Cosmetic Dentistry in South Jordan and Daybreak

Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the process of whitening teeth. There are two different ways to get the whiter smile you want: In-office whitening and at-home whitening. There are so many different products and methods that I can’t go into them all. The basic principle of most systems is some form of peroxide. The peroxide breaks down the small particles of stain on and in your teeth. The stronger the peroxide, the faster you will see results, but you will also experience more sensitivity.

Many people ask about the benefits of different whitening systems. Some use lights, some use retainers or trays, some are paint on or stick on, some are used for minutes, some all night long…. Based on my experience over the past 20 years, I have seen a general pattern to the different systems. Most systems are effective to some degree. I have noticed that the one hour or daytime use whitening systems, as a whole, tend not to whiten as deeply through the teeth, and therefore the teeth don’t get as white or stay bright for very long. The overnight systems, tend to produce a more natural whitening that is more stable for years. But you need to do the whitening every night for 10-14 days to get the best results.

So you have a lot of options to choose from. I would base my decision on what your desired result is, how long you are willing to bleach each day, and what you can tolerate to achieve the result you are hoping for.

Veneers are the big thing in cosmetic dentistry. They are so popular because they are fast (2 weeks) and beautiful. What a veneer is made by grinding off any discolored or crooked areas of your front teeth and bonding a new ceramic face to the tooth. This is done quite often in Hollywood for actors who need straight, white teeth but can’t spend 2 years in braces. However, as with any procedure, there is a physical and financial price to pay. The physical price is the damage done to the teeth to prepare them for the porcelain. As much as the marketing world would like you to believe otherwise, there is really no way to get beautiful porcelain veneers without cutting 1-2mm off the front and top of your teeth. Porcelain is beautiful and can be lifelike. But it has to be built up in subtle layers. Some white layers, some more opaque, some transparent. And the best veneers can only be made with enough space. So a lot of tooth has to be removed. You will also need to replace the veneers as the teeth and bonding age. Teeth generally don’t last a lifetime, and veneers don’t last a lifetime either.

In general, insurance companies do not pay for cosmetic services. Therefore, the cost of each veneer is completely up to the patient. These can range from just under $1000 to more. It depends on what needs to be done and how realistic you want it to look. Many labs can make a nice looking veneer that is great for most people. These are the standard veneers that cost close to $1000. However, a very high-end, perfect veneer is very expensive.

Cosmetic bonding is the use of filling material to make small changes to the shape or color of a few teeth. This is a great option for children who have chipped a tooth, or for adult teeth that are misshapen or small. Because it is a filling material, it does not have the beauty and strength of a porcelain veneer, but it can be made to look very close to a natural tooth. Cosmetic bonding can also be done as a first step to veneers. Due to the cost of veneers, some patients choose to have one or two veneers a year, but would like to improve their overall smile on 6 or more teeth at once. With Cosmetic Bonding, you can get an improved smile before the veneer treatment is complete. Cosmetic bonding is more of a short-term option. A few years, rather than many years.