703.478.9574Cosmetic Dentistry FAQ
Reston and Arlington, VA
- I don't want anybody to know I've had my smile done. Will this look natural?
- How quickly will I be able to complete my treatment?
- How will my temporaries look?
- How long will my new smile last?
- What kind of questions should I ask when looking for a cosmetic dentist?
- I've always been afraid of the dentist. How can I feel more comfortable?
- How will a new smile change my life?
- Will my insurance pay for these procedures?
- What are my payment options?
- What is the end result?
- Why do our teeth become stained or discolored?
- Does tooth whitening cause any damage?
- What do porcelain veneers do?
- Can old metal fillings be replaced with white ones?
- What is instant orthodontics?
I don't want anybody to know I've had my smile done. Will this look natural?
While every case is unique, LVI trains dentists to use cosmetic dentistry techniques that help create the most natural smile possible. A style for your smile will be determined, taking into account your lifestyle, facial proportions, gender, age, complexion, hair and even eye color.
Most often, our patients hear questions like: "Have you changed your hair style?", or "Have you lost weight?" Their friends know something is different - they just don't know what .
How quickly will I be able to complete my treatment?
Most aesthetic procedures, from simple bonding to a complete smile makeover, can be completed in as little as one to three visits (but may vary depending on the complexity of each case). Our doctors are trained to work efficiently, keeping you in the office for the shortest time possible.
For example, a smile makeover often involves placing veneers or crowns on the top eight to ten teeth. In the first appointment, you and the doctor will discuss what you want your smile to look like.
In the second appointment, the doctor will carefully prepare your teeth and place temporary veneers. This appointment typically lasts 2-4 hours total.
In the final appointment, your new teeth will be placed, polished and adjusted. Again, the appointment will take around 2-4 hours.
The total time from start to finish? Less than a month, and sooner if necessary. Soon you'll be smiling with confidence!
How will my temporaries look?
Often, the difference is so dramatic that you'll feel like your new smile is already complete. However, temporaries are just that - temporary. They are not meant to replace natural teeth. It is important for you to go to your final restoration appointment when scheduled to ensure the procedure goes as smoothly as possible.
How long will my new smile last?
Today's materials are actually stronger than natural teeth, and are far more resistant to wearing and breakage. With regular checkups and care, your smile should last for many, many years.
What kind of questions should I ask when looking for a cosmetic dentist?
Obviously, training and commitment to continuing education are of paramount importance. Just like medicine, dentistry changes significantly over the years, and your dentist must keep up. LVI trained dentists have experience and training from the prestigious Las Vegas Institute. Ask your LVI dentist how they would design your new smile. What is their protocol, and how will you know if you will like the smile before it becomes final? Don't be afraid to ask questions.
I've always been afraid of the dentist. How can I feel more comfortable?
LVI teaches dentistry techniques that will make your procedure surprisingly comfortable. By working quickly and using advanced technologies, they are able to be very conservative in your treatment, allowing you to heal more quickly.
There are also several options from sedation dentistry to sleep dentistry. LVI dentists are trained to listen to your specific needs in order to allay any fear and make your visit as pleasant as possible. Ask your dentist what they can do to make you feel more comfortable with options like sedation dentistry.
How will a new smile change my life?
It is not uncommon for the patients to cry with joy, hug their dentist, or even kiss them! Patients tell us they are filled with self-confidence, they feel more outgoing, and they simply can't stop smiling!
Shy patients are often transformed into social butterflies. Professionals tell us of greater career success. Older patients look and feel decades younger. Sounds impossible, but it's true. Think about how a new or improved smile would change your life.
Will my insurance pay for these procedures?
Unfortunately, most dental insurance has a maximum annual benefit of $1,000 to $2,000 dollars depending on your coverage. Since insurance companies are in business to make money, they allow only the least expensive possible treatment - not necessarily the treatment that is best for your dental health.
Most cosmetic dentistry treatment is considered elective and not covered by insurance. Your dentist will do everything possible to maximize your insurance benefit, but be prepared to pay for the treatment with alternate finances. There are many financing options available, so ask your dentist what the best option is for you.
What are my payment options?
Most dentists accept checks, credit cards, or offer a third party financing option. These financing companies allow you to make the payments for your new smile out over time, making the payment fit comfortably into your monthly budget. Ask your dentist how best to accomplish your treatment and financial funding.
A new, beautiful smile will dramatically affect your life. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, most patients find that a nice smile also increases their confidence and cheerfulness. This, in turn, improves their interactions with friends, co-workers and romantic partners. It's no secret that most people find a nice smile to be quite attractive.
Additionally, a nice smile has health benefits, too. Missing teeth, for instance, contribute to your risk of gum infection. Improving your smile won't just increase your social life, it'll also contribute to your overall dental well-being.
Why do our teeth become stained or discolored?
There are surface stains and intrinsic stains.
Surface stains are mostly a result of living. Or of aging, as is often stated. Our teeth are washed by everything we drink, and pick up a little staining from some of it:
- Coffee
- Black tea
- Red wine
- Cola drinks
Tobacco and some medications also cause discoloration, and possibly various foodstuffs. And dentin, the substance just beneath the enamel, is darker-colored, so that it shows through more as the enamel starts thinning after years of chewing.
Professional teeth cleaning is best done every 6 months, but many of us neglect that, allowing the surface stains to sink in more firmly.
Intrinsic stains can be caused by antibiotics taken in childhood and are part of the structure of the tooth, rather than just sitting on the surface. They appear as lighter and darker bands. If you whiten your teeth, the banding may lighten but will remain. So it must be treated through the use of cosmetic dentistry, namely porcelain veneers or crowns.
Does tooth whitening cause any damage?
No, not when it’s done by a qualified cosmetic dentist. The whitening gel may cause some temporary sensitivity to cold, or sometimes to heat and contact. But that disappears a day or two after you stop using the gel.
If you try to whiten your teeth using an over-the-counter product, safety can’t be guaranteed.
What is a smile makeover?
It’s a customized combination of cosmetic dentistry treatments designed to maximize the attractiveness of your smile. Each smile makeover is different and can be affected by the shape of your face, your coloring, and your gender and age. Some of the possible procedures done as part of a smile makeover are:
- Porcelain veneers
- Laser gum recontouring
- Tooth whitening
- Porcelain bonding or crowns
They’re very thin ceramic wafers, custom designed to fit over your teeth, a separate one for each tooth being worked on. They cover small defects such as:
- Spots and intrinsic stains
- Chips
- Gaps
- Slight crookedness
They’re bonded strongly to your teeth, and feel, look and behave just like your natural teeth.
Can old metal fillings be replaced with white ones?
Yes, absolutely. As metal fillings age, they can become loose and even fall out. They aren’t bonded to the tooth, just tightly fitted into the cavity. A white porcelain filling will be bonded to the tooth, so as to look and behave like part of the tooth.
A large metal filling can also show through the thinned amount of enamel surrounding it, and can even discolor the entire tooth. If you have old metal fillings that show when you smile, it could make a huge difference in your smile to replace them with porcelain matched to the color of your natural teeth.
Even if they don’t show when you smile, eventually they’ll have to be re-done, so why not have a porcelain filling?
It’s a name for the use of porcelain veneers, bonding, or crowns in place of braces. The term orthodontics refers to that branch of dentistry that corrects irregularities in the teeth, and traditionally metal braces have been used, as some of us may remember from our teenage years.
Instead of using braces to physically move the teeth’s positions in the gums, a quick solution is to use veneers or crowns to give the appearance of straight, even teeth. The teeth being treated are sculpted and shaped a little, so as to fit under the veneers or crowns, and the porcelain used is matched in color to the surrounding natural teeth.
The veneers and crowns are bonded firmly to the existing teeth and are very long-lasting. The result is a new and more attractive smile.
Dr. Katz is a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and knows cosmetic dentistry. He will be able to assess your needs and create a dazzling smile for life. Contact us today!
