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Cosmetic Dentistry | Scottsdale
Cosmetic and esthetic procedures are designed to improve the look of your smile. The catchphrase of the American College of Prosthodontists is, “Your Smile. Our Specialty.”
If you want your smile done right, you will want to see a Prosthodontist. Schedule an appointment today to see how we can help you regain your smile.

What is cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic Dentistry
Esthetic and cosmetic dentistry encompass all procedures which are designed to improve the look of your smile. A discerning individual will realize that almost all procedures in dentistry are cosmetic ones in some form or another.
Is cosmetic dentistry a true dental specialty?
There is no specialty in dentistry that is called cosmetic dentistry. The only masters of all cosmetic and esthetic procedures in dentistry are Prosthodontists.
The American Dental Association recognizes nine branches of dentistry as specialties:
- Dental Public Health
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Note that “general dentistry,” “family dentistry,” and “cosmetic dentistry” are not considered dental specialties by the American Dental Association.
My general dentist is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, American Academy of Facial Esthetics, and American Society for Dental Aesthetics. Are they qualified as a cosmetic dentist?
Membership in such organizations does not equal clinical skill and practical application. There is no discretion or restriction to joining these types of organizations.
If your smile is important to you, as it should be, then place your trust in the kind of healthcare professional who is willing to go above and beyond to complete an accredited and ADA recognized specialty program. They will go above and beyond for you, as well.
What are veneers?
Veneers
Veneers are a thin layer of restorative material placed on the enamel surface of the front of the tooth. Enamel is the outermost layer of a tooth. If insufficient enamel structure remains, veneers are not a good treatment option.
Due to their thin nature, veneers have limitations when trying to correct gross tooth malpositioning and excessively dark baseline color.
What are veneers made out of?
Veneers can be made out of porcelain or composite. Porcelain veneers will be made in a dental laboratory, and will require at least two visits to complete.
Composite veneers are also known as bonding. Composite veneers are placed during a single visit, just like a regular dental filling.
The cosmetic result of porcelain veneers is higher, due to the more lifelike appearance of the porcelain material as compared to composite resin.
Veneers are not an option for me because my teeth are too dark, have too large of an incorrect alignment, and/or there isn't enough enamel. What are my other options?
When veneers cannot be completed, the remaining option is crowns (caps). With a crown it is possible to correct both a larger misalignment of the teeth and darker underlying tooth color.
Can metal-free crowns be made to improve my smile?
All-ceramic crowns avoid the pitfall of older materials: poor esthetics. Gold has the obvious disadvantage of being gold colored. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns have porcelain on the outside, but due to the underlying metal usually have a grayness that is noticeable.
Fortunately, there are several options for creating crowns that are not gold or PFM crowns. The most commonly used materials today for all-ceramic crowns are lithium disilicate and zirconia. Both of these all-ceramic materials have high strength, comparable to PFM crowns.
What is teeth whitening? Is that the same as bleaching my teeth?
Teeth Whitening
As its name implies, teeth whitening is used to make the teeth lighter in color. Indeed it is the same as bleaching.
Whitening is accomplished with either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The most effective and efficient whitening techniques involve professional application: in-office or at home.
My teeth have a mottled, splotchy look. Can teeth whitening improve the look of my teeth?
Teeth whitening is effective when the initial baseline color of a tooth is uniform. If there are different shade gradations prior to whitening, teeth whitening will not even out the tooth color. In fact, whitening can exaggerate the existing shade gradient.
What do I do if I experience sensitivity while teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is completed with either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience tooth sensitivity when using either of these bleaching chemicals.
Should you experience these symptoms, hold off on bleaching again until the symptoms subside. After that, either reduce the frequency or duration of bleach applications. For example, if you were bleaching every night change to every other night. Alternatively, if you were bleaching for one hour then decrease to 30 minutes.