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Cosmetic Dentistry of Concord is dedicated to the art & science of enhancing a person’s smile, overall appearance, and oral health and wellness. Our practice also perfoms preventive and restorative dentistry. At Cosmetic Dentistry of Concord we use the latest techniques and advanced technology to give you the smile you deserve. Smile Makeover: A healthy, attractive smile is an important facet of life - it impacts your health, self-esteem and relationships, both personal and professional. Made popular by the ABC television show, “Extreme Makeover”, a smile makeover takes into consideration an individual’s desire for an improved smile together with the many facets of available treatment and the present condition of the mouth. A Smile By Design is created on an individual basis by gathering information from an individual’s comprehensive examination and formulating a treatment plan with an enhanced smile in mind. One can envision their new smile through a computerized image or by an in-the-mouth preview. Discolored, chipped, broken, misaligned, broken and/or missing teeth can all be restored to their original beauty through many of the latest cosmetic dental procedures. Of course, a smile makeover takes resources of time, energy and money, all of which can be carefully planned and financed. Together, we can make your dream of a beautiful smile a reality. Porcelain Veneers: Teeth that are chipped, cracked, stained, worn or have open spaces between them can be restored to their original beauty with ultra-thin laminates or veneers made of porcelain. Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are laid onto the teeth and bonded to the surface. While veneers can be made of different materials, porcelain is commonly used because it is durable and provides a beautiful, translucent appearance. Porcelain veneers do not require removing as much of the tooth’s original surface, therefore offering a more conservative alternative to crowns. With porcelain veneers in place patients can expect straighter, whiter and more even looking teeth. In many cases a no-prep option exists for porcelain veneers, which can give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted with no shots, drills or pain! Razor thin veneers are placed on top of your natural teeth and can be used to close spaces between teeth, reshape chipped or worn teeth or whiten discolored smiles. If you are a candidate, your smile makeover can be completed in as few as two appointments. Composite "White" Fillings: Composite is a term to describe a resin based material that is tooth colored and is used to replace old, unsightly fillings. Modern dentistry has increasingly turned to composite fillings as a strong, safe and more natural looking alternative to restoring teeth. White fillings bond to the tooth and help to strengthen while beautifying. Options exist for light curing and self-curing composite materials that are placed directly in a tooth prepared for the filling using a layered technique. Composite filling materials can also be prepared outside of the mouth giving them added strength and longevity. Dental Bonding: Bonding is a dental technique in which a composite resin material is bonded to an existing tooth in order to improve its appearance. Bonding is a solution for restoring decayed teeth, making cosmetic improvements and even changing the color of or reshaping your teeth. Dental bonding is ideal for fixing cracked or chipped teeth, hiding discoloration on the tooth’s surface or reducing the gaps in between teeth. The bonding material is sculpted, color matched and shaped to provide a pleasing result. Unlike porcelain veneers or crowns, dental bonding removes little if any of the original tooth. You can expect dental bonding to have a life span of about seven to eleven years. No matter what the specific intent, dental bonding restores the teeth to their original form and creates a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Cerec "One Visit" Onlays and Crowns: For busy individuals, CEREC offers the reassurance of high quality modern dental work and the convenience of single-visit treatment. There are no more uncomfortable impressions taken by filling your mouth with gooey material and going 3 to 4 weeks with a temporary filling. No more second anesthetic to recover from or taking more time out of your busy schedule to return to the office. Many teeth can benefit from choosing a CEREC restoration such as ones that are broken or decayed or have old, dark and tired looking amalgum (mercury-based) fillings. A special camera is used to take a high definition image of your tooth. The CEREC machine will produce a 3-D model of the tooth and your trained dentist and staff will be able to create the restoration in minutes. The in-surgery milling machine produces the necessary restoration from a solid block of material to within an amazing 50 microns tolerance. This is bonded in the mouth at the same appointment the tooth is prepared. The resulting restoration is durable, tooth colored and functions exactly like your own teeth. It looks and feels like you have your tooth back! Invisalign Clear Braces: Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth. Forget everything you’ve heard about teeth straightening. Because a proven technology now exists that lets you straighten your teeth virtually invisibly. This is a clear alternative to traditional orthodontic metal brackets and braces so you can smile during as well as after treatment. In fact, virtually no one will know you’re wearing Invisalign unless you tell. Invisalign uses a 3-D computer imaging technology to map the complete treatment from start to finish. By using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign straightens your teeth right before your eyes. Change them about every two weeks and your teeth will move little by little toward the smile you’ve always wanted! Invisalign is comfortable to wear and it doesn’t require you to change your busy lifestyle. You visit your doctor every month or two to check your progression and get new aligners. Average treatment time is only about a year. Because aligners are removable, you can continue to eat your favorite foods while brushing and flossing normally to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Nine out of ten patients are “very or extremely satisfied” with their Invisalign experience. Ivisalign treatment is often similar to the cost of traditional braces. In addition, if you have orthodontic insurance coverage, Invisalign is normally covered to the same extent as conventional braces. Be sure to inquire about our convenient and affordable monthly payment plans. Tooth Replacement: Many individuals have experienced tooth loss due to disease and/or trauma. Cosmetic dentistry offers many ways to replace missing teeth and restore a beautiful smile and chewing function. Implants, fixed bridgework and removable partial and full dentures are all choices available to replace missing teeth. Spaces Cosed: Cosmetic procedures available to close gaps between teeth include dental bonding and veneer placement with acrylic/resin or porcelain materials. Razor thin porcelain veneers are placed on top of your natural teeth and can be used to close spaces between teeth. Dental bonding is also ideal for reducing the gaps in between teeth. The bonding material is sculpted, color matched and shaped to close the space and provide a pleasing result. The major difference between these two options is cost and longevity. Broken Teeth Restored: Broken teeth can be fully restored to their original shape and appearance with cosmetic dentistry. Choosing the right option and material is based on the individual’s unique circumstances. Dental Bonding and porcelain crowns and veneers are cosmetic options available to restore broken teeth. Instant Orthodontics: Instant Orthodontics is a concept used when utilizing dental bonding or porcelain crowns and/or veneers to align crooked and misaligned teeth. This process requires a detailed examination, analysis and treatment plan to achieve a balanced and even smile. There are many aspects of a person’s smile to take into account when designing this type of care plan such as the bite, gum line, amount of misalignment, and success and quality of the result. Digital and in-the-mouth-previews are available to give an individual the ability to peek into the future and see how their new smile will look. “Instant orthodontics” can usually be accomplished in one or two visits. Feel free to visit us and discover for yourself if you are a candidate for this type of smile design. Silver (amalgum) Filling Removal: You’ve been asking yourself, what can be done if I have old and unsightly fillings? Old, dark and unsightly fillings can now be replaced with esthetic filling materials such as resins and porcelain fillings or crowns. In fact, here at Cosmetic Dentistry of Concord, we have been replacing amalgum fillings for well over 20 years. Resin and porcelain filling materials, although more technique sensitive and costly than amalgum filling material, is kinder to the tooth and more aesthetically pleasing to the smile. Air purification, high speed suction and oxygen protocols are utilized when removing amalgum fillings as they may release mercury vapors into the environment. We have committed to reducing methyl mercury in the environment by eliminating this restorative material from our treatment choices. Laser Whitening: Tooth whitening is a well established procedure in cosmetic dentistry and research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth is safe. Results are seen immediately upon this one visit in-office treatment. Laser whitening involves using a laser to speed the reaction of whitening gels and usually involves faster procedure times and enhanced results. In addition, lasers are focused and target specific so the require less preparation to protect surrounding tissues. The dental professionals here at Cosmetic Dentistry of Concord will have you wear specifically designed safety eyewear during the procedure. Some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity during this treatment. These symptoms always disappear within 24 hours. We advise pre and post laser whitening treatment with prescription strength fluoride. Touch up protocols will be discussed and decided upon by your dental professional. Oxyfresh® Dental Success System: Oxyfresh reinvented the approach to fresh breath and oral hygiene in 1985. Since then, tens of thousands of dental professionals worldwide have personally used and recommended Oxyfresh’s alcohol-free, leading-edge products to millions. We have been using and recommending Oxyfresh products here at Cosmetic Dentistry of Concord since 1993. The freshest breath imaginable is just 60 seconds away with Oxygeneâ, Oxyfresh’s exclusive ingredient that safely destroys the compounds responsible for bad breath in just 1 minute leaving you with hours of complete breath confidence. Oxygeneâ divides and conquers germs by blasting apart molecule groups and neutralizing them. Non-toxic and taste-free, Oxygeneâ is the safe and gentle germ killer. Independent studies show that Oxyfresh oral hygiene products are safe, gentle and effective and do not interfere with cosmetic dental materials and bonding agents as some commercially available, high abrasion and alcohol-based products do. With over 24 products available in the Oxyfresh Dental Success System, individually customized care plans can be designed for each person depending on their unique preventive needs. Drill Free Dentistry: Lasers have many uses in today’s dental office. They are used for both hard and soft tissue procedures and can do things we can’t accomplish with traditional therapies. A laser is a device that uses light energy to perform work including more precise hard tissue cutting capabilities. Lasers are unique because they can treat targeted tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unaffected. Cavity preparation can be minimized in most cases. One of the biggest advantages of hard tissue laser therapy is a reported analgesia effect making the use of anesthetic unnecessary in many cases. Since hard tissue lasers are used in a non-contact manner there is also less heat and vibration produced than traditional methods such as the dental drill. While lasers have many uses in dentistry they are not used for every procedure. Dr. Burdette will decide if laser therapy is appropriate for your particular procedure. If, for instance, removal of metal filling material is necessary, a laser cannot be used for this procedure. No Needles or Minimal Anesthetic: Lasers have many uses in today’s dental office. They are used for both hard and soft tissue procedures and can do things we can’t accomplish with traditional therapies. A laser is a device that uses light energy to perform work. One of the biggest advantages of the use of hard tissue lasers is a reported analgesia effect making the use of anesthetic unnecessary in many cases. This is due to the laser’s ability to seal off nerve endings during treatment. Since hard tissue lasers are used in a non-contact manner there is also less heat and vibration produced than traditional methods such as the dental drill. Other benefits of laser treatment include reduced bleeding, swelling and postoperative pain. Each patient is monitored very carefully for their individual pain tolerance and anesthetics are delivered where indicated. Conservative Micro-Dentistry: Lasers have many uses in today’s dental office. They are used for both hard and soft tissue procedures and can do things we can’t accomplish with traditional therapies. A laser is a device that uses light energy to perform work including more precise hard tissue cutting capabilities. Lasers are unique because they can treat targeted tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unaffected. Cavity preparation can be minimized in most cases. Hard tissue lasers are used in a non-contact manner resulting in less heat and vibration produced than traditional methods. Owning a laser demonstrates that Cosmetic Dentistry of Concord has made a financial and educational investment toward providing the very best care possible. Only a small percentage of dental offices have made this financial and personal investment for the well being and comfort of their patients. "Shrill Free" Quieter Operation: Our office is equipped with the Waterlase™ dental laser. Waterlase™ uses the Hydrokinetic™ process, which gently washes away decay with YSGG laser-energized water droplets. Hydrokinetic™ energy is produced by combining a spray of atomized water with laser energy. The resulting energy gently and precisely removes a wide range of human tissue including tooth enamel (the hardest substance in the body) with minimal heat or discomfort in most cases. Gum Lifts: Gum lifts also known as gingivectomy or gingivoplasty are sometimes helpful for patients with excess gum tissue or uneven gum tissue. Laser assisted gum lifts can be accomplished for cosmetic reasons or to allow for more effective cleansing. The laser can recontour both hard and soft tissue with little to no bleeding, pain or postoperative swelling. A patient who shows a wide span of gum tissue when they smile may be a candidate for a gum lift prior to placing veneers as part of a smile makeover. Desensitizing: The laser has the ability to desensitize teeth that are sensitive to cold temperature. It is especially effective on teeth with exposed root surfaces. The laser’s energy pulls fluid to the center of the tooth and possibly seals off the outer surfaces of the tooth. Laser desensitizing inhibits the pathway the fluid normally takes to the outermost surface. This procedure is free of pain and takes approximately 90 seconds to 3 minutes. The tooth sometimes may feel slightly warm. Soft Tissue Treatment: Lasers are used because of the precise control they afford the provider and the comfort they provide to patients. Not only can a laser remove tissue, it can also be used to seal blood vessels and nerve endings, reducing bleeding and postoperative pain and swelling. Reducing gummy smiles, reducing tight muscle attachments called frenums, removing diseased and infected tissue, and disinfecting gum tissue are just some of the soft tissue treatments accomplished using the laser. Canker and Aphthous Ulcer Treatment: Canker sores and fever blisters, which are triggered by the herpes simplex I virus, are painful ulcers and lesions that develop in the mouth and around the lips. The usual course of healing takes from 10 days to 2 weeks. Soft tissue laser treatment initiated in the prodromal (tingling) or beginning stage can significantly reduce this healing time. After a 1 minute 30 second procedure that is completely painless, relief is felt as early as the next day. Crowns and Bridges: Full porcelain crowns totally cover and protect teeth that have been extensively worn or filled. They can be restored to their original strength, function and beauty with crowns (also known as caps). Bridges replace missing teeth and are connected to existing crowned teeth on either side of the space. Bridges are bonded permanently and therefore are not removable. Bridges restore full function, beauty and strength to your teeth. These bridges look and feel just like your original teeth and are a great way to “bridge gaps” in your smile. Root Canal Therapy: When a tooth becomes infected from the spread of bacteria from deep decay or other reasons into the pulp chamber, a hollow tube that houses blood vessels and nerve tissue, the only way to keep the tooth is to perform root canal therapy. This is a painless procedure that is usually completed in one appointment and often relieves a toothache very quickly. Occasionally the infection is very acute with swelling and pain. If so, a week-long round of antibiotic and pain relief medications usually readies the tooth for this therapy. Tooth Color Fillings: Also known as bonded or composite fillings, these are an alternative to silver amalgum (50% mercury-50% silver and other metals) filling material. Research and observation finds that amalgum filling material can weaken the tooth and often cause cracks or fractures. Modern dentistry has increasingly turned to composite fillings as a strong, safe and more natural looking alternative. White fillings bond to the tooth and help to strengthen while beautifying. Dental Bonding: Bonding is a dental technique in which a composite resin material is bonded to an existing tooth in order to improve its appearance. Bonding is a solution for restoring decayed teeth, making cosmetic improvements and even changing the color of or reshaping your teeth. Dental bonding is ideal for fixing cracked or chipped teeth, hiding discoloration on the tooth’s surface or reducing the gaps in between teeth. The bonding material is sculpted, color matched and shaped to provide a pleasing result. Unlike porcelain veneers or crowns, dental bonding removes little if any of the original tooth. You can expect dental bonding to have a life span of about seven to eleven years. No matter what the specific intent, dental bonding restores the teeth to their original form and creates a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Implant Restoration: Dental implants are made of medicinal grade titanium, which is the same material used in hip and knee replacements. These implants are placed in areas where teeth are missing and serve as anchors for new teeth. Single tooth implants are not attached to existing natural teeth and therefore can be flossed normally. One of the biggest advantages of implants is that they preserve the supporting bone just like your natural root does. Without this stimulation, the bone shrinks and resorbs over time. Implants can also be used to support full or partial dentures giving them enhanced stability and retention. We partner with highly qualified professionals who place the implants. After a 4 to 6 month healing time, the final restoration is placed. Full and Partial Dentures: When all the teeth in the mouth have been removed, a full denture is one way to replace them. There is an 85% loss of chewing function with upper and lower dentures as compared to a full compliment of natural teeth. This can be greatly enhanced by dental implants, which vastly improves the denture’s stabilization and retention. When only a few teeth are missing, a partial denture is one way of replacing them. The conventional retention of partial dentures is by metal clasp arms that wrap around your existing teeth. These metal clasps may show during smiling and talking. Eliminating the need for these metal clasps can be accomplished by prescribing an alternative partial denture. This removable partial denture is designed with special attachments that are built into crowns on the existing supporting teeth allowing the denture to slide into the attachment making these metal clasp arms unnecessary. Re-building Worn Dentition: Keeping teeth for a lifetime requires managing the disease of wear and countering the effects of aging. The demands of today’s living exposes us to unusually high amounts of stress. One area deserving our attention is the amount of wearing from nocturnal grinding and clenching. When teeth are significantly worn they can be restored to their former beauty and function by doing full coverage porcelain crowns. These crowns, also known as caps, are strong, durable and very aesthetic. Emergency Care: When problems arise in the mouth, for whatever reason, treatment is completed on a timely basis to alleviate these problems. Priority is given to resolving these issues especially comfort, function and appearance. Cleanings (Prophylaxis): Derived from the Greek word “prophylaktikos” to guard or prevent beforehand, prophylaxis refers to any medical or public health procedure whose purpose is to prevent rather than treat or cure disease. Divided into two categories called primary prophylaxis (to prevent the development of a disease) and secondary prophylaxis (whereby the disease has already developed and the patient is protected against worsening of this process). Professional cleaning of the teeth is a dental prophylaxis. Prevention of dental disease (dental caries (tooth decay) and the periodontal (gum) diseases) is a very important service that is provided by our highly trained and licensed dental hygienists. Both primary and secondary prophylaxis is provided to each client based on their current state of oral health. The use of high technical devices such as the diode laser and ultrasonic scaler aid in the prevention of gum disease. Cavity detection exams and digital x-rays are used to find dental decay early and fluoride treatments help both prevent decay from occurring and remineralize tooth structure that is already beginning to decay. Low Radiation Digital X-Rays: By using a computer program and an electronic sensor we are able to take digital x-rays, which are available to read immediately. Gone are the use of toxic chemicals used to develop films and the lengthy time needed to process them. These x-rays require up to 70% less radiation than traditional diagnostic dental x-rays. The image can be enhanced electronically to aid in diagnostic accuracy and speed. As always, clients are shielded from additional exposure to radiation by the use of collimated beams that specifically target the area being x-rayed and the use of lead body and cervical neck shields.