Cosmetic Dentistry

Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain shells fixed to the front of your teeth in the smile zone (typically the six top and six bottom front teeth, but the side teeth may also need to be included to hide the transition). The ceramic material, which is used to create the veneers, is colour and shade matched to your natural teeth so they blend in seamlessly.

This treatment usually only requires two appointments. The first is when impressions of your teeth are taken and your teeth are prepared for the veneers. We attach temporary veneers to your teeth while the dental lab creates your porcelain veneers. Your second appointment is when we remove the temporary veneers and fix the permanent ones.

An alternative to ceramic is composite resin, which is bonded onto the surface of the teeth with adequate enamel. Unlike ceramic veneers, the composite resin option does not require any tooth removal. This is a less expensive and more conservative option, requiring only one visit.

Not all teeth are able to be veneered and may need crowns to get the best results.

Teeth Whitening

Over-the-counter teeth whitening products have become popular recently, but they may actually be doing more damage to your teeth and over time, your teeth will return to their original colour.

Before whitening your teeth, we will assess the health of your teeth and gums to determine the best treatment for you.

In our practice, we most commonly use custom made bleaching trays. This is an effective and gentle process you do at home over a few weeks. The period depends on the individual teeth and desired outcome, which can vary considerably. We also have an in-house bleaching system for those who are unable to do the home method.

Sometimes teeth cannot be bleached, but we will be able to gauge that at your visit.

Tooth and gum re-sculpting

If you are unhappy with your smile, we can smooth, shorten or level your teeth. Reshaping your teeth is done by shaping down imperfections in the enamel of your teeth to camouflage twisted or misshapen teeth. This can also be done using composite resin bonding to mask irregularities.

We provide gum contouring if your gums rest too low or too high on your teeth. This is usually carried out when a patient wants to improve the appearance of their teeth.