Cosmetic dentistry has one main purpose, and that is to improve the appearance of your teeth and your smile. While traditional dentistry focused on the health of teeth and gums....cosmetic dentistry's focus is on appearance.

There are restorative treatments that also fall into the category of a cosmetic procedure, as they not only act to repair or restore a tooth, but they also improve it cosmetically. A tooth-colored dental filling, for example, will take care of tooth decay, but it'll also improve the appearance of the tooth. Therefore, dental fillings are a restorative procedure that can also be considered cosmetic. Not only can new cavities be filled with porcelain or composite material that matches the color of the tooth, but more often than not, patients are having their old silver fillings changed to a composite material for a more pleasing appearance also.

There have been so many advancements in cosmetic dentistry that now enable dentists to improve upon a smile in ways that wouldn't have been possible years ago. Materials currently being used are more durable and give patients added benefits over older methods. Dentists are now able to be more conservative in performing cosmetic treatments with the ability to save as much of the natural tooth as possible while enhancing the structure and appearance of the tooth.

Lasers are now playing a larger part in dental procedures, including cosmetic treatments. The use of lasers enables dentists to do procedures that years ago had to be referred to other specialists. Patients now have the benefit of receiving treatments in one location here at our Los Angeles dental office, with increased comfort and decreased recovery time.



Various Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

Inlays and Onlays: These indirect fillings are made of porcelain or a composite material created in a laboratory for future fitting and bonding into the tooth by the dentist. In contrast, traditional fillings are molded into place during one visit to the dental office. Inlays and onlays are a very durable and long-lasting way to treat tooth decay and damage to the structure of the tooth. 

Composite Bonding: When teeth have imperfections such as chips, breaks, discoloration or decay, they can be repaired and enhanced cosmetically with a composite bonding material. This material will have the appearance of the enamel and dentin of a natural tooth and will be sculpted into position and then hardened with a high-intensity light. With composite bonding, the repair will blend in with the remaining teeth to create a beautiful and uniform look.

Teeth Whitening: This is one of the most popular procedures here at Los Angeles dental office for enhancing the smile. Stains from smoking and certain types of foods and beverages will be significantly removed, giving teeth a brighter appearance.

Dental Veneers: With porcelain veneers, many imperfections on the teeth can be hidden, such as deep discolorations, gaps, chips and cracks. Veneers can give teeth a completely new appearance.

Dental Implants: Implants are artificial tooth roots that are used to replace teeth that are missing from the mouth. With the placement of an implant as a root substitute, dentists are able to provide the patient options for artificial tooth restoration in the spot where teeth were missing or needed to be extracted.

Smile Makeovers: In a smile makeover, the dentist will perform a comprehensive examination to see what cosmetic procedures are needed to improve the overall appearance of a patient's smile. The makeover may involve doing a number of cosmetic treatments, such as whitening, dental implants and dental veneers.

Full Mouth Reconstruction: This type of treatment may be required to improve structural problems with the bite, the teeth and bone, and/or the muscles. Our Los Angeles dentist will be able to determine just what reconstructive procedures are necessary to correct functional problems that may exist- and these procedures are generally followed by necessary cosmetic treatments.