Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic Dentistry in Dillon, CO
Are your lips closed when you smile for a photograph? Do you cover your mouth when you let out a laugh?
What language does your smile speak?
If your smile is saying things you don’t want to hear, affecting your confidence and your self-esteem, you should know that simple, affordable cosmetic solutions are available. At Summit Dental Group, we speak the language of smiles, and we can help you choose treatments using the latest advances in cosmetic dentistry that will help you look and feel better.
Some of the cosmetic procedures we offer include bonding, porcelain veneers, porcelain and zirconium crowns, and teeth whitening. We'll assess your needs as well as your goals to help you choose the procedure that is right for you.
Bonding
Bonding is a conservative cosmetic procedure that can cover up areas of discoloration, widen teeth to lessen the appearance of gaps, extend short teeth, and repair teeth damaged by chips or wear. The bonding process is simple and can usually be completed in just one office visit.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are bonded over your existing teeth. The secret behind the flawless smiles of many celebrities, porcelain veneers are more affordable than you might think and can completely transform the appearance of your teeth by covering discolorations and chips and even lengthening short or eroded teeth. Veneers are a permanent solution to your cosmetic concerns.
Aesthetic Crowns
Teeth that are more severely damaged may benefit from porcelain or zirconium crowns. Sometimes referred to as “caps,” the technology used to create crowns has advanced considerably in recent years, allowing crowns to look practically indistinguishable from natural teeth. Crowns can repair damaged or worn teeth, support a tooth with weakened structure, and even replace a missing tooth as part of a dental implant system.
If you have older crowns that are made of metal or are otherwise artificial looking, talk to us about replacement with a more modern solution.
Teeth Whitening
Yellowing teeth are a fact of life. As we age, the enamel on our teeth wears down naturally, which allows the yellowish dentin underneath to show through more clearly. Beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine as well as habits like smoking can accelerate the process, leaving teeth severely stained.
Luckily, we can reverse time and staining damage with the help of advanced teeth whitening treatments. At our Dillon dental office, we use Opalescence, a customized and convenient at-home professional teeth whitening program that can give you noticeable results in just two weeks.
Contact Us
Don’t let a flawed smile hold you back. Contact Summit Dental Group today to schedule your cosmetic consultation with Dr. Bryan Hilton or Dr. Corry Marcincin to learn more about the cosmetic procedures we offer to determine which procedure can help you meet your dental needs and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's in Teeth Whitening Toothpaste?
All toothpastes work by using mild abrasives to help lift surface stains from your teeth. In the case of whitening toothpastes, added chemical agents that gently polish teeth further aid in the removal of stains.
Teeth whitening toothpastes do not contain any bleaching agent and will only help in the removal of stains from the surface of your teeth. Kits for teeth whitening purchased at your local drug store contain hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching compound) that will further help in the removal of surface stains as well as stains deep within your teeth.
Home Whitening Kits
However, home whitening kits will never produce the dramatic results achieved during a professional teeth whitening treatment done at our Dillon dental office. Whitening toothpastes will only lighten the color of your teeth by about one shade. In contrast, a professional teeth whitening kit provided by your dentist can lighten your teeth by three to eight shades.
If you’re unsure which of these teeth whitening options will work best for you, please don’t hesitate to contact our Dillon dental office. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you choose the solution that fits your budget and provides the results you are looking for.
Bonding, dental crowns, veneers, and recontouring are options that can be used to alter the shape of teeth. These procedures can make your teeth appear longer, close gaps between teeth, or repair teeth that are chipped or cracked.
Dental Bonding
A tooth-colored resin made of a durable plastic material is applied to the surface of the tooth, shaped to produce the desired results, and then cured with a special light to harden the material and bond it to the tooth.
Dental Crowns
Also referred to as “caps,” dental crowns are used to cover your natural tooth. The dental crown is placed over the existing tooth and extends slightly above the gum line for a natural appearance. It is then cemented into place, covering the entire visible portion of the tooth.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front surface of teeth to alter their appearance and correct cosmetic dental flaws.
Recontouring
This is a procedure that reshapes the teeth by removing small amounts of tooth enamel to change the surface, length, or shape of the tooth. Recontouring is also referred to as enameloplasty, odontoplasty, slenderizing, or stripping.
These various options differ in terms of cost, durability, stain resistant qualities, and "chair time" necessary to complete the procedure. Check with your dentist to see which option best suits your specific needs.
We know that it is important to our patients that their teeth that are not only healthy, but also beautiful. Many of our patients decide that the quickest way to a bright beautiful smile is by having a professional teeth-whitening treatment done in our office. Of course, having your teeth whitened at our Summit dental office requires you to invest both time and money, and you want to make sure that the results last as long as possible.
Recommendations to Extend Teeth Whitening
One of the best ways you can make your beautiful white teeth stay that way is to avoid certain foods and lifestyle habits that cause your teeth to become stained in the first place. For instance, nothing stains your teeth as severely as using tobacco. If you smoke, you already know the damage it does to your health. This alone is enough reason to stop smoking, and keeping your teeth bright and white is just another.
There is no reason for you to completely avoid food and beverages that stain your teeth. Some of these are red wine, tea, coffee, and cola drinks. If you want to go ahead and enjoy these foods, just remember that you can help avoid staining by brushing your teeth immediately afterwards.
Of course, oral hygiene has a tremendous impact on the whiteness of your teeth, so be sure to maintain good habits like brushing, flossing, and returning to our Summit dental office for regular professional cleanings.
Porcelain veneers are a versatile treatment that are used to correct a wide variety of cosmetic dental flaws. Placing veneers is a fairly simple process that can be completed at our Dillon dental office in only two visits.
Veneers are super-thin slices of porcelain that are bonded to the surface of your teeth. They can be used on one or more one or more teeth to correct a number of aesthetic dental concerns:
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Irregularly shaped teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps and spaces between teeth
- Severely stained or discolored teeth
Why Veneers Work
One of the qualities that makes porcelain veneers such a great cosmetic dental treatment is their appearance. Porcelain is a very strong and durable material that closely resembles the translucent appearance of your own natural tooth enamel.
Porcelain veneers are custom-made to match the shade of surrounding teeth perfectly. They can be made to the exact shape and size that best enhances your smile.
Please contact the Summit Dental Group for more information about porcelain veneers. We also offer a variety of cosmetic treatment options, and we will be happy to take the time to discuss which will help you achieve your goal of a perfect smile.
There are many reasons why your teeth may have become stained or dull as you age. The fact is that everyone will experience some staining of their teeth as they get older.
Lifestyle Choice May Have an Impact on Your Teeth
However, lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on the degree of staining that you experience. If you consume a lot of dark food and drinks like tea, coffee, red wine, and even dark berries, your teeth will stain more quickly.
Smoking and chewing tobacco don’t just wreak havoc on your physical health. Both can cause your teeth to become severely stained and possibly lead to oral cancer, among others. Our best advice to you if you smoke: Stop!
Why Do Teeth Stain?
The reason our teeth stain is that, as we age, the surface enamel of our teeth starts to erode. There are microscopic holes in tooth enamel and, along with erosion, these holes increase in size. Stain-producing food and drink finds their way into these holes, causing your teeth to darken over time.
Fortunately, teeth whitening is a very effective method for lifting stains from the surface of your teeth and brightening your smile. If you’re interested in transforming your smile with professional teeth whitening, please contact our Dillon dental office. We will be happy to help you decide which type of teeth whitening will suit you best.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Steven Mitchell DDS
Dr. Mitchell attended Florida State University and The University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate education and obtained his dental training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the University of Memphis. He also has extensive postgraduate education, specifically selecting courses focusing on oral surgery and dental implants. His most recent training in full-mouth rehabilitation allows him to provide smile makeovers to his patients for confident, healthy, beautiful smiles. His commitment to lifelong education means he is constantly evaluating emerging dental methods and technologies in order to provide ...