types of cosmetic dentistry

The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to enhance the appearance of the teeth that show when you smile and talk. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about your smile, you owe it to yourself to schedule an appointment with one of our West Michigan cosmetic dentists.

We offer a range of services that are designed to make it so patients can start smiling with confidence. In general, cosmetic dentistry can treat:

  • Crooked teeth
  • Irregularly shaped teeth
  • Slight gaps between teeth
  • Chipped tooth
  • Cracked tooth
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Other minor damage to front teeth

Here are 6 cosmetic dental treatments that you can choose from if you’re currently dissatisfied with your smile.

Depending on Your Preferences, Our Dentists Offer:

1. Teeth Bonding

Dental bonding is one of the more affordable smile makeovers that’s used to fix small stains, chips, cracks, and even cavities. Our dentists may also recommend teeth bonding to close small gaps in your smile or alter teeth that are misshapen. For the procedures, we use composite resin (tooth-colored material) to restore the strength and appearance of your teeth.

You can expect the process to take 30-60 minutes per tooth as the resin has to be applied, shaped, cured, and polished before all is said and done.

2. Cosmetic Contouring

Do you have a slightly misshapen tooth? If so, our dentists may recommend cosmetic contouring. This form of treatment is ideal for patients who have small chips, cracks, pits, or bulges in their teeth. We can also remedy teeth that are too long or pointy if you’re not happy with how they look.

During this procedure, our dentists will use a laser or drill to gently remove tooth enamel. By removing enamel, we’re able to effectively reshape the tooth so it’s more aesthetically pleasing. It is important to remember that tooth contouring is limited by the individual tooth structure of the patient. By this we mean that any area that’s being shaped cannot be too thin and must have enough enamel present to change the tooth’s form. If thinness is a concern, we may recommend veneers instead.

3. White (Tooth-Colored) Fillings

If you have a cavity, one of our dentists will need to drill out the tooth decay and fill the hole with composite resin. These white fillings match the color of your natural tooth enamel so you can smile confidently without anyone knowing you’ve had a cavity treated. Composite resin fillings are generally ideal for permanent teeth or front teeth that show when you smile.

4. Invisalign® Clear Aligners

Wish you could straighten teeth without traditional metal braces? Ask one of our dentists if you’re a candidate for Invisalign® clear aligners.

Like the name suggests, Invisalign consists of nearly invisible aligners that move your teeth little by little into a beautifully straight smile. The clear aligners fit over your top and bottom teeth, putting pressure on them so they move into optimal alignment.

During clear aligner treatment, you’ll need to wear Invisalign about 22 hours a day. Our Invisalign dentists will monitor your progress to make sure your teeth are moving according to schedule. Many of our patients can achieve the smiles they want in 12 to 18 months, though everyone is different.

5. Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells or covers made to fit over the front of teeth. Our dentists may recommend veneers if you have minor chips, cracks, or severe tooth discoloration that is otherwise not fixable with teeth whitening treatment. The procedure for veneers is irreversible as enamel is removed to make placement easier so if you’re not ready to commit, we suggest dental bonding instead.

6. Teeth Whitening

Our teeth whitening dentists can whiten your teeth by several shades in one appointment. We offer two options for our patients so they can whiten teeth in our office or in the comfort of their own homes. During your consultation, our dentists will be able to discuss what types of professional teeth whitening are right for your smile.

Get the Smile of Your Dreams

Our cosmetic dentists in West Michigan are accepting new patients! We offer a range of services so you can restore teeth, improve oral health, and never hide your smile again. With four practices in West Michigan, we have the capability of handling all your family’s dental needs. To schedule an appointment, call one of our MI Smiles Dental locations today. We look forward to hearing from you!

This blog post has been updated.