Innovative Cosmetic Dentistry in Moreno Valley, CA
Your smile is one of your most important features. Dentistry is continually evolving, and with a variety of advanced treatment options, achieving a beautiful, healthy, aesthetic smile is made easy for patients of all ages.
ARE YOU READY FOR A SMILE MAKEOVER?
If you’re considering cosmetic dental treatment, ask yourself a few simple questions:
- Do you hesitate when you smile?
- Would you like to increase your self-confidence?
- Do you want to look your best in social or professional situations?
- Are you ready to reverse any dental imperfections you may have?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, cosmetic dentistry may be the answer you’ve been looking for!
COSMETIC DENTISTRY IS AN ART AND A SCIENCE
Let us help you achieve your smile goals! Cosmetic dentistry is different from general dental care; it is both an art and science. By providing cosmetic dental care, your dentist is able to offer smile enhancement, restoration, and maintenance treatments for optimal dental health. Using cutting-edge techniques and advanced materials, our office proudly offers you a beautiful, natural smile and all the benefits that come with it.
Feel more confident about your appearance with a new smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy. You no longer have to suffer from missing, chipped, discolored, or crooked teeth. Contact our practice today and schedule your smile makeover!
Cosmetic bonding is a cosmetic solution that can be successfully used to treat relatively minor cosmetic imperfections, including cracks, chips, gaps, and misaligned or misshaped teeth. The material used is called composite resin, which is also used to build tooth-colored fillings. Our doctors will select the closest match to your natural smile’s color and then apply the composite resin, carefully sculpting it into place to create the most pleasing and seamless appearance. Once securely in place, the addition will look and function just like natural enamel! Better yet, it can last for quite some time with the right levels of personal and professional maintenance.
Tooth loss causes a variety of problems that can affect eating and speaking habits as well as your overall health and appearance. Getting dental implants provides a permanent solution for a natural feeling and looking smile.
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you’ve lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.
What Are Dental Implants?
It involve surgically placing a titanium implant into the jaw bone that acts as a new “root” for the tooth. Our Moreno Valley implant dentist then creates an acrylic tooth that caps the titanium tooth root. Like bridges, it can replace single or multiple missing teeth, but unlike bridges, It involve no reshaping of existing teeth, are as easy to clean as your natural tooth structure and have the appearance of a natural tooth erupting from the gum tissue. It is designed to stay within your jawbone, and the crown (false teeth) are crafted to match the color of your existing teeth, creating a natural and healthy-looking smile.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Implants can do a lot for you. Some of their benefits include:
- Look and feel just like natural teeth
- Do not slide around like dentures might
- No additional cleaning methods necessary than that of your natural tooth
- Improves your overall health by restoring your ability to chew properly
- Minimal downtime and pain
- Improves speaking and digestion ability
- Maintains good jawbone health
Implants can improve your overall health, confidence, as well as your quality of life. If you are struggling with your current set of dentures or simply wish to replace your loose or missing teeth, dental implants could be the right option for you. Dental implants can restore the functionality of your bite. With dental implants, you can gain a full and natural-looking smile.
Post-Treatment Care
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
Are Dental Implants Right For You?
If you are missing a tooth or teeth or want a more stable and permanent solution than dentures, you may be a good candidate for implants. Call us to discuss dental implants and schedule a consult today.
Consider Invisalign treatment to get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted — without braces. A consultation with Dr. Blackmon can determine if Invisalign clear aligners are right for you.
What Is Invisalign?
The Invisalign® system is virtually invisible, and straightens your teeth to achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of.
Using advanced 3-D computer-imaging technology, Invisalign® designs your complete treatment plan, from the initial position of your teeth to the final desired position. All this is based on your specific needs. Then a series of clear aligners, also called invisible braces, are custom-made for your teeth – to gradually move them.
Invisalign clear aligners are made of flexible plastic — specifically, a patented thermoplastic material called SmartTrack® created exclusively for Invisalign treatment.
Invisalign clear aligners are FDA-approved and contain no BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten. They are thin, clear, and fit snugly over your teeth, making them virtually invisible.
What Kind of Problems Can Invisalign® Correct?
Invisalign® corrects the same dental problems as traditional metal braces; the only difference is that Invisalign® trays are almost invisible to the naked eye, and can be removed at will.
Here are some problems that are commonly corrected with Invisalign®:
- Overcrowding: This occurs when there is too little space for the teeth to align normally in the mouth. Overcrowding can cause tooth decay and increase the likelihood of gum disease.
- Large gaps between teeth: This can sometimes occur because teeth are missing or because the jaw continues to grow abnormally.
- Crossbite: This common dental problem occurs when one or multiple upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth. As a consequence, uneven wear can lead to bone erosion and gum disease.
- Overbite: This problem occurs when the upper teeth project further than, or completely cover, the lower teeth. Eventually, jaw pain and TMJ may occur.
- Underbite: This is the inverse of the overbite; the lower teeth project further than, or completely cover, the upper teeth. Eventually, jaw pain and TMJ can occur.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign treatment starts with a consultation at our Moreno Valley dental office with our Invisalign-trained and certified doctor. Dr. Blackmon will evaluate your smile and then map out a precise, customized digital treatment plan that showcases the step-by-step transformation of your smile.
Veneers help give your patients the smile they’ve always dreamed of having. Our dental lab provides custom-made veneers that can transform the shape and color of your patient’s teeth, exuding the look of vitality and confidence. Just two appointments can change the way your patients experience life – all thanks to a thin, translucent exterior shell place atop the surface of the teeth.
Dental veneers have long been used for cosmetic purposes among people who are displeased with the natural appearance of their smiles. Our veneers can provide greater symmetry to the face, reshape a chipped tooth, and help your patients achieve a brighter, whiter smile than is possible with traditional tooth whitening.
Our veneers are unlikely to stain and are resistant to fracture. When well cared for, they tend to last for many years, and even decades before needing to be replaced.
FOR YOUR SAFETY AND COMFORT, WE OFFER OUR PATIENTS METAL FREE DENTISTRY
Certain materials traditionally used in dentistry can lead to health problems, and it is for this reason that we offer our patients metal free dentistry, preserving the beauty of their teeth while repairing their bite.
Composite Fillings
When plaque and bacteria erode tooth enamel, they can form cavities and areas of decay in the tooth structure. Left unchecked, this can destroy the sensitive nerves and root structure of teeth. Our composite resin fillings are placed in order to stop cavities and restore the bite surface. During the procedure, the decay and only a minimal amount of the original tooth structure will be removed. Composite resin fillings appear natural and are virtually undetectable in your smile. Even if you have previously placed metal fillings, they can be removed and replaced with composite tooth-colored fillings that are beautiful and metal free.
Porcelain Crowns
Unlike metal-based crowns of the past, our all-ceramic crowns are crafted using layers of porcelain that not only protect the remaining tooth structure, but look more realistic than past restorations. In much the same way that porcelain dental veneers are crafted, the porcelain is layered to create the most realistic ceramic restoration. Because of this careful process, light is able to move through the semi-translucent material in much the same way as natural teeth. Porcelain is also extremely strong and durable and will last for years to come
Metal-based crowns have also been known to erode along the gumline, exposing a dark line of metal at the base of the tooth. We use only metal-free crowns in our restorative dentistry procedures. Our patients often report that friends and family can’t tell their crowns from their natural teeth, and that they are confident their bite is stronger because of the porcelain crowns.
You no longer need to hide your smile because of gaps, chips, stains, or misshapen teeth. With veneers, you can easily correct your teeth’s imperfections to help you have a more confident, beautiful smile. Veneers are natural in appearance, and they are a perfect option for patients wanting to make minor adjustments to the look and feel of their smile.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain), and they are designed to cover the front side of your teeth. To prepare for veneers, your doctor will create a unique model of your teeth. This model is sent to the dental technician to create your veneers. Before placing your new veneer, your doctor may need to conservatively prepare your tooth to achieve the desired aesthetic result.
When your veneers are placed, you’ll be pleased to see that they look like your natural teeth. While veneers are stain-resistant, your doctor may recommend that you avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to maintain the beauty of your new smile.
There are many products and techniques available for patients who want to achieve a brighter smile, and with so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the method that is right for you. The best way to begin any teeth-whitening regimen is to schedule an appointment and talk to your doctor about the differences between in-office professional whitening and at-home whitening.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
The first professional option is commonly referred to as in-office whitening. This procedure is performed in a dental office. During an appointment, your dental professional will apply a whitening gel to the surface of your teeth. The entire office visit generally takes about 90 minutes and you will be able to see results immediately.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
- Custom Take Home Whitening Trays
- Paint-On Teeth Whiteners
- Teeth-Whitening Strips
- Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Tray bleaching is a type of professional whitening that uses custom-made trays and whitening gel only available through your dentist. The whitening gel is placed in custom-fitted trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. As the peroxide in the gel breaks down, hydroxyradicals help whiten stained teeth. Unlike strips, this process whitens all your natural teeth and may contain ingredients intended to provide maximum comfort. At-home professional tray whitening generally takes ten to 14 days, although you may notice results in as little as three to five days.
There are many over-the-counter teeth whitening options, and one type of readily accessible whitening products is commonly referred to as a “paint-on” teeth whitener. Paint-on whiteners can be purchased over-the-counter and generally are less expensive and less effective than whitening strips or professional options. Paint-on teeth whiteners consist of a gel that is applied to the tooth using a small brush. Paint-on whitening gel hardens into a film that coats the teeth, and dissolves in the mouth. As with any teeth-whitening regimen, it is wise to consult with a dental professional before use.
Teeth-whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene) strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide on one side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The whitening agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth-whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.
The least expensive options are whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes. Designed to have “whitening” capabilities, toothpastes and mouthwashes work to remove surface stains using mild abrasives. However, unlike the materials used in professional whitening procedures, these products do not lighten the actual color shade of the tooth. Whitening toothpastes affect surface stains and will mildly lighten your teeth.