Where to start
- The color only. Teeth whitening lightens your own teeth; it does not change fillings, crowns or veneers.
- A chip, a small gap or an uneven edge. Bonding, tooth-colored filling material shaped onto the tooth, often fixes it in one visit, with little or no enamel removed.
- The shape, size and color of several front teeth. Porcelain veneers, thin custom shells bonded to the front of the teeth.
- Broken or heavily filled teeth. Dental crowns, which cover and protect the whole tooth.
- Crooked or crowded teeth. Invisalign® clear aligners move them first, so less needs to be added or removed afterward.
- Gums that show too much or sit unevenly. Reshaping the gumline, sometimes with the bone under it, is periodontal surgery; see periodontal care and surgery.
- The whole smile. Smile design puts these together into one plan, previewed before anything is changed.
The order matters
- Health first. Decay and gum disease are treated before any cosmetic work, because work placed over them can make them worse.
- The bite. Clenching, grinding or a deep overbite chips and wears veneers and bonding; it is managed first, often with a night guard. See bruxism treatment.
- Moving teeth, if needed. Aligners come before shaping, so the final work is smaller.
- Whitening. The color is set before new work is made, so bonding, veneers and crowns are matched to the lighter shade.
- Bonding, veneers or crowns. The new work is matched to the teeth around it.
What we do at our office
Dr. Tetri plans cosmetic work around the gums and the bite, with photographs and the records your case needs. Veneers and crowns are designed and made with our in-house laboratory.
What it can and cannot do
- Results vary with your teeth, your gums and your bite; no shade or outcome can be promised.
- Veneers and most crowns need some enamel removed, so the change cannot be undone.
- Porcelain and bonding do not whiten: if your own teeth are whitened later, they can end up lighter than the work.
- Veneers, bonding and crowns can chip, wear or come loose with time, and teeth can still decay around them; they are eventually repaired or replaced.
- Bonding is easier to repair than porcelain, but it stains and wears more.
Questions patients ask
Does insurance cover cosmetic dentistry?
Usually not, unless the treatment is also needed for the health of the tooth, such as a crown on a broken tooth. We do not accept dental insurance for adults.
Should I whiten before getting veneers?
Yes, if you want your other teeth lighter: veneers, bonding and crowns are matched to the shade at the time they are made, and they do not change color afterward.
Can you match a single front tooth?
Usually, but it is the hardest match there is, because the new tooth has to sit beside your natural teeth with nothing to hide behind. We tell you what to expect before you decide.
Do I have to do everything at once?
No. A plan can be done in stages, as long as the order above is kept.
Sources
Request a visit
Book a consultation and start with what you would like to change; we are at 16690 Collins Avenue, Suite 701, Sunny Isles Beach, serving Aventura and greater Miami.