COSMETIC DENTISTRY

With traditional gum grafting, the dentist must use a scalpel and stitches to solve gum recession. With the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique, Dr. Heppner does not use a scalpel or stitches. A small opening is placed in the mucosa away from the area of gum recession. Special instruments move the existing gum tissue to a new position. Collagen strips are inserted through the small opening to hold the tissue in its new place. The area must not be disturbed for six to eight weeks. A soft diet is required while the site heals. The procedure doesn’t require any sutures, grafts or incisions.

In-office whitening is a quick process that can whiten your smile up to 8 shades brighter in one appointment. Patients looking to illuminate their smile for a special upcoming occasion will love the fast results from in-office whitening. For best results, this is performed soon after a dental cleaning.

To begin your treatment, your clinician will place a special gel on your gums, which will protect your mouth during the whitening process. Retractors will be used to keep your cheeks away from your teeth and the whitening treatment. Next, a powerful whitening gel will be applied and activated with a UV light for up to one hour.  

We recommend the use of take-home whitening trays to maintain the brightness that may relapse due to stain-related habits (coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine, etc). 

Skip the office and whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home with take-home whitening kits. Over the course of a week, you’ll start to notice subtle, gradual results for a gleaming smile.

To create your reusable custom whitening trays, your clinician will take a digital scan of your teeth to send to a dental lab to make 3D models of your teeth. Once we receive your models back, we will make the trays in our lab and provide you with the whitening product and instructions for proper use. By following your dentist’s instructions, you’ll get professional-grade results right at home.

Self-treatments (as advertised on television) can be dangerous! Even though many work when healthy teeth and gums are present, they may be ineffective or problematic when sensitive teeth, exposed roots, cavities, broken fillings, cracked teeth, or loose dental work exist.

Botox can be used to help relieve painful symptoms of TMD. Botox works by temporarily paralyzing overactive facial muscles that are stimulated from clenching and grinding. Severe clenching and grinding can cause tension in the jaw muscles, which Botox can help alleviate. Routine maintenance may be necessary to keep the muscles from triggering.

One of the most conservative yet highly effective and aesthetically pleasing ways to transform the appearance of imperfect looking teeth is the fabrication of dental veneers. Veneers are ultra-thin facings, seamlessly bonded to the fronts of the involved teeth.

This versatile and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure conceals a range of imperfections to dramatically improve the look of teeth that are misshapen, exhibit minor chips, enamel defects, or stains. They also provide an excellent solution for closing small gaps as well as addressing other minor alignment issues.

Among the chief benefits offered by veneers are that they require little to no preparation of the underlying tooth and offer a relatively quick way to achieve long-lasting and pleasing results. And because they are ultra-thin, veneers preserve the maximum amount of natural tooth structure and are kind to the tissues along the gumline.