Smile Makeovers: Exploring Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Designing Your Dream Smile

You’ve heard the phrase “Smile, it’s contagious.” Well, that’s true! A beautiful, healthy smile can light up a room and boost confidence. If you’re self-conscious about your teeth, you might hide your smile. But what if you could transform your teeth and grin with pride?

Dr. David Painter at Union Chapel Dentistry, a top-rated dentist in Fort Wayne, IN, offers a variety of treatments to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Explore our guide to smile makeovers and call (260) 232-0280 to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation today.

What are Cosmetic Dental Procedures?

Cosmetic dental procedures are treatments that improve the appearance of your teeth, gums, and smile. They can fix issues like:

Discolored or stained teeth
Crooked or misshapen teeth
Missing teeth
Gaps between teeth
Chipped or cracked teeth

Teeth Whitening

One of the easiest and most affordable cosmetic dental procedures is teeth whitening. Over time, your teeth can become stained from things like:

Coffee
Tea
Red wine
Tobacco

Teeth whitening can remove those stains and make your teeth several shades whiter. Dr. Painter offers two types of teeth whitening:

In-office Whitening: This is the fastest way to whiten your teeth. Dr. Painter applies a special gel to your teeth and uses a special light to activate the gel.
Take-home Whitening Kits: You’ll get custom-made trays that fit over your teeth. You’ll put whitening gel in the trays and wear them for a certain amount each day.

Porcelain Veneers

If your teeth are chipped, cracked, or severely discolored, dental veneers might be a good option. Porcelain veneers are thin shells that cover the front of your teeth. They’re made of porcelain, so they look just like natural teeth.

To place tooth veneers:

Dr. Painter will remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth.
He’ll take impressions of your teeth to send to a lab.
The lab will make custom veneers to fit your teeth.
At your next appointment, Dr. Painter will bond the veneers to your teeth.

With proper care, veneers can last 10 to 15 years.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that covers an entire tooth. Crowns can:

Protect a weak tooth from breaking
Cover and support a tooth with a large filling
Cover a misshapen or discolored tooth

To place a tooth crown, Dr. Painter will:

Prepare the tooth by removing a small amount of enamel
Take impressions of the tooth to send to a lab
Place a temporary crown on the tooth
At your next visit, he’ll remove the temporary crown and cement the permanent crown in place

ClearCorrect

If your teeth are crooked or have gaps, ClearCorrect might be the solution. ClearCorrect uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten your teeth. The aligners are:

Virtually invisible
Removable for eating and brushing
More comfortable than metal braces

The ClearCorrect process involves:

Dr. Painter taking impressions, X-rays, and pictures of your teeth
A lab creates your custom aligners based on Dr. Painter’s instructions
You’ll wear each set of aligners for one to two weeks, switching to the next set in the series
You’ll visit Dr. Painter every six to eight weeks to monitor your progress

Most ClearCorrect treatments take nine to 18 months.

Restore Your Confident Smile

If you’re unhappy with your smile, don’t be afraid to explore cosmetic dental options. Dr. Painter and his team want you to feel confident showing off your pearly whites. Call Union Chapel Dentistry today at (260) 232-0280 to schedule a consultation and learn how we can give you the smile you’ve always wanted!