- 1740 Union St, Schenectady, NY 12309
- frontdesk@unionstdentistry.com
- (518) 346-6429
- Tues – Thurs 9AM – 5PM
You don’t need to dislike your entire smile to consider cosmetic dentistry.
Sometimes it’s one tooth that’s darker than the others. A chip you’ve noticed for years. Teeth that have become stained over time. Small gaps, uneven edges or several changes that make your smile look different than you’d like.
At Union Street Dentistry in Schenectady, cosmetic dentistry starts with understanding what you want to change.
Depending on your teeth, oral health and goals, treatment may be as straightforward as professional whitening or may involve porcelain veneers, Invisalign®, restorative dentistry or a combination of treatments.
Our goal isn’t to give every patient the same smile. It’s to find an approach that looks natural, works with your existing teeth and addresses the things that actually bother you.
Cosmetic dentistry can address many of the characteristics that influence the appearance of a smile.
Patients commonly want to improve:
The appropriate treatment depends on the reason your smile looks the way it does.
For example, whitening can improve many types of discoloration but won’t change the shape of a tooth. Veneers can change both shape and color, but they aren’t automatically necessary when a more conservative option will accomplish the goal.
That’s why treatment begins with an evaluation rather than choosing a procedure from a menu.
Teeth naturally become darker or more stained over time.
Coffee, tea, certain foods, tobacco, aging and other factors can all affect tooth color.
Professional teeth whitening is designed to lighten natural tooth enamel and can be a good option for patients who are generally happy with the shape and alignment of their teeth but want a brighter smile.
Whitening does not change the color of existing crowns, veneers or other restorations, so those factors need to be considered when planning treatment.
Porcelain veneers are thin restorations designed to cover the visible front surface of a tooth.
They can be used to change characteristics such as:
Veneers can be used on an individual tooth or across several teeth depending on what you’re trying to accomplish.
The goal should be a smile that fits your face and looks believable—not teeth that appear unnecessarily large, bright or identical.
Sometimes the biggest cosmetic improvement doesn’t require changing the teeth themselves.
If crowding, spacing or alignment is the primary concern, Invisalign may be able to gradually reposition the teeth using a series of removable clear aligners.
Straightening the teeth before considering veneers or other cosmetic treatment can also sometimes provide a more conservative approach because improving alignment may reduce how much restorative treatment is necessary.
Because Invisalign represents a complete orthodontic treatment rather than a simple cosmetic procedure, we’ve created a separate page explaining how it works and who may be a candidate.
A tooth doesn’t always have a purely cosmetic problem.
A cracked, heavily filled, worn or damaged tooth may need to be restored for structural reasons while also improving how it looks.
Depending on the condition of the tooth, treatment may involve:
This is where cosmetic and restorative dentistry often overlap.
The objective isn’t simply to make a compromised tooth look better. It’s to restore appropriate strength and function while creating a result that blends naturally with your smile.
A “smile makeover” isn’t one specific procedure.
It’s simply a treatment plan that combines multiple dental procedures to address several concerns about a smile.
For example, one patient might only need whitening.
Another may benefit from Invisalign followed by whitening.
Someone with damaged, worn or missing teeth could require a combination of restorative and cosmetic treatment.
A personalized plan might include:
The advantage of planning these treatments together is that we can consider the final result from the beginning rather than treating each tooth independently without considering how everything will work together.
Not necessarily.
Veneers can create substantial changes in tooth shape, proportion and color, but cosmetic dentistry should not automatically mean placing veneers on every visible tooth.
The right treatment depends on the problem.
If the primary issue is discoloration, whitening may be enough.
If the teeth are healthy but crowded, Invisalign may make more sense.
If one tooth is damaged, restoring that individual tooth may be all that’s needed.
Veneers become more useful when we need to change characteristics of the visible tooth surface that more conservative treatments cannot predictably address.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss the different options and why one approach may make more sense than another.
Before focusing on appearance, we need to make sure the foundation is healthy.
Active tooth decay, gum problems, infections or other oral health concerns may need to be addressed before elective cosmetic treatment begins.
This is particularly important when several teeth are being treated.
A beautiful result isn’t very useful if the underlying teeth and gums aren’t healthy enough to support it.
Because Union Street Dentistry also provides comprehensive general and restorative dentistry, we can consider both the health and appearance of your smile when developing a treatment plan.
“White and straight” isn’t enough to make a smile look natural.
Teeth have different proportions, shapes, translucency and characteristics. Your smile also needs to work with your lips, gums and facial features.
Cosmetic treatment should take those relationships into account.
Some patients want a noticeable transformation. Others want people to notice that their smile looks better without being able to identify what was changed.
There isn’t one correct aesthetic.
We’ll discuss your preferences before treatment so the plan reflects the type of result you want rather than applying the same look to every patient.
Potentially.
Teeth can become worn from years of function, grinding, bite problems and other factors.
Depending on the severity, worn teeth may appear:
Minor cosmetic changes may require relatively conservative treatment.
More extensive wear can involve functional issues with the bite and may require restorative treatment rather than simply improving appearance.
If several teeth have significant wear or damage, a more comprehensive evaluation can help determine whether individual cosmetic procedures or broader reconstruction is appropriate.
Small spaces between teeth can sometimes be improved cosmetically, but the best treatment depends on the size of the space, position of the teeth and your bite.
Options may include porcelain veneers or orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.
Closing a space by making the teeth wider isn’t always aesthetically appropriate, especially when the size of the gap would result in unnatural tooth proportions.
We’ll evaluate the overall smile before recommending the best way to address spacing.
Missing teeth can have both cosmetic and functional consequences.
Depending on the number and location of missing teeth, replacement options may include:
Replacing a visible missing tooth can dramatically change the appearance of a smile, but treatment also needs to restore appropriate function and support.
If tooth loss is part of your cosmetic concern, we’ll discuss those options as part of the larger treatment plan.
That depends entirely on the treatment.
Professional whitening is very different from Invisalign, porcelain veneers or a comprehensive plan involving several procedures.
Some cosmetic improvements can be completed relatively quickly, while orthodontic or restorative treatment may take considerably longer.
When multiple procedures are involved, their sequence matters as well.
For example, if you’re considering both Invisalign and whitening, it may make sense to complete tooth movement before determining the final color and appearance of the smile.
We’ll explain the expected timeline before treatment begins.
There isn’t one price for cosmetic dentistry because the term covers a wide range of procedures.
Cost depends on factors such as:
Someone interested only in whitening will have a completely different treatment plan from someone considering multiple veneers or a more comprehensive smile reconstruction.
The first step is determining what treatment would actually accomplish your goals. From there, we can discuss the associated costs and available options.
You don’t need to know the name of the procedure you need before scheduling an appointment.
Tell us what you don’t like about your smile.
From there, we can evaluate your teeth, discuss what can realistically be changed and explain which options may produce the result you’re looking for.
Union Street Dentistry provides cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry at our office at 1740 Union Street in Schenectady, NY, serving patients throughout Schenectady and nearby communities.
Union Street Dentistry offers cosmetic treatment options including porcelain veneers, professional teeth whitening and Invisalign®. Cosmetic improvements may also involve restorative treatments such as crowns or replacement of damaged or missing teeth when appropriate.
It depends on what you want to change. Whitening addresses tooth color, Invisalign addresses tooth position, and veneers can change characteristics such as shape, proportion and color. Some patients benefit from a combination of treatments.
Many types of tooth discoloration respond to professional whitening, although results vary depending on the cause of the discoloration. Existing crowns, veneers and other restorations do not whiten like natural enamel.
Veneers can sometimes improve the appearance of minor alignment irregularities, but they do not actually move the teeth. If tooth position is the primary issue, Invisalign may provide a more appropriate option.
There is no standard number. Some patients need treatment on a single tooth, while others may consider several teeth within the visible smile. The number depends on your existing teeth and desired result.
Yes. Cosmetic dentistry does not have to involve the entire smile. A single tooth that differs noticeably in color, shape or condition from the surrounding teeth can often be evaluated independently.
Sometimes. If you’re planning to whiten your natural teeth, it can make sense to establish the desired tooth color before selecting the shade of a new veneer, crown or other restoration. Your treatment sequence should be planned before beginning.
No. Cosmetic and restorative dentistry frequently overlap. A damaged or worn tooth may need treatment for structural reasons while also benefiting from an improvement in appearance.
That depends on the treatment being considered. During the planning process, we’ll discuss the changes you’re looking for and what can realistically be accomplished before you commit to treatment.
You don’t need to walk into our office asking for veneers, whitening or any particular procedure.
Start with what you want to change.
Whether it’s one tooth or several aspects of your smile, Union Street Dentistry can help you understand your cosmetic treatment options and develop a plan based on your teeth, oral health and goals.
Visit us at 1740 Union Street in Schenectady, NY to get started.
