What cosmetic dentistry covers

Cosmetic dentistry describes what a treatment sets out to achieve rather than a separate branch of dentistry. Whitening, bonding, veneers and cosmetic crowns all belong to general dentistry, and Dr. Brosi plans them with the same care he brings to any other treatment.

Cosmetic treatment also works alongside everything else your teeth need. Crowding is an orthodontic problem, and moving teeth with clear aligners keeps far more of your enamel than reshaping them for porcelain would. A cracked tooth usually needs structural support before we talk about its color.

The right plan depends on your starting shade, how much enamel remains and where your gum line sits, so two people asking for the same change often leave with different plans. Whatever yours turns out to be, we design the work so the result still looks like your own teeth.

The treatments, and what each one is for

Most cosmetic concerns can be handled in more than one way. Here are the five treatments, listed roughly in order of how much tooth structure each one removes.

Teeth whitening
Whitening lightens natural tooth structure with peroxide gel. Nothing is drilled and nothing is removed, which makes it the easiest treatment to start and the easiest to stop. It has no effect on porcelain or composite.
Tooth-colored fillings
Bonded composite repairs decay, rebuilds a chipped corner and reshapes a worn edge. It removes less tooth structure than the other repairs, and it can often be repaired later rather than replaced.
Porcelain veneers
Veneers are thin porcelain facings bonded to the front of a tooth, and they address color, shape, worn edges and small gaps together. Preparing a tooth for one removes enamel, and that step can't be undone, so we talk it through carefully first.
Porcelain crowns
A crown covers the whole tooth. The reason is usually structural, such as a fractured cusp or a tooth with more filling material than natural tooth remaining, and we take care of appearance at the same time.
Porcelain bridges
A fixed bridge replaces a missing tooth using the teeth on either side. Those two teeth give up structure to support it, which is why we look at a dental implant first.

Shade, shape, proportion and the lip line

A natural tooth isn't one uniform color. It's more saturated near the gum and more translucent at the edge, so a single flat shade looks artificial even when the number on the shade guide is correct. Teeth also dry out and lighten within minutes of being held open, which is why we match shade early in a visit rather than at the end of a long one.

Shape and proportion contribute as much as color. The two central incisors set the overall appearance, the ratio of their width to their length is what reads as natural, and the edges usually follow the curve of the lower lip. An uneven gum line can't be corrected by changing the teeth alone, so we plan for it from the start.

How a cosmetic plan is developed

The first appointment is an examination and a good conversation. We follow the order below so decisions get made while they're still easy to change.

  1. An examination, photographs and records

    We check decay, gum health, the bite and existing fillings, review x-rays, then take photographs, a shade record and impressions. Those records are the foundation of the plan, and they let us compare before and after accurately.

  2. A conversation about your specific concern

    We ask what brought you in. Color, a chipped edge, a gap, a dark filling and the amount of gum that shows when you smile are five different problems with five different answers.

  3. Whitening first, when it is part of the plan

    Porcelain and composite don't lighten, so whitening comes first. The shade settles over a couple of weeks, and we match any new work to the final result.

  4. Deciding on shape and shade

    We settle length, width, edge shape and shade with you before any tooth is prepared, using your photographs and records so you can picture the change. This is a good time to ask questions or change your mind.

  5. Treatment in sequence, then a review

    We check each step before moving on to the next. Afterward we review the gums and the bite, and if you clench or grind, we can make a night guard to protect the new work.

Conservative options come first

Enamel doesn't grow back, and any treatment that removes it commits that tooth to restoration from then on. That's why we start with the gentlest option that can do the job.

  • Whitening before veneers. Much of what people want from veneers is color, and whitening delivers color without altering the tooth.
  • Bonding for chips, gaps and worn edges. We add composite directly in one appointment, usually with little or no drilling, and it can be removed later. It stains sooner than porcelain, which is a fair trade for keeping the tooth intact.
  • Recontouring. We polish small amounts of enamel from an edge to level a chip. It's quick, usually needs no anesthetic, and is limited by how much enamel can be spared.
  • Orthodontics for crowding. Moving a crowded tooth into line with clear aligners keeps the enamel intact. Veneering crowded teeth means reshaping them to a common line first.
  • Replacing a failing old restoration. A large discolored filling in a front tooth, redone in fresh composite, sometimes resolves the concern entirely.

Sometimes the conservative option isn't enough and veneers or crowns are the right treatment. What matters is the order, so that removing enamel is a deliberate decision you've made with us, never a default.

What cosmetic treatment costs

Cost depends on how many teeth are involved, the material, the laboratory work and whether the foundation needs repair first. Once we've examined your teeth, we can talk through the options and what each one would involve. You're welcome to call (559) 683-4694 with any question about cost.

Dental plans are generally written around treating disease, so purely cosmetic treatment is often excluded. Where the same treatment is also needed for a structural reason, a plan may assess it differently. Policies vary a great deal, so it's worth reviewing the terms of yours. See insurance, financing and the patient information pages.

Common questions about cosmetic dentistry

Is Dr. Brosi a cosmetic specialist?

Dr. Brosi provides cosmetic treatment as a general dentist. Cosmetic care like whitening, bonding, veneers and crowns falls within general dentistry, and he's glad to talk through what would suit your smile. More about Dr. Brosi is on his page.

Where do I start if I am not sure what I want?

Come in for an examination, photographs and a conversation about the specific concern that brought you in. From there we'll walk you through the realistic options and their trade-offs, including leaving the teeth as they are, which is sometimes the right choice.

Will people be able to tell?

That depends on the choices made along the way. Work tends to stand out when the shade is brighter than any natural tooth, when every tooth is the same width and length, and when an uneven gum line has been left out of the plan. We aim for a result that reads as your own healthy smile.

Can I see what it will look like beforehand?

Usually, at least in part. Photographs, models and shade guides show length, shape and proportion before treatment starts. Treat any preview as a guide, because it shows the design without showing exactly how finished porcelain handles light. Ask at your examination and we'll show you what's possible in your case.

What are your hours, and how do I schedule an appointment?

We're open Monday to Wednesday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Thursday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, and closed Friday through Sunday. Call (559) 683-4694, use the contact page, or request an appointment, and we'll find a time that works for you.

In this area of treatment

Each of these has its own page with the detail that does not fit here.

  • Porcelain Veneers

    Thin porcelain facings bonded to the front of the teeth to correct shape, color, spacing and wear.

  • Teeth Whitening

    Custom-tray whitening supervised by a dentist, including how the sensitivity is managed.

  • Porcelain Crowns and Caps

    A full-coverage porcelain restoration that rebuilds and protects a tooth too damaged for a filling.

  • Porcelain Fixed Bridges

    A fixed replacement for a missing tooth, anchored to the natural teeth on either side of the gap.

  • Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings

    Bonded, tooth-colored restorations that repair decay while removing less healthy tooth structure.