Cross Timbers Dental

Preferred by many of our patients, porcelain veneers can provide the lasting result of a smile makeover. Many cosmetic dental problems, such as chipped, gapped, stained, aged or misaligned teeth can be resolved with porcelain veneers. The porcelain veneer process begins with listening to what you want for your new smile. A mock-up is made and approved by you before treatment begins. The actual veneer preparation visit involves recontouring the enamel. An impression is then taken which will be sent to a skilled dental laboratory technician to fabricate the wafer thin porcelain. In the meantime, you will wear temporary veneers taken from the mock-up to try out your new smile. A few weeks later, the veneers are tried in and if you approve of them, they will be bonded to the teeth. Porcelain veneers are as strong as your own teeth and resist future discoloration and chipping. They make a dramatic and immediate difference to your smile and self-esteem.

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. It is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap – these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth – and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

Sometimes a patient will have excessive gum tissue resulting in a “gummy” smile. The gums cover over part of the teeth which make the teeth appear short. As a result, the gums appear overbearing and the teeth are not allowed to fill out the smile. To correct this, the gums and underlying tissue are re-contoured for a more natural-looking smile.

Dental bonding is one of the most conservative procedures that can solve many cosmetic tooth problems at an affordable price. It is a special resin composite that adheres to your teeth and blends in with your own enamel. By artistically applying the tooth bonding material layer by layer, stained, gapped, chipped or misaligned teeth can be fixed to give you a reshaped and refreshed smile. The color of the bonding material must match your teeth to assure a natural look. This may require getting your teeth to a pleasing color first, through deep bleaching or other services. Teeth bonding is not a permanent solution. Depending on your oral habits, dental bonding can last for years before requiring a new treatment.