Is cosmetic dentistry for you? If something about your smile bothers you, it may be, and the options are more flexible than you think. This guide from Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA covers the common treatments, who they suit and how to decide.
Many patients come to Southern York Smile Care with questions about cosmetic dentistry. There is good information online, but there is also a lot of noise, and some questions can only be answered by a dentist who has looked at your teeth. This article walks through the questions patients ask most, so you can go into a consultation knowing what to ask.
What cosmetic dentistry can do
Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of your teeth, gums and smile. Modern techniques are conservative, comfortable and designed to look natural. Common goals include:
- Brightening your smile. Teeth whitening and laser whitening lift stains from coffee, tea, wine and age.
- Straightening crooked teeth. Invisalign clear aligners move teeth without metal braces. Dr. Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider.
- Reshaping teeth. Porcelain veneers and cosmetic bonding fix chips, gaps, worn edges and uneven teeth.
- Changing the gum line. A cosmetic gum lift evens out the gums or reduces a gummy smile.
- Restoring damaged teeth. All-porcelain crowns and tooth-colored fillings repair teeth so they look natural.
- Replacing missing teeth. Dental implants fill gaps with teeth that look and feel like your own.
Each of these can stand alone or be combined. A small change, such as whitening or fixing one chipped front tooth, can make a bigger difference to your whole smile than most people expect.
Signs cosmetic dentistry may be right for you
There is no single type of cosmetic patient. You might be a good candidate if you:
- smile with your lips closed or cover your mouth when you laugh
- avoid photos because of your teeth
- have teeth that are stained, chipped, worn, gapped or crooked
- have old fillings or crowns that look dark or do not match
- are missing one or more teeth
- feel your smile looks older than you feel
Cosmetic dentistry is not only about vanity. Many treatments also make teeth stronger, easier to clean and more comfortable to chew with. Our article Cosmetic Dentistry: It's Not About Vanity explains more.
When to wait
Cosmetic work lasts best on a healthy foundation. If you have active decay, gum disease or a bite problem, those are treated first. That is not a delay for its own sake. It protects your investment and helps your results look good for years.
How much treatment do you need?
This is one of the most common questions, and the honest answer is that it depends on your goals and your teeth. Cosmetic care ranges from a single visit to a complete plan.
One or two visits
Many changes can be made quickly and with little or no recovery time. Professional whitening can be completed in one visit. Bonding often takes one visit. Porcelain veneers usually take two visits, with a lab crafting your veneers in between. Some patients are candidates for a same-day smile.
A complete smile makeover
Some patients have several concerns at once: stains, worn teeth, gaps and a missing tooth, for example. A complete smile makeover combines treatments into one plan, carried out in a logical order. It takes more visits, but the result is designed as a whole, so everything matches.
Dr. Haywood can help you decide the level of care that fits, from one or two procedures to a full makeover. Often there is more than one good path, and you choose the one that suits your goals and timeline.
What happens at a cosmetic consultation
A consultation is a conversation first. Dr. Steven Haywood will ask what you like about your smile, what you would change and what matters most to you. Then comes an oral assessment to check the health of your teeth and gums and how your bite works.
Technology helps you see the possibilities:
- An intraoral camera shows close-up views of your teeth on a screen.
- The iTero Element 3D scanner captures a digital model of your teeth, with no messy impressions.
- Cosmetic imaging helps you preview possible changes before you commit.
- Digital X-rays, with up to 90 percent less radiation exposure, check what is happening below the surface.
You will leave with clear answers about what is possible, how many visits it will take and what the options are. There is no pressure to decide on the spot. Take the plan home, think it over and call with any questions that come up later. Browse the smile gallery before or after your visit to see real results.
Common questions about cosmetic dentistry
Is it safe?
Modern cosmetic treatments are well established and widely used. Whitening, bonding, veneers, crowns and implants all have long track records when planned and done carefully. Southern York Smile Care is a mercury-free office, and its tooth-colored fillings are BPA-free.
Will it look natural?
That is the goal. Dr. Haywood completed cosmetic training through the NYU Aesthetic Continuum and has more than 35 years in practice. A natural result considers the shape of your face, your lips, your skin tone and how much of your teeth show when you smile.
Does it hurt?
Most cosmetic treatments involve little discomfort. Whitening can cause brief sensitivity. For treatments that need numbing, local anesthetic keeps you comfortable, and sedation dentistry with oral sedation is available if you feel anxious.
Am I too old for cosmetic dentistry?
No. There is no upper age limit for a healthier, brighter smile. Many patients in their sixties, seventies and beyond choose whitening, crowns, implants or Invisalign. What matters is the health of your teeth, gums and bone, not the number of candles on your cake. Dr. Haywood will look at your overall health and medicines and suggest options that fit.
How do I pay for it?
Insurance usually does not cover purely cosmetic work, though restorative parts of a plan may qualify. Southern York Smile Care is out of network with all insurers. You pay at the visit and the office files any claim for reimbursement. Payment plans are available through CareCredit and Cherry, and Kelley Fisher, the Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, can help you plan. See financing.
Your next step
The best way to know whether cosmetic dentistry is for you is to ask. Call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury. The team looks forward to meeting you and answering your questions. The practice serves patients from York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD.
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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Dr. Steven W. Haywood Dental Miracles
Celebrity Smiles in Shrewsbury
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