What does cosmetic dentistry include?
Cosmetic dentistry improves the color, shape, alignment, and balance of your smile with treatments such as porcelain veneers, professional whitening, dental bonding, gum recontouring, and porcelain crowns. At Maize and Blue Dental in Ypsilanti, these options are often combined into a single smile makeover plan, designed digitally so you can preview the result before treatment.
Ultra-thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth for a flawless, natural appearance.
Professional in-office and take-home whitening that safely brightens your smile by multiple shades.
A quick, conservative solution for chips, gaps, and minor imperfections using tooth-colored resin.
A customized combination of cosmetic procedures planned together for a comprehensive transformation.
Reshape and balance your gum line to reveal more tooth structure and improve smile symmetry.
Custom-crafted porcelain crowns that restore the strength, function, and natural appearance of damaged teeth.
How long do porcelain veneers last?
Porcelain veneers are thin, custom ceramic shells bonded to the front of the teeth, and they are among the longest-lasting cosmetic treatments. A 2021 systematic review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine estimated a 95.5% survival rate after 10 years. With good home care and a night guard if you grind, many veneers last 10 to 15 years or more.
| Consideration | Porcelain veneers | Dental bonding | Crowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Color, shape and chips on front teeth | Small chips, gaps and touch-ups | Broken, weak or heavily filled teeth |
| Tooth preparation | A thin layer of enamel | Little or none | Tooth reshaped on all sides |
| Stain resistance | Excellent | Moderate — can pick up stains | Excellent |
| Visits | Usually two | Usually one | Usually two, with a temporary in between |
| Durability | Very durable | Less durable; may need touch-ups | Very durable |
Is professional teeth whitening safe?
Professional whitening is safe and effective when supervised by a dentist and used as directed. A 2014 review in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice concluded that peroxide-based whitening is safe when instructions are followed, with temporary sensitivity as the most common side effect. Results typically last one to three years, depending on coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco use.
- In-office whitening: the fastest results, completed in one visit
- Take-home whitening: custom trays you also use for touch-ups
- Sensitivity: usually mild and temporary
- Crowns, veneers and fillings do not whiten — plan those around your new shade
How does Maize and Blue Dental plan a cosmetic smile?
Every cosmetic case at Maize and Blue Dental starts with an analysis of your bite, gum line, tooth proportions, and facial symmetry, so the result fits your face rather than a template. The team then uses digital smile design to preview changes, matches restorations to the color and translucency of your natural teeth, and preserves as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
Digital Smile Design
Preview your new smile before any treatment begins using advanced digital planning software.
Natural Aesthetics
Every restoration is matched to the color, translucency, and texture of your natural teeth.
Conservative First
We preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible in every cosmetic procedure.
What do real cosmetic dentistry results look like?
Real cosmetic results should look natural in person, not just in photos. The before-and-after comparison below is an illustrative example of what treatment can achieve. Drag the slider to compare, and remember that individual results vary with tooth condition, the treatments chosen, and how well the results are maintained.
* Illustrative example. Individual results vary.
What do patients ask about cosmetic dentistry?
Patients exploring cosmetic dentistry in Ypsilanti usually ask how long results last, whether treatment looks natural, and if a smile can be improved in one visit. The answers below cover those questions. Bonding and many whitening treatments take one appointment, while porcelain veneers typically take two visits and a crown takes two.
Sources
- Long-term survival and complication rates of porcelain laminate veneers in clinical studies — Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021), via PubMed
- Tooth whitening: what we now know — Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (2014), via PubMed
- Home-based chemically-induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2018), via PubMed
- Tooth Disorders — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry — University of Michigan