Cosmetic Dentist

Rightly or wrongly, we place a significant emphasis on appearance, often forming an opinion of someone within just a few moments of meeting them for the very first time. One of the most important features people look for is a healthy and attractive smile. When you have a great smile, it automatically conveys a sense of youthfulness and attractiveness, and it makes you look warm, friendly and approachable too. These are all valuable attributes that help you achieve the very best out of life, personally and professionally.

But what happens if you hate your smile and feel afraid to show it to others? People who feel this way will frequently go out of their way to hide their teeth, perhaps by putting their hand over their mouth as they talk or laugh, or by trying to keep their mouth shut entirely. Unfortunately, people in this position can often be wrongly perceived by others who may view them as being cold or standoffish, or at the very least as unfriendly. If this sounds familiar, then an excellent cosmetic dentist could make a massive difference to your smile, restoring your self-confidence and self-esteem, providing you with teeth that look fantastic. There is a huge range of treatments available, and here at Spokane Dental, our dentist Dr. Jonathan Smith only uses the most advanced techniques and very latest materials, ensuring you receive teeth that will look fabulous for longer. So, where should you start?

Preparing for Your First Appointment with a Cosmetic Dentist

You probably already have an idea of how you’d like to change your smile, but it might be worth spending a few moments to clarify your thoughts. Decide which features most bother you and try to think about what your dream smile would look like, and some people find it useful to cut out photos from magazines showing teeth they find attractive. Although this can provide a dentist with a good idea about what you’d like to achieve, it’s worth bearing in mind that everybody has teeth that are unique, so that what looks great on someone else might not look quite right on you. Think about your budget, and whether you need the work completed in time for a special event such as a milestone birthday, wedding or special vacation. Knowing what you want from treatment will be helpful when it comes to explaining your aims and desires to our dentist.

What to Expect during Your Initial Visit

Your initial visit is a chance to chat with our dentist and to discover what can be achieved to suit your needs, budget, and timeframe. Dr. Smith will almost certainly want to examine your mouth to gain a good idea about your current dental health. A dental examination is crucial for planning your treatment because Dr. Smith will want to ensure any procedures recommended are appropriate for your dental health. If needed, he can suggest treatments to correct any dental problems. Good dental health is essential for ensuring that the outcome of any cosmetic dental treatment will last longer. We want you to enjoy your new smile for as long as possible! Once Dr. Smith has completed his examination, he can discuss suitable treatments to help achieve your aims. Every treatment suggested will be explained in some detail but don’t be afraid to ask questions if there’s something you don’t understand. You will also receive a breakdown of the cost of treatment. Sometimes using a combination of procedures can be a more cost-effective and conservative treatment approach because ultimately, while we want you to have an attractive smile, we aim to ensure it is healthy. Some of the most popular treatments in cosmetic dentistry include teeth whitening, all-ceramic crowns and bridges, and porcelain veneers.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments available, and a professional teeth whitening treatment is safe, quick and highly effective. You can brighten your smile in as little as one hour, and it’s the perfect treatment if you want to rejuvenate the appearance of your smile within a very limited timeframe. An alternative is to purchase a custom-made home whitening kit from our dental office, which includes custom fabricated whitening trays to be filled with professional strength whitening gel. You simply wear the trays for a few hours or overnight for approximately two weeks to achieve optimal results. A home whitening kit is perfect whenever you want to touch up your smile. Teeth whitening is a treatment that can be used with dental veneers.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are very thin custom-made porcelain shells made to cover up the front surfaces of teeth. They are excellent for correcting small imperfections in teeth, for example, any chips, cracks or worn areas. Sometimes porcelain veneers can help to minimize or even close gaps in between teeth, and they can correct the appearance of teeth that are slightly too small, or which aren’t a great shape. It might only be necessary to have one or two veneers, but some people choose to have multiple veneers creating a Hollywood style smile. Another use for porcelain veneers is to cover up teeth that might be internally stained and will not respond to tooth whitening. Dr. Smith can first whiten your teeth before placing just one or two veneers, covering up stained or chipped teeth.

Porcelain Crowns and Bridges

Porcelain crowns are excellent for covering up teeth that are more badly damaged or extensively decayed. We can create the most beautiful all-ceramic crowns using advanced materials that look amazingly natural. If you are missing teeth, an all-ceramic bridge is one solution. The latest all ceramics materials are strong, durable and look fantastic.

Other treatments that may be suggested are dental bonding, or even something as simple as replacing old and discolored fillings can make a difference to the appearance of your teeth. These treatments may be ideal if you just want to refresh the appearance of your teeth quickly.

Another treatment to consider but which does take longer to complete is dental implants which are the most advanced and long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. Modern dental technology can create the most beautiful teeth, so you will never want to hide your smile again. Contact Spokane Dental today to join our happy patients!