Charleston dentist improves smiles and quality of life with attractive treatments, restorations

Dentists perform more crown placements, dental bonding, veneer applications, and whitening treatments (in that order) than any other procedure in their offices, including tooth replacement options such as bridges, implants, and dentures.

While many of these procedures have functional value and are necessary to restore a tooth back to health, they all improve the appearance of your smile albeit more as a positive side effect versus a primary motivator for the treatment.

Before treatment

A customized whitening tray for use at home may be in your future should your “before” photo display teeth yellowed by a coffee habit. These extrinsic or surface stains may not budge with whitening treatments alone, so bonding and veneers may be a better option should you have internal or “intrinsic” discoloration caused by excessive antibiotics or fluoride use. Tooth-colored plastic material or thin strips of porcelain may be good options should you wish to correct the shape of a tooth or uneven spacing.

Dental crowns are even more versatile than bonding and veneers. Think of the crown as a cap that slips over the remaining, healthy tooth structure. This tooth material is prepared to accept the new tooth should your tooth be damaged as the result of decay or other trauma. A crown may be restore a tooth that is no longer normally or sufficiently sized, shaped, or shaded.

After treatment

Whereas some “power whitening” treatments may provide a temporary improvement to the look of your smile, whitening agents applied as prescribed by Dr. Greenberg from the comfort of your home can effectively remove stains caused by years of dietary and other habits. Your teeth will be whitened gradually to achieve a natural effect, brightening several shades in just a few weeks.

In addition to creating a smooth surface and uniformly shaped teeth, the application of bonding materials or porcelain veneers can alter the shape of teeth that may appear shortened due to excessive wear and tear. Teeth that don’t require braces may appear slightly repositioned and those gray or very yellow stains that resist whitening treatments can be covered.

After a porcelain crown is cemented to the tooth, the “after” photo of your smiling self will be free of discoloration, jagged edges, rough surfaces, chipping, gaps, and crowding. In addition to being uncomfortable, tooth decay can be unpleasant looking. Cavities can show up as spots whiter than the rest of your tooth, or as gray, brown, or black areas. As decay progresses, teeth can appear chipped, and portions of the tooth may deteriorate. The dental crown serves as the new structure for a tooth that is damaged by decay and progressive gum disease.

Your dentist in Charleston, Dr. Andrew Greenberg, can transform your appearance and possibly the quality of your life with whitening that may be administered from the comfort of your home, as well as bonding, porcelain veneers and other restorative techniques such as dental crowns. Call (843)751 4262 to schedule an appointment.