Even the most subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to Dr. Doris Giraldo about the many options available today and what would work best for you. Some cosmetic procedures include: Teeth whitening, Bonding, Enamel shaping, Veneers, and Invisalign.
Gum Contouring
When some patients look in the mirror, one of the first parts of their bodies that they notice is their mouth. Some people feel their teeth should be whiter, straighter, etc. One thing that more and more patients are starting to notice is their gums. Some gums overpower the smile, making the teeth look extremely short (like baby teeth), and some can make your smile look crooked. There are a few causes for these “gummy smiles” such as genetics, effects from medications and distorted gum development. After an evaluation by Dr. Giraldo and, possibly, X-rays, she will determine if you are a candidate for gum contouring using a laser. Using the laser, Dr. Giraldo can sculpt your gum line by removing excess gum tissue to expose more of your teeth. After removing the extra tissue, she can reshape your gums to create a more balanced smile.
With gum contouring, your gum line will appear more attractive and a lot healthier. Dr. Giraldo’s expertise not only with the laser, but with performing gum contouring with the laser, allows her to gently and painlessly re-create your entire smile tooth by tooth.
Invisalign
Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, Invisalign translates Dr. Giraldo’s instructions into a series of nearly undetectable clear aligners. You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, moving your teeth gradually week by week, millimeter by millimeter, until you’ve achieved the desired result.
Thousands of doctors are treating patients with Invisalign. It works for a wide range of patients whose teeth are too crow padding-20ded or have spaces between them, as well as for those whose teeth may have shifted after having worn braces in their youth. Invisalign only works while you’re wearing the aligners. It’s recommended that you wear your aligners full-time, day and night, except to eat, brush and floss your teeth – or as directed by Dr. Giraldo.
The duration of treatment depends on the severity of your case, which determines the number of aligners you need. The average is about 12 months, but only Dr. Giraldo determines the length of your treatment.
Teeth Whitening
ZOOM!
Teeth whitening relies on chemical lightening of your teeth to remove stains from the surface enamel. The chemical used is non-toxic and only takes a brief amount of time to administer and brighten your teeth.
Whitening primarily serves as a cosmetic treatment for stained or discolored teeth. It is a simple procedure that can result in fresh, whitened teeth in about two hours—the active treatment time is a little over an hour. It is the one of the fastest, least costly ways to get an “instant” brightness to your smile.
Dr. Giraldo will apply a chemical teeth whitener to your “smile” teeth and leave it in place for a specified amount of time. Prior to this, you and Dr. Giraldo will discuss how “white” you want your teeth to be, which determines how long the whitener stays on your teeth.
The whitening process is simple, cost-effective and quick compared to other dental procedures such as the installation of veneers. Veneers will cover up stains, discoloration, chips, fractures, crooked teeth, and other cosmetic issues. Whitening will simply bleach your teeth to a desired color and brightness.
Laser
Professional in-office teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the world today. Unlike home-use whitening systems that incorporate low-dose bleaching agents, in-office whitening (also known as power bleaching, power whitening, professional whitening or chairside whitening) takes place under carefully monitored conditions at Dr. Giraldo’s office, which allow for the safe, controlled, pain-free use of a relatively high concentration of bleaching gel—yielding results that are visible immediately. Ezlase Diode Laser is the fastest in-office whitening available. In about 20 minutes of treatment time, the Ezlase diode laser can deliver 6 to 12 shades of improvement. A hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gel is applied to your teeth and activated by the laser. Desensitizer gel is also included for continued patient comfort.
Laser Whitening vs. Zoom Whitening:
- Shorter treatment time.
- Perfect for sensitive patients—less heating of teeth that can result in post-operative sensitivity.
- Maximizes effectiveness because the laser is synchronized to the whitening gel, which also increases efficiency.
Tooth-colored Fillings
In contrast to the more common silver amalgam fillings, tooth-colored fillings are made of a resin compound that is customized to exactly match the shade of your teeth, therefore making them invisible to the casual observer.
White fillings primarily serve a cosmetic desire for teeth that appear natural. One consideration is that you may want to have your teeth professionally whitened by Dr. Giraldo before she matches the color of the resin filling. That way, you have fresh, whitened teeth and “white” fillings that exactly match your newly brightened teeth. Otherwise, Dr. Giraldo can match the present color tone of your teeth.
White fillings are installed in the same way as regular, metal fillings. Dr. Giraldo will clean out a cavity and then prepare the tooth for a filling. Instead of using something like silver amalgam, Dr. Giraldo will fill the hole with a material shaded to the color of your natural tooth enamel.
Total Smile Makeover
Smiling is a way for you to show who you are to the world. Your smile is an expression of emotions like happiness, love and excitement. There are several reasons why someone would like to change their smile. Sometimes it is due to injury, illness, disfigurements, or crooked teeth. Others want to simply add to their smile or change it only slightly. Whatever the reason may be, a beautiful smile can add to a person’s quality of life and personal well-being. A beautiful and healthy smile is also the window of communication expressing confidence, openness, friendship, and approval.
An attractive smile also reflects warmth, health and self-worth. It can enhance your personal and professional relationships and can actually inspire others. You are worth the investment and we are here to help you have the best, most positive experience possible.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are thin, tooth-colored sleeves of porcelain that are designed to slip over your teeth and cover the chips, stains, or other cosmetic issues you may have.
If you have chipped, stained, broken, crooked, or misaligned teeth, porcelain veneers are an attractive option for correcting those problems all at once. While procedures such as whitening can change the coloration of your teeth, other issues require more extensive procedures—inlays or onlays, crow padding-20ns, orthodontics, etc. If you have mostly cosmetic issues, a custom set of veneers can be designed, fitted, and inserted over your existing teeth, and you have an instant, perfect smile!
White fillings are installed in the same way as regular, metal fillings. Dr. Giraldo will clean out a cavity and then prepare the tooth for a filling. Instead of using something like silver amalgam, Dr. Giraldo will fill the hole with a material shaded to the color of your natural tooth enamel.
