Cosmetic Dentistry – West Seneca, NY
Helping Your Smile Shine Again
If you don’t fall in love with your smile every time you see it, let the skilled cosmetic dentist and team at Applegate Dental of West Seneca, NY help. Our team knows how much cosmetic dentistry can impact the way people feel about themselves, the impression they make on other people, and the number of times each day that they smile. Our goal is always to help patients smile more! If you’re unhappy with any aspect of your smile, let us help. Contact our friendly team to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation. During this evaluation, we’ll review your smile, answer your questions, and help you establish a treatment plan that delivers the results you want on your schedule and within your budget. Keep reading or give us a call to find out more about cosmetic dentistry from our West Seneca, NY dental team.
Why Choose Applegate Dental for Cosmetic Dentistry?
- Lifelike, Tooth-Colored Veneers and Crowns
- Advanced Virtual Smile Design Technology
- Convenient At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers may be the simplest way to transform smiles while maintaining the maximum amount of natural dental structure. Veneers are thin sheaths of dental grade porcelain placed over the front of teeth to conceal any number of smile flaws seamlessly. Most patients should plan to have porcelain veneers placed over the course of two appointments. At your first visit, we remove a small amount of surface enamel from teeth and capture impressions of your prepared smile. Using these impressions, our dental lab crafts a set of custom veneers. Until this final veneer is returned, we place a temporary set to allow patients to get used to the look and feel and to protect teeth. Patients return once the final porcelain veneers arrive, and we exchange the temporary for the custom cosmetic solution.
Metal-Free Dental Crowns
Metal-free restoration materials blur the line between cosmetic and restorative care offering seamless repair for damaged or decayed teeth. Crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and other dental restorations can be crafted from a number of materials including metal, gold, and porcelain bonded to metal. While these solutions are durable, they mar smiles, and those patients who are sensitive to metal may experience significant irritation or reject the restoration all together. Metal-free, all-ceramic dental restorations offer patients a durable, cosmetically superior solution with the added bonus of being ideal for those patients with sensitivities or allergies to metal.
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Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Patients looking for a quick fix for minor cosmetic problems should ask about cosmetic bonding. This procedure takes the composite resin commonly used for fillings and applies it to the teeth in order to hide stains, cracks, and other flaws. The material will be very carefully shaded and blended so that no one else can tell that you’ve had work done to your teeth, and the procedure can typically be completed in just one visit.
Gum Recontouring
When you smile, do your teeth look “gummy” or uneven? In many cases, we’re able to remove a small amount of gum tissue to reduce the overwhelming effect of gummy smiles or even out the gum line making smiles appear more even. The process is relatively straightforward. Using our state-of-the-art Biolase soft tissue laser, we carefully remove small amounts of gum tissue while the laser simultaneously cauterizes the site for minimal discomfort during the procedure and reduced healing time following treatment.
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Virtual Smile Design
You’ve probably already heard all about the difference cosmetic dentistry can make, but there’s always the worry that you won’t be happy with the results afterwards. To give you a little more confidence in your chosen cosmetic treatment, we can take a photo of your teeth as they are now and digitally alter it in order to show you what you can expect. This gives you a way to preview your smile so that you know what to expect on the day of the actual appointment.
Teeth Whitening
It’s no secret that teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry services available. Take a walk down the oral hygiene aisle at your local grocery store or pharmacy and you’ll see a wide variety of whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes, strips, and gels all promising dramatically whiter smiles in an instant! Unfortunately, these products are typically unable to the deliver on these promises. Professional teeth whitening in our dental office or using custom take-home whitening treatments delivers dramatically brighter smiles in as little as one hour. Unlike over the counter whitening agents, our professional whiteners are able to be administered in higher doses because we’re able to protect soft tissue from the possibly damaging effects. Additionally, we’re able to keep neutralizing saliva away from the teeth, so the stronger dosage of whitening is active longer. Schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation to find out more about professional teeth whitening.
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Understanding the Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry
There are a great many advantages that you can expect to enjoy after undergoing cosmetic dentistry, such as a brighter smile as well as a boost in your self-confidence. Even so, we understand that some people might hesitate to commit to these kinds of dental treatments, especially since many of them aren’t covered by dental insurance providers. The good news is that our team will want to help you make the most of what’s available to you while working within your budget. We’ll walk you through the different kinds of cosmetic dental services you can opt for as well as your financing options so that you can save money while improving your pearly whites.
Which Cosmetic Dental Service is Right for Me?
Since no two smiles are ever the same, our team offers a wide range of cosmetic dental treatments to help address a vast array of dental imperfections. Here are some of the most popular services we provide:
- Teeth Whitening: Unlike over-the-counter products, our professional teeth whitening can more effectively brighten your smile while also protecting your enamels and gums. We offer both an in-house procedure and custom take-home trays so that you can achieve a whiter smile in a single appointment or the comfort of your home. While this is the most affordable cosmetic treatment, it is only reserved for those who simply want to brighten their teeth.
- Cosmetic Dental Bonding: By using composite resin, we can help conceal most minor dental flaws, such as stained, chipped, cracked, misshaped, or even gapped teeth. This procedure only takes a single visit to complete, but it can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth so that you can enjoy your dream smile. The results can also last a few years with regular maintenance and routine dental visits.
- Veneers: Similar to cosmetic dental bonding, porcelain veneers are capable of addressing multiple dental imperfections simultaneously. However, the process will involve altering your tooth enamel to make room for your porcelain shells, making this procedure irreversible. The treatment will also come with a higher upfront cost compared to other cosmetic services. Even so, by using incredibly durable materials, you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful and longer-lasting results, as veneers can typically go for 15 years or more with proper care.
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Be a Worthwhile Investment
Although cosmetic dental treatments might typically come with a high price, you’ll want to keep in mind the kind of investment you’ll be making for your dream smile. Not only can cosmetic dentistry improve the appearance of your teeth and boost your confidence, but these services can also make it easier for you to maintain your oral health. This can end up saving you more money in the long run, as you’ll have a better chance of avoiding issues like cavities and decay. A brighter smile can also improve your success in both your professional and social life, as others may perceive you as more outgoing and attractive.
How to Make Cosmetic Dentistry Affordable
In most cases, cosmetic dental treatments will not be covered by dental insurance, as they’re mainly considered to be elective services. Still, this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Our team offers plans through CareCredit that can help turn your treatment costs into monthly installments, including cosmetic dentistry. Additionally, these plans can typically come with little to no interest, meaning you can save more in the long run while enhancing your smile.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Am I a Good Candidate for Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic treatment has basically just one requirement: your teeth and gums must be infection free. As long as you don’t have cavities, gum disease, or some other oral health issue, you should be able to move forward with a cosmetic procedure that will give you the smile you’ve always wanted. To make sure you’re primed for treatment, you’ll need to meet with one of our cosmetic dentists in West Seneca first so that they can examine you and discuss your goals to identify the right service(s) for you. During this consultation, we can also talk about the cost and other details you’ll need to know.
Does Cosmetic Dentistry Hurt?
No one wants to feel pain, and the good news is that cosmetic dentistry doesn’t hurt! For veneers and crowns, we must remove a tiny portion of the enamel, but before starting, we will give you a local anesthetic, which means you shouldn’t experience discomfort. While you wear the temporary veneers or crowns, you may feel a little sensitivity, but it’s temporary. With gum recontouring, we typically don’t need to use a local anesthetic because we take advantage of a soft tissue laser, which enables us to perform the procedure with less discomfort.
How Long Does Cosmetic Dentistry Take?
Particularly if you have a special event coming up, you may be wondering about how far in advance you’ll need to plan on getting treated. Although it depends on which procedure you get, you’ll want to allow yourself plenty of time to complete it. While cosmetic bonding can usually be accomplished in just one appointment, most other treatment requires at least a couple of weeks to get the results you want. If you have a deadline or time constraint, be sure to plan ahead and let us know, and we will try to accommodate your schedule.
How Long Does Cosmetic Dentistry Last?
Although the way your smile appears after treatment won’t last forever, many of the procedures continue to look amazing for a long time. For instance, although teeth whitening usually needs to be repeated about every two to three years, cosmetic bonding may last up to seven years, and veneers can go up to 20 years before requiring replacement! Not only does the procedure itself determine the lifespan of your results, but also how well you take care of your smile. If you keep up with daily oral hygiene (i.e., brushing and flossing) and visit our office at least every six months, you can maximize your results.
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