Cosmetic Dentistry in Raleigh, NC

Our teeth are one of the most noticeable features on our bodies. They are vital when it comes to eating, but they are just as important in helping us to communicate with others. Our smile can be an appealing attribute when it comes to finding romantic partners or establishing close relationships with peers- but what if you lack confidence in showing your smile?

Many individuals who suffer from damaged, discolored or missing teeth feel embarrassed by their appearance, often becoming less social to avoid judgment or steer clear of questions about their oral health. In these cases, consulting with one of the RDC cosmetic dentist can be one of the most life-changing procedures for patients in returning the beauty to their teeth and the confidence in their smiles.

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What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Drs. Abernethy, Sonner & Wells share a joined passion for only the highest quality of dentistry on your journey towards optimal oral health.

It is a specialized field of dentistry focused on restoring unsightly or missing teeth back to a natural looking, aesthetically pleasing state. Cosmetic dentists can achieve this goal using several different procedures, all tailored to each patient's unique treatment plan. Cosmetic dentists (like most dental professionals) focus on preserving as much of your natural teeth as possible, to achieve an authentic looking repair, while maintaining and/or improving your surrounding bone and gum tissue.

Why Would I Need To Have It?

When a patient is interested in cosmetic dentistry, it’s typically because there are areas in their smile they wish to improve. Possible reasons for getting cosmetic dentistry could include:

  • Broken or cracked teeth
  • Missing tooth/teeth
  • Misshapen or disproportionately sized teeth
  • Discoloration and staining
  • Overcrowded and crooked teeth
  • Gaps and spacing in teeth

What Procedures Are Offered?

Depending on the needs of each patient, there are several restoration options for teeth that can enhance the appearance of your smile. Some of the options include:

Choosing a restoration procedure appropriate to meet your smile goals and dental needs is best decided with professional guidance. Making a consultation appointment with a cosmetic dentist to create a treatment plan and to review the available restoration options is the best start to determining if cosmetic dentistry is right for your smile.

How Long Does It Take?

The length of each cosmetic procedure will vary. If a patient requires multiple restoration steps, the process of achieving a radiant smile may take some time. But with dental technology improving on almost a daily bases, the process of completing most cosmetic procedures continues to become more efficient.

Tooth replacement, for example, used to take weeks and months to successfully complete. Now providers are able to replace teeth safely and effectively within the same day! Again, each patient will differ in the procedures they qualify for, but candidates for this procedure can walk out after one appointment instantly confident with their new smile.

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What Benefits Can I Expect?

Cosmetic dentists and patients who have undergone cosmetic dental procedures will agree- there are valuable benefits to achieving an aesthetically pleasing smile. Some of the most popular advantages of cosmetic dentistry include:

  • Natural looking teeth
  • Increased function of teeth
  • Decreased risk of decay and infection
  • Increased strength of the teeth and bones
  • Correction and balance of bite
  • Decreased wear and tear on teeth
  • Protection of existing teeth

Alongside these benefits, your confidence increases immensely when you realize you don’t have to hide your smile any longer! You never have to explain why your teeth are missing, broken, or not as white as you would like them to be. Your smile becomes an asset to show off at social gatherings rather than something to be ashamed of and hide.

Which Procedure Is Right For Me?

There are a few factors to consider when undergoing cosmetic dentistry. Not all procedures are appropriate for every patient, and some patients have severe dental concerns that eliminate treatments from the start. Before any cosmetic dentistry can be performed on a patient, the health and integrity of the bone, teeth, and gums must all be evaluated.

To begin creating your ideal treatment plan, you’ll start by making a consultation appointment with a cosmetic dentist. In this visit,  the dentist will complete a number of examinations to evaluate your mouth in its current state. These exams could include:

  • Comprehensive Oral Exam
  • X-rays (types ranging depending on need)
  • Impressions
  • Bite Analysis & TMJ Analysis
  • Radiographs
  • Periodontal (gum) and oral cancer exam

After the required exams are completed, your dentist will create a cosmetic treatment plan perfect for achieving your desired smile. Some patients will require more extensive restorations due to loss of functionality or spread of disease/decay resulting in extractions.

Other patients with healthy teeth may only be looking for a restoration option that covers abnormally shaped teeth or stains. When it comes to dental procedures, every patient is unique! Therefore, it’s essential for cosmetic dental plans to be tailored to the individual circumstances of each case to achieve the best possible result.

How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?

Cosmetic dentistry is slowly and surely becoming more accepted as a necessity rather than a luxury for dental patients. Procedures focused especially on returning the functionality to the oral cavity are critical to preventing further infection or wear and tear on existing healthy teeth. The cost of cosmetic dentistry is determined by the number of procedures, the severity of the condition, the materials used, and the insurance coverage applied based on your dental plan.

To prepare yourself for the cost of a cosmetic treatment, call your insurance company before your consultation to discuss your options. Make sure to bring this information to your appointment to review with your cosmetic dentist prior to determining a treatment plan. Most dental offices also offer payment plans, so meeting with the financial coordinator to assess your options is another helpful step to obtaining your dream smile within your financial means.

Cosmetic dentistry can change a patient’s life forever. Teeth may be one of the smallest parts of our bodies, but the effects they can have on our self confidence are significant. Begin your search for a cosmetic dentist today to start your journey towards a healthier mouth and an extraordinary smile.

Contact us today or call us at 919.786.6766 to start you journey towards a healthy, happy, confident smile.

MEET YOUR RENAISSANCE ARTISTS

Anna Abernethy, DDS

Dr. Abernethy grew up in Concord, North Carolina, however, she has called Raleigh "home" for the past 20 years. She came to Raleigh to attend college and graduated from Meredith College Magna Cum Laude in 2001 with a BS in biology and a minor in chemical physics.

Jill Sonner, DDS

Dr. Sonner was born and raised in Raleigh NC, and she attended both UNC Wilmington and North Carolina State University. She received her undergraduate degree from NCSU in 1999 with high honors, obtaining a BS in Biological Sciences. During college she supported research staff at NIEHS and performed an independent study focusing on Diabetes.

Anita Jones Wells, DDS

Dr. Wells is a North Carolina native who grew up in the Pinehurst area and has spent the past 10 years studying and practicing dentistry in Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she completed both her Bachelor of Science in Biology and her Doctor of Dental Surgery, graduating with honors.

SOME OF OUR SERVICES OFFERED

General Dentistry

We each enjoy doing a broad range of procedures. This allows us to provide many services in-house rather than referring patients out as much as possible. From simple tooth colored fillings to surgical procedures, we enjoy offering a range of options for our patients.

Cosmetic Dentistry

We have all devoted many hours to advanced training under the direction of Frank Spear who is world renowned for cosmetic repair of the most worn or severely damaged teeth. We appreciate the impact a beautiful attractive smile has on one’s self confidence and can deliver remarkable cosmetic results for people needing a various degrees of smile design.

Dental Implants

We have each received our implant fellowship with the International Dental Implant Association under the direction of Oral Surgeon Dr. Garg and have been placing dental implants since 2005. Implants are a rehabilitative option for patients needing to replace missing teeth or anchor dentures.

Dental Grafting

We offer a minimally invasive alternative option for covering exposed roots caused by recession that does not involve extensive roof of the mouth grafting, called the Gumdrop Technique.

Sedation Dentistry

Dental procedures can be often overwhelming due to phobia, and needed appointments to the dental office are often delayed or even avoided entirely. Our office offers multiple levels of sedation to make sure you're visiting as often as suggested.

Dental Crowns

Your smile may become damaged, decayed, or need cosmetic repair and jeopardizing your oral health. Dental crowns are the perfect solution for such patients. Restore your teeth back to a beautiful and healthy shine.

Porcelain Veneers

Sometimes aspects of your teeth cannot be changed as easily. In these cases, to get the healthy cosmetic smile you're looking for porcelain veneers are the perfect solution.

CEREC & CAD/CAM

We have been using digital impressions and 3D printing since 2010. This technique allows us to eliminate many steps that commonly amount to error. Computer aided design allows us to make and deliver restorations in the same visit preventing additional appointments and taking advantage of the patient being numbed only one time.

Teeth Whitening

In today’s world, white teeth are the norm and if yours are yellow or discolored it affects your self confidence. Something as simple as whitening can drastically change your appeal. In the past most of the whitening options caused tooth sensitivity. We offer an array of choices that are tailored to avoid sensitivity while giving you the best outcome.

Laser Therapies

We all hate those dreadful fever blisters. Did you know if you laser them when you feel that very first tingle they won’t erupt? Suffer no more from unsightly sores, we offer this as quick and painless option.