Smiling is a natural response to joy, happiness, and excitement. A single smile can brighten your appear­ance and can be considered an invitation to conversation and friendship. Your smile reveals a lot about who you are, where you have been, and where you are going. Because your smile is one of your most important features, it’s important to consider all of your options when enhanc­ing one of the most noticeable things about you. Cosmetic dentistry can help improve your smile and confidence. Some common dental procedures are bonding, crowns, veneers and bleaching. Each of these servic­es are provided at our office can help improve and create a more beautiful you.

Bonding

Bonding or Composite, as it is also known as, is a tooth colored material that is manipulated to fill in spaces or to replace decay that was removed from a tooth. Many patients are requesting to have their existing silver fillings replaced with bonding material as this makes for a more natural looking smile. The bonding itself will last several years and requires only one office visit to complete. The cost will depend on the size of the filling and technique used by the dentist to place it in the prepared tooth.

Crowns

Crowns are usually placed to protect teeth that have an existing large filling, are bro­ken down, or have decay that is most of the tooth structure itself. Commonly after a root canal your dentist will recom­mend having a crown, or a cap, put on to ensure strength and longevity. The main purpose of a crown is to restore the tooth as close as the dentist can back to its normal shape and size. Crowns are generally covered by most insurance plans and can last for many years.

Veneers

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-col­ored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an easy way to quickly change shape, fill in spaces or fix slight crowding for some patients depending on each individuals case. Veneers are usually made in a dental lab from a model provided by your dentist. You should know this is generally an irreversible process, because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from the tooth to accommodate the shell. Most dental insurance carriers still consider this a cosmetic procedure and it is an out of pocket expense. Veneers are a common pro­cedure for Dr. Michel as he has developed a reputation for completing beautiful smile makeovers. Our patients come from the tri-state area to receive the expertise and preci­sion of Dr. Michel’s cosmetic dentistry services.

Bleaching

Here at By the Sea Dentistry we offer two methods of teeth whitening for our patients. We have in office and or take home procedures depending on your needs. In office we offer ZOOM! Professional Whitening System. This is the most effective process that takes less then an hour to complete and is safe and simple. After a short oral exam and shade assess­ment we will be able to let you know of the expectations that you can achieve. Lasting results will depend on your own oral health and eating habits. It is recommended that you avoid some foods and bev­erages that may stain or discolor your teeth. Coffee, tea or red wine will need to be consumed in moderation as they are some of the more popular beverages that lead to discoloration. If you wish to have custom trays made we can make them here in our office and provide you with bleaching gel to attain your whitening needs at home.