The practice
Cosmetic Dentistry in Sarasota
Dental work chosen for how it looks as well as how it works. Whitening, veneers, bonding, crowns and gum recontouring, planned together rather than one tooth at a time.
- Covers
- Shade, shape, length, gaps
- Also
- The gum line
- Planned
- As one case
- Starts with
- A consultation
Cosmetic dentistry is dental work chosen for how it looks as well as how it works. The treatments are the ordinary ones — whitening, veneers, bonding, crowns, work on the gum line — and what makes them cosmetic is that the plan starts from the appearance of the finished smile and works backwards.
Why teeth stop looking young
Your teeth have an outer layer of hard white enamel over an inner layer of yellow dentin. Enamel thins with age, so more of the dentin shows through, and teeth darken whether or not anything has stained them. Stains arrive on top of that, from food, from coffee, tea and red wine, and fastest of all from smoking.
Teeth also wear down. Shorter teeth read as older teeth, which is why lengthening them often does more for how young a smile looks than whitening does.
What a cosmetic dentist actually changes
Four things, in various combinations: the shade, the shape, the length, and the spacing. A fifth, the gum line, sits above all of them and is the one most people have never considered.
Where it starts
A consultation, and a plan you can read. Dr. Back will say what is realistically achievable before any work begins, and the plan names the procedures, what they cost and how long they take.
Why teeth change
What ageing does to a smile
Teeth darken and shorten with time, and both happen for reasons that have nothing to do with how well you look after them.
- Enamel thins with age, revealing more of the yellow dentin underneath
- Food, drink and smoking deposit stains that build one on top of another
- Teeth wear down, and shorter teeth read as older teeth
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The work
What cosmetic dentistry covers here
The main goal is the appearance of the smile. In this practice that means the treatments below, used on their own or combined into one plan.
- Whitening, for stain and dullness
- Porcelain and composite veneers, for shape, length, gaps and shade
- Crowns, where a tooth needs covering rather than facing
- Gum recontouring, where the gum shows too much or too little
Combining treatments
Why a plan usually beats a single procedure
A treatment plan using several procedures is often more cost effective than one. Whitening in the chair combined with a few strategically placed veneers can reach the same result as veneering every tooth, for less.
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The process
4 stages, start to finish
- 01
Consultation
Dr. Back looks at your teeth and you say what you want changed. What is realistically achievable gets discussed here, not after.
- 02
The plan
A written plan naming the procedures recommended, the cost, and how long treatment will take.
- 03
Sequence
Health first. Decay, failing fillings and gum disease are treated before cosmetic work goes on top.
- 04
The work
Treatments run in the order the plan sets, across as many visits as the case needs.
Answers
Cosmetic Dentistry: questions patients ask
What counts as cosmetic dentistry?
Any dental procedure designed to change the overall appearance of your teeth and gums. That covers veneers and whitening, and it also covers bonding, white fillings, porcelain crowns and bridges, and work on the gum line.
Can the gums be changed as well as the teeth?
Yes. Where the gums cover too much or too little of the teeth, the gum line can be lifted or lowered. A smile that shows a lot of gum is one of the more common reasons people come in.
Is one treatment enough, or will I need several?
It depends on the case, and several is common. Combining treatments is often the cheaper route, not the dearer one, because a few well-placed veneers alongside chair-side whitening can do what veneering every tooth would.
I have an event coming up. How far ahead should I start?
Allow plenty of time. Cosmetic work runs across more than one visit, and lab work takes as long as it takes. Starting early is the difference between a finished smile and a rushed one.
What happens at the first appointment?
A consultation. Dr. Back looks at your teeth, you say what you want changed, and she says what can realistically be achieved. You leave with a plan naming the procedures, the costs and the time.
More on cosmetic dentistry
Related care
3800 Clark Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233
Ask about cosmetic dentistry.
Open Monday to Thursday, 8:00a to 4:00p. Call (941) 927-5411. Financing through CareCredit.