Cosmetic Dentistry
Small changes, honestly explained.
Take-home teeth whitening, internal bleaching, cosmetic bonding, and veneers for adults in Johnstown, NY and Fulton County.
Direct answer
What cosmetic dentistry means here.
Dunlap Family Dentistry offers take-home teeth whitening, internal bleaching for a single darkened tooth, cosmetic bonding, and porcelain veneers for adults across Johnstown and Fulton County. Dr. Dunlap will tell you what is realistic for your teeth before you commit to anything, including when the honest answer is that you do not need treatment at all.
Whitening
Two different problems, two different treatments.
Take-home whitening
We take impressions and make custom trays shaped to your teeth, then send you home with professional-strength gel and instructions. You whiten on your own schedule. Custom trays matter more than most people expect: they hold the gel against the enamel and away from the gums, which is why they generally work better and cause less irritation than a one-size strip from a drugstore.
Internal bleaching
A tooth that has had a root canal can darken from the inside over time. Whitening the outside will not fix that, because the discoloration is not on the outside. Internal bleaching places the whitening agent inside the tooth instead, so the change happens where the problem actually is. It usually takes more than one visit, and it treats one tooth rather than the whole smile.
Shape and repair
Bonding and veneers.
Cosmetic bonding
We shape tooth-colored composite directly onto the tooth to close a small gap, rebuild a chipped edge, or reshape a tooth that sits out of line with its neighbors. Bonding is usually finished in a single visit, needs little or no removal of healthy tooth, and does not involve a laboratory.
Veneers
A veneer is a thin custom facing bonded to the front of a tooth. Veneers are made in a dental laboratory, so they take more than one visit, and they give more control over the final shape and color than bonding can. They are usually the better answer when several front teeth need to change together.
Choosing between them
Which option usually fits which problem.
| What is bothering you | Usually the better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth look dull or yellow overall | Take-home whitening | Changes the color without changing the tooth itself |
| One tooth darkened after a root canal | Internal bleaching | Treats the discoloration from inside the tooth, where it started |
| A small chip, gap, or uneven edge | Cosmetic bonding | One visit, no laboratory, and very little tooth removed |
| Several front teeth need a new shape and color | Veneers | Laboratory-made, so there is more control over the result |
| Front teeth are worn short from grinding | Start with the bite | Cosmetic work placed over an active grinding habit tends to fail early |
If you are not sure which category you are in, that is a good reason to come in rather than a reason to wait. A short conversation and a look is usually enough to narrow it down.
What we will tell you up front
The parts most offices leave out.
- We do not promise a specific shade. Teeth respond to whitening differently, and we would rather tell you what we expect for your teeth than sell you a number.
- Whitening does not change the color of fillings, crowns, bridges, or veneers. If you whiten and you have dental work in the front of your mouth, that work may need to be replaced to match.
- Bonding and veneers can chip or stain. How long yours last depends on your bite, your habits, and your home care, and we will not quote you a number of years.
- If you grind your teeth, we will want to deal with that first. It is not a stalling tactic. It is the difference between work that lasts and work that does not.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions.
Do you offer teeth whitening?
How is take-home whitening different from drugstore strips?
Will whitening work on my crown or filling?
What is the difference between bonding and veneers?
Do you place veneers at your office?
How long does cosmetic bonding last?
Ready when you are
Tell us what you would change.
Bring the thing you notice in photographs. We will tell you what it would take, what it would not fix, and whether it is worth doing.