You may have smile flaws you want to conceal. Perhaps you look in the mirror and notice tooth discoloration or other imperfections. To be your most confident self, you might consider cosmetic dentistry.
At Chesapeake Bay Dentistry, we offer options that satisfy most budgets.
- Porcelain Dental Veneers
- Teeth Whitening
- Cosmetic Restorations
- Tooth Replacement
- Dental Bonding
Your dentist can use a single treatment to address your cosmetic concerns or multiple options for a smile makeover.
Your Guide to Cosmetic Dentistry Options
Modern cosmetic dentistry addresses most smile flaws, from short teeth to serious cosmetic flaws.
Porcelain Dental Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dynamic porcelain. They are custom-crafted to match your teeth and can conceal most smile imperfections, including:
- Short and Worn Teeth
- Stained and Discolored Teeth
- Gummy-Appearing Smiles
- Slight Misalignment
- Small Gaps
- Chips and Cracks
- Shape Issues
- General Flaws
Your cosmetic dentist in Annapolis removes some tooth enamel to place porcelain veneers. This ensures the veneers look natural and not bulky. Removing enamel means you must consider your veneers permanent. If one is lost or damaged, it must be replaced.
Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is the best way to achieve a natural-looking finish. It is also safer than kits and gels purchased in stores because your dentist knows the professional-grade ingredients and will not proceed with treatment if it is unsafe for your smile.
If you’re a candidate for professional whitening, we often start you with a thorough dental cleaning for optimal whitening results.
At Chesapeake Bay Dentistry, we create custom take-home kits so you can whiten them at your convenience. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by our dental team.
Cosmetic Restorations
Cosmetic restorations can include veneers, dental crowns, and tooth-colored fillings. They are a great example of treatments that consider the health and beauty of a smile.
Dental crowns cap weak or aesthetically flawed teeth to restore function and beauty. Veneers are also cosmetic restorations, but they are more versatile than crowns in what they can conceal. Finally, we use tooth-colored fillings instead of silver amalgam in cavity treatment.
Tooth Replacement
Missing teeth are an aesthetic issue, but tooth loss also impacts oral function and the future of your dental health.
In our dental office, we offer:
- Dental Bridges: This prosthetic relies on the support of crowns for anchoring.
- Dental Implants: Implants may be singles or implant-supported dentures.
- Dentures and Partials: Modern dentures fit and function like never before.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding uses tooth-colored filling material to conceal general flaws, such as chips, cracks, discoloration, and shape abnormalities.
Tooth-colored filling material, or composite resin, is malleable. This means your dentist can spread it on the tooth, building, sculpting, and concealing the flaws. After the flaws are hidden, we set the composite using a dental lamp. Then, we finish with a polish.
Smile Makeover
Your dentist can plan a smile makeover if you have multiple cosmetic concerns that cannot be addressed with a single cosmetic option. This means we use two or more treatments to transform your smile.
We can plan treatment on a timeline that works for your schedule.
Who Is a Suitable Candidate for Cosmetic Dentistry in Annapolis, MD?
Most of our patients are suitable candidates for cosmetic dentistry. However, we schedule a thorough evaluation to be sure. Additionally, if one option does not bring you to your smile goals, the dentist can explain why and recommend an alternative.
Your consultation is about candidacy, costs, and a discussion. We want to answer your questions thoroughly, and this may mean x-rays are needed to look beneath the surface.
If you are a candidate, your dentist will tell you what to expect during and after treatment. Then, we will schedule your procedure or dental treatment.
Will I Need Dental Anesthesia?
We always numb the oral areas we’ll be treating, and most cosmetic dentistry options (other than dental implants) are not invasive. However, if you’re feeling nervous, the dentist will talk to you about our sedation dentistry options, which include:
- Nitrous Oxide: This is a relaxing gas delivered through a nose mask. You’ll feel tranquil and detached as the dentist transforms your smile.
- Oral Sedation: A pill is given before treatment, and with oral sedation, you may not recall your cosmetic treatment.
Our team continuously monitors you closely while you’re under sedation. We also take a health history for some types of sedation to ensure safety and candidacy.
How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost in Annapolis
Cosmetic dentistry costs vary and depend on a few factors, including:
- Whether you’ll need pretreatments for candidacy
- The cosmetic option (or options) you choose
- The complexity of your case
The dentist or a team member shares all costs with you upfront.
Keeping My New Smile in Top Shape
Most cosmetic dentistry options don’t require a lot of upkeep. However, employing excellent oral hygiene and regular dental care is best to prevent cosmetic failure.
In other words, the best way to maintain prosthetics and cosmetic restorations is to keep your gums and supporting teeth healthy.
Care and Upkeep at a Glance
If you have tooth crowns, we urge you not to bite into taffy directly, or similar snacks. With teeth whitening, you should avoid or reduce tooth-staining foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and bright sauces. Bonding material and tooth-colored fillings are also at risk for staining. Often, brushing the teeth after indulging is sufficient. We’ll discuss special cleaning tools for a dental bridge, including a floss threader or water floss to keep debris away from the gums.
Your dentist will provide more personalized aftercare instructions based on your specific case and the dental work you're having done. Additionally, we are always available to answer your questions.
Are You Looking for a Cosmetic Dentist in Annapolis?
We hope this guide encourages you to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation. You deserve to love your smile, and we can help you do that.
Call us today at (410) 266-8250 to learn more about our cosmetic dentistry or to schedule your assessment with the dentist.
You can finance your smile makeover or cosmetic dentistry with CareCredit. Ask a dental team member for details.