Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry refers to treatment that improves the appearance and beauty of a patient’s teeth and mouth. At Empire Dental, we offer a variety of cosmetic treatments to improve and maintain your smile. Listed at left are some of the cosmetic procedures and services that we provide.

Dental Crowns and Bridges

Crowns

If a tooth is damaged, dental crowns may be used to restore the appearance, function, and shape of the tooth. Dental crowns may be required if you have a root canal, a large filling, or a broken tooth.

Dental crowns are hollow artificial teeth that are used to protect a damaged or decayed tooth from further damage. Dental crowns are made from a variety of material, such as metal (gold), composites, and porcelain, and are strong and durable. Your dentist will determine the correct material best suited to your situtation. Dental crowns usually last for 10 years or longer provided that they are taken good care of.

Dental Bridges

If multiple teeth are damaged or missing, dental bridges may be a suitable solution to replace one or missing teeth and restore functionality and appearance.

Dental bridges extend over an area that has no teeth, and use existing teeth, crowns, or dental implants to support the bridge and new artificial teeth. As dental bridges are secured by your own teeth, they are a strong and permanent solution. There are a variety of dental bridges, and your dentist will determine the most appropriate type of bridge in consideration of the location of missing teeth and the condition of your existing teeth, mouth, and gums.

Dental bridges usually last for 10 years or more, and require regular daily hygiene such as brushing and flossing to maintain their optimal condition and functionality.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a method to make minor repairs to teeth, and is painless. The process of bonding involves composite resin, a material that is applied to a tooth’s surface then shaped and hardened. The composite resin matches the colour of the tooth, and improve and restore the appearance of chipped, missing, or broken teeth.

The process involving dental bonding involves placing a mild chemical on the tooth to allow the composite resin to bond with the enamel of the tooth. The composite resin is layered on the tooth, and is shaped and polished after the resin has hardened. This results in a finish that is smooth, natural, and matches existing teeth.

Veneers

Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain or composite resin which are bonded to the surface of a tooth. Veneers improve the look of teeth by changing the colour, shape, and spacing, providing a more beautiful smile. Veneers are an alternative to dental crowns, and provide a good option to close gaps between teeth and concealing discoloured teeth.

Composite veneers are affixed by placing a mild chemical to the surface of existing teeth to allow the composite resin to form a strong bond with enamel. The colour of the composite resin blends with the teeth, and the resin is layered to ensure that the colours match. Once the final layer of composite resin has hardened, the surface is shaped and polished, resulting in a smooth feel and natural appearance.

Porcelain veneers are placed by removing a thin layer of enamel from the teeth to create space for the veneers, and then a mold of your teeth is fabricated. The mold is then used to create the veneers. The veneers are affixed by placing a mild chemical to the surface of existing teeth, which allows for a strong bond with the porcelain veneers as they are bonded individually using composite resin cement.

While veneers are a viable cosmetic treatment for many patients, not everyone is a candidate to receive them. If a tooth is significantly decayed or missing, or has not enough enamel, veneers are not a practical solution. People that grind and clench their teeth are also not good candidates, as they could break and chip the veneers.

Whitening

At Empire Dental, we recognize that you want your smile looking its best as possible. One of the simplest and most effective ways to improve the look of your smile is by whitening your teeth.

Teeth whitening involves bleaching the tooth’s enamel, which alters the colouration of the tooth itself. Teeth whitening in office involves placing a whitening bleach on the surface of the teeth, then using heat or light to activate the bleaching process. In office teeth whitening can typically be completed in one hour.

Empire Dental offers whitening systems for both in office and home use. For more information, please contact us to schedule a consultation.