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Cosmetic Dentistry, by Dr. Dirk Thompson, Calgary Dentist - Show Off Your Smile!
We know it's important for you to look and feel your very best. We also know that a sensational smile can help you to smile more confidently and enhance the overall function and appearance of your smile.
With cosmetic dentistry, we can help you achieve that radiant and confident smile you've always wanted.
Cosmetic dentistry can address such issues as crooked or discoloured teeth, chips or gaps in your teeth, overgrown gums and even bite issues.
Even if you have only a single tooth or a few teeth that you feel could be improved, they can affect the harmony of your entire smile. Calgary Dentist Dr. Dirk Thompson can examine any concerns you may have and make recommendations for improvement so you can enjoy the difference in the look, feel and function of your teeth and smile.
For your convenience, our cosmetic dentistry services include:
- Porcelain Veneers
- Dental Crowns
- Teeth Whitening
- Composite Teeth Bonding
- Dental Bridges
- Gingival Contouring
- Complete Smile Makeovers
If you're ready to smile more comfortably, confidently, and beautifully, call Dr. Dirk Thompson at 403.283.4252 for more information or to schedule your personal consultation.
Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry - Show Off Your Smile!
From natural, beautiful cosmetic restorations to preventing decay and maintaining a healthy smile, Dr. Thompson, a general dentist in Calgary, is committed to addressing each patient’s individual restorative needs and cosmetic desires.
Whether it be veneers, crowns, bridges, teeth whitening, dental implants, or a combination of these treatments, cosmetic and restorative dentistry combines both the science and art of dentistry and addresses the unique aspects of each patient's smile. Cosmetic treatments can:
- replace missing teeth
- repair chipped or broken teeth
- whiten stained or discoloured teeth
- recontour "gummy" smiles
- close gaps between teeth
- straighten crooked or overcrowded teeth
- replace old dental treatments
What is the process for cosmetic restorations?
Whether it be one or many cosmetic restorations, Dr. Dirk Thompson will consider many factors to ensure your dental treatment meets your expectations and provides you with the smile you've always dreamed of. Part of the restoration process will also be to ensure that you completed understand both the risks and benefits of the treatment, as well as the process of cosmetically restoring your teeth.
We will begin by discussing the shape, style and colour that you wish your new teeth to have. In making this selection, Dr. Dirk Thompson will assist you by considering the shape of your face, the space available in your mouth, the condition of your current teeth and oral health and the overall "look" you desire. Even the curvature of your lips and the contour of your gumline will be considered. Dr. Dirk Thompson will then formulate a treatment plan considering your timeline, budget and aesthetic goals.
By using the latest in dental techniques and materials and a conservative treatment approach, Dr. Dirk Thompson can help you achieve beautiful and natural-looking results which enhance both the appearance of your smile and the function of your bite.
The overall length of the treatment plan depends upon the extent of the work to be done as well as your desired timeline. A treatment schedule that is convenient and comfortable for you and your lifestyle will then be arranged with our friendly and accommodating dental team.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a restorative procedure that is used for cosmetic dentistry purposes to change the shape, colour or appearance of one or more teeth. Essentially, dental bonding uses a resin tooth filling material to build up the tooth and change it to its desired colour, shape and posture.
How Is Dental Bonding Done?
Dental bonding can often be done at our Calgary dental office in one short visit, depending upon the number of teeth being bonded. Because dental bonding usually involves minimal to no reduction of any tooth surface, minimal anaesthetic is usually required. Because this is usually a minimally invasive type of dental treatment, some patients do not require any anaesthetic at all and find the procedure to be quite tolerable.
At your dental bonding appointment, you and Dr. Dirk Thompson will discuss the aesthetic issues that you wish to address and also choose the colour for your dental bonding that bests matches your other teeth for a beautifully blended aesthetic result. The surface of your tooth will then be slightly roughened to ensure the bonding material “sticks” or “bonds” to your teeth and a liquid conditioning agent will be applied. After the surface of the tooth has been prepared, the resin tooth material is ready to be applied to the tooth’s surface.
Your tooth will then be artfully crafted by Dr. Dirk Thompson, a general Calgary dentist, into its desired shape, taking into account your aesthetic goals, the space available, its alignment with your other teeth and its ability to ultimately function properly and naturally upon completion.
Can Dental Bonding Fix a Gap in My Teeth? Reshape My Teeth?
Yes! One of the advantages of dental bonding is that it can fix small gaps in between your teeth without the necessity of proceeding with other more involved and expensive dental treatments such as orthodontic treatment, crowns or veneers. Note that if the gap is too large, dental bonding generally is not effective and our Calgary dentist will advise you of other preferable types of treatment such as orthodontic treatment, crowns or veneers. In addition to closing gaps between your teeth, dental bonding can also change the shape of your tooth, including its length, width, and its overall symmetry.
How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?
The length of time that dental bonding lasts depends upon a variety of factors, including your overall oral health, whether you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, whether you wear a sportsguard when participating in sports, whether you have any oral habits that could cause damage to the tooth such as nail biting, or whether use a bruxism appliance which can reduce damage caused by grinding and clenching. The length of time bonding lasts also depends upon how well you maintain your oral health, including by brushing and flossing your teeth, and of course whether you regularly see your Calgary dentist for regular dental hygiene cleanings and check-ups.
Although dental bonding can have both beautiful and long-lasting results, dental bonding is not as strong or permanent as other types of dental restorations such as dental crowns and veneers. At your dental appointment, our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, will discuss this with you to make sure that you are aware of all possible treatment options available to you so you can choose the best treatment alternative for you considering your timeline, your budget, your overall dental health goals and your comfort level.
Call us at 403.283.4252 to make your appointment for dental bonding with our Calgary dentist today!
Gingival Contouring: Smile Aesthetics Is More Than Just Your Teeth
The soft tissue (gums) acts as a framework for a beautiful smile. If your gums are unsymmetrical, misshapen, too bulky, or cover too much of your teeth, you may feel that your gums are detracting from your smile. If you are uncomfortable smiling or, if you find yourself covering your mouth when smiling because of your gums, then gum recontouring with our dentist in Calgary, Dr. Dirk Thompson, may be for you!
Gingival contouring, also known as gum reshaping, is a cosmetic procedure that is used to address a patient's concerns about the shape or appearance of their gums.
This procedure is used to cut away excessive or uneven gum tissue that is giving the appearance of a "gummy" smile. Gingival contouring can be done with either a scalpel or a laser, depending upon the condition of the gums and the aesthetic result desired by the patient. Generally, after gingival contouring, most patients experience only mild discomfort which can be managed by an over-the-counter pain medication. Depending upon the extent of the gum surgery, most patients can return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure.
If have any questions about gum recontouring, please call our Calgary dentist to set up a consultation appointment. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you need to. Our goal at our Calgary dentist office is to ensure that all of our patients are well-informed about all aspects of their dental health and treatment, including all of the risks and benefits associated with such dental treatment, so that they can make appropriate decisions for their overall health.
If you would like more information from our Calgary dentist about gingival contouring or any other of our cosmetic dentistry or general dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening, crowns, veneers, bridges, teeth extractions, emergency dentistry or dental implants, call our NW Calgary office in Kensington (Sunnyside/Hillhurst) for your personal consultation today with our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson.
Dental Crowns by Our Calgary Dentist
Dental crowns are the best and strongest solution for restoring teeth which have been damaged by decay or a failing restoration. Dental crowns can and are often also used for purely cosmetic dentistry reasons, including to build up worn teeth, or to improve the aesthetics of the tooth by changing the tooth's size, colour, positioning or even shape. Made of ceramic porcelain, your crown will be colour matched by your dentist to your natural teeth for an aesthetically pleasing blend and overall breathtaking result.
A dental crown is often your best choice when the tooth has suffered significant damage through wear, decay or dental trauma. The crown will cover your entire tooth to restore both the natural beauty and function of your tooth.
A crown generally requires two office visits. At the first visit, our Calgary dentist will prepare the defective tooth for the crown by reducing the tooth structure so the crown can be placed over top of it. You should discuss the reduction of the tooth structure with your Calgary dentist as this is a permanent and irreversible step. A precise dental impression is then taken from which the crown is then fabricated. Our skilled dentist will then work closely with the dental lab to ensure that the tooth is beautifully fabricated so it appears as if it is a natural tooth in colour, shape and position. At your first dental visit, before you leave you will be also be fitted with a temporary crown which covers the prepared tooth while the permanent dental crown is being fabricated.
At your second dental visit, the permanent crown is cemented onto the prepared tooth, which completes the restoration.
If you are interested to find out more about dental crowns and how they can improve the health, function and aesthetics of your smile, call us today for your apppointment with our Calgary dentist located in the heart of beautiful Kensington/Hillhurst/Sunnyside in NW Calgary.
Teeth Whitening: See Ya Later Stained and Yellow Teeth!
Whiter, brighter teeth can not only change the look of your smile but also your entire face. Fortunately, teeth whitening is a relatively simple procedure that can be done for a one-time event or become part of your overall oral health routine.
Achieving that whiter, brighter smile you have always wanted may be easier than you think!
As people age, it is not uncommon for their teeth to become dull and yellow. This can be simply due to age, or to smoking or the food people eat and drink. Drinking coffee, tea, wine and colas, for instance, can stain your teeth. Fortunately, this does not have to be permanent. Some of today’s whitening options include:
- professional strength overnight whitening with custom fitted whitening trays
- whitening strips, and
- professional strength daytime whitening, also with custom fitted whitening trays.
Another option is our in-office professional whitening system. With this in-office system, whitening trays are used that are specifically adjusted to your mouth for a more uniform result. Although individual results vary, in-office whitening generally offers you more predictable results in about two hours and often whitens teeth by one or two shades. Which option you choose may depend upon your teeth sensitivity, schedule, and desire for faster results.
If you're ready to whiten and brighten your smile, call us today to reserve your appointment!
Porcelain Veneers
With today's dentistry, there is no reason to have to live with teeth that are poorly shaped, chipped, crooked, mispositioned or discoloured. Porcelain veneers can be placed over a single tooth or over your entire smile. Veneers can be used to whiten your teeth, straighten your teeth, close gaps in between your teeth or to fix other aesthetic issues.
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material which are bonded to the front of your teeth after your teeth have been adequately prepared to create a cosmetic improvement. Some of the greatest advantages of placing porcelain veneers over other types of dental procedures are:
- porcelain veneers can create a very natural and attractive appearance
- porcelain veneers resist staining
- the colour of the porcelain veneers can be selected to match the shade of brightness you desire
- the entire procedure can generally be accomplished in 2 to 3 visits
As with all dental procedures, there are risks and benefits with the placement of veneers and patients should be aware that their placement may involve irreversible modification to the tooth structure. At your appointment, Dr. Thompson will discuss all of these risks and benefits and answer any questions you may have.
If you're interested in finding out what porcelain veneers can do for your smile, call us for your personal consultation appointment today.