Want to brighten your smile with whiter, straighter teeth? Today, you have many cosmetic dentistry options that whiten, straighten, and correct the surface and your bite! And a Cedar Rapids dentist can help guide you in making your teeth healthy and beautiful.
Tooth whitening systems range from affordable at-home whitening strips to fast in-office Zoom whitening. And flaws like chips and crooked, crowded, or gapping teeth may be correctable using composite or porcelain veneers. For straightening and repositioning teeth, clear aligners are the modern braces that everyone—all ages—can use to create a more confident smile!
Whiten and Brighten Your Teeth
One of the easiest and fastest ways to improve your smile is with teeth whitening. The team at Dental Health Partners can help you with fast in-office Zoom teeth whitening and convenient take-home Phillips Day White and Opalescent Go kits. These whitening options all bring beauty and confidence back to your smile.
According to the two dentists at Dental Health Partners, there are two types of whitening systems—in-office whitening and take-home whitening kits.
“In our office, Zoom whitening is a one-stop whitening procedure that I and Dr. Paula Kral can perform. Zoom is great if you have an event like a wedding coming up where you want immediate results,” says Dr. Ashley Kerslake, a partner at Dental Health Partners in Cedar Rapids. Zoom whitening includes a tray and gel for patients to use to keep teeth white at home.
Tooth Whitening Options
Dentists carry a range of tooth whitening options for every budget and lifestyle.
- Zoom Chairside Whitening System – The fastest whitening option for healthy teeth. A special light activates the whitening solution for immediate results. This includes take-home trays and gel for touchups.
- Phillips Day White Kit – Dental Health Partners fits you for whitening trays to hold the gel. You will apply the gel trays for up to two weeks to get the desired whitening.
- Opalescent Go – One-time whitening strip kits are also available at Dental Health Partners for around $80.
Whitening teeth often makes them more sensitive, but both gel-based tooth whitening systems come with desensitizing products built in. Tooth whitening is safe and effective for most people, with the exception of pregnant and lactating women.
Perfecting Teeth Surfaces
Crooked, misshapen, chipped, gapping, and worn teeth can be corrected visually and made strong with bonded composite material or porcelain veneers. Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain that are custom matched to your teeth in terms of color and shape. Made in the lab, they are glued to the teeth to achieve a strong cover that can last many years.
“When teeth have flaws that make you uneasy about smiling, veneers can completely transform your smile,” says Dr. Paula Kral, owner of Dental Health Partners.
With her decades of experience, Dr. Paula carefully models and applies veneers to close any gaps and make a more perfect version of the teeth. Teeth are lightly buffed and shaped to allow for the thin veneer to be bonded, then an impression is made. Temporary models can be made for trying on the veneers, and you can choose the color yourself.
“Because the lab is here in Cedar Rapids, patients can go to the lab to select a color for their porcelain veneers. That makes it a great solution for people who are particular about their smile.”
The creation of porcelain veneers takes about two weeks. When complete, bonding cement is used to set the veneer in place. When properly fit and bonded — and cared for — veneers will last for many years.
For a faster and more affordable solution to some gaps and chips, bonded composite material can be used. However, there are fewer colors to choose from with the composite material.
Dr. Paula says that both are easy, in-office procedures, and numbing may not be required. She notes that crowns or implants may also be a solution, depending on the damage to the teeth or any cavities that need addressed.
Straightening and Aligning Teeth
For 25+ years, teeth have been straightened using clear aligners. Available for teens and adults, CandidPro™ clear aligners provide tooth straightening that is more comfortable, straightforward, and nearly invisible to the eye.
“While teens are the ideal candidates for teeth straightening, more adults are using aligners for improving their bite, straightening crooked teeth, closing gaps between teeth, and enhancing their smiles,” says Dr. Ashley. “CandidPro can improve your self-confidence without anyone knowing. Plus, with the home monitoring app, it is designed to send notifications, which can help busy and distracted people get great results.”
When you meet with your dentist, she will show you the process of how the teeth will change position even before you decide to do the work. Through the power of the ProMonitoring app, patients can check their progress at home using the camera on their mobile device. This may reduce the number of visits to the dental office.
Make your smile what you want it to be. Consult with Dental Health Partners in Cedar Rapids to learn how you can achieve a more beautiful smile! Contact us today.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQ
How long does it take to get veneers?
Porcelain veneers are made in a lab and take two weeks to create. The process requires two office visits and possibly a visit to the lab to match the color of your teeth. Total time in the office may be about four hours.
What is the fastest tooth whitening option?
Zoom whitening is the fastest way to whiten teeth. It must be performed in the dental office with special equipment to activate the whitening solution. Zoom whitening also includes a tray and solution for at-home touchups.
Who is a candidate for clear aligners like CandidPro?
Anyone from teens on up can see straighter teeth with clear aligners. This includes adults of nearly any age with healthy teeth.
