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COSMETIC DENTISTRY - FAQ's Click on a link below to read about each topic. Click the  to return to the top of the page.What kinds of procedures are available to make my smile look better? How can I make my teeth whiter? My back teeth have a lot of silver and gold. Is there a less obvious way to fill cavities? What are some of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry? Most of my teeth are bunched too near the front of my mouth. Is there a way to get rid of that crowded look? There's a big gap between my two front teeth. Can that be changed? I know my smile needs some work, but I’m not sure if I can afford to have cosmetic work done. Is my new smile permanent? Why should I go to Dr. Gates? What will my new smile look like? Will Dr. Gates be able to provide all of the treatment I need? How many office visits will it take to fix my teeth and improve my smile? If my teeth are reshaped for veneers or crowns, what will they look like? Will they be sensitive? I have dental insurance. Will it pay for my new smile? What kinds of procedures are available to make my smile look better?The four main cosmetic procedures are 
How can I make my teeth whiter?
Tooth Whitening - The most basic and popular procedure in Cosmetic Dentistry is tooth whitening, or teeth bleaching. Today there are dozens of whitening products on the market, and dozens of toothpaste claim to have tooth whitening agents in them. Generally dentists offer two types of tooth whitening services. One is ‘at home’ bleaching, which is accomplished by wearing a whitening agent in a form fitting tray which fits in your mouth, and is used primarily at night. About 10-14 hours of at home bleaching over the course of a week or two will give the maximum effect. 
So called ‘Laser bleaching’ is done in the office with a special apparatus placed in your mouth, and the teeth are bleached using a very powerful bleaching solution, and a very bright specially designed light. This takes about an hour. In our office, we prefer the ‘at home’ bleaching, because of its significantly lower cost, and the greater degree of comfort during treatment. Still, some patients do experience some sensitivity to bleaching, especially in the area of the gumline. This is temporary. My back teeth have a lot of silver and gold. Is there a less obvious way to fill cavities?
New advances in tooth-colored porcelain and composite materials not only allow fillings to go unnoticed, but are stronger and more wear-resistant than silver and gold. They just make your mouth look cleaner, more esthetic, and less distracting. Dr. Gates uses three basic procedures for treating old silver fillings, to provide a beautiful, and esthetic result.
What are some of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry?
A great smile should improve your self-confidence, which can have a positive impact on every social and professional aspects of your life. Many people’s investment in themselves and their appearance has literally been life-changing. Cosmetic dentistry is not just about pretty smiles though. New techniques and materials are available for back teeth as well as the ones you see when you smile. Now your mouth can look great, get healthy and function better at the same time. Dr. Gates and his staff are here to help you have the smile of your dreams. Most of my teeth are bunched too near the front of my mouth. Is there a way to get rid of that crowded look?The most common place for us to get crowding is in the lower front teeth. If you have crowded teeth, the lower ones are often more crowded than the upper teeth. Most adults and many teenagers do not want braces. We use removable orthodontics, (Invisalign) to straighten crowded teeth. However, simpler strategies such as cosmetic contouring, and/or bonding and veneering, teeth can reshaped and reposition teeth for a long-lasting results: a stronger, less crowded-looking appearance. Straight teeth have other advantages than simply producing a more dazzling smile. It also allows you to keep your teeth cleaner, and healthier, because dental hygiene is easier to maintain, and also it produces a healthier bite, and chewing pattern. There's a big gap between my two front teeth. Can that be changed?
Yes. Bonded veneers can close gaps and help create the smile you desire. Bonded resins generally require one office visit, while porcelain veneering takes two. Bonded veneers, along with good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, are effective ways to enhance a smile.  Dr. Gates can explain the various techniques and help determine which is the best suited to your specific needs. I know my smile needs some work, but I’m not sure if I can afford to have cosmetic work done.The fees for cosmetic dental work depend on how much work you want done. Like any cosmetic process, costs will increase with the amount of product or services you desire and the time required and the level of expertise required. Generally, improving a smile will require a combination of treatment options such as bleaching, reshaping gums and using bonded materials (resin or porcelain) to improve the appearance of teeth. A great way to start is having a consultation with Dr. Gates to determine the ways that you can reach your goals. Dr. Gates never performs dental procedures without first explaining your options, and the fees for the various treatments. Consultations are done at no charge. Also, some cosmetic dental options are covered by insurance. Cosmetic dental work is probably not as expensive as you think. Investment in cosmetic dentistry is an investment in you. It can lead to an improved dental appearance and help improve self-esteem and overall confidence. That’s something worth smiling about. Is my new smile permanent?Perhaps it is true in this life, that nothing lasts forever. This is true of dentistry just like it’s true of your car, your 
washer and dryer, or your clothes—but excellent dentistry usually lasts a really long time. Everyone is different. So is everyone’s mouth. With good home care and regular visits to your dentist, modern materials can last for many years and possibly decades. Like most things, excellent maintenance will extend the life of your dental restorations. Why should I go to Dr. Gates?There are certainly many fine dentists in Las Vegas. But you need at least 3 things to get the best esthetic results. You need a dentist with a really good eye, with really good hands, and a really, really good lab. Dr. Gates has all three. Think of it this way. Supposing you lined 10 dentists up and asked them all to draw a house with a chimney on a piece of paper. You could probably rate them from 1 to 10, from best to, well, not so good. Now ask them each to draw a set of teeth. Again, some would be true works of art, and others, not so much. Which dentist would you want to be designing your smile? True, there’s a lot more to producing a beautiful smile than just drawing it, but this might help you see that each dentist is really as good as his hands. Now, think about this. How good is the lab technician? Do the teeth look like marshmallows, or Chiclets? Remember that a dentist has to be trained by an accredited dental school, and then licensed by the state. But a lab technician doesn’t. He can get pulled off the street, and taught to make a tooth. By hiring someone off the street, the lab, and consequently the dentist can buy a very cheap crown. This is not what you want in your mouth. So no matter how good your dentist’s hands are, the work you leave with, will only be as beautiful as your lab technician makes it. Dr. Gates has natural artistic instincts, and an intense interest in health, cosmetics and the exactness required to produce beautiful dentistry. This kind of exactness and artistry are just in his nature. He is unusually gentle, and has a wonderful and relaxed chair side manner. Many of Dr. Gates’ patients have said they have never had a more pleasant experience in a dental office. Most say they can’t even feel when they received an injection of Novocain. He is determined to maintain his pain free reputation. Dr. Gates has been doing general dentistry since 1986 and cosmetic dentistry since 1988. He has shown a special interest in new technologies and procedures, specifically to help him achieve better results for you. Come in a browse through our scrap books full of before and after photos, and our wall gallery of beautiful smiles. Or simply browse through just a few of our cases, shown right here on the website. What will my new smile look like?Dr. Gates with work with you to choose the look that’s right for you. A smile enhancement can be made to look dramatic and natural at the same time. One of our favorite tools is to take your photo, and then show you how you will look with your new smile. We can even print this up and let you take it home. Sometimes, trial materials can be placed directly on your teeth to help visualize the change. Ask your dentist what can be done to give you the smile you desire. Will Dr. Gates be able to provide all of the treatment I need?
Some dentists choose to provide a variety of procedures, while others focus on specific areas of treatment. Dr. Gates not only performs general and family dentistry but is highly trained in more specialized areas of dentistry such as bite and jaw joint pain issues, Invisalign, and implants. But combining these disciplines in practice, he can treat your dental needs from beginning to end. Occasionally you will be referred to see another specialist, such as for complex root canal treatment, unusual oral surgery procedures, or advanced periodontal services. However, we will try our very best to minimize your need to travel elsewhere. How many office visits will it take to fix my teeth and improve my smile?We’d love to be able to say that all your dental treatment will be done by this afternoon. But that’s not too likely. The length of treatment and the number of appointments will obviously vary for each person, depending on his or her needs. Often, general dentistry can be schedule to accomplish a lot or all in just one appointment. Most cosmetic dentistry can be done in 2 visits. Our team will work to make your treatment as convenient as possible, perhaps choosing slightly longer visits instead of more trips to the office. However, some procedures require some healing time. Extractions take time to heal, and so does periodontal treatment. Invisalign Invisible braces can take a year or more. However, dental implants are needing less and less healing time. Talk to Dr. Gate about your goals and concerns so the best plan can be developed for your individual situation. If you start today, a new smile can be yours sooner than you think. If my teeth are reshaped for veneers or crowns, what will they look like? Will they be sensitive?
Sensitivity might be an issue of some people under any circumstance. However, it is very, very rare in our office. Generally, cemented restorations like crowns or veneers will require two visits – one to shape the teeth, and one to cement the restorations to the teeth. In between, we will place attractive temporary restorations to help prevent sensitivity, allow function and provide a nice smile. These temporaries are designed to be in your mouth only for as long as it takes to make the final crown, or bridge, but should be comfortable and natural looking until you can get your new smile completed. I have dental insurance. Will it pay for my new smile?
Dental Insurance is a benefit intended to assist you with your dental costs. Most dental insurances have very low total benefits per year, which may offset the cost of regular checkups, or fillings, but probably won’t pay toward cosmetic services. Some actually do through, and pay quite well. But not many. Insurance is a business, and as such, your carrier will often contract to pay for the least expensive option instead of the best solution for your particular needs or desires. Or worse yet, contract with the cheapest dentist. Here’s an evidence of that problem. When you got your dental benefit, did get a dental exam before getting your insurance? Of course not. That’s because it doesn’t matter what you need, the policy will only pay for the services they choose, whether you need them or not. And usually, they only pay for a portion of that. However, if you do have insurance, it only makes sense to maximize the benefit you get from it. Our front desk team will work to maximize your benefits, and may have suggestions for alternative methods of financing so you can obtain the treatment of your choice.
Thanks for visiting us today. We’d love to meet you. Call Kim today at 616-0777. |
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