Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry encompasses different methods of changing the smile that you have into the smile that you dream of having. These procedures can be very non-invasive. They include veneers, bonding (chair-side veneers), tooth whitening (bleaching), enamel shaping, caps or crowns and tooth-colored fillings.

Veneers are laboratory-made porcelain facings that are bonded to your teeth. They can be used to alter the shape and color of your teeth to give them a more youthful appearance. Veneers can also close spaces between teeth or make them appear straight and even without the long and often tedious process of wearing braces. Dr. Helvey is a qualified laboratory technician and ceramist. He creates every veneer in his own dental laboratory on the premises. This assures that they are truly a work of art.

Bonding or "chairside veneers" is the process of using a resin "plastic" to cover the front surface of a tooth to repair it or change its appearance.

Enamel Shaping (Contouring) is simple procedure for re-contouring your natural teeth to a more pleasing shape or smoothing their edges. It does not alter their color.

Caps or Crowns are used most frequently on back teeth (molars) to re-build the tooth when it has been badly decayed or broken. Following a root canal crowning is often recommended to strengthen the structure of the tooth. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain or ceramic.

Tooth-colored Fillings (resin or plastic) can sometimes be used to replace older silver fillings but they are not usually recommended for back teeth. Ceramic restorations, using the latest computer technology, are a wiser and in the long run more economical alternative. They return the tooth to its original strength and beauty and last for many years.