Cosmetic Dentistry: 5 Popular Options

Improving your smile is one of the easiest ways to change your appearance for the better, and it may even carry some unexpected benefits such as improved self-confidence. You probably do what you can to improve your appearance — good nutrition, exercise, caring for your hair and skin — but you might be surprised at the change cosmetic dentistry can give you. 

At Santa Monica Bay Dental, our staff of experts wants you to enjoy outstanding oral health first, but we also want to help you feel good about your smile. When you’re confident in your smile, you use it more often, so you present a friendlier, more open and welcoming face to the world. Cosmetic dentistry can help you reach your smile goals. 

This post describes five popular cosmetic procedures, but we certainly offer others. To find out what we can do for your smile, come into our Santa Monica, California, for a consultation. 

1. Bonding

If you have cracked, chipped, or misshapen teeth, dental bonding could be just the right procedure for you. Your dentist uses a resin that’s a bit like putty on your tooth, then uses an ultraviolet light to harden and bond it to your tooth. 

Once the resin is bonded to your tooth, the dentist shapes it and polishes it so that it’s very difficult to distinguish from your other teeth. It’s a relatively quick procedure, usually taking 30-60 minutes.

2. Professional whitening

One of the simplest and most popular cosmetic procedures we offer is professional teeth whitening. We use Zoom! WhiteSpeed Whitening, which can lighten your teeth up to eight shades. A brighter, whiter smile can transform your appearance.

Although over-the-counter whitening kits are available, they can’t match the effectiveness of a Zoom! kit. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of professional teeth whitening, come see us.

3. Veneers

When you have multiple teeth that are discolored, damaged, or otherwise unattractive, veneers could be the best solution. Veneers are very thin, tooth-shaped shells that are attached to your teeth. They can be used to cover gaps and oddly shaped teeth and to give you the smile of your dreams. 

Veneers usually require multiple appointments, but not at Santa Monica Bay Dental. We create your custom-made veneers while you wait! 

4. Implants

An implant gives you a prosthetic tooth root that prevents your other teeth from shifting after you’ve lost a tooth. It also keeps your bones healthy by providing stimulation when you bite or chew. A titanium post is implanted in your gum and bonds with your jawbone. 

A dental implant is usually capped with a prosthetic tooth that looks very similar to your existing teeth, called a crown. An implant isn’t always an obvious cosmetic improvement, but the benefits are impressive. 

5. Crowns

Crowns are used with implants, but they can also be used to support decaying or damaged teeth. A crown is sometimes called a cap, and that’s exactly what it does: It sits on top of an existing tooth — or an implant — and caps it.

If you’d like to learn more about the cosmetic procedures offered at Santa Monica Bay Dental, schedule your appointment today by calling or booking online. We’re happy to evaluate your situation and make suggestions about what kinds of cosmetic procedures are likely to work best for you.