Cosmetic Dentistry
Erasing Cosmetic Flaws for Fully Transformed Smiles
While having excellent oral health is important, many of our patients are also interested in improving the appearance of their teeth. This is understandable – after all, having a truly stunning smile can imply all sorts of positive things about you in professional and personal settings, including confidence, attractiveness, success, youth, and much more. But, what can you do if you weren’t naturally gifted with a beautiful smile?
From stubborn stains to misalignments, people of all ages suffer from cosmetic flaws that just aren’t fixable with brushing and flossing. That’s where our team comes in! As a cosmetic dentist in Houston, TX, Dr. Gray and our staff want to provide you with the beautiful look and boost of self-confidence you deserve, and we’ve created an advanced and comfortable dental office space in Houston to do so. Once you’ve experienced our cosmetic dentistry in Houston, TX, you’ll be eager to show off your new smile to the world!
Why Choose Mark Gray, DDS Cosmetic and Family Dentistry for Cosmetic Dentistry?
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are beautiful, wafer-thin restorations that can effectively give your smile a do-over by fitting over your existing teeth and hiding any and all imperfections behind a brand-new look. No matter if it’s chips, cracks, stains, discoloration, minor gaps, or even small misalignments, veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic solutions available and can transform any smile into a beautiful work of art.
Metal-Free Dental Restorations
For years, traditional amalgam was used for fillings and crowns, but now, with the use of composite resin, we can provide a less toxic, more aesthetically-friendly solution for anyone in need of restorative dentistry. These restorations are especially great for individuals who are sensitive or allergic to metal, and they can be matched to your natural tooth color, size, and shape, making it almost impossible for anyone to tell the difference between your natural and artificial tooth.
Gum Recontouring
Whenever you smile, do you mostly see your gums instead of your teeth? This is what is called a “crowded smile,” and it’s a very common problem we can take care of in a single appointment. With a soft tissue laser, we can painlessly remove excess gum tissue to unveil previously hidden enamel. This will instantly make the teeth appear longer and give the smile better balance. We may also use this procedure to prepare someone to get another treatment like porcelain veneers or a ceramic crown.
Dental Bonding
If you just have a small stain, chip, or gap in your teeth, rather than getting porcelain veneers, we can quickly make the blemish disappear with direct bonding. Your dentist will apply a color-matched composite resin to your tooth and sculpt it to hide the flaw. Then, the resin will be hardened with a curing light, and that’s it! The entire procedure usually takes about an hour, the results are very natural-looking, and they can be trusted to last for about a decade.
Virtual Smile Design
With Virtual Smile Design, we can give you a preview of what you’d look like after getting cosmetic dentistry before any treatment is actually done. We simply take a picture of your teeth, and with software, we can edit the image to show you how whitening, porcelain veneers, or even Invisalign could change your appearance for the better. This will enable you to design your dream look right alongside your dentist and ensure you love your results for a lifetime to come.
In-Practice Teeth Whitening
Do you have a wedding, graduation, or some other special event just around the corner? Want your smile to look its best and brightest? We can whiten your teeth by up to eight shades in a single appointment using Zoom! Combining a highly-concentrated bleaching gel with a special light, our team is able to break up and eliminate even the most set-in dental stains. You’ll be amazed as the process happens right before your eyes!
Same-Day Smile Makeovers
Thanks to our in-house CEREC technology, we can provide dramatic smile improvements in as little as one appointment in many cases. Now, we can design, mill, and place custom ceramic crowns and even single veneers to cover various flaws and enhance the teeth’s aesthetics. By combining crowns, direct bonding, and whitening, we can give a person a brand new, dazzling smile in just a matter of hours.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
For stubborn stains, teeth whitening is one option that can help lighten the shade of your smile considerably. Using our custom-made take-home trays that are crafted according to your smile’s unique shape, you can apply a professional-grade bleaching gel to achieve dramatic results. By adhering to our specific instructions, the gel will completely remove any stains beneath the enamel and you’ll see a dramatic difference in about two weeks.
Understanding the Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry
When patients first become interested in cosmetic dentistry, they’re often a little bit concerned about how they’re going to be able to afford this kind of care considering that it’s unlikely to be covered by dental insurance.
If you’re of the budget-conscious sort, you’ll be happy to learn that we’re currently offering free smile consultations for our patients. When you come to one, we’ll be able to talk to you about the financial options available to you—until then, here’s some information that you’re interested in.
Picking a cosmetic dental treatment has to do primarily with the issue you’re trying to resolve. However, with the myriad of procedures available to you, there’s also plenty of overlap in what they can deal with. That means that price is also something to consider when trying to pick between cosmetic treatments.
On the low end of pricing, there’s direct bonding. It’s ideal for patching up small chips and cracks. In some cases, direct bonding can even be used like veneers for more substantial repairs or covering discolored teeth but will not look as realistic as some pricier options. If you want a brighter smile, you may also be interested in teeth whitening, which is a relatively inexpensive option.
There’s gum recontouring, which is often priced per tooth. Depending on the number of teeth you need to have fixed, this could be low-to-middling in terms of price.
Finally there are higher-end treatments, like veneers and Invisalign. Both of these treatments can completely change the appearance of your smile, which is reflected in their price.
While the financial commitment involved in cosmetic dentistry can make patients a little nervous, it’s important to remember what you’re getting for your money. The self-esteem that cosmetic dentistry can provide to you can make a notable difference in how you perform at work, in your social life, and even when it comes to romance. That means that cosmetic dentistry is an investment that’s sure to pay off.
Still, given that you can rely on your dental plan, you may wonder if there are methods that you can use to make the care more affordable. Thankfully, there are.
Dental financing can allow you to split the cost of care into monthly payments that can be considerably easier to deal with than paying all at once. We accept CareCredit, which offers many low-to-no interest options for financing.
As we mentioned previously, we’re currently offering free smile makeover consultations, which means that you have nothing to lose if you just want to hear a bit about what we have to offer you. That means that if you’re curious about cosmetic dentistry, there’s no reason not to give us a call!
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
With so many options to choose from, it can be a daunting task to know exactly which cosmetic treatment will help you best address your dental needs. At Mark Gray DDS, it would be our pleasure to help you create a treatment plan and answer any questions you may have. As you’ll find below, we’ve heard it all when it comes to cosmetic dental enhancements. If you have other concerns you’d like addressed, please let us know by giving us a call or asking during your next consultation.
If at any time you don’t feel comfortable or confident showing your smile, there’s a good chance that you can benefit from cosmetic dentistry. However, we won’t perform any treatments if you have existing dental problems that need handling (i.e. gum disease, tooth decay, etc.)
In many cases, over-the-counter whitening products don’t provide the results you’d expect. That’s where professional-grade whitening solutions can make a big difference. Additionally, chipped or cracked teeth can not only be unsightly, but expose the inside of your tooth to dangerous bacteria. This can be resolved with a crown or veneer, both of which are easily color-matched to your existing enamel. So, whether you want to address specific issues or make yourself look younger, cosmetic dentistry can help!
It truly depends on the type of treatment you receive and your habits outside of the office. While some treatments can last longer than others, they may not last as long as they could if you treat your smile poorly. For example, quick and affordable treatments like direct bonding and teeth whitening don’t last as long as services like veneers, but none of them will stay in great shape if you don’t brush and floss at home. With that said, if you complete gum recontouring, you can expect the changes to your gum tissue to remain permanent.
Generally speaking, the better you take care of your oral health, the longer your investment should last. While this includes brushing and flossing at home, it also means remaining dedicated to routine dental checkups. You’ll also need to wear a mouthguard when playing sports or if you grind and clench your teeth at night.
When performed by a professional like Dr. Gray or Dr. Newman, you can expect your cosmetic dentistry to be completely safe. Just keep in mind that not every treatment is right for you. Our dentists will need to examine your smile and provide honest feedback of what they believe will best achieve your needs without compromising your oral health. For example, underlying issues need to be treated first before completing any cosmetic treatment, such as a cavity or gum disease. Furthermore, we would advise against relying on over-the-counter whitening products made from cheap ingredients as these could not only waste your money, but damage your enamel or irritate your gum tissue.
When people think of cosmetic dentistry, they usually think of the high price tags associated with it. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case for your treatment, even if dental insurance rarely offers coverage. It just means you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket for your care, which may be worth it if you want to make meaningful changes to your smile’s appearance. Thinking of cosmetic dentistry as a long-term investment in your self-esteem, confidence, and ability to express yourself to the fullest could be worth the higher than average cost. If needed, we’re happy to inform you of financing options to pay for care, such as CareCredit. We also provide specials on cosmetic dentistry performed in-house.
Contact Us to Learn More About Your Cosmetic Dentistry Options
Contact the dental office of Mark Gray, DDS Cosmetic and Family Dentistry to learn more about our transformative cosmetic dentistry treatments or if you’re ready to go ahead and schedule an appointment. Even patients who have feared dental appointments in the past will find something to love about our beautiful, luxurious, and completely comfortable dental office space. Located in Houston, TX, we also serve the areas of Bellaire, Galena Park, Jacinto City, Pearland, and beyond.