Cosmetic Dentistry

What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are fixed prosthetic restorations made to restore a damaged tooth to its original shape and size. They are permanently cemented on teeth that have cracked, extensively decayed, or otherwise been damaged. Although they sometimes extend down onto the root surface, crowns essentially replace the outer aspect of the “crown” part of a natural tooth.

When affixed, the crown fully encases the portion of the damaged tooth that sits above the gum line. Crowns are custom made to fit over each tooth. They can be made of a variety of different materials, including ceramics, porcelain-and-metal, or resin.

When Are Dental Crowns Used?
Crowns are installed to perform several important functions. They protect weak teeth, restore broken teeth, prevent cracked teeth from breaking further, and support teeth that have large fillings. Variants of crowns are also used to hold dental bridges in place. Crown support or replace a structure that no longer works on its own. When teeth are badly damaged, cracked, broken, or misshapen, crowns are the most effective solution. Crowns restore the appearance, shape, and alignment of a damaged tooth. After a crown is cemented in place, it’s usually the only visible part of the tooth. Crowns are made to look like natural teeth, so they don’ t stand out or look odd inside the mouth.

If you are interested in learning more about dental crowns or to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to call us at 410-643-5500 or click here to request an appointment.

What Is A Filling?
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When you get a filling, we first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for fillings include porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

Which Type of Filling is Best?
No one type of filling is best for everyone. What’s right for you will be determined by the extent of the repair, whether you have allergies to certain materials, where in your mouth the filling is needed, and the cost. Considerations for different materials include:

• Amalgam (silver) Fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive. However, due to their dark color, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.
• Composite (plastic) Resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden.
• Porcelain Fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth.

If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown, or cap, may be recommended.

If you are interested in learning more about fillings or to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to call us at 410-643-5500 or click here to request an appointment.

Teeth whitening remains one of the most economical ways to enhance your smile. Your smile creates an immediate, subconscious, visual impact on people you meet. A brighter smile gives the impression of youth, vitality, radiant health, happiness, and warmth. A bright smile is perceived as a healthy smile.

Opalescence™ Boost™ Professional Teeth Whitening is applied right in the chair to give you a white smile fast. No uncomfortable lights are necessary because it is chemically activated, and you’ll have a brighter smile in about an hour.

Whitening Features:

• Expert application by a trained dental professional
• Chemically activated whitening, which means no hot, uncomfortable lights
• Whitening gel contains potassium nitrate and fluoride
• Noticeable whitening results in about an hour
• A bright white smile as soon as you leave the dentist office

Opalescence Go™ Prefilled Whitening Trays pair professional strength teeth whitening with unrivaled convenience! The innovative UltraFit™ tray easily conforms to any smile and is ready to use right out of the box. It’s fast. It’s simple. It’s effective. Your search for the perfect whitening solution is over.

Whitening Features:

• No impressions or molds are required
• Ready to use right out of the box
• UltraFit trays conform to any smile
• 15% hydrogen peroxide (wear 15–20 minutes for 5–10 days)
• Whitening gel contains potassium nitrate and fluoride
• Mint flavor

If are interested in learning more about teeth whitening or to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to call us at 410-643-5500 or click here to request an appointment.

Dental veneers (sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length.

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth.

What Can Dental Veneers Fix?

• Discolored teeth
• Worn teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Broken teeth
• Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth
• Gaps between teeth

If are interested in learning more about veneers or to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to call us at 410-643-5500 or click here to request an appointment.