8117 Preston Road, Suite 170 | Preston Commons West | Dallas, TX 75225
214-369-9000

Cosmetic Dentistry

Your smile is one of your greatest assets and often one of the first things that people notice about you. To make a good first impression, you want to have the most beautiful smile possible.

Unfortunately, many issues can detract from the aesthetics of our smiles, such as damaged, discolored or crooked teeth. Cosmetic dentistry interventions can address these issues and give you the smile of your desire.

Depending on your unique circumstances, a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments may help you achieve your smile goals. Dr. Steel will thoroughly assess your case and discuss your desired treatment outcomes with you. After this is complete, she can develop the treatment plan.

If you are dissatisfied with certain aesthetic flaws in your smile, explore your cosmetic dentistry options. We encourage you to visit our office for a consultation to get started on enhancing your smile.

Cosmetic Dentistry Overview

Cosmetic Dentistry focuses primarily on improving the smile. The most visually appealing smile is properly aligned with bright, white teeth that are proportionate to each other in size and in good condition.

Whenever your smile deviates from this norm, it can seem less attractive than it should be. Fortunately, most cosmetic defects in the smile can be addressed through specific interventions that enhance the shade, shape or condition of the teeth, or address other issues.

As a prosthodontist, Dr. Steel has significant expertise in designing tooth restorations and other cosmetic dentistry interventions to produce the most lifelike appearance possible. This is another important consideration of cosmetic dentistry work, as you want the results to have a natural look.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Interventions

After assessing your particular situation and gathering all of the pertinent information, Dr. Steel may recommend any of a number of different cosmetic dentistry interventions, including the following:

Teeth whitening

Applying bleaching agents to the teeth to whiten them by 2-10 shades.

Veneers

Using thin layers of porcelain or ceramics to conceal defects in the smile.

Dental crowns

Restorations that cover an entire tooth that has been extensively damaged.

Dental implants

A structurally complete option for tooth replacement that produces lifelike results.

Dr. Steel will review all of the potential treatment options with you so that you can choose the ones that best address your needs.

Smile Makeover: Putting It All Together

For some patients, a single intervention – such as teeth whitening – will be sufficient to achieve their smile goals. For others who have more complex issues or multiple concerns, a comprehensive smile makeover will be needed.

With a smile makeover, the sequencing of treatments must be planned deliberately. For example, if a patient is getting teeth whitening and veneers, the teeth must be bleached first so that the veneers can be designed to blend with the shade of the natural teeth.

Dr. Steel will educate you about every step in the smile makeover process so that you will know what to expect and are prepared to be an active partner in your treatment.

Additionally, if patients have issues beyond the scope of Dr. Steel’s practice, such as excessive gum tissue or severely misaligned teeth, she may refer you and work together with additional specialists for that part of the treatment.

Common Cosmetic Dentistry Questions

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of patients’ smiles by correcting defects such as chips, cracks, stains/discoloration or teeth that are misaligned or undersized. While some cosmetic dentistry treatments may also have a functional purpose of salvaging teeth, the focus is mainly aesthetic rather than restorative.

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed on top of a biological tooth that has been affected by a large area of decay or a severe injury. Dental crowns are also placed to strengthen teeth that have been treated with root canals. Dental crowns may be made of ceramics, porcelain, metal or porcelain fused with metal.

What is a veneer?

A veneer is a tooth-shaped shell, often made of porcelain, that is bonded to your natural teeth to hide aesthetic flaws like chips, cracks and stains. These tremendously versatile tools can also be used to make an unusually small tooth look like a “normal” size or to make a slightly crooked stretch of teeth appear straight. Veneers are customized, so they can be designed to match the hue and contour of your biological teeth. The end result is a smile in which the teeth fitted with veneers are indistinguishable from their biological neighbors.

Will a tooth extraction hurt?

Before extracting a tooth, Dr. Steel will administer a local anesthetic to the area to minimize discomfort during the procedure. After that anesthetic wears off, patients may notice some tenderness at the extraction site. This symptom should only continue for 24-48 hours, and it can often be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. If you have more severe or persistent pain, you should follow up with our office for further guidance.