Are you unhappy with the look of your smile? Do you want brighter and straighter teeth?
If you are in good oral health but want to enhance your natural smile, cosmetic dentistry can help. Cosmetic dentistry includes any procedures designed to enhance the aesthetics of your smile.
Treatments can range from teeth whitening to a more involved process like dental veneers and even clear braces for crooked and misaligned teeth.
At Brilliant Smiles Family Dentistry, Dr. Sheryl Jenicke offers cosmetic dentistry services to help patients reach their aesthetic goals. We also provide additional dental services at our dental office in Cadillac, MI.
While many people may think that cosmetic treatments only affect the aesthetics of their smiles, cosmetic care can also improve oral health.
Straightening crooked teeth can prevent tooth decay because harmful decay-causing bacteria can hide in spaces between teeth that are hard to reach.
A straighter smile is simpler to brush and floss properly. In addition, covering damaged teeth with bonding treatment, crowns, or veneers not only creates a balanced smile but can also prevent further tooth damage.
Cosmetic dental treatments are a win-win for our patients.
Orthopedics and Orthodontics
Orthopedics is considered the first step along the path of orthodontics. Mainly focused on children whose teeth, jaw structure, and facial growth are still developing, orthopedics aim to straighten or align the teeth.
Typically involving short-term therapies like retainers or other removable devices, orthopedics may actually preclude the need for future orthodontic treatment.
Orthopedic treatments have proven to work in both cases of genetic and environmental malocclusion or crowded and crooked teeth.
These treatments can help children to avoid potentially damaging behaviors—like mouth breathing—before they become a habit or start to negatively affect other areas of your child’s life.
Dr. Jenicke screens all children for these issues and refers them to orthodontic and ENT specialists as necessary.
Should further treatment be necessary, you’ll move into the realm of orthodontics. Orthodontics works by gradually aligning the teeth using braces that have been bonded to the teeth.
Different from orthopedics which are typically removable, orthodontics like braces may remain in place for months or years. We work with excellent local orthodontists to get your child the treatment needed.
Cosmetic Dentistry Services in Cadillac, MI
Our cosmetic dental treatments create aesthetically pleasing, healthy smiles. These treatments can also improve patients’ oral health and protect the smile:
- Clear Braces: Modern clear aligners offer a minimally invasive, comfortable alternative to metal braces. With these aligners, we can help patients address tooth gaps, misaligned teeth, and irregular bites. The aligners themselves are clear, meaning they are less noticeable than metal braces.
- Porcelain Veneers: Veneers are shell-like treatments that we bond to the front of teeth. Dental veneers can address problems like slightly crooked teeth, discoloration, and gaps between teeth. Additionally, veneers can cover one or all of the teeth in the smile line.
- Teeth Bonding: Dental bonding adds structure to damaged and discolored teeth. Bonding is a more economical treatment than dental veneers but still uses tooth-colored materials to blend in with the smile. We color-match malleable bonding materials to the desired shade, sculpt them onto treated teeth, and then harden them with a curing light.
- Teeth Whitening: GLO teeth whitening treatment uses light and heat to ensure active whitening ingredients penetrate the tooth enamel and lift tooth stains. With GLO, our patients can conveniently whiten their teeth at home or in our office. GLO treatment can brighten the tooth enamel by multiple shades.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Cosmetic dentistry can transform the look of your smile. Read the answers to these commonly asked questions to learn more.
What’s the difference between general and cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry focuses mainly on the looks of your smile, though cosmetic treatments can also have oral health benefits. General dentistry focuses on preventative dental care and oral health. With general dentistry, regular care helps you avoid more intensive issues in the future.
What’s the most popular cosmetic dental procedure?
Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic treatment. Everyone experiences discolored teeth in their lives. Our teeth discolor as we age and lifestyle habits and dietary choices can cause stains. Professional teeth whitening provides the best teeth whitening results, especially compared to over-the-counter whitening products. You can transform your smile without resorting to more invasive treatment methods.
Does cosmetic dentistry hurt?
No cosmetic procedure causes pain. The only thing that may happen is sensitivity. Tooth whitening often causes this, tho professional products reduce the risk. When we remove tooth structure for porcelain veneers, this can also cause sensitivity. Once the restoration is placed, the sensitivity will fade.
Does insurance cover cosmetic dentistry?
No, cosmetic dentistry is seen by insurance companies as a want, not a need. However, since dental bonding can also be a restorative restoration, they may cover it if it’s deemed medically necessary. We offer multiple ways to assist with financing, including a practice-specific dental membership plan.
Is cosmetic dentistry permanent?
No, no treatment is completely permanent. But there are many that can last for a long time. When you take care of them properly, porcelain veneers last 10-15 years or more. Clear braces can also be more permanent, as long as you diligently wear your retainer when treatment is complete.
Am I a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry?
Many patients are eligible for cosmetic dental procedures. One of the qualifications is good oral health. If you have concerns like tooth decay or gum disease, we’ll need to treat those before moving on to cosmetic treatment. Cosmetic procedures aren’t for children, as their mouths are still growing and changing.
Enhance Your Natural Smile
Do you want to improve the look of your natural smile? Call Brilliant Smiles Family Dentistry for cosmetic dental treatment today at 231-389-6388.
Feel free to schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Jenicke on our website. Please let Dr. Jenicke know if you have any questions about your cosmetic options, she will be happy to help you.
Brilliant Smiles Family Dentistry treats patients from Marion Evart, Manton, and Lake City, MI. We serve the greater Cadillac/Northern Michigan region.