The term "cosmetic dentistry" has come to mean a lot of things - mainly because there are a myriad number of procedures performed in and out of the dental office that come under this heading.

Cosmetic dentistry can be something as seemingly simple as reshaping a front tooth or teeth - although even this procedure needs to be done with careful planning and discussions about expected outcomes.

One of the most asked for procedures is tooth whitening, which has taken America and beyond by storm. One can purchase over-the-counter products at a retail store and certainly achieve some success. Further up the ladder in terms of predictability of success are systems using trays made from impressions of your teeth. These are created in the office and are used with one of several whitening/bleaching agents. For those who want a one-shot approach, there are a few different in-office systems that usually employ a very bright light to enhance the speed and efficacy after whitening. At Boger Dental, we like the Zoom II system by Discus Dental.

One word of caution - if a person has dark-colored teeth or teeth with a lot of grey, the results may be less than satisfactory and that needs to be discussed beforehand. Also, if the teeth have had a lot of previous dentistry - fillings, crowns, etc - bleaching may not be the right option.

Tooth-colored bonded resin fillings and bonded porcelain fillings and crowns on the back teeth would certainly fall under the category of cosmetic dentistry, but might not seem as exciting. At Boger Dental we have not used silver/mercury fillings (amalgam) in 29 years, so I guess cosmetic dentistry has been around a long time!

Tooth-colored resin material can often be bonded to areas of the front teeth. This material can be sculpted and shaped to repair fractures of the front teeth, close spaces and reshape teeth. There are a number of advantages to this procedure: it can usually be done in one visit, is conservative, can look very nice and it is less expensive than some other options. Disadvantages include the fact that life expectancy is limited (five to seven years), staining and discoloration occurs over time, strength is much less than with porcelain, and, in my opinion, resin bonding certainly has limitations esthetically depending upon the size of the case.

Before	After cosmetic dentistry at Boger Dental

Bonding porcelain veneers or laminates directly to teeth certainly is the gold standard in many cases for restoring beauty and function to a smile. In the right hands - meaning dentist, staff and ceramist - porcelain veneers can create incredibly beautiful and natural smiles. There are two main disadvantages: the fact that some minimal tooth structure needs to be removed and the more expensive cost. Advantages are strength, relative longevity and potentially unsurpassed beauty.

There are, of course, many other cosmetic dentistry options available to patients. These can be discussed with your cosmetic dentist. The key element is for you to find a dentist who has the skill, experience and aesthetic ability to be able to create a beautiful smile.

Before	After cosmetic dentistry at Boger Dental

Steve Boger explains his philosophy of dental care

A smile is an often under-appreciated asset. When someone meets someone else, the first things they see and judge them by are their eyes and smile.

Studies by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) have shown that people with attractive smiles get better jobs, make a better impression, are held in higher regard and even make more money. But what we see every day is the often incredible increase in self-esteem and self-confidence that comes with a smile they can be proud of. We are very, very blessed to be able to help people have life-changing experiences every day.

We have books full of letters from patients verifying this. Often our patients are successful and accomplished people, but their smile was frequently an area they were not comfortable with. It is such a freeing experience for someone who hides their smile to start smiling big and confidently.

When it comes to dental care, I believe that the experience a person has in coming to us for care is as important as the care itself...assuming the quality of care is extraordinary.

It is not possible for any smile design to be superb without a skilled and committed team, which includes the dentist, the team of professionals with whom the dentist works and the laboratory ceramist.

But I feel the success of the case starts well before the clinical appointments. It actually starts with the first phone call to the office: How were you greeted? Was the person you spoke with understanding and helpful? Did they identify themselves? Did they listen?

Before	After cosmetic dentistry at Boger Dental

We don't believe the first visit to the dental office should necessarily be for filling out a clipboard form and/or for x-rays. Rather, the first visit should at least be an opportunity to experience the culture of the practice you are considering. Were you mailed a complete packet with information about the dentist, the team, their service and forms to be filled out at your leisure? Were you greeted by name as you entered? Were your expectations for your visit clarified? Did someone sit down and discuss the information you have provided and listen to your concerns? Were all your questions answered?

Did you meet the doctor and discuss your questions in a relaxed setting?

Our belief and commitment is that each patient receives a complete, comprehensive exam and a thorough explanation of the status presented, and then a discussion of all treatment options and priorities. From that we usually develop a strategy with priorities to achieve the health and beauty goals over an agreed upon time line.

In other words, we feel that we need to have a relationship with you, to understand your wants and needs, before we can most effectively and in a way most beneficial to you, diagnose and develop an individual treatment plan.

Before	After cosmetic dentistry at Boger Dental