Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures at our Clarksville, TN, Practice
Porcelain Veneers
A veneer can change the color, shape, and size of a single tooth or a complete smile. They are used to whiten teeth, remove gaps, straighten teeth and correct teeth worn by grinding. Veneers look, feel, and function as natural teeth do.
Veneers are thin porcelain caps which bond to the outside of the tooth. The application takes just 2 visits and requires minimal removal of tooth structure. Veneers are the most natural looking and durable cosmetic restoration in dental history. They are also the most compatible material to sit next to the gums. They are the best solution for correcting issues with the front teeth.
What to Expect
Porcelain Veneers are stronger and resist stains and chipping better than bonded fillings. Maintaining an at-home oral hygiene regimen and making regular hygiene visits will ensure many years of service for your veneers. Veneers can be damaged by nail biting or biting into candy or ice.
Mouth Guards
Athletic Guard – Anyone enjoying contact sports such as football, rugby or lacrosse needs to protect their teeth using a sports guard.
Custom-designed sports guards are more comfortable, less bulky, non-chafing and provide better cushioning so they’re more likely to be worn.
Night Guards protect from clenching and grinding while sleeping. A night guard designed by your dentist will be comfortable and do a great job of protecting your teeth.
Some people find a standard night guard uncomfortable in which case your dentist can design a slimmer, Invisalign night guard. These guards are almost invisible and can double as daytime protection from discomfort caused by clenching or grinding of the teeth.
Other Situations Where a Night Guard Is Beneficial
Wearing a night guard may also relieve jaw and joints pain for those patients experiencing TMJ or teeth grinding. And of course, a night guard will protect expensive dental work such as crowns, implants, bridges from the damage caused by teeth grinding. Simply put, your teeth will last a lifetime with the proper care and attention and your dentist is there to help you protect your health, teeth and your cosmetic investment.
Night guards can also protect orthodontic patients from shifting of drifting of the teeth.
Snore Guards
While sleeping the soft tissues at the back of the throat vibrate due to the jaw relaxing back during sleep. A snore guard repositions the lower jaw forward, opening the airway for more efficient air passage and reducing snoring for a more restful sleep.
Teeth Whitening
The cosmetic dental treatment known as ‘whitening’, or bleaching, is used to whiten the tooth enamel. Pigmentation, tea, age, coffee, tobacco, red wine or medications such as tetracycline are just some of the causes of discolored or stained teeth.
The bleaching process uses a peroxide gel added to a mouth guard-like tray to ensure direct contact with the tooth surface.
What Are My Teeth Whitening Options?
Tooth whitening can be done in-office or at-home using a whitening kit. Our office offers both solutions.
Your dentist will recommend the appropriate solution for you depending on the types of discoloration and staining you are experiencing. For example, if you have darkly stained teeth caused by tetracycline, an in-office deep bleaching treatment may be recommended.
In-Office Whitening
For patients with tooth stains caused by medications like tetracycline, the best solution may be deep bleaching.
Before the dentist applies the whitening gel, a protective cream is applied over the gums and other soft tissues. Once the gel is applied to the patient’s teeth, a laser can be used to accelerate the whitening process.
In-office bleaching may require more than one visit to complete.
At-Home Whitening
Your dentist may recommend an at-home teeth whitening kit. Depending on the desired results, at-home whitening can take 10-15 treatments but is more cost effective than in-office bleaching.
An at-home whitening kit uses a 10% carbamide peroxide solution and a custom-made mouth guard so the solution stays in contact with the enamel of your teeth.
Once the desired results have been achieved, you may want to do a ‘touch-up’ once or twice a year to maintain your beautiful smile!