Cosmetic Dentistry in Durham, NC
A healthy mouth is job one at The Smile Shop, but we also understand that an attractive smile is also essential. Surveys show that teeth are the first things people notice when they meet you, and a beautiful smile exudes confidence that can dramatically improve your quality of life.
So regardless of which aspects you like least about your teeth, we can provide a range of cosmetic dentistry services at our Durham, NC, dental office that will help you achieve the gorgeous smile of your dreams!
- How Can Cosmetic Dentistry Improve Your Smile?
- Our Comprehensive Cosmetic Dental Services in Durham, NC
- Why Not Start with Professional Teeth Whitening?
- How Dental Bonding Works towards a Brighter Smile
- What You Should Know about the Porcelain Veneers Process
- How Dental Crowns Restore and Beautify Teeth
- Orthodontic Treatments Fix Crooked Teeth in Durham, NC
How Can Cosmetic Dentistry Improve Your Smile?
Over time, your teeth endure a myriad of challenges, the slings and arrows of modern life. For example, sporting or other injuries can cause chips or cracks, and everyday foods like coffee, tea, and sodas contribute to tooth staining and discoloration.
Whatever your aesthetic concern is, we offer the solutions you need. Here is a sampling of what cosmetic dentistry can fix:
- Discolored or stained teeth
- Teeth that are shorter or smaller than the others
- Size or shape discrepancies
- Teeth with gaps between them or missing teeth
- Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth
- Mild to moderate tooth misalignment
The popularity of cosmetic dentistry has grown along with advances in modern dental technology. The first step is to make an appointment with Dr. Dolin, Dr. Spriggs, or Dr. Alessandro at The Smile Shop. At your initial consult, we create a comprehensive exam to evaluate each aspect of your smile and discuss your treatment options.
Our Comprehensive Cosmetic Dental Services in Durham, NC
Whether you'd like to fix just one tooth or transform your entire smile, you can turn to cosmetic dentistry for solutions. Here is a brief sampling of our services, from the least invasive treatments to complete smile makeovers.
Teeth whitening – Addresses surface stains through a whitening process that scours tooth enamel so that more brilliant natural tooth shows through.
Dental bonding – This conceals deeper discoloration in one visit using the same moldable materials with which we fill cavities.
Porcelain veneers – Also for disguising surface flaws, and shape issues, tooth veneers are thin shells customized for you and cemented onto your tooth.
Dental Crowns – Constructed similarly to veneers, crowns are a cap that totally covers a tooth to conceal flaws and restore functionality.
Orthodontics – When smile alignment is the challenge, we can help you get braces or Invisalign clear aligner therapy, whichever solution is best for your unique needs.
Smile makeover – Our cosmetic dentists can mix and match the above treatments for a cumulative effect and a smile free from the problems that bother you most.
Why Not Start with Professional Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is the perfect option for brightening your smile without sacrificing time and money.
At The Smile Shop, we offer several whitening options so you can choose the best fit.
- Custom trays for take-home whitening – Here, we take impressions of your teeth and fabricate bleaching trays customized for your smile. This way, the bleaching agent contacts more teeth surfaces while protecting your surrounding gum tissue.
- In-office booster whitening – If you want whiter teeth without the wait, in-office whitening could be a good option. Most patients notice significant brightening after just one visit.
- Individual tooth whitening –A single tooth could become discolored due to trauma, often resulting in a root canal. We have bleach specifically designed to work on individual, root-canaled teeth.
No one option is best for everyone. However, our team is knowledgeable about the various options available, so if you are interested in a brighter smile, please don't hesitate to ask us for more information!
How Dental Bonding Works towards a Brighter Smile
Dental bonding is an aesthetic dental treatment that alters a tooth's shape, size, or shade. We use tooth-colored composite filling material for bonding because it blends seamlessly with dental enamel. The procedure involves the building-up of tooth-colored composite.
Since the material is putty-like in consistency, we layer it to correct the imperfection. Each layer is hardened with a curing light before proceeding, resulting in a sturdy, durable repair that looks like a natural tooth! Bonding is conservative since we don't emove any tooth structure, and the process is so straightforward that we can often perform several repairs during one appointment.
What You Should Know about the Porcelain Veneers Process
Dental veneers are another surface treatment that allows us to change tooth shape and color with a durable, engineered option that lasts longer than dental bonding. Veneers require at least two appointments, so we may design and place them at our Durham, NC, dental office.
At the first appointment, we minimally prepare your teeth will be minimally prepared and make impressions that we send to our excellent dental lab. During your next visit, we will check your finished veneers and cement them in place. We can further protect your new smile and recommend a night guard to prevent damage from grinding and lengthen the lifespan of your porcelain veneers.
How Dental Crowns Restore and Beautify Teeth
If your smile already has some fillings in the front teeth or has been treated with a root canal, we may recommend crowns to make your smile beautiful. Placing a crown typically requires two appointments. First, like with veneers, we prepare your natural tooth for the crown and then take a detailed impression. We then place a temporary crown to serve you while your final crown is fabricated.
After the lab finishes building your crown, we remove the temporary one and thoroughly examine the fit and finish to ensure the crown is correct. Once you are 100% satisfied with the fit, we permanently cement the crown to your tooth.
We assure you that both appointments are as painless as possible, and every step is taken with your comfort in mind.
Orthodontic Treatments Fix Crooked Teeth in Durham, NC
Straightening your teeth with braces or Invisalign clear aligners is an excellent way to improve the aesthetics of your smile. We work with some of the best local orthodontists who offer braces and Invisalign in Durham, NC, to help make your smile perfect.
If you desire to straighten your teeth, please get in touch with us today to make an appointment to evaluate your smile.
How Can I Get Started with Cosmetic Dentistry?
Every smile is unique, so our team works closely with patients to better understand their desires and expectations. By focusing on individual tooth shapes, and shades, then following the "golden ratio" standards, we can create a smile you will be proud to show off!
Please feel free to ask any of our team members for more information or call The Smile Shop today to arrange your commitment-free smile consultation!
Frequently Asked Questions
Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment that conceals smile flaws by giving your tooth a brand-new flawless surface. When placed by a qualified, experienced cosmetic dentist in Durham, NC, there’s no real risk to getting dental veneers, but there are some factors you should be aware of.
Getting Veneers is an Irreversible Process
We all love the beauty and natural-looking appearance of porcelain veneers. However, to get that seamless, realistic look, your cosmetic dentist must remove a thin layer of tooth enamel. The thickness removed is no more than half a millimeter—about the thickness of a fingernail.
While this doesn’t sound like a lot, removing this much enamel does make the process irreversible, making porcelain veneers a lifetime commitment. Dental veneers can last as long as 15 years with proper care, but they will eventually need to be replaced with new ones.
Proper Dental Care Ensures the Success of Your Veneers
Porcelain veneers won’t stain like tooth enamel and are fairly maintenance-free. However, since they are so thin, you have to stay away from hard or crunchy foods that could chip or crack them. If they do break, they need to be removed and replaced.
As always, practice excellent oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once. Keeping your underlying teeth and gums healthy can help extend your veneers' lifespan, so they give you many years of use.
Schedule a Dental Veneers Appointment in Durham, NC
Porcelain dental veneers are a stunning addition that hides cosmetic flaws and leaves you with a gorgeous smile. If you're interested, call The Smile Shop in Durham, NC to schedule an appointment with our cosmetic dentists to learn more about veneers.
Cosmetic Dentistry Options at The Smile Shop
It’s not uncommon for adults to have cosmetic issues with their teeth. If your jaw is misaligned, your teeth might move or become chipped or worn down. If you had braces previously, your teeth can shift for a variety of reasons, causing gaps between teeth, overlapped teeth, and crooked teeth. The good news is that cosmetic dentistry in Durham, NC can help you feel good about your smile again!
Here are a few common dental problems and how cosmetic dentists fix them:
Chipped, gapped, or irregularly shaped teeth. Composite buildups (or bonding) are a versatile way to fix teeth that are not uniform or teeth that are damaged. Porcelain veneers - thin shell-like covers for teeth - are another option for a flawless-looking smile.
Discolored or stained teeth. Professional teeth whitening is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to brighten your smile. If your teeth are too deeply stained to benefit from teeth whitening, porcelain veneers or dental crowns can help.
Damaged or treated teeth. If a tooth is damaged or needs a root canal, a dental crown can restore the tooth to function and look normal. This “cap” encases the tooth and closely matches other teeth in appearance.
Misaligned teeth. If you dream of having your teeth straightened, “invisible” braces and clear aligners such as Invisalign work well for busy adults.
Cosmetic Dentistry at The Smile Shop
Many dental procedures improve the appearance of your teeth as a secondary benefit. For example, a crown for a chipped, decayed tooth may enhance your smile when the crown is right 
in front. Tooth-colored composite fillings also restore teeth while preserving a natural look. However, with cosmetic dentistry, the sole purpose is to fix teeth and gum imperfections.
Whether you’d like to fix a single crooked tooth or transform your entire smile, you can turn to cosmetic dentistry in Durham, NC, for solutions. Here are a few problems cosmetic dentistry can fix:
- Discolored or stained teeth
- Teeth that are shorter or smaller than the others
- Irregularly shaped teeth
- Teeth with gaps between them or missing teeth
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Misaligned teeth
Cosmetic dentistry options such as veneers, teeth whitening, orthodontics, and dental bonding can help you feel confident about your smile again. Some treatments also can strengthen your teeth and make them more functional at the same time, such as crowns and dental implants.
As advances in modern dental technology have made a perfect smile possible, cosmetic dentistry has become increasingly popular in the United States. Call us today to learn how to take your smile to the next level!
Get the Smile You Want with Cosmetic Dentistry
If you are unhappy with the esthetics of your smile, the first step is to make an appointment with Dr. Dolin, Dr. Spriggs, or Dr. Daphne Toussaint with The Smile Shop. As every person is unique, so are your smiles and teeth. At the consult, we will complete a comprehensive exam to evaluate every aspect of your smile and go over all the options to give you the smile you’ve been dreaming of!
Composite bonding
White composite fillings material can be used to improve the shape of your teeth. Most commonly it is used to fix small chips in your teeth or close gaps between your teeth. Composite bonding is the most conservative option because little to no tooth structure needs to be removed.
Veneers
Veneers are thin porcelain partial crowns that are customized to your teeth and cemented onto your tooth. Veneers are great to improve not only the shape of your teeth but also the color.
Crowns
Crowns, sometimes referred to as caps, go all the way around your tooth. Teeth that have had sufficient decay or trauma may benefit from crowns due to their strength. Your smile and teeth can be designed to the perfect shape and color and greatly improved esthetically.
Orthodontics, also known as Braces
Straightening your teeth to a more optimal position can help the esthetics of your smile tremendously. Braces can be performed with traditional metal form brackets or clear Invisalign retainers. Orthodontic treatment is an option that would take the longest to achieve but would be very conservative and long-lasting.
We have plenty of options to improve the shape of your teeth and overall the happiness you have with your smile. Please contact our Durham, NC office today to make an appointment. We look forward to improving your smile
Meet Our Doctors:
Drs. Kate Dolin and Adam Spriggs
We are Drs. Kate Dolin and Adam Spriggs, a husband and wife dental team.
Natives of small towns in West Virginia, we met while attending the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Prior to dental school, we both practiced as dental hygienists; collectively, we have over 20 years experience in the dental field.
Our mission is to provide personalized comprehensive care in a calm and soothing atmosphere. Dental treatment can be complex and often specific to each individual. We believe patient education is a vital aspect of each visit so informed decisions ...
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