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Cosmetic Dentistry

Looking to glamorize your smile before that new job or your wedding? Dr. Jordan has extensive training in cosmetic dentistry and would love to discuss your options with you. Your smile should match your personality and give you confidence. We want to give you the smile you have always dreamed of!

Cosmetic dentistry typically refers to life-changing treatments such as veneers and all-porcelain crowns. Depending on your specific desires, dental history, and bite, we may recommend crowns instead of veneers.

Starting Your Smile Transformation

Before starting any cosmetic work, we need to make sure that the teeth to be altered are healthy and strong. Just like making an addition on your home, the first step is to make sure that the foundation is sturdy and free from cracks.

Next, in order to understand your wishes and determine what is possible when it comes to changing your smile, we will complete a Smile Analysis with you that critiques the shape, size, color, position, and appearance of your teeth. The next step is often creating a smile mockup. This mockup will be used to make temporary veneers or crowns for you to “test drive” and make sure that you like the length and shape of your new smile before the permanent restorations are made.

We really view this as an important step in the process. Wearing the mockup allows you to evaluate your bite during this stage, and your friends and family can give their input as to how your new smile may look.

Full Mouth Reconstruction

Teeth that are worn from years of use or from clenching and grinding are not esthetically pleasing and can make a smile look aged. A common fix for a mouth full of worn teeth is a full mouth reconstruction. This involves crowns and veneers on all the teeth. The results are a much-improved smile with whiter, better-proportioned teeth, giving you a more youthful appearance.

Small corrections such as chipped teeth, misshapen teeth, and rough teeth can often be corrected with bonding. Bonding involves adding tooth-colored fillings to the defect. These are often quick fixes and occasionally do not require the tooth to be anesthetized!

Cosmetic dentistry often lasts many years as the restorations placed are made of strong materials, and we take extra time planning the treatment. At the completion of your case, we will likely make a night guard for you that will protect your beautiful new smile from any night grinding that may occur. Please see examples of the cosmetic dentistry Dr. Jordan has performed for some of his patients in the “Smile Gallery” section of our website.

Please Contact Our Office for an Appointment

Studies have shown that one of the first physical features people notice when meeting someone for the first time is their smile. Let your smile set the right first impression – call or email us right now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get my teeth whiter?

Common causes of discolored teeth are old fillings, drinking coffee and tea, and aging.

Let’s be honest, whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes don’t really work. Over-the-counter products like Crest Whitestrips do bleach teeth, but they only work on the front teeth, the effect is short lasting, and the strips move around and are annoying.

The best way to significantly whiten your teeth is to have custom bleaching trays made in our office. Custom-made bleaching trays are very comfortable and last a long time. These trays are the most effective way to deliver prescription strength whitening products that will give you the fastest and the most reliable results.

Whitening is most effective when done for longer periods of time, such as 6 to 8 hours. What better time to bleach your teeth than when you are sleeping? The research that has been done on whitening shows that most patients can expect good results in about 3 weeks by using carbamide peroxide in custom-made trays worn overnight. Rare conditions such as tetracycline-stained teeth may take 6 to 12 months.

Like everything, dental fillings age and can discolor over time. If you have stains around old fillings, the fillings may be leaking and need to be replaced or polished. Often times a great improvement can be achieved by whitening and then replacing the old fillings with whiter and more color-stable restorations.

What is the difference between a veneer and a crown?

Both veneers and crowns can be used to correct tooth size, shape and color. Veneers cover 3 sides of a tooth while a crown covers the entire tooth. When done well, veneers and crowns can look beautiful and dramatically enhance your smile. Since veneers require less tooth removal than crowns, we prefer veneers whenever possible.

Why do my crowns show a black line near the gums?

Many crowns done in the past and today have a black line where the crown meets the tooth. The black line seen is the metal underlying the white porcelain in the restoration. While the black line may look bad and be distracting in a smile, it is expected with porcelain fused to metal crowns or PFMs. Occasionally, the metal in the crown may be seen through the gum tissues creating a blue hue.

Most of the crowns done at our Brookings dental office are metal free. The materials used for crowns today such as e.max, zirconia and zirconia fused to porcelain are very strong and cosmetic. In fact, the technology of these materials is so advanced that these crowns look better than PFMs and mimic natural teeth. Since these materials are tooth colored when manufactured, they require less of the tooth to be removed which decrease the chance of sensitivity and root canals.

Another disadvantage of conventional porcelain fused to metal crowns is that the porcelain can break away from the metal. When this happens, the gray and black metal will be very visible. If food traps in the broken area, it can lead to decay and gum disease. Please see examples of the metal free crowns and veneers done by Dr. Jordan in our Smile Gallery section.

I have receding gums, what can be done?

Gum recession can make your teeth sensitive to cold, hot and brushing. Most of the time, the receding gums are caused by brushing too hard. The plaque and food that accumulates on teeth is soft and therefore does not require firm pressure to be removed. If you are having to replace your toothbrush often because the bristles are bent or rolled over, you are using too much pressure. Recession can also be caused by bite abnormalities and gum disease.

When treating gum recession, an important objective is to stop further recession. In order to do so, Dr. Jordan must determine the cause. He will take any appropriate x-rays, examine your bite and review your dental history such as if you have had gum disease therapy. If the area is small and not sensitive, sometimes no treatment is necessary. For minimal sensitivity and recession, toothpastes such as Sensodyne work well when used regularly.

For larger areas where the root is exposed and sensitive, a filling can be placed to seal the tooth and reduce or eliminate the pain to cold and hot. However, often the best long term treatment is grafting the area using a gum graft. This procedure gives the best cosmetic result, covers the root where the sensitivity occurs and does not require removal of tooth structure.

Please contact Lone Oak Dental in Brookings to schedule an appointment about your receding gums.

My partial denture was made years ago, what are my options now?

Partial dentures are an option to replace one or more missing teeth. They have been used for decades after the removal of decayed, broken and loose teeth. Replacing these missing teeth is beneficial for chewing, stabilizing your bite and appearance. A partial denture is still a viable option and usually very affordable way to substitute your teeth.

Other options to replace missing teeth are bridges and dental implants. Dental bridges require the use of two solid teeth on either side of the empty space. Bridges require no surgery to the bone or gums and can often be made within 1 month. At Lone Oak Dental, we use newer materials which ensure that the bridge is strong yet beautiful.

Implants can be used to replace one, two or multiple missing teeth. The technology with these prostheses is very advanced and rapidly evolving giving us new options all the time. Dr. Jordan prefers to replace teeth using dental implants as it does not require removing healthy tooth structure and there is no chance for decay. In addition, most patients tell us that implants feel more natural than partials and bridges.

Please contact our office today in Brookings if your partial is in need of replacement or your are considering other options.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Bradley Jordan
Dentist and Owner

I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota. My dental degree is from the University of Minnesota, where I graduated third in my class. After dental school, I had the privilege of completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in San Antonio, Texas. This intense program gave me the training needed to confidently complete difficult procedures such as implants, cosmetics, full mouth reconstructions, and sedation dentistry. One of the greatest aspects of this program was that we treated U.S. Veterans and it allowed me to give back to those ...