Serving Durham, NC, and surrounding areas, Oak Grove Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers an extensive menu of cosmetic dentistry services to help you achieve your dream smile. Dr. Erika Graham is your local cosmetic dentist in Durham, NC.
Whether you want to make a subtle change or prefer to achieve a dramatic transformation, our experienced doctors can work with you to create the healthiest and most beautiful version of your natural smile. Learn more about the cosmetic dentistry services available at our office below.
Cosmetic Dentist in Durham, NC
Dr. Erika Graham is your local cosmetic dentist in Durham, NC. She has helped many of our patients and community members achieve beautiful and healthy smiles with cosmetic dentistry solutions.
Our first priority is to ensure your smile is healthy, addressing any underlying issues that may be causing your cosmetic concerns.
Then, she will recommend one or a combination of our cosmetic dentistry services that best meet your needs. When you receive a cosmetic dentistry treatment plan at Oak Grove Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, it may include any of the above services.
Cosmetic Dentistry Services
Teeth Whitening
A common dental concern that we treat in our Durham, NC dentist office is dental discoloration. This is a very common concern because many of the foods and beverages that we all consume on a daily basis contain staining agents that attach to our teeth and leave behind residues. These residues affect the color of your teeth, which is why many patients will notice their teeth begin to yellow as they age.
With our teeth whitening services, we are able to lift years of discoloration from your smile. Our whitening options are personalized to you, unlike over-the-counter options which take a one-size-fits-all approach to dentistry. If you suffer from dental staining or discoloration, our teeth whitening services can help you achieve a whiter and brighter smile.
Porcelain Veneers
Perfect for patients looking to achieve a complete smile transformation, porcelain veneers act as a your-teeth-but-better approach to cosmetic dentistry. Using thin, porcelain shells that attach to your teeth, porcelain veneers are designed to replace the front-facing portion of problematic teeth.
You can get one veneer or a full mouth of veneers depending on your needs and preferences.
With porcelain veneers, we can conceal misshapen teeth, gaps, and stains, creating a more uniform version of your smile. Because they only replace the front-facing portion of your tooth, you will still maintain most of your natural tooth structure beneath your veneer, making this a minimally invasive yet highly effective cosmetic dentistry procedure.
Tooth Bonding
For minor chips, gaps, stains, or cracks, our office provides tooth bonding as a conservative cosmetic dentistry solution. Using the same resin material utilized for dental fillings, a small amount will be placed over small imperfections and hardened to your tooth using ultraviolet light. Then, your dentist will shape the material down until it blends in seamlessly with your surrounding dental structures.
We can complete a tooth bonding treatment within one appointment. Patients will leave our office with a fast and cost-efficient smile makeover. The bonding material will last for several years, and can just as easily be reapplied if needed.
FAQs
Can teeth whitening treatment help someone with yellow teeth?
Yes. Teeth whitening treatments are highly effective for patients that have yellow teeth. The active ingredients in teeth whitening products help remove the pigments inside the enamel and dentin that can make the teeth look yellow. However, it may take a few sessions to reach the shade that you desire if the teeth are too yellow.
How long does dental whitening last?
On average professional dental whitenings last between 2 to 3 years. However, it can vary from patient to patient depending on their habits and diet. It may last as little as 6 months for a patient that regularly consumes highly pigmented substances such as tobacco, wine, tomatoes, or sodas. A patient’s oral health also plays an important role in the duration of the results.
Is a porcelain veneers procedure painful?
No. Generally, porcelain veneers don’t require very extensive dental prepping for the teeth. This means the dentist will only prep a small portion of the enamel surface which does not cause any pain. However, if there is any type of discomfort during the procedure, the dentist will use anesthesia to make the process as pleasant as possible.
Are there foods I should not eat with porcelain veneers?
Yes. Porcelain veneers are very durable dental restorations. However, they are not as strong as your natural teeth. Therefore, they can break when chewing hard food, such as hard candies or ice. Patients should also avoid cutting foods with their teeth like biting apples or eating corn on the cob.
Will tooth bonding weaken my teeth?
No. Your dentist will only use tooth bonding as a treatment once the teeth suffer from tooth decay. Thus, in this case, bonding will reinforce the structure of the teeth, making them stronger. Moreover, this will prevent your tooth from breaking or fracturing while eating.
Can my dentist remove tooth bonding, or is it permanent?
Yes, the dentist can remove the tooth bonding. However, the dental tissues removed before the bonding won’t grow back. In addition, the teeth might be fragile without the bonding restoration due to the lost tissues.
Schedule An Appointment
Looking for a cosmetic dentist in Durham, NC? Our office is currently welcoming new patients. We invite you to experience the difference that our personalized approach can make in the care of your smile. Schedule an appointment online, or contact us directly if you have questions about our available services. We look forward to seeing you soon.