Cosmetic Dentistry

Your smile helps others form a first impression of you, which can take place in a matter of seconds. If you do not smile often because you feel embarrassed about stained teeth, a cracked tooth, or another common cosmetic problem, people can get the mistaken impression that you are simply unfriendly. Cosmetic dentistry in Winona, MN, can boost your confidence by improving the aesthetics of your smile.

Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

If you have ever purchased a tooth whitening kit from a drugstore and felt disappointed with the results, consider what a difference a professional dentist can make to have your teeth brightened. During your consultation for teeth whitening, Dr. Bradley Bullard, Dr. Alicia Bullard, or Dr. Carly Sherod will show you several different tooth shades to see which one you prefer. Your dentist then casts a mold of your top and bottom rows of teeth and sends them to our laboratory for processing.

When your customized mouth trays return from the lab, an appointment scheduler from Walnut Street Dental will contact you to come in for the second part of the procedure. Your dentist fills each mouth tray with bleaching gel that contains hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide penetrates through all layers of your tooth enamel, leaving your teeth up to 10 shades brighter. The process takes about 60 minutes.

You can also take home a tooth whitening kit from our dental practice. You should follow the instructions on the package and plan to wear the mouth trays while sleeping for approximately 14 consecutive nights.

Veneers

Made from composite or porcelain materials, veneers look like thin shells. Before placing a veneer on your tooth, your dentist removes around one-eight of a millimeter of tooth enamel to ensure it will fit properly. People typically choose veneers to disguise a large gap between the two front teeth, cover a crack or chip, or conceal deep staining on one or more teeth.

Bonding

Teeth bonding serves the same purpose as veneers, with the significant differences being cost and application. This can be an excellent cosmetic dentistry option if you must stick to a budget. Your dentist shapes and applies tooth-colored material to one or more teeth to cover up minor cosmetic issues like chips, cracks, or stains.

Gum contouring

If you have smaller teeth than the average adult, you probably show more gum tissue than teeth when you smile. Dr. Bradley Bullard, Dr. Alicia Bullard, or Dr. Carly Sherod can make your smile more symmetrical by pulling the gums upward and slightly reshaping your teeth.

Learn More during a Personal Consultation

We invite you to discover the difference cosmetic dentistry in Winona, MN, can make in your life. Please contact Walnut Street Dental in Winona or Lewiston to request a time to meet with one of our dentists.