For Doctors Maria Burmaster and Valerie Hemphill, cosmetic dentistry in Marrero, LA is not just about creating pretty smiles. It is about restoring health and function, which will naturally lead to beautiful results.
Barataria Dental is fortunate to have two highly trained dentists in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Their advanced training in both aesthetics and functional restorative dentistry allows them to treat the underlying cause of cosmetic dental problems, which results in longer-lasting, more natural-looking outcomes.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Marrero, LA
We offer a wide range of cosmetic dental procedures, including:
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic that cover the front and sides of your tooth. They’re a permanent cosmetic restoration that’s popular because they can treat almost any cosmetic condition. Each veneer is custom-made, so they’re guaranteed to fit your smile perfectly.
Teeth Whitening
All of us experience discolored teeth at some point in our lives. They’re one of the most common complaints we hear in our dentist office. Professional teeth whitening provides many benefits and better results compared to over the counter solutions you can find in drugstores.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are unique because they can treat most restorative and cosmetic concerns. We color-match and custom-make each crown so that it blends in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. Crowns go over the entire tooth so that they can stabilize it and also completely mask any defects or abnormalities in the tooth.
Dental Bridges
Missing teeth are a restorative concern, but they have extreme cosmetic impacts on your smile. It’s hard to have a smile you want to show off when there are holes in it. A dental bridge uses a structure attached to false teeth to replace one or multiple consecutive missing teeth in your smile.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement solutions. We can top them with a dental crown, fixed bridge, or fixed denture, so they can replace any number of missing teeth. They both look and feel the most like your natural teeth, too. Particularly when topped with a dental crown, people won’t be able to tell that it’s a fake tooth.
Cosmetic Fillings
Cosmetic dental fillings are a tooth-colored restoration that’s replacing the traditional metal filling. We especially recommend them when you need a filling in a front-facing tooth that many people will see in your smile. We color-match them to the rest of your smile, so they blend in perfectly.
Invisalign
Crooked teeth not only look bad, but they can impact your oral health and functionality of your smile as well. Invisalign subtly straightens your smile by using clear plastic aligners instead of metal brackets and wires. Unless people are looking for them, it’s not likely that anyone will be able to see you straightening your teeth!
Form Follows Function
What makes Doctors Burmaster and Hemphill different from most cosmetic dentists serving patients in the West Bank area is the belief that form follows function, meaning that when the functional aspects of the smile are restored, a beautiful form can be achieved. Rather than simply masking problems with beautiful dentistry, our dentists carefully examine each patient checking the teeth, mouth, jaw joints, and muscles for signs of instability and decay, which are common underlying causes of cosmetic dental concerns.
Instability in the bite is often the cause of teeth that are worn, broken, or chipped. If the instability is not corrected, the same problems could occur after cosmetic dentistry is performed. We strive to “get it right the first time” for our patients, using a comprehensive approach to your care for more stable and predictable results.
One of the best examples is crooked teeth. When people come into our office for crooked teeth, it’s because of the aesthetic issues with their smile. But crooked teeth can cause many oral health problems. They’re harder to clean, for starters. Crooked teeth overlap, and cramped teeth can be so close together that you can’t get dental floss between them. Plaque and tartar build up faster in these areas, making you more likely to suffer from tooth decay or gum disease.
Crooked teeth mean you have an uneven bite. When your bite comes together, the pressure evenly distributes throughout your smile. If it’s uneven, certain teeth are taking on more pressure than the others. These teeth wear down faster and are more prone to breaking or cracking under the pressure.
An uneven bite often leads to problems with TMJ disorders. When your bite doesn’t come together properly, the jaw joint doesn’t track smoothly. This wears it down and causes issues with the main and functionality of your jaw. You’ll hear it pop and click, have pain radiating throughout your jaw, face, and head, and have issues opening and closing your mouth. Correcting crooked teeth can help you with all of these problems.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
What’s the most common cosmetic dental procedure?
The most common cosmetic procedure overall is professional teeth whitening. Everyone experiences discolored teeth at some point. Teeth whitening is a noninvasive procedure that can make almost instant improvements to your smile. This makes it popular for patients of all ages.
What’s the difference between general and cosmetic dentistry?
General dentistry focuses on preventative dental care, and treating oral diseases. With cosmetic dentistry, we’re also focusing on the aesthetic value of your smile. We combine our general dentistry skills while giving you a smile that meets the cosmetic goals you’re looking for in your smile.
What does cosmetic dentistry treat?
Cosmetic dental procedures fix a wide variety of cosmetic flaws. These include discolored teeth, chipped teeth, crooked or cramped teeth, and gaps between teeth. However, underlying oral health problems often cause cosmetic dental problems. We treat both the cosmetic concerns and the underlying problems to prevent it from reoccuring.
Will my dental insurance cover cosmetic dentistry?
Coverage is different for every dental insurance policy. Typically, though, cosmetic care isn’t covered under the usual dental insurance plan. We’ll run your insurance and see what’s covered with your specific plan. For instance, dental crowns can be covered because they’re a needed restorative option, sometimes. We’ll provide you with the exact cost of treatment for you to agree to before we move forward.
How long do the results of cosmetic dentistry last?
It all depends on the treatment you get and your lifestyle habits. For teeth whitening, it can last anywhere from six months to multiple years. This depends on how well you take care of your teeth and if you have habits like smoking or drinking coffee. Porcelain veneers, however, are considered a more permanent restoration. They can last upwards of 10 years or more.
Am I a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is ideal for patients that have minor cosmetic flaws in their smiles. Almost anyone can be eligible for cosmetic dentistry. However, if you want the results to last, you have to take care of your teeth. If you get them professionally whitened, but smoke and drink a lot of coffee, the results aren’t going to last as long as they would for someone that doesn’t have those habits.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are considering cosmetic dentistry to enhance your smile, contact Barataria Dental, serving the New Orleans, LA area, to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.