing teeth. Our staff will tailor these crowns until you are overjoyed with the results. After placement, your smile will be intact and you’ll be ready to show it off!

Cosmetic Dental Bonding

If you have a minor cosmetic problem but would rather not turn to veneers or crowns, cosmetic dental bonding could resolve it. During bonding, our Oakland cosmetic dentist adheres tooth-colored composite material to your existing tooth. This may repair chips, cracks, significant decay, discoloration, or sensitivity: all the work of a crown or a veneer, without the commitment and cost of a porcelain dental structure.

What can cosmetic dentistry do for me?

There is a solution for every personal cosmetic concern. A smile that doesn’t thrill you needn’t remain uninspiring. Our Oakland cosmetic dental practice prides itself on providing patients with teeth that make them feel ecstatic: self-starting smiles. Changing your smile will change your relationships, professional world, and life. Contact Summit Dental to discuss just how we could make your ideal teeth a reality.

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