Cosmetic dentist services are among Canada’s most sought-after dental treatments, and it’s easy to see why. Many people in places like Maple Ridge are actively searching for a skilled cosmetic dentist to enhance their smile. While cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth, it can also offer functional benefits that improve overall oral health.
Are you curious about what cosmetic dental treatments involve? A great way to understand this field is by exploring its most common procedures.
Key Takeaways:
- Veneers improve the look of teeth and are great for people who want a long-term fix for cosmetic issues that don’t respond to whitening, braces, or retainers.
- Invisalign clear aligners are the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment for smile makeovers.
- Implants are a cosmetic dental solution for missing teeth.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Involves the use of bleaching gels, paired with LED light technology, to brighten your teeth and reduce yellowing. These treatments are performed in a dental clinic under a dentist’s supervision or through customized take-home kits provided by a dental professional.
- In-Office Teeth Whitening: Carefully performed to protect the gums from irritation or injury. Depending on the dental provider, LED lights may be used to accelerate the whitening process. The entire treatment lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.
- Custom-Made Kits: Take-home kits are generally more effective than store-bought options. Since the whitening gel is less potent than the in-office version, it takes longer to see noticeable results.
Cosmetic dentistry in Maple Ridge can safely brighten your smile when performed under the guidance of our dental professionals. Most side effects, like tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, are mild and temporary.
Dental Bonding
Also known as composite or teeth bonding, it is a cosmetic dental procedure that improves the appearance of your smile. The treatment involves applying a tooth-coloured resin to the targeted teeth to alter their shape, size, or colour.
Used to:
- Hide chips or cracks in teeth
- Cover up discolouration
- Close small gaps or spaces
- Lengthen the appearance of teeth
- Reshape uneven or misshapen teeth
Bonding is a quick, non-invasive procedure similar to filling a cavity without drilling or anesthesia.
- The dentist gently roughens the tooth surface and applies a special solution to help the bonding material stick.
- A soft, tooth-coloured resin is then applied, shaped, and sculpted to match your natural tooth.
- Once in place, a blue light or laser is used to harden the resin.
- Finally, the dentist smooths and polishes the bonded area to blend seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
Dental Veneers
Enhance the appearance of teeth and are ideal for individuals seeking a long-lasting solution to cosmetic issues that don’t improve with treatments like whitening, braces, or retainers.
To apply veneers, a dentist removes a thin layer of enamel, the outer protective surface of the tooth. Due to this permanent change, veneers are not reversible once they are in place.
Two types of veneers: porcelain and resin-based composite.
Porcelain | Resin-Based Composite |
Expensive | Less expensive |
Requires enamel removal | No enamel removal |
2-3 appointments | 1 appointment |
For 20 years | For 5 years |
Doesn’t stain | Stains over time |
Strong | Likely to break |
Porcelain veneers provide a more natural, tooth-like look and are effective at covering severely discoloured or misshapen teeth.
The choice between veneer types depends on your budget, cosmetic goals, and personal preferences. Our dentist at Westgate Dental & Implant Centre can offer guidance on which option is most suitable for your specific needs.
Dental Implants
One of the most popular cosmetic dental services is for those with missing teeth. Dental implants are titanium or ceramic posts surgically placed into the jawbone to support artificial teeth. Implants provide a stable base for fixed or removable teeth that blend seamlessly with your real ones.
The procedure of our Maple Ridge dentist:
- Remove the damaged tooth – if still present.
- Jawbone preparation (grafting) – done if bone is too soft or thin.
- Place the implant post – a titanium or ceramic screw is inserted into the jawbone.
- Wait for the bone to heal – the implant fuses with the bone (osseointegration), which can take a few months.
- Attach the abutment – a connector between the implant and crown.
- Place the artificial tooth (crown) – fixed or removable, depending on your choice.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
This is the number one treatment among all cosmetic dentistry services that people opt for to achieve a smile makeover. Invisalign is a brand of clear aligners used in orthodontic treatments. Made from a flexible thermoplastic material called SmartTrack, these aligners are subtle and discreet.
While not entirely invisible, Invisalign aligners fit snugly over your teeth and are far less noticeable than traditional metal braces. This procedure has more aesthetic options for straightening teeth and achieving a natural-looking smile.
Invisalign Restorative Dentistry Treatments – How They Work?
Clear aligner treatment involves using custom-made plastic trays that gradually shift your teeth into place. Each aligner moves your teeth slightly, just a small fraction of a millimetre at a time.
You’ll wear each aligner for one to two weeks before progressing to the next set in the series. The total number of trays depends on the specifics of your treatment plan.
While the process isn’t painful, it can take a few weeks to adjust to the feel of the trays. During this period, you might notice changes like a temporary lisp, slight tooth mobility, a different bite, or minor gum irritation.
Dental Crowns
May be classified as either cosmetic or restorative dental procedures, depending on their purpose. When the main goal is to enhance the appearance of a tooth, it falls under cosmetic dentistry procedures. If the crown is used to repair and restore the function of a tooth, it is considered a restorative treatment.
Crowns, referred to as “caps,” are custom-designed coverings that fit over the surface of a tooth. They’re commonly made from acrylic or porcelain fused to metal.
Crowns improve the appearance of teeth that are decayed, broken, chipped, or have extensive fillings. They can also close small gaps between teeth.
What Happens When You Visit Our Dental Team
First Visit
- Tooth Preparation: Our dentist in Maple Ridge removes some enamel to make room for the crown and may use filling material to support the tooth.
- Impressions: Impressions of your tooth are taken (either with putty or a scanner) and sent to a dental lab to create your custom crown.
- Temporary Crown: Placed to protect your tooth while the final one is being made (takes 2–3 weeks).
Second Visit:
- The temporary crown is removed.
- Our dentist checks the fit, shape, and colour of your new crown.
- The final crown is cemented into place.
Tooth Contouring
Also referred to as tooth shaping or enamel shaping, cosmetic tooth contouring is used to address minor issues like chips or slightly overlapping teeth. Our dentist reshapes the tooth by filing or removing a small amount of enamel. Once reshaped, the tooth is polished to smooth out rough or uneven areas, giving it a more natural look for a beautiful smile. This procedure is painless and provides immediate results.
Gum Contouring
Also known as gum reshaping. Gum Contouring is a procedure performed by periodontists to improve the appearance of your gums. It’s used to treat a “gummy smile,” where the gum tissue makes the teeth shorter or square. It can also correct an uneven gum line by removing excess tissue to help create a more balanced and confident smile.
How is it Done?
In most cases, you’ll remain awake during the procedure. Before the dentist starts, you’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the gum area.
During the procedure, the dentist will use a soft tissue laser or scalpel to remove gum tissue and resculpt the gumline. Sutures hold the gum tissue in place.
If your gums recede and the treatment requires adding tissue, your dentist may take gum tissue from another area of your mouth and attach it around your teeth to reshape and extend the gumline.
Gum contouring takes 1 to 2 hours.
Cosmetic Dentist in Maple Ridge for a Complete Smile Makeover
Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of your smile, whether it’s correcting misaligned teeth, whitening discoloured teeth, or addressing other aesthetic concerns. The result? A confident, radiant smile you’ll be proud to show off anytime.
If you’re considering any of the cosmetic dental treatments mentioned above, we invite you to book a consultation at Westgate Dental & Implant Centre. Our experienced dentists offer personalized dental care tailored to your specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a functional benefit of any cosmetic dental procedures?
For example, teeth whitening can boost your confidence and motivate better dental care habits. Veneers help fix chipped or uneven teeth while adding a protective layer to prevent further damage. Dental implants replace missing teeth and also help prevent bone loss in the jaw. Orthodontic treatments straighten teeth and improve bite alignment and speech.
Are tooth-coloured fillings considered a cosmetic dental procedure?
Also known as composite fillings, are considered both restorative and cosmetic. While their main purpose is to repair cavities from tooth decay and restore tooth function, they are also designed to match the natural shade of your teeth. It’s a pleasing alternative to traditional silver (amalgam) fillings. This allows for a more natural-looking smile while still effectively treating decay.
Does insurance cover cosmetic dental treatments?
Depends on the insurance company, but most don’t cover dental procedures for cosmetic purposes. For example, the CDCP generally does not include major cosmetic procedures such as braces, crowns, or dental implants. These types of treatments require supplementary private insurance. If you’re looking into cosmetic or specialized dental care, speak with your dental clinic for advice on available payment options or coverage solutions.