Cosmetic Dentistry in Arlington

How do you feel when you see yourself in photos, in the mirror or on a zoom call? Are you able to smile fully and confidently, or do you find yourself limiting the smile you present? If you tend to hide your smile, it may be difficult to hear that smiling is an incredibly important part of nonverbal communication and first impressions. Feeling comfortable in your smile can emit a sense of confidence and approachability, as it’s easy for others to want to engage with and be around people who smile.

Smile improvements are custom to each individual. Some smiles may be improved with simple shade changes (like whitening), some may need tooth position changes (like with clear aligners or Invisalign), and some smiles benefit from shape changes (such as composite bonding or porcelain). Cosmetic needs of a patient likely also depend on facial shape, anatomy, lip contours and the surrounding hard and soft tissues. Because cosmetic dentistry is not a one-size-fits-all approach in terms of patient desires and needs, the dentists at Elite Dental Center customize treatment options after thoroughly discussing the patient's concerns and evaluating their smile in-person and through photographs.

Once the initial discussion has occurred, the dentists at Elite Dental will often create a SmileSimulation which depicts different smile outcomes so a patient can better visualize the options available and what they may prefer. From there, our doctors will communicate with the team of ceramists and a lab-fabricated mock-up can be created based on the desired simulation. These mock-ups can be used to place a removable material over the teeth so patients can truly visualize the intended changes, as well as during the temporization phase so patients can try out those changes in real life. 

As an example to this process, see below for two different simulations that were created for a patient who kept breaking the filling material on his two front teeth, and he wanted a long-term solution. During the initial conversation, this patient stated he was also looking for a more professional look, so photographs were consulted and two simulations were created. The first simulation depicts restoring simply the two front teeth, and the second simulation represents incorporating the front six teeth as it was noted their worn state also impacted his smile. Once the patient saw his options, he chose to proceed with porcelain restorations on the upper six teeth and was able to achieve the look he desired.

If you have been wanting to smile more confidently, and are curious as to what options may be recommended for your specific concerns, please call 703-243-4500 to schedule a consultation. Our dentists are passionate about improving smiles, and look forward to discussing with you!