There are few things more noticeable or memorable about a person than their smile. When one’s teeth are stained, broken, misshapen, misaligned, or otherwise different in some way other than what is considered “normal” by society, it can make a person very self-conscious and affect them in a negative way.

The process of addressing these concerns is called cosmetic dentistry, but we at Blackstone Family Dentistry prefer to think of it as giving people the smiles they’ve always wanted.

In many cases, the actual procedures used in cosmetic dentistry are identical to those used to treat unhealthy teeth. The key difference is that in cosmetic dentistry those rocedures might not be strictly necessary for health reasons, and thus may not be covered by your insurance company.

Below are the most common procedures that we use to make our patients happier with their smiles along with an explanation of each procedure.

Teeth Whitening

The process of whitening a person’s teeth, also called teeth bleaching, is one of the most basic cosmetic dental procedures. It simply involves applying a bleaching agent to your teeth, in some case over the course of several visits to the dentist, in order to make your teeth appear whiter. We also have a take-home tooth whitening treatment that we can provide to patients in certain circumstances.

Unlike other dental procedures that are used for both health and cosmetic reasons, teeth whitening is a purely cosmetic procedure that has no physical health benefit. Some store brand products that can be used for whitening your teeth can actually harm your teeth. You should consult with us before using any of these products to make sure you use products approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) in order to not damage your teeth.

In the case of the professional tooth whitening process we use at our office, we’ll ensure it is done in a way that is safe. Also, because the procedure doesn’t work as well for people with certain types of tooth colors, we’ll let you know if we don’t recommend it in your case.

Tooth whitening typically costs around $500 and is usually not covered by dental insurance.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin wafer-like shells of ceramic or porcelain that are bonded to the front of a tooth. They can be used to change the color, shape, or size of the front of a tooth. They can also correct any minor crowding or rotations of the teeth, allowing patients to forgo the need for braces.

Dental Bonding

Cosmetic dental bonding is the process by which tooth-colored resin is applied to a chipped, damaged, or discolored tooth. It is very similar to the process of filling a cavity—the main difference is that in the case of a cosmetic dental bonding, the tooth in question is still healthy. The procedure usually takes about 30-60 minutes.

Dental Crowns

Cosmetic dental crowns are identical to regular dental crowns; the only difference is that they are used for primarily for cosmetic reasons (to cover a misshapen tooth, for example) and are not strictly necessary for health reasons. You can see our page on dental crowns for a more detailed explanation of the procedure.

Teeth Reshaping

In the process of teeth reshaping (also called enamel shaping), a dentist simply removes some of the enamel in order to change the shape of it. It is usually a quick and painless process. In some cases, if the procedure is being done to reshape a tooth that was damaged in an accident, insurance may cover some of the cost.

Cosmetic Orthodontics

Cosmetic orthodontics is the process of straightening crooked teeth in adults for cosmetic reasons. This can be done with braces or with an alternative such as wearing clear, removable aligners that straighten your teeth. The cost for cosmetic orthodontics varies widely based on the method used and the amount of realignment desired. At Blackstone Family Dentistry, we use the ClearCorrect invisible aligners for this treatment.