If you’ve only ever visited the dentist for a checkup and clean, you’re missing out on a world of dental treatments. We’re not talking about unpleasant-but-necessary procedures, like root canal treatment. We’re not even talking about restorative dentistry that involves placing a high-quality dental crown or cap. We’re talking about the world of cosmetic dentistry beyond tooth extractions and general anaesthesia — better known as our suite of smile makeover treatments.

Cleanse your mind of those nerve-wracking procedures you’ll need sleep dentistry to get through and embrace a smile makeover with us! However much we love our holistic health approach — where we see the person beyond the mouth — our smile makeover services are all about aesthetics. So, if you’re less about the dentures and more about that Hollywood smile, this is the blog for you!

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

In essence, cosmetic dentistry is a practice that aims to beautify rather than restore teeth. Although cosmetic and restorative treatments can overlap — for example, dental bridges replace missing teeth but also consist of crowns that improve the adjacent teeth’s aesthetics — cosmetic dentistry will usually have a ‘beauty-first’ perspective. If you’re opting for a smile makeover, you’re either looking to fix a visual flaw or improve on perfection. If general or restorative dentistry is like going to a doctor, cosmetic dentistry is like booking an appointment with a plastic surgeon.

How Should I Make Over My Smile?

Just as boutiques and salons have a range of different makeover options, so too does cosmetic dentistry. It all depends on what you’re looking for!

In addition to dental emergencies, Abbotsford Dental can attend to beauty emergencies with our suite of cosmetic dental services. Here’s an overview of each one:

White Fillings

If you’ve ever had a cavity, chances are you’re familiar with amalgam fillings — in other words, those unsightly silver additions that draw attention to themselves. At Abbotsford Dental, we pay little mind to these unflattering, outdated solutions. We’re forward-thinking enough to invest in white fillings, which not only cover cavities but also blend in with natural teeth.

Made from glass particles, synthetic resin, and a setting ingredient that takes on the natural shape of your tooth, white fillings are becoming every bit as durable as amalgam. If you’re going to get a filling, you may as well look good doing it!

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are porcelain shells worn over natural teeth. They’re the ideal shape, colour, and size for patients chasing that true Hollywood smile. Whether you want to conceal cracks, chips, misalignment, or discolouration, veneers are the ultimate facade. While composite resin was once a popular option, porcelain has come out on top thanks to its longer lifespan and stain resistance.

When you opt for porcelain veneers, you’re opting in for life. To fit the shells over your natural teeth, your dentist must make permanent alterations to your natural teeth. You’ll need to replace your porcelain veneers every 10 to 15 years, similar to how you must replace the crowns of your dental implants every 10 to 20 years. There’s a bit of admin involved, but veneers will certainly get your smile cover-ready!

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a great solution if you want to dial your smile up to eight shades brighter. While your biannual cleaning will remove surface stains, only our dental-grade whitening gel can attack those seated beyond the surface. When it comes to teeth whitening, you have two options: a Zoom Whitening procedure or take-home whitening trays. You can also use the trays as a supplementary treatment to maintain results post-procedure.

For the fastest and most thorough results, we recommend the Zoom Whitening procedure — aka the most popular whitening process in modern dentistry. Taking no longer than an hour, your dentist will apply whitening gel to your teeth and activate its dormant hydrogen peroxide using a Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp. This will bleach your enamel and dentin, turning out some seriously pristine pearly whites — thanks largely to the Chairside Lamp, which will activate 25 per cent more hydrogen peroxide than lamps used in non-Zoom procedures.

To ‘top up’ your results or whiten your teeth on your own schedule, you may want to invest in take-home whitening trays. Trays from Abbotsford Dental are custom-made for your mouth and are the most cost-effective way to whiten your teeth. Apply and activate the whitening gel over three to four weeks, and you should see results that are literally glowing!

Invisalign®

If tint is not the issue, misalignment may be — in which case, we can straighten you out 21st-century style. There’s a new orthodontic appliance on the market, and its subtlety and user-friendliness are leaps and bounds above braces’. Introducing Invisalign®: the leading brand of clear aligners, which correct overbite, underbite, crossbite, dental gaps, and dental crowding. With Invisalign®, you can be free of the wires and brackets that braces are known for. Instead, you can enjoy a fully removable solution — albeit one that you must wear for 22 hours a day — that will neither draw attention to itself nor come in contact with food particles. Invisalign® has comfort and cleanliness on its side, as well as a surface so transparent that no one will notice it’s there.

Similar to custom whitening trays, clear aligners are plastic moulds of your teeth. Undergoing Invisalign® treatment means wearing multiple variations of these moulds over a six- to eighteen-month period — or however long it takes to set that crooked smile straight. On average, Invisalign® treatment corrects misalignment faster than braces, which take one to three years. However, every case is different.

Get Your Smile Camera-Ready With Abbotsford Dental!

Abbotsford Dental has all your dental essentials covered, from general and children’s dentistry to dental emergency services and same-day crowns. However, should you decide to treat yourself with a cosmetic treatment, we’ve also got all the resources to help you elevate your smile and glow with new-found confidence.

Whether you want to whiten and brighten or straighten your smile with subtlety, our cosmetic dental services will make you look and feel fantastic. Book your smile makeover consultation with Abbotsford Dental today!