Cosmetic Dentistry in Johns Creek, GA

Cosmetic work is any treatment where how the tooth looks is the point, not just whether it works. Sometimes that's a single chipped front tooth. Sometimes it's a smile that's been bothering you for twenty years. Either way, the first step is the same: come in, tell us what you don't like, and we'll show you what's realistic.

What can cosmetic dentistry fix?

  • Teeth that are stained or yellowed
  • Chips, cracks and worn edges
  • Gaps you'd rather close
  • Teeth that are too small, oddly shaped or slightly crooked
  • Old fillings and crowns that show dark edges or don't match
  • Missing teeth

The four treatments below cover nearly all of it. Most people need one, and sometimes two go together, like whitening first and then a veneer matched to the new shade.

Porcelain veneers

A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain, made by a dental lab to the shape and color we choose with you, bonded to the front of a tooth. It's the go-to for front teeth that are discolored, chipped, worn, uneven or a little crooked, because one veneer can change shape, size and color at the same time. Veneers are often a lighter-touch alternative to crowns.

It usually takes two visits. At the first, we remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of the tooth to make room for the veneer, which is a permanent change we'll talk through with you first, then take an impression and pick the shade together. Numbing is often not needed, but it's available. At the second visit, the tooth is cleaned and conditioned, the veneer is cemented and set with a curing light, and you leave with it done. Veneers last many years with normal brushing and flossing, but like any restoration they can eventually need replacing.

Teeth whitening

Whitening is the quickest cosmetic change there is. We offer a take-home system: at one visit we take impressions and make clear trays molded to your teeth, and at the next you try them on and go home with the whitening gel and instructions for it. Most people wear the trays for a short period each day, or overnight, for a couple of weeks; we'll tell you exactly how long for the gel you're using and the shade you're after.

A few things worth knowing before you start:

  • Whitening only works on natural enamel. Fillings, crowns and veneers don't change color. If you have older work on front teeth, we'll usually whiten first and then talk about whether replacing a visible restoration to match makes sense for you.
  • Some sensitivity while you're whitening is normal and goes away when you stop.
  • It isn't permanent. Expect a touch-up every few years, sooner if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee, tea or red wine.
  • It handles yellow and brown staining well, including wear and some medication stains. Deep gray staining from tetracycline may need veneers instead.

Empress metal-free restorations

When a tooth needs a crown, inlay or onlay and you'd rather it not be noticeable, we use pressed ceramic such as Empress. It's a glass ceramic with no metal in it, so there's no dark line at the gum and it can be made to look like natural enamel. The lab matches it to the shade of the teeth around it, and we choose the ceramic to suit where the tooth is and how hard it works.

Where we use it:

  • Crowns after a root canal or when decay has taken too much of a tooth for a filling
  • Inlays and onlays as a tooth-colored replacement for large silver fillings
  • Veneers when a pressed ceramic is the better choice for the case

Dental implants

If the cosmetic problem is a missing tooth, an implant is often the first option we'll talk about, because it replaces the root as well as the crown and doesn't touch the teeth on either side. A titanium post is placed in the jaw, left to heal and fuse with the bone, and then fitted with a crown that matches your other teeth. The whole process runs several months. Implants can also anchor a denture or bridge so it stops moving. There's more on how it works on our oral surgery page.

Where do I start?

With a regular exam. Cosmetic work goes on top of healthy teeth and gums, so if there's decay or gum disease we deal with that first. Then we talk through what you want changed, what each option would look like, how many visits it takes, what it costs and what your plan may cover. Call (770) 609-1281 or text us to set that up at our Johns Creek office.