Cosmetic Dentistry from Experienced Wayne, PA, Dentists
The way you feel about your smile has a huge impact on your self-esteem and your quality of life. When you want to enhance your smile, you need to know that you’re coming to an experienced dentist with the skill to make your treatment effective and appealing.
At Great Valley Dental Associates, our experienced team of dentists works together to provide you with a smile that’s unique and flattering to you. Whether you want simple teeth whitening, a straighter smile with orthodontics, or replacing all teeth with All-on-4®, you can count on us to deliver top results in a friendly and welcoming environment. Schedule your cosmetic consultation today to see how we can help!
CALL US: (610) 701-0102 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
Cosmetic Dentistry and Oral Health
Cosmetic dental procedures can do more than simply enhance the way your smile looks. Many cosmetic treatments also improve your teeth and bite. Procedures that involve the repair, straightening, and replacement of teeth can preserve your smile and prevent further damage. These are just of the few ways a cosmetic treatment can boost your oral health and improve your quality of life.
Cosmetic dental procedures such as crowns, fillings, inlays, onlays, and bonding restore teeth to their original form. Repairing weak and damaged teeth gives them additional support, prevents further damage, and may even prevent the need for extraction.
Crooked, misshapen, and shifted teeth can affect your speech and ability to chew. This can cause you discomfort, frustration, and embarrassment. Misaligned teeth can also increase your risk of cavities since they are harder to clean.
Several cosmetic dental procedures improve the shape, size, and alignment of your teeth. With an optimized bite, you can speak and chew more effectively, and your oral and facial structure appears healthier and more youthful.
One of the major reasons patients opt for cosmetic treatments is to boost their confidence. Cosmetic procedures improve your appearance and oral health, hence restoring your smile. This makes you look more confident, friendly, and approachable. An appealing smile improves not only your social life but also your emotional health.
Your oral and overall health are interconnected. Missing and misaligned teeth, gum disease, and cavities affect not only your oral health but also your digestion and other organs. Smiling and laughing are also great stress relievers.
Boosting Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are custom-made shells that cover your tooth’s front surface to improve its appearance. These shells are bonded to teeth to improve their size, shape, color, or length. Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and are great at mimicking the light-reflecting property of natural tooth enamel.
What Kind of Problems Do Porcelain Veneers Correct?
Veneers are highly prized because they’re relatively easy to apply, yet they can correct a variety of cosmetic issues. Here are some of the reasons our dentists might recommend veneers for your smile.
- Discoloration: They are suitable for correcting the appearance of teeth stained due to cigarette use, foods, and beverages such as coffee and tea, prescription medication such as tetracycline, excessive fluoride use, and trauma or injury to the tooth.
- Worn down, chipped, or broken teeth: Injury or natural wear can affect the shape of teeth, but veneers can return them to a healthy, full appearance.
- Uneven, misaligned, or irregularly shaped teeth: Whether a tooth is crooked, oddly shaped, or not quite aligned, veneers can create a more uniform appearance.
- Dental Gaps: Gaps caused by spacing issues, especially between front teeth, can easily be corrected with veneers.
How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?
Veneers are some of the most common cosmetic dental treatments and continue to improve thanks to advances in modern dentistry. Porcelain veneers are very high quality, and with proper care, they can last between 10-15 years.
All-on-4® Dental Implants
Tooth loss not only affects the look of your smile but comes with a host of health problems as well. While there are several options for tooth replacement, many people today enjoy dental implants for their comprehensive benefits. Now, with All-on-4 dental implant treatment, getting implants is possible for more people than ever before.
An implant consists of a titanium post that’s fitted inside your jawbone, replacing the root of your missing tooth. Once the implant has been installed, a crown is attached to give you a functional prosthetic tooth.
However, with All-on-4, you don’t need a dental implant for each missing tooth. All you need is four strategically-placed implants on the top or bottom jaw to restore your oral function and smile. Since the implants are made from titanium, they have the unique ability to fuse with your jaw bone and become a functional part of it. The All-on-4 implant-supported denture becomes a strong and long-lasting part of your smile.
Before starting treatment, our dentists will evaluate you to ensure that you’re a candidate for All-on-4. Top criteria include a strong jawbone and overall healthy mouth. We’ll work with you to determine if you qualify and help you take steps to ensure your treatment is a success.
Orthodontics for Straighter, Healthier Smiles
Crooked, crowded, or widely spaced teeth are one of the most noticeable issues your smile may have. If you’ve been considering having your teeth straightened, you’re in luck! Our office provides two options for orthodontic treatment: traditional braces and clear aligners. You can enjoy a healthier, more radiant smile with the method that best suits your needs.
Traditional Metal Braces
These are the standard braces most people are familiar with. Consisting of metal brackets and wires, these braces use tension to gradually shift teeth into the best position. They’re capable of correcting everything from minor issues to major misalignment, and can be used on both children, teens, and adults. Kids often love the ability to customize their braces with fun, colorful rubber bands, adding personality to their treatment.
Clear Aligners
The latest development in orthodontics, many people are opting for clear aligners because of their comfortable and discreet nature. Using a series of custom-built clear plastic trays, clear aligners apply pressure to target areas to gently guide your teeth. The trays are removable, which is convenient for eating and brushing teeth.
Because of the way they work, these braces are a great choice for correcting mild to moderate alignment issues, like crooked teeth, gaps, or mild crowding. Aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours every day, which can be a big commitment. We recommend these braces for adults and responsible teens.
Botox® for TMJ and TMJD in Wayne
It may surprise you to hear that Botox is often used to treat temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and other jaw disorders characterized by jaw pain and tension. When injected into facial muscles, it relieves pain and eases tension. This treatment is effective for headaches caused by tooth grinding and minimizes lockjaw.
The temporomandibular joints are located where the jawbone is joined to the skull and are used when you eat, talk, and swallow. If they become overworked or displaced, you may experience sharp jaw pain and severe tension headaches. Botox relieves tension and pain by making the muscles relax. This effect puts a stop to the clenching and grinding that causes pain and headaches.
Our trained dental professionals can provide targeted Botox injections right in our office, and most patients experience relief within one or two days after the initial treatment.
Teeth Whitening for Brilliant Smiles
A teeth whitening treatment is a fast and simple procedure that brightens your teeth and smile. While time may leave your pearly whites looking less bright, with professional teeth whitening, you can feel great about your smile once more. The ease of treatment and dynamic results have made this one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available, and could work wonders for your smile as well!
Why Do Your Teeth Get Stained?
Over time your teeth can go from white to off-white and even brown for several reasons. Some foods and drinks can stain your teeth, and as you age, your teeth get more discolored.
- Food and Drink: Tea, coffee, and red wine are the major tooth-staining culprits. These foods contain chromogens, which are intense color pigments that attach to your tooth’s enamel.
- Tobacco: Tar and nicotine are the two major chemicals found in tobacco that stain your teeth. Tar causes dark stains, while nicotine forms a yellowish substance when it comes into contact with oxygen.
- Medication: Antibiotics like tetracycline, high blood pressure medication, and some antihistamines are known to stain teeth. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and neck radiation can also permanently stain your teeth.
- Age: Below the enamel is a softer layer called dentin. With time, your enamel thins and the yellowish dentin starts showing through.
- Trauma: If your mouth is damaged in an accident, the affected teeth may change color.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening is designed to target stains built up from food, drinks, and tobacco use. The bleaching agent in the whitening gel penetrates the enamel surface and eliminates these stains, uncovering your natural enamel beneath and leaving your smile fresher and whiter.
What Whitening Options Are Available To You?
Our office provides two types of teeth whitening – in-office whitening and take-home whitening kits. Both types have advantages, and we’ll talk you through your options to help you decide which choice is the right one for you.
In-Office or Chairside Bleaching
This treatment is simple, effective, and can often be completed in a single visit to our office. We’ll cover your gums with a protective gel or a rubber shield to minimize post-treatment sensitivity, then apply the whitening gel to your teeth. Since your treatment is professionally monitored, we can use the highest-strength gel available, which produces even stronger results. This treatment is a great choice before big events such as a wedding, a job interview, or prom.
Professional Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
If you prefer to whiten your teeth at home, we can provide you with a personalized teeth whitening kit, complete with a custom-made tray to use at home. You’ll also receive instructions on how to apply the solution and for how long. With this option, you can whiten gradually when it’s convenient for you in the comfort of your home. It’s a great way to freshen your smile before big life events and to maintain your in-office treatment as time goes on.
Composite Fillings for Strength and Appeal
A composite filling can be used to repair a fractured, cracked, or decayed tooth. The decayed or affected enamel is first removed before the area is filled with the composite material.
Since composite fillings are designed to match the color of your teeth, they are aesthetically pleasing and more suitable for the front teeth. They also bond tightly to your enamel and require less space, so our dentists can preserve more of your healthy enamel when placing these fillings. Composite fillings are very durable and can last many years, especially with proper professional care.
Porcelain Crowns in Wayne
If you want to improve the function and appearance of your teeth, porcelain crowns are a great option. These are tooth-shaped caps installed over teeth to enhance their function and appearance.
There are various types of dental crowns, but porcelain crowns are highly recommended since they can be designed to match the shape and color of your teeth. Each crown is customized to suit your smile in shape and color, crafted in an expert dental lab to ensure a great look and comfortable fit.
Do I Need a Porcelain Crown?
Bonding, veneers, and crowns are all used to restore and enhance the exterior of your tooth. However, porcelain crowns are most often recommended for more severe damage or wear, since they restore your tooth’s strength, function, and aesthetics.
Here are some of the reasons we might recommend a crown for your tooth:
- When tooth decay has destroyed a substantial portion of the tooth
- In case of an injury or accident
- When the enamel is destroyed through wear, grinding, or clenching of teeth
- To renew the aesthetic appearance of a tooth
- To restore a tooth to its full function after root canal therapy
How to Care for Your Porcelain Crown
Maintaining your porcelain crowns is quite simple. Regular brushing and flossing will help your crown stay strong, and we’ll examine your crown during your six-month checkups to ensure that it’s secure and in good condition.
What is a Smile Makeover?
This is a customized treatment plan intended to enhance the appearance of your teeth, gums, and mouth in general. Our experienced dentists can include a comprehensive range of treatments and techniques to restore your smile and oral function. Regardless of the dental problems you’re experiencing, a smile makeover can address all of your concerns.
What are the Benefits of a Smile Makeover?
Our dental team customizes your smile makeover to help you achieve your desired outcome. Every treatment plan is tailored to a patient’s unique needs, lifestyle, and what they want improved or enhanced. A smile makeover can also be tailored to include restorative techniques, promoting good oral health alongside aesthetic enhancements.
During your initial consultation, the dentist will perform a full oral evaluation and factor in your concerns and desires when designing your personalized treatment plan. We’ll discuss your options and work with you to select the combination of treatments that suit your needs, working with you every step of the way.
Sedation Dentistry Helps You Get the Care You Need
We understand that dental visits can leave some patients feeling nervous or anxious. At our practice, we provide sedation to help you relax and get the quality treatment you want and need. Our office provides two types of sedation: nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation.
We’ll work with you to determine which type is right for you based on your level of stress, the type and length of treatment, and your health and medical history.
Your Best Smile is Waiting in Wayne, PA!
A healthy, beautiful smile can make a world of difference for you! Our dental team understands what a great-looking smile means for you, and we do our best to help you find the right treatment to achieve it. If you’re ready to enjoy a healthy, positive smile, schedule a cosmetic consultation to get started today!
CALL US: (610) 701-0102 REQUEST APPOINTMENT