Cosmetic dentistry is really any dental procedure used to improve the appearance of your smile. This includes teeth whitening, straightening, or replacing missing teeth.
Below I’ll review the most popular cosmetic procedures in Des Moines and what they’re used for.
If you’re in Des Moines and thinking about any of the procedures below, come see us for a complimentary consultation to learn about the best options for you and get an estimate of the cost. You can call us at 515-420-1544 to book an appointment now.
Issue: Yellow or Discolored Teeth
Solution: Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is a quick and painless procedure that will make your smile look healthier.
We offer three types of teeth whitening in our office – KöR Whitening, ZOOM! Whitening, and basic whitening take-home trays.
- The KöR Whitening system is the most intense and meant for people who need deep cleaning or tetracycline cleaning. If you have much darker teeth due to taking medicine when you were young, or drinking a greater volume of coffee then KöR probably a great choice. While it takes multiple visits, our patients are very happy with their results.
- ZOOM! Whitening is a one-visit, in-office whitening procedure. It’s a great option if you don’t want to do it at home either because of time or you know you won’t wear the trays for the prescribed amount of time. You can see the results immediately and go home with the whitened teeth that you wanted.
- Lastly, our at-home kits come with whitening trays made just for you. First we take impressions of the patient’s teeth and create plastic trays for them to wear. A special whitening gel is then placed into the plastic tray, and the patient wears them for one to four hours over their teeth. This procedure typically requires you to wear the trays for the specified time every day for several weeks.
Issue: Chipped, Broken, Discolored, or Misshapen Teeth
Solution: Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin coverings for the teeth that are placed over your natural teeth. They can be used to improve the size, shape, and color of teeth and can correct teeth with gaps, irregular shapes, chips, or stains.
Veneers are made in the lab to look natural and blend in with your other teeth. Since veneers are individually sculpted for each patient, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a veneer and a natural tooth. Unlike natural teeth, custom-made veneers also resist coffee and tea stains, and cigarette smoke.
With veneers, as opposed to crowns, your natural teeth remain largely intact, with only a minimal amount being altered to fit the veneer.
Porcelain veneers typically take 2-3 weeks to complete treatment. First you need to come in for impressions and images of the teeth. This info is then sent to the lab where they are made. Once the permanent restoration is complete, they are sent back to our office, and you come in again to have them placed.
Issue: Stains on your Tooth
Solution: White filling or Porcelain Veneer (see above)
If a patient has a stain on their tooth that bothers them, we can cover it with a white filling in just one office visit. This is a simpler and less expensive option compared to porcelain veneers.
This may not work in all cases so book a free consultation to learn if this is a good option for you.
Issue: Crooked Teeth, Overbite, Underbite, Spaces Between Teeth
Solution: Invisalign or Six Month Smiles
Invisalign
The Invisalign system uses clear, ‘invisible’ trays to straighten your teeth without obvious metal braces. Invisalign is great for treating crowding, spacing, and crooked teeth. All you have to do is change out the aligners every two weeks to gently move the teeth into the desired position. You will also need to come into the office every eight weeks for a new set of aligners.
One of the best parts of Invisalign is that the aligners can be taken out to eat, drink, brush and floss. You never have to worry about food stuck in your braces or complicated brushing routines around the metal braces wires.
We’ve had a ton of success with Invisalign in our office, which is why we are an elite Invisalign provider. You have to have treated hundreds of cases to get that designation, and we are the only elite Invisalign provider in the state of Iowa.
Six Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles is a quick and effective orthodontic treatment that offers a shorter treatment time than traditional braces. Traditional braces can take up to 2.5 years, whereas Six Month Smiles treatment will last for only 6-12 months.
Six Month Smiles also use clear brackets and wires, making them discreet and much less obvious than traditional braces. They’re great for adults that want to quickly straighten their front teeth.
Issue: Too much gum showing in your smile
Solution: Gum lifts
If you have too much gum covering your front teeth, then we can remove excess gum in order to make your teeth appear longer. This treatment can also be used to eliminate the look of uneven gum line, which can make it look like your teeth are different lengths.
Issue: You’d like to combine any of the treatments above
Solution: Smile Makeover
A smile makeover can be any combo of straightening, whitening, or replacing missing teeth. To start a smile makeover, first come in for a consultation. The dentist will discuss your options and come up with a treatment plan and timeline. This treatment plan will be developed with you to take into consideration your budget, timeframe, and desired results. We can often break the process up into steps so you don’t have to pay for it all at once.
If you’re in Des Moines and thinking about any of the treatments above, give us a call to come in for a free consultation!
You can call us at 515-420-1544 or email us at info@dmsmiles.com.