As a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist with a solid reputation for creating beautiful smiles, I’ve had the opportunity to help thousands of patients over the years. They know what they want, or at least how they want their smile to look.

While traditional dentistry focuses on prevention, cosmetic dentistry focuses on restoration. My goal is to restore your smile to its natural beauty and then help you prevent it from being anything less. To do that means determining what cosmetic dentistry options are right for you specific situation.

Cosmetic Inlays and Onlays

Although inlays and onlays serve a similar purpose – to restore a decayed or damaged tooth – they have different uses. It all depends on the damage and decay on the tooth.

Pre-formed at a lab, your Century City cosmetic dentist then bonds the inlay or onlay to the affected area of your tooth. The primary difference is that an inlay fits within the cusp of your teeth, while the larger onlay extends over the cusp.

The cusp, by the way, is the “pointed or rounded projection on the chewing surface of a tooth,” as defined by the online American Heritage Dictionary.

Veneers or Bonding

For dental patients with chipped, broken, discolored, or decayed teeth, other cosmetic restoration options may be veneers or bonding.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, dental bonding involves applying a composite resin to teeth to mask imperfections. Your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist completes the procedure freehand and then hardens it with a high-intensity light.

On the other hand, veneers are more like artificial fingernails. As described by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, veneers do more than just cover teeth with a coating. Dentists use them to cover gapped, crooked, and stained teeth.

Teeth Whitening or Bleaching

We’ve mentioned this option in the past, however, it bears repeating. Having your teeth whitened or bleached by your Century City cosmetic dentist is one of the most cost-effective ways to brighten your smile. However, keep in mind they are different procedures.

The term “bleaching” describes teeth whitened beyond their natural color, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products that bleach teeth contain some form of peroxide.

“Whitening,” on the other hand, merely cleans residual debris and surface stains. Therefore, experts classify most over-the-counter dental products, even toothpaste, as whiteners. And because most people think whitening sounds better than bleaching, the terms frequently are used interchangeably.

Regardless of how you want your smile transformed there is a cosmetic dental procedure your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist can offer. Speak with him or her today to find out the best treatment plan to obtain the smile you’ve always wanted.