We offer a wide variety of cosmetic options. Some of these options are whitening, smile design, recontouring of the shape of the teeth, veneers, bonding, and all ceramic/porcelain crowns.

WHITENING - 
This is the procedure of making teeth whiter, and therefore more attractive. Our office uses passive tray whitening, as this has proven over time to be the most reliable and comfortable method of whitening teeth.

The tray method involves having impressions taken from which fabricated custom vinyl trays are made. A carbamide peroxide gel is placed in these trays and the trays with gel are worn for about 3 hours, or overnight. The entire process takes 3-4 weeks of daily use. Three different strengths of gel may be used, however the higher the strength the greater the likelihood of reactions or tooth sensitivity. The tray method is recommended for badly stained teeth, such as tetracycline staining, and it may take several months of use to see significant color improvement. For maintenance of whitened teeth the trays should be used every several months.

VENEERS
Veneers are a dental procedure in which a covering is placed over the outside (visible area) of the tooth. Veneers are usually only done to the part of the teeth that are visible when talking or smiling. The procedure can be direct or indirect.

The direct technique usually involves placing composite resin on the outside of the tooth using bonding. This method is usually referred to as bonding.

The indirect technique usually involves two appointments because the veneers will be fabricated at a dental laboratory. At the first appointment the teeth are prepared, impressions taken, and the teeth are given a temporary covering. In two to three weeks the veneers are back from the laboratory, the temporaries are removed and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. The laboratory fabricated veneers are usually made using porcelain or pressed ceramic, and are very esthetic.

CROWNS

Porcelain crowns are an effective way to transform your smile!  If the front teeth are badly chipped, or have large fillings, then a full-coverage crown may be the best option. Crowns require two visits.  At the first visit, decay and any old restorations are removed and the remaining tooth structure is prepared to support the new crown.  An impression of the tooth is taken and sent to a dental laboratory, who creates the porcelain crown.  Dr Rugeley fabricates a beautiful temporary crown from acrylic before you leave our office.  When you come back for the second visit 2 to 3 weeks later, the temporary crown is removed and the final porcelain crown is bonded into place.