Patients ask, “What is included in cosmetic dental care in Dana Point, CA?”

Beautiful, healthy smile boosts your self-confidence and impacts your personal and professional lives. Having a winning smile improves your chances of making a positive impression. Cosmetic dental care is an option for smile enhancement. In Dana Point, CA, Dr. Mark Cruz offers comprehensive dental care to protect the health and appearance of your smile.

What is cosmetic dental care?

Cosmetic dentistry is focuses on the enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the smile. Cosmetic dental care includes the procedures that alter, add, or improve the physical appearance of the teeth and/or gums. Depending on the patient’s unique needs and the procedures chosen, material may be added or removed from the teeth or gums or the color, size, or shape of the teeth may be changed. While the primary goal is to address the smile’s appearance, the health and functionality of the smile are often improved also. Cosmetic dental care should complement the overall general and overall health of the patient.

If you are searching for a way to dramatically enhance your appearance, cosmetic dentistry is an effective choice. Even treatments such as teeth whitening create a significant change and can boost your self-esteem. Cosmetic dental services often include procedures to correct color, to replace teeth, or to correct the size or shape of the teeth.

Cosmetic dental care procedures available

Every patient’s desire to alter his/her smile is personal. Patients who have chipped, uneven, missing, or stained teeth may be self-conscious of their smiles. Cosmetic dental procedures have greatly increased in popularity in recent years. Patients want bright, straight, even smiles. Professional cosmetic dentistry gives patients options to achieve their smile enhancement goals. Many of the procedures provide instant gratification and dramatically improve the smile.

Dr. Cruz understands the importance of a stunning smile. He offers a number of cosmetic dental procedures for smile enhancement. These services include the following:

• Tooth-colored fillings
• Teeth whitening
• Composite resin bonding
• Dental crowns and bridges
• Veneers

Tooth discoloration is one of the easiest and most common cosmetic complaints. Foods, drinks, and lifestyle choices affect the teeth. Coffee, wine, tea, and tobacco can cause discoloration of the teeth. Professional teeth whitening is a safe, popular method for dramatically brightening the smile. Compared to over-the-counter products, professional treatments use higher quality whitening agents which allow patients to achieve brighter smiles in a shorter period of time.

Dr. Cruz offers at-home and in-office whitening options to meet our patients’ different needs and wants. Treatments are customized for each patient to ensure a natural, even result. With at-home whitening, patients have the convenience to whiten on their own schedules while still achieving a brighter smile. In-office bleaching produces significantly whiter teeth after a single dental appointment.

Tooth-colored fillings restore decayed teeth and can replace amalgam fillings. Composite materials are safe, durable alternatives. The composite bonds to and blends in with the surrounding tooth for a natural, aesthetically-pleasing result. Amalgam fillings are noticeable and cause the teeth to have a grayish appearance. When requested, the fillings can be replaced with tooth-colored fillings for a more natural appearance.

Crowns, bridges, and dental implants are types of dental restorations used to repair and restore the teeth. Restorations improve the function and aesthetic of the smile. Functionally, the bite is improved so chewing and speaking can occur naturally. The surrounding teeth remain in place and cannot shift which allows for better brushing and flossing. There are fewer hidden areas where bacteria can accumulate. Restorations improve the appearance of the smile. Using porcelain materials allows Dr. Cruz to match adjacent teeth in size, shape, and color for a natural result. Porcelain materials are safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Porcelain veneers are another option to alter the appearance of teeth. Veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells that are bonded to the front of the teeth. They are used to address misshapen, crooked, stained, gapped, or uneven teeth. Veneers may be used on a single tooth or an entire set of teeth. The end result is a more uniform smile.

This is a short list of the treatments available. A consultation is necessary for cosmetic procedures. During your appointment, Dr. Cruz will discuss your options for smile enhancements and help you choose the most appropriate treatments based on your needs, expectations, and budget.

Contact the office today for an appointment. Call (949) 661-1006.