COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Cosmetic dentistry offers you an opportunity to improve the way you look. It allows you to change your smile, giving you new lasting first impressions, increasing your overall confidence and self-esteem. My dad and I work hard to listen to your desires and expectations in order achieve a new smile for you. Smiling and laughing is such an important part of living a happy life, and we hope to help you be comfortable with your smile. Whether you are interested in moving your teeth, changing the shape or length, or whitening your teeth, we are happy to help you in any way we can.
Smile designed by Dr Jim Jostock (MANY MORE CASES BELOW)
Pre-op upper anterior six teeth Post-op upper anterior six teeth
Smile designed by Dr Mike Jostock
The pictures below show a younger patient who did not want to have orthodontic procedures preformed. Instead cosmetic crowns were used to straighten her teeth. If you look closely you will see pink porcelain added to some of the crowns to make the smile line appear more symmetrical and esthetically pleasing.
Cosmetic Bonding
Cosmetic bonding is a conservative procedure that can restore cracked, chipped, and worn teeth. Bonding is also used to make subtle changes to the shape and contour of your teeth. The advantages of cosmetic bonding procedures are that they are inexpensive and very conservative restorations, meaning only small amounts of tooth structure needs to be removed. This procedure typically does not require anesthetic and requires fewer visits than other types of cosmetic procedures. It is important to realize however, that bonding procedures are not long term definitive restorations. Bonding material does not wear as well as porcelain material used in veneers and crowns nor does it hold its color as well over time. As you can begin to understand, bonded restorations are indicated in situations that require subtle changes in your smile or for teeth requiring smaller restorations.
Cosmetic Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are very thin porcelain laminates that go over your existing teeth that can completely change the color and shape of your smile. They range from .2 - .5 mm in thickness, acting as thin covers over the front and edge of your existing teeth. You can change the position, shape and color of your teeth with porcelain veneers. For example, you can straighten a rotated tooth or increase the size of a small tooth. Think of it like a veneer or laminate on your kitchen cabinetry. You can completely change the look of the cabinet by placing a laminate over the old cabinetry. Similarly, you can change the way your teeth look by placing a facing over the front portion of them.
Porcelain veneers are more conservative restorations than crowns in that only subtle amounts of tooth structure are reduced on the front and edge of your tooth. They are extremely color stable and have more longevity than cosmetic bonding procedures. There are a few requirements if you are thinking about veneers. Your teeth must be free of cavities and they should not contain many restorations in them, especially large ones. Your teeth need to be free of any heavy crowding and must be free of gum disease. We also perform a bite analysis to determine the way your teeth fit together in order to design restorations for a long term successful outcome. If you heavily grind your teeth or have a bite that does not fit properly, you may not be a candidate for porcelain veneers.
Cosmetic All-Porcelain Crowns
Cosmetic crowns are all porcelain restorations that circumferentially surrounds the tooth surface above the gums. All porcelain crowns, like porcelain veneers, can completely change your look, smile, tooth color, shape and eliminate some crowding. These crowns are indicated for teeth that require greater changes. They are also indicated in teeth that have cavities, multiple restorations, heavily worn teeth, or teeth that are fractured or weak. They can also mask crowding issues and straighten your smile if braces are not what you want to do. Crowns can also be connected together to make bridges to replace missing teeth in situations where dental implants are not indicated. These crowns are very translucent similar to your natural teeth, allowing light to penetrate through the porcelain. Thus, when you smile in any lighting condition your teeth will look natural. Crowns do require more tooth structure removal than veneers or bonding; however, this is the feature that allows for more change. See the beautiful transformation below.
Smiles Designed by Dr. Jim Jostock
Pre-op full mouth reconstruction Post-op full mouth reconstruction
Pre Treatment- Pt wanted to improve appearance of four front teeth After treatment of bleaching and cosmetic restorations on
four front teeth
Beautiful outcome after 5 implants, bleaching, cosmetic bonded restorations as well as cosmetic crown and bridge work.
This gentleman had a severely worn dentition along with multiple missing teeth.
The picture to the right shows a custom fit protective night guard in place.
It was fabricated to protect the cosmetic restorations during nighttime grinding habits. We recommend this to many of our patients who grind their teeth at night. The below picture shows you what a night guard looks like out of the mouth.
Pre Treatment showing discolored teeth and end to end bite Post Treatment showing straighter, whiter smile and more
ideal biting relationships
For more information regarding cosmetic dentistry, please call our office at 586 978-8233 and our staff will be happy to answer any questions.