FAQs

Certainly! Many times all it takes is one trip to the dentist, and we will reshape the teeth, simple as that. Other options include braces with Invisalign®, porcelain laminates, or on a few occasions, we may need to perform a mixture of Invisalign relocating the teeth and porcelain veneers if the teeth’s form do not coincide with each other and/or the facial proportions. Because each situation is special, we prefer to have a cosmetic consultation with our patients before pursuing any serious options.

When you look in the mirror, do you see a smile you love? Or do you see the flaws, the stains, the chips, and the unevenness? Do any of your teeth seem too small compared to your other teeth? Do you see dark outlines around your crowns? Do you avoid smiling, keeping your lips tightly closed in pictures? Are you nervous to meet new people because you’re afraid they’ll judge you for the appearance of your teeth? If you identify with any or all of the above questions, then cosmetic dentistry in Dallas, Texas, might be worth pursuing.

At Pro Dental Dallas, we mainly concentrate on cosmetic dental procedures – including porcelain laminates and veneers, crowns, onlays, teeth whitening procedures, and invisible clear braces.

General dentistry can be a very broad category. General dentistry may encompass some orthodontics (braces), periodontics (gum surgery), and even pediatrics. While we perform mostly prosthodontics (cosmetic restorative dentistry), we also do some procedures in preparation for cosmetic dentistry. For instance, a tooth may need to be removed before we can place an implant.

Generally speaking, we like to get you into the hands of an expert to care for your dental treatment, no matter what needs to be done. However, for most of those things, we have experts available.

Each one of our staff members makes it their personal mission to seek out fearful patients and comfort them. We ensure your visit will be a calm and relaxing experience. We are very good at this, but don’t just take our word for it – read the many testimonials given by our patients. We are acutely aware of the very real fear many people have of getting their mouth examined, which is why we go out of our way to guarantee your comfort and safety. You can expect a kind, gentle warmth from all our team members. Along with talking to you about any concerns you might have, we also offer music, DVD movies, nitrous oxide gas, anti-anxiety medication, and sedation dentistry to help our patients get the care they want and need.

Finding the right cosmetic provider is crucial to your satisfaction when it comes to any cosmetic procedure. Begin by asking your dentist about their experience and knowledge in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Specifically, ask if they are a prosthodontist. Any dentist can call themselves a “cosmetic dentist;” however, many times it is only a self-given title. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t on the same level as orthodontics or periodontics. This is only because cosmetic dentistry is not a true American Dental Association dental specialty. Prosthodontics IS a specialty and it is the ONLY dental specialty that focuses on restorative cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is an area of dentistry that requires an intense amount of skill and expertise in science, technology, and an eye for symmetry, aesthetics, and years and years of practice and understanding. So make sure you thoroughly research before handing over your trust. Make sure they have the experience and education to deliver the results you deserve!

We tailor our procedures around our patients, which means that each patient is going to have different needs, challenges, and personal requests. This leaves the estimated time of a cosmetic procedure unknown. However, the average bleaching lasts about 1 ½ hours; a crown and bridge usually lasts 2 visits, as well as laminates. In instances where two visits are necessary, we create customized temporaries, which are much more appealing than your original teeth.

We make it our personal goal to carefully listen and take notes while our patients are telling us what they are looking for in their new and improved smile. We then take that data and create your new teeth on plaster models of your current teeth. Using this wax replica of your future smile, we can transfer a mockup to your mouth so that you can see the final result before we even begin treatment. This allows us to see three-dimensional changes of your smile, and it allows you to hold a tangible object.

It is not a rarity to have uneven teeth. A laser gum lift can quickly and easily remove this problem, revealing the concealed tooth and forming alignment. (Note: If the teeth are still defective after the procedure, porcelain veneers might be the key to give you the brilliant smile you’ve been seeking.) If you are a proficient tooth grinder, invest in an inexpensive night guard. At least this will prevent the further abrasion of your teeth until you consult us. Then, once you have a smile consultation with us, we’ll have the aptitude to decipher the best direction we should take.

The following are two things that affect the lengthiness of a given treatment:

• The treatment’s quality. Producing the finest result involves an intense amount of tedious concentration and skill. For example, one of the procedures we often perform in our office is improving a patient’s smile with porcelain veneers. The steps involved in flawlessly executing this treatment are highly meticulous. This treatment requires hundreds of steps, and if one is ignored, it can tamper with the length of the treatment.
• The length of a treatment can vary depending on the condition of the teeth being treated. We recommend customized guards that are made to shield teeth from the day-in and day-out wear and tear. Maintaining a beautiful smile hinges on the thorough and consistent maintenance that you perform at home (daily brushing and flossing), along with healthy eating habits (avoiding acid drinks that erode your teeth and sticky candies that hide in your teeth). These are critical in maintaining a happy, healthy smile. To receive an accurate estimation of the length of various cosmetic dental treatments, please schedule a consultation with us at Pro Dental Dallas.

Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to cure countless oral-related diseases, both for adults and children. However, an undesirable disadvantage of this necessary medicine is the severe discoloration of young children’s teeth. Another negative side effect is the discoloration doesn’t positively react to bleaching very well, and may even need many doses of laser bleaching to accomplish an obvious outcome. A popular alternative to this intense discoloration is porcelain veneers. A formerly dingy, unattractive smile instantly changes into a bright, beautifully white one.

The technical term for this is called a “diastema,” and yes, it can be corrected. Here are a few of the many options to pursue: orthodontics, porcelain veneers, crowns, and bonding.

Braces correct overbites, underbites, and any issues with crooked teeth. In some cases, the upper and lower jaws may not meet properly and although the teeth may appear straight, the individual may have an uneven bite. Correcting the problem can create a nice-looking smile, but more importantly, orthodontic treatment results in a healthier mouth. That’s because crooked and crowded teeth make cleaning the mouth difficult, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and possibly tooth loss. An improper bite can interfere with chewing and speaking, can cause abnormal wear to tooth enamel, and can lead to problems with the jaws.

Nowadays, adults are seeking orthodontic help. About 30% of our adult patients are currently involved in orthodontic-related treatment. Traditional braces allow the teeth to move and correctly align themselves. Removable orthodontics is also an orthodontic option, although they’re not for everyone; they can only be used in certain cases.

Porcelain veneers or laminates also give the appearance of symmetrical teeth. Because veneers fill in spaces, they give the impression of beautifully straight teeth. This option is referred to as instant orthodontics because it can be performed in the span of 1-2 visits. Traditional orthodontics, on the other hand, usually takes 1-2 years to complete.

Thanks to the technical advances of modern dental technology, misaligned teeth can be instantly aligned and plastic-coated with cutting-edge ceramics. The reason the procedure is called “instant orthodontics” is because, unlike traditional orthodontics, instant orthodontics only takes 1-2 dentist visits. Along with general alignment, instant orthodontics also has the ability to seal massive spaces and improve the overcapacity of teeth in one or two short days. Another perk to this procedure is it is generally painless, only needing local anesthetics. If you would like your teeth to look even but you can’t commit to a lengthy process, instant orthodontics is a highly appealing procedure. However, you might need a form of traditional orthodontics along with ceramic enhancements to give you the smile you want. Make sure to consult with an orthodontist before deciding.

Porcelain inlays/onlays (which are custom-crafted restorations) are necessary when a tooth is so fractured and broken that it is no longer able to endure a filling. They are not only stunningly attractive and natural looking, but they also act as a blockade, upholding the frail tooth and strengthening it. On occasion, they are utilized as a more conservative alternative to a cap or crown.

It’s not unusual for certain teeth to be smaller than the rest. This occurs by way of intense rubbing and use caused by nighttime grinding or a mixture of grinding and acid erosion. However, small teeth aren’t always caused by bad habits. In fact, many times, teeth are concealed beneath the gum line. A cosmetic dentist simply needs to raise the gum with a cosmetic laser and the problem is solved. Also, if your upper lip has limited movement, it can give the impression of small teeth. If this is the case, plastic surgery can cure the problem. If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can also pursue the option of porcelain veneers, which will lengthen the teeth.

Unfortunately, adults are not excused from the pain and annoyance of cavities. In fact, with age come harmful changes that actually accelerate the chance of tooth-root decay. For example, the sensitivity to hot and cold is more noticeable, the risk of gum disease is heightened, and your gums recede from your teeth, which exposes a soft tissue called cementum.

Cementum doesn’t have the stamina to withstand bacterial attacks the way enamel does, which causes a much higher risk for cavities to form. With all of these negative changes, it isn’t surprising that the majority of people over 50 struggle with tooth-root decay. Another common problem for middle-aged adults is decay along the edges of fillings.

Another common problem found in the older adult mouth is decay around the margins of their fillings. This is caused by the lack of professional fluoride treatment and modern preventive dental care when they were children. As time passes, these semi-decayed fillings may fracture and crack. Bacteria reside in these small pockets, resulting in an increase of acid that forms decay.

• Teeth shorten.
• Teeth become uneven, especially the bottom.
• Teeth become stained.
• Gums recede and spaces form in between teeth.
• The bone around teeth thins.

• The muscles around the mouth start to droop, giving a sunken-in appearance.
• The area around the mouth starts to wrinkle because the support of teeth is no longer there.
• The tissue of your lip straightens and may curve over shortened teeth.

• By plumping out lips with collagen, wrinkles can be reduced, but it’s not permanent. It’s a procedure that must be repeated every few months throughout your lifetime if you desire to maintain a wrinkle-free appearance.
• When the upper portion of a veneer is thickened, wrinkles around the lips can also be reduced. As a result, the skin above the veneer is pushed out, which smoothes the upper lip wrinkles while producing the appearance of full, pouty lips like Liv Tyler.
• If you’d like your teeth to appear longer, we can position longer veneers, which gives you an effortlessly youthful look and actually pushes out the lower lip, which also reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
• If your teeth are crowded or distorted, thin veneers will create beautiful alignment.
• If your teeth are stained yellow, shaded veneers can be positioned onto your teeth, which will maintain the look of permanent whiteness. Never stained.

Did you know plastic surgery conceals the hints of aging? For some people, the perks sound appealing, but the procedure sounds frightening. Not all plastic surgery is. In fact, there are many less-invasive options, such as collagen injections or BOTOX®. However, these options are temporary, which means they do not permanently solve the problem of aging.

Porcelain fillings are custom made in a laboratory, which means our patients must visit us twice at Pro Dental Dallas to complete their procedure. Porcelain fillings (referred to as inlays and onlays) are solid, long lasting, and have the ability to effortlessly camouflage in with the tooth.

On the contrary, composite fillings are positioned precisely over a tooth and won’t require two visits for completion. Composite fillings are also more affordable than porcelain fillings. However, they cannot withstand forceful chewing. This is the product of their composition (they are a plastic mixture blended with small glass particles). This also means they can fracture in harsh situations. If you are prone to heavy chewing, the advantages of porcelain fillings would be your best option since they have excellent sturdiness and are a higher means of enduring daily chewing.

A cap and a crown are the same thing. When teeth become weak from age or large fillings, a cap or crown is placed over the tooth as a sturdy band-aid to avoid splitting and cracking of the original tooth. Also, crowns are needed when a tooth has undergone a root canal treatment.

The black lining around the crown causes teeth to look unappealing, not to mention fake. This unfortunate occurrence is the result of the crown’s core metal lining. Thanks to cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry, we can cure – even avoid – this unattractive problem. We prefer to use porcelain crowns when it’s utterly unavoidable to use crowns. The advantage of porcelain crowns is they allow light to permeate through, just like the enamel on teeth does. When the porcelain is meticulously layered to create a crown, it’s impossible to decipher if it is a cap placed over the tooth. This allows your teeth to look whiter and more attractive than your original shape and color.

When you slurp a smoothie, sip hot cocoa, or chew candy, do your teeth ache? What about when you’re brushing or flossing? Do your teeth experience shooting pains? If the answer is yes, your teeth may be classified as sensitive. If your teeth are fractured or hold cavities, your teeth will err on the side of sensitive. However, if your dentist has dismissed these assumptions as a cause for your sensitivity problem, then a broken tooth, reduced tooth enamel, or a revealed tooth root may be the cause.

Fortunately, there is a remedy for sensitive teeth – some of which are easy and inexpensive. One option is desensitizing toothpaste. This paste is comprised of compounds that prevent the painful sensation that spreads from the tooth surface to the nerve. The desensitizing toothpaste generally needs to be applied several times in order for the sensitivity to noticeably decrease. When you’re selecting any type of toothpaste, remember to search for the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

If you use the desensitizing toothpaste and find that it hasn’t reduced your pain, ask your dentist to treat you. A fluoride gel, which fortifies tooth enamel and decreases the spread of sensations, may be applied to teeth’s sensitive spots.

Receding gums cause sensitivity. If this is your problem, your dentist can insert a plastic material called a “sealer” to bond the tooth root. This seals the exposed area, making it impossible for food and liquid to cause further pain.

If your teeth are consistently worsening, and the treatments above are not relieving any pain, your dentist may perform a root canal.

Strong foods. Did you know that the food you put into your body affects the air you exhale? Strong foods (such as garlic and onions) contribute to unpleasant breath. The food is absorbed into the bloodstream and then transferred into the lungs, where it is then released. Unfortunately, brushing, flossing, and mouthwash only briefly conceal the smell. The odor cannot be removed from your mouth until the specific food is removed from your system. If you are currently dieting, you may develop offensive breath from a sporadic or irregular eating plan.

Dry mouth (xerostomia). Because saliva is a natural purifier, one of its many jobs is to cleanse bacteria from the mouth. That’s why when your mouth has a short supply of saliva, the bacteria cannot be flushed away, which leads to bad breath. Along with a lack of saliva, dry mouth also may be caused by various drugs and medicines, salivary gland problems, or consistent breathing through the mouth. Our dentists may suggest sucking on sugarless candy or prescribe artificial saliva. Both methods will increase your fluid intake.

Neglecting to brush and floss. When food particles sit in your mouth for too long, they gather bacteria and begin to produce bad breath. Food that is lodged in the crevices of your teeth, tongue, and around the gums produces decay. When a tooth is dying, it is literally rotting inside your mouth, like a dead person rots in a casket. Gross, but true.

Medical disorder. Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder (i.e., local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment). If your dentist believes that your bad breath is exceptionally severe, he may refer you to your family doctor or a specialist in order to determine the cause.

It is a common issue to see jagged teeth, which are caused by the uneven level of the teeth. If one tooth is shorter than the tooth on its opposite side, it’s caused by the staggered level of the gums. A laser gum lift can quickly and easily remove this problem, revealing the concealed tooth and forming alignment. (Note: If the teeth are still defective after the procedure, porcelain veneers might be the key to give you the brilliant smile you’ve been seeking.)

A frequent issue we often see in patients is the absence of their lateral teeth (the teeth beside the two upper front teeth). When this occurs, the arch widens, leaving a gap between the teeth. The eye teeth (the sharp teeth at the corners of the mouth) travel into the missing tooth space. If you’re young, oftentimes braces can correct this problem.

Many times you will see a “gummy look.” If the spaces are blocked or even semi-closed, a helpful way to fix this is to insert porcelain veneers. However, to do this requires highly skillful expertise and an in-depth knowledge – along with artistic skill – to master the illusion that the problem was never there.

Both have their pros and cons. We don’t favor one option over the other. Since an implant is fastened in the bone with a crown placed securely on top, it permanently restores the tooth. The disadvantage, however, is the length it takes to complete the procedure: 6-8 months, at least. Unlike implants, bridges are not secured into the bone, but they are fixed firmly to adjacent teeth. You might decline from inserting crowns onto your teeth for a bridge if your teeth are free of fillings or they are barely repaired, which leaves you with the better option to do a dental implant in Dallas, Texas. However, since bridges can be completed in 1-2 weeks, it’s definitely a faster option, whereas an implant takes much longer. A perk about implants is they act as a separate unit, so you can still floss in between them like regular teeth. Since bridges are anchored into the surrounding teeth, there is no crevice to floss into.

Prosthodontists are dental specialists in the restoration and replacement of teeth who have completed dental school plus three additional years of advanced training and education in an ADA-accredited prosthodontic graduate program.

Extensive training and experience provide prosthodontists with a special understanding of the dynamics of a smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth, and the creation of tooth replacements. Serving as the architect of a dental treatment plan, a prosthodontist collaborates with general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions to dental and oral health concerns.

Prosthodontists provide an extremely high level of care to patients with missing teeth or significant damage to their existing teeth. Prosthodontists work with congenital defects, as well as problems arising from trauma and neglect.

Prosthodontists are highly trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures for treating many diverse and complex dental conditions and restoring optimum function and aesthetics. These include crowns, bridges, complete and removable partial dentures, dental implants, TMD-jaw joint problems, traumatic injuries to the mouth’s structure and/or teeth, snoring or sleep disorders, and oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care.

You may want to visit a prosthodontist in Dallas, Texas, if you are missing one or more teeth, if you are interested in dental implants, if you wear dentures or removable partial dentures, or if you want to improve the aesthetics of your smile.

The method of bleaching is a terrific way to remove coffee stains or spotty, discolored teeth. The process can be performed either in the dentist office or at home. (It’s a good idea to consult us if you choose to whiten at home. We will be sure to recommend a reliable treatment.) You can take several approaches to whiten your smile:

• In-office bleaching;
• At-home bleaching;
• Whitening toothpastes

All toothpastes help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives. “Whitening” toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA-accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth. When selecting any whitener or dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This will assure you that the product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

Everyone loves the fresh look of a snow-white smile, and fortunately there are numerous procedures and products available to achieve a Hollywood smile of your own. As the years go by, we get older and it begins to show. Our teeth begin staining easier and pretty soon, they have become a dingy yellowish color. Although yellow isn’t very appealing to look at, neither is stark white. That’s why we strive to give our patients a perfectly natural look of white that will complement the hues of their skin tone – without making them look unnatural.

• Attend professional cleanings (every 3 to 6 months).
• When drinking beverages with a high stain potential (such as coffee or soda), drink through a straw.
• Do not use harsh toothpastes. They can erode the tooth enamel and reveal yellow dentin.
• Brush instantly after consuming any food or drink that contains a high stain potential.
• When the above isn’t possible, take the time to slosh your mouth with lots of water, or eat crunchy fruits or vegetables, which act as natural cleaners.

With our many years of experience, our team at Pro Dental Dallas has come to the conclusion that a mixture of in-office supercharged laser bleaching and take-home bleaching trays delivers the most effective results.

This depends. Through many studies, it has been proven that bleaching is not harmful to your teeth in any way under the guidance and direction of a certified dentist in Dallas, Texas. Some bleaching side effects may include temporary sensitivity, but this often minimizes in the hours following the procedure – the most being 48 hours. However, just like all cosmetic endeavors, patients must utilize their own discernment before pursuing their bleaching options.

When it comes to minimal fractures, reforming or cosmetic contouring is a perfect remedy. Since we use polishing wheels and sandpaper discs to reform teeth, anesthesia isn’t essential. Contouring can change the level of the smile line. For instance, if a front tooth is slightly longer than another, contouring has the ability to correct this unevenness, making both teeth equally the same size. We can also file jagged edges of teeth or peaked canines to smooth the uneven appearance.

Porcelain veneers or laminates are thin shells of porcelain bonded over the front surface of the teeth. They last a long time, they don’t negatively react to stains, and best of all, they are the most natural-looking type of restoration. Because porcelain is so incredibly adaptable, it can stretch, widen, and whiten existing teeth. Porcelain is the least invasive kind of restoration and the most like a tooth’s natural enamel. In as little as two to four days, we customize the color, saturation and gradation, shape, anatomy, and degree of whiteness, leaving our patients with natural-looking, snow-white teeth.

Absolutely. In fact, it’s a very wise idea. If you pursue a smile makeover without any foresight of the final product, the venture will be exasperating.

We make it our personal goal to carefully listen and take notes while our patients are telling us what they are looking for in their new and improved smile. This allows us to develop a digital photograph of the kind of smile you’re seeking. We then use graphic artist software to formulate a computerized image displaying different smile improvements, such as whitening, shaping, and length changes. A similar method we use to ensure your satisfaction is to craft a wax replica of your future smile. This allows us to see three-dimensional changes in your smile, and it allows you to hold a tangible object. It’s our ultimate blueprint. Then, based on our knowledge of facial forms and tooth size proportions, we determine what smile works best for you and we begin the procedure. We guarantee your satisfaction.

This question is common. Usually, the answer is no; however, in some cases, our patients do require braces in order to correct the misalignment of their teeth. Only with meticulous examination of jaw and tooth proportions are we able to estimate that answer. We’ve assisted many patients who full-on refused to pursue the option of braces, and the finished product of their specific oral problem was not jeopardized, leaving us to believe that not everyone must have braces to cure their specific problems. So, no, braces are not mandatory. However, if you are an adult, struggling with crooked or crowded teeth, braces might be the perfect solution to consider. If so, ask your dentist in Dallas, Texas, to refer you to a professional orthodontist.

This greatly varies on the width of the curve when the mouth is smiling and/or how expansive we’d like the arch to be in order to deliver a significant outcome. We first position veneers in the mouth to solve a problem on only two or three teeth; meanwhile, the remaining teeth in the arch are 100% perfect. Our only job, then, is to match the new veneers to the existing smile. Although it sounds simple, it’s actually one of the most tedious procedures, requiring an intense level of skill and precision.

Many of our patients revel in the natural and smooth texture of their porcelain veneers. To develop an at-home routine, we recommend you brush and rinse with Oxyfresh products (a non-abrasive product that successfully buffs the laminates), which allows you to retain their original shine. Along with Oxyfresh products, we recommend sleeping with a night guard – especially if you tend to grind your teeth at night.

A properly fitted night guard helps prevent the bad habit of grinding or clenching your jaw, most common when sleeping. It will stay in place while you wear it, making it easy for you to breathe. Ask your dentist to customize one for you to ensure the best comfort when sleeping.

Bonding is a procedure that can mightily improve the appearance of chipped, broken, cracked, or stained teeth – or fill in gaps between spacious teeth. Dentists apply tooth-colored materials to the tooth’s surface and the results are both highly convincing and effective. Veneers, on the other hand, are thin, custom-made, tooth-colored shells that are used to conceal the front side of teeth, fill spaces between teeth, and fill in teeth that are chipped or worn down, permanently stained, slightly crooked, or misshapen.

This method has desirable perks. It’s quick, comfortable, and you see the results instantly. Enamel shaping modifies teeth to improve their appearance by removing or contouring your tooth enamel.

Teeth can be de-rotated with Invisalign® within a few months, as long as the shape and size of the individual teeth are not crooked or misshapen in any way. But if the teeth are crooked or distorted, separating them will only cause them to be placed in the correct position in your arch and will still need the aid of porcelain veneers. If the crowding and rotation is drastic, we recommend you pursue both Invisalign and veneers. However, if the crowding is a small issue, we may encourage one or the other (Invisalign or veneers).