People seek cosmetic dentistry for a variety of reasons. Some people simply want to look younger, and cosmetic dentistry is like a dental facelift that can quickly "reverse" the natural aging process of the teeth. Others, the majority, have had unattractive teeth their whole lives and have always felt self-conscious because of them. They will rarely smile, which can often hide a warm side of their personality. Modern dentistry offers a wide variety of treatment options for people seeking to enhance their smile. The options range from porcelain veneers to braces! In many cases, a combination of these techniques is required to deliver the best results.

A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of a face. With dentistry's many advances, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth. You now have choices that can help you smile with confidence. Even the most subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself.

Cosmetic dental procedures are those procedures that create a brighter and more pleasing smile for our patients. There are many things that can be done to enhance your smile, from a complete smile makeover to simply bleaching your teeth.

Below we explain some basics of the cosmetic porcedures we perform and show you "Before and After" photos of some of our cases.

• Bleaching - This is a process that lightens and in some cases, eliminates the discoloration's of your teeth without actually having to remove tooth structure. This process can take 3 to 10 treatments each lasting about 30 minutes depending on your desired results.

Step 1: We will sit down and evaluate desired shade.
Step 2: The next step is to have impressions taken of your teeth to make your customized bleaching tray.
Step 3: Dr. Hale or his assistants will explain the bleaching process and the products used.
Step 4: You will come back for a re-evaluation to check your progress.

• Bonding - This procedure involves replacing chipped, cracked, discolored or misaligned teeth by rebuilding the surface with plastic material. This may also be a possible alternative solution if you are not a good candidate for bleaching.

• Implants - These are small titanium posts used to replace missing or weak teeth. They are placed in the bone by a oral surgeon. The next step is for Dr. Hale to attach a prosthetic tooth (crown) to the implant. Restoring your mouth to a healthy state.

• Porcelain laminate Veneers - These are custom-made porcelain facings that are placed over the front of teeth to give the patient a perfect smile. Porcelain laminate veneers allow for a wide range of smile designs and rejuvenation. They are durable and don't tend to stain.

• Porcelain Jacket Crowns - Crowns cover the whole tooth which allows more strength to the restoration, and hence, greater longevity. This is especially true for patients that grind their teeth or have teeth which are severely broken down. This type of crown also eliminates the black line effect associated with many other crown types. "Making a new top for your tooth" When over 1/2 the tooth structure is missing, there is a greater chance to fracture necessitating a cover for the tooth.

• Composite "White" Fillings - There has been so much discussion concerning tooth colored versus silver fillings. Even though silver fillings do have their merits, Dr. Hale feels that the "Tooth Colored" or composite fillings are superior in many ways. Composite fillings are actually bonded to the tooth creating an impermeable barrier to recurrent decay. Not only do they look more natural in the mouth, but they allow us to increase the strength of the tooth when compared to conventional silver fillings.

Services provided by General Dentist