A smile like a precious gem is bright, balanced and well cared for. Cosmetic dentistry in Shrewsbury, PA can help yours shine. This guide from Southern York Smile Care explains the treatments that shape, brighten and complete a smile, and how to know which ones you need.
Jewelers judge a gem by its cut, color, clarity and setting. A smile can be looked at in much the same way. The shape and alignment of your teeth are the cut. Their shade is the color. Healthy, cavity-free enamel is the clarity. And your gums and jaw are the setting that holds it all together. When all four work in harmony, people notice your smile, not your teeth.
The cut: shape and alignment
Chips, worn edges, gaps, crooked teeth and teeth of uneven length all change the outline of a smile. Several treatments can reshape it:
- Porcelain veneers. Thin, custom-made shells bonded to the front of your teeth. They can change shape, length and color at the same time, and they resist staining.
- Prepless veneers. Ultra-thin veneers that often need little or no reshaping of the natural tooth.
- Cosmetic bonding. Tooth-colored resin sculpted onto a tooth to fix a chip, close a small gap or smooth an edge, often in one visit.
- Invisalign clear aligners. Removable, nearly invisible aligners that gradually move teeth into place without metal braces. Dr. Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider.
Some patients pair Invisalign with veneers or bonding. Moving teeth first can mean less change to tooth structure later. If you are weighing the two, see Veneers or Invisalign?
The color: a brighter shade
Coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco and simple aging all dull the color of teeth over time. Professional teeth whitening lifts many of those stains safely, with results that are usually brighter and more even than store-bought kits.
Not every stain responds to whitening, though. Some discoloration comes from inside the tooth, from medicines, injury or old fillings. Those teeth may look best with veneers, bonding or a crown. Whitening also does not change the color of existing crowns or fillings, so timing matters. Whitening before new restorations are made lets the new work match your brighter shade. Read more in All Tooth Stains Are Not Created Equal.
The clarity: healthy, restored teeth
A gem with a crack loses its value, and a tooth with decay or a fracture loses its strength. Restoring damaged teeth is part of every beautiful smile.
- Tooth-colored fillings. Southern York Smile Care is a mercury-free office and does not place silver fillings. White fillings are BPA-free and blend in with your natural teeth.
- Inlays and onlays. Custom-made restorations for teeth with damage too large for a filling but not enough to need a full crown.
- All-porcelain crowns. Caps that cover and protect a weak or heavily filled tooth, with no dark metal line at the gum.
Before any cosmetic work, Dr. Haywood checks that the teeth and gums underneath are healthy. Cosmetic treatment lasts longest on a sound foundation.
The setting: gums and missing teeth
Even beautiful teeth can look out of balance if the gums are uneven or show too much. A cosmetic gum lift reshapes the gumline so teeth look better proportioned. Healthy gums matter too, since gum disease can make gums red, puffy and receding.
A missing tooth leaves a gap that is hard to ignore, and it can let neighboring teeth shift over time. If you are missing one or more teeth, ask about dental implants. An implant replaces the root as well as the crown, which helps protect the jawbone and gives you a tooth that looks and feels natural. Dr. Haywood is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and the practice plans implants with 3D cone beam imaging. Your research is not complete until you come in for a consultation to find out whether implants are right for you.
Putting it together: a smile transformation
A smile transformation combines several of these treatments into one plan. It might be whitening and a few veneers. It might be Invisalign, then bonding, then a gum lift. For someone with worn or missing teeth, it might include crowns and implants. Our complete smile makeover page explains how these pieces fit together.
Planning starts with you. Dr. Haywood will ask what you like and do not like about your smile, then look at your teeth, gums, bite and facial features. Tools like the iTero Element 3D scanner and cosmetic imaging help you see possible results before treatment begins. You can also browse real results in our smile gallery.
How long does it take?
It depends on the plan. Whitening, bonding and some veneer cases can be finished in one or two visits. Porcelain veneers and crowns usually take two visits, with a lab crafting the final pieces in between. Invisalign takes longer, since teeth move a little at a time, and an implant needs several months for the bone to heal around it. For patients who want a fast change, the practice also offers a same-day smile. Dr. Haywood will give you a clear timeline before you start, so you can plan around weddings, reunions or other big events.
Is it worth it?
Only you can decide that, but it helps to think about how often you hide your smile today. Many patients say they wish they had not waited. A good plan also protects your health: straighter teeth are easier to clean, and restored teeth are stronger. Kelley Fisher, the Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, can walk you through the plan, the steps and the payment options so there are no surprises.
Dr. Haywood brings more than 35 years in practice and cosmetic training through the NYU Aesthetic Continuum, and has been seen on ABC's Extreme Makeover. The goal is always a result that looks natural on you.
Caring for your new smile
A gem needs care to keep its shine, and so does your smile. Brush twice a day with a soft brush, clean between your teeth daily, and keep up with professional cleanings, which take a full 60 minutes at Southern York Smile Care. If you grind your teeth at night, a bite guard can protect veneers and crowns. Limiting dark drinks, or rinsing with water after them, helps whitening results last longer.
Your next step
A beautiful smile can change how you feel every time you meet someone new. To talk about your goals, call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury. The office is out of network with all insurers, files claims for you, and offers payment plans through CareCredit and Cherry. See financing for details.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
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