Cosmetic dentistry enhances how your smile looks. It helps you achieve a straighter, brighter, and more beautiful smile. We provide personalized smile makeovers that combine cosmetic treatments to improve both the appearance and health of your mouth.
For instance, we might use Invisalign to straighten teeth and teeth whitening to make them brighter. By combining different treatments, our Burke dental office can create a tailored smile transformation for each patient.
Cosmetic Dentistry at Smiles By Mia
Our cosmetic dental treatments improve both the appearance and health of your mouth. Dr. Mia uses modern digital tools to understand your needs. She works with you to reach your smile goals while keeping your dental health in mind. Explore our cosmetic options below.
Invisalign
This method replaces regular braces with clear trays to straighten teeth. Invisalign customizes these trays to gradually move your teeth into a straighter position. Patients change trays every few weeks to keep realigning their teeth.
Additionally, we provide PROPEL®, which speeds up Invisalign treatment. PROPEL® makes tiny holes in gum tissue to boost blood flow, trigger healing, and speed up tooth movement. To learn more about your Invisalign treatment options in Burke, see Invisalign.
Porcelain Veneers
Our dental veneers are thin porcelain ceramic shells. Dentists use them to cover one or more flaws. Similar treatments include Lumineers® and the Snap-On Smile®. Snap-On Smile® is a resin tray that covers both the top and bottom teeth rows.
Lumineers® are a brand of veneers, but are thinner and don’t need as much preparation as traditional porcelain veneers. To learn about our porcelain veneers procedure, see Porcelain Veneers.
Dental Bonding
Tooth bonding treatment can fix tooth gaps, stains, and even slightly crooked teeth. Bonding is a great option instead of veneers. We often use bonding for patients with smaller cosmetic issues. If you have one or a few minor imperfections, bonding can really help fix them.
To learn about our dental bonding procedure, see Teeth Bonding.
Teeth Whitening
We offer both in-office and take-home KöR teeth whitening treatments to make your natural tooth enamel brighter. It’s a thorough process, but many patients find the results very worthwhile. With KöR, you can achieve professional-grade whitening that lasts for several years, depending on your habits. To learn about our teeth whitening services, see Teeth Whitening.
Why Get Cosmetic Dentistry?
When patients visit our office for cosmetic dentistry, it’s often to enhance how their smiles look. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your smile in relation to your overall oral health. However, many cosmetic concerns stem from underlying oral health issues.
Crooked teeth are a prime example. Patients typically seek treatment for crooked teeth because of the way they look. Yet, crooked teeth can also lead to various other oral health issues.
When teeth are crooked, they don’t align properly and may overlap or be crowded together. Cleaning crooked teeth thoroughly is harder because your toothbrush and floss can’t reach all the plaque and tartar. Sometimes even your toothbrush and floss can’t get to all the buildup. Even if you’re diligent about oral care, you’re still at risk for cavities and gum disease.
Our teeth are supposed to fit together evenly, spreading the force of chewing across all teeth. But when the bite is uneven, some teeth bear more pressure than others. These teeth can wear down faster, chip, or even break. To restore the way your teeth look and work, you may need restorative dentistry.
An uneven bite often leads to TMJ disorders. When your jaw doesn’t align smoothly, it puts stress on the jaw joint. This can cause the joint to wear down over time. The muscles that help your jaw move can also become tense and strained because they’re not functioning properly.
Without treatment, this condition can get worse and result in pain and tension in your face and head. You might hear clicking or popping sounds when you move your jaw, and it can become difficult to open and close your mouth smoothly.
Cosmetic Dentistry Aftercare
When you receive cosmetic dental treatments, it’s natural to want the results to last. Our aim is to provide lasting results that make you proud of your smile. So taking care of your mouth after cosmetic treatment is key to maintaining its beauty over time.
The best steps you can take include brushing and flossing regularly, along with visiting the dentist every six months. These habits help prevent staining and other dental problems. Addressing issues like tooth decay and gum disease promptly is crucial to preserving the quality of your mouth.
Make sure to avoid habits and foods that can stain your teeth. Porcelain veneers and other dental restorations resist stains, but they can still get darker over time. The more you smoke or drink coffee, the higher your risk of stains. If you drink staining beverages, using a straw can help. Vaping instead of smoking cigarettes may reduce the staining effects of smoking on your teeth.
Some specific conditions may disqualify you for cosmetic services. For example, you may not be a candidate for porcelain veneers if you grind your teeth. Teeth grinding can damage them and increase the risk of them coming off. We can discuss using a custom mouthguard to protect your restoration instead.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the look of your teeth, gums, and mouth. Like any medical procedure, you should understand what to expect before you make any decisions. Here are some common questions about cosmetic dentistry to help you make an informed choice.
How long do dental veneers last?
Lumineers® can last ten or even fifteen years, while regular porcelain veneers typically last eight to twelve years. However, how patients care for their Lumineers® or veneers impacts their endurance. Patients need to keep up with a good oral care routine by brushing and flossing every day.
Am I a candidate for Invisalign treatment?
Teenagers and adults with mild or moderate orthodontic concerns are the best candidates for Invisalign. We suggest metal braces for patients who need added treatment because of an overbite, underbite, or other orthodontic problem. Patients will need to remove their aligners to eat and clean their teeth, which means there is more responsibility on the patient.
How can I whiten my teeth if I have deep tooth stains?
Patients with deep intrinsic stains inside their teeth find dental bonding or porcelain veneers more effective than whitening. Professional whitening can treat stains on the surface of teeth (extrinsic stains). However, stains caused by internal damage or wear need treatments like veneers or bonding. These methods use materials like porcelain ceramic or a safe resin to cover and improve the look of stained teeth.
Should I get porcelain veneers or Lumineers®?
Porcelain veneers hide broken and stained teeth. They’re a great choice if you want a long-lasting solution to cover one or more injured or discolored teeth. Lumineers® are a brand of dental veneers that are reversible because they need very little or no preparation of your natural teeth.
While Lumineers® are cheaper, they might not work as well as porcelain for covering severe dental issues like damage or stains. Before starting treatment, we’ll check your mouth to figure out if traditional veneers or Lumineers® are the best choice for what you need.
Call Our Office Today!
Do you want to enhance your natural smile or have further questions? Request a dental consultation with us online or contact Smiles by Mia at (571) 789-1265. We serve patients from Springfield, Fairfax, Burke, and the surrounding areas of Virginia. Let us know if you have any questions or current concerns, and we will be glad to help.