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Cosmetic Dentistry

At Libby Dental, we aim to enhance your smile and confidence as much as your oral health! Our team has seen how the positive effects of a stunning, healthy smile reverberate to other aspects of a patient’s life, and we’re thrilled to offer individuals treatment with some of the most innovative dental technology available, including CEREC® same-day teeth, Digital Smile Design, laser gum recontouring, and more.

Keep reading below to learn about the various treatments that can improve your teeth, smile, and bite, and contact our friendly team if you’d like to schedule a consultation with our skilled cosmetic dentist.

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

In short, “cosmetic dentistry” is a branch of dentistry dedicated to improving the appearance of your teeth and smile in relation to the rest of your face. This is done with the goal of increasing your confidence and overall quality of life, along with ensuring you have good oral health and a proper bite. Cosmetic dentistry is one of our favorite branches of the field because we take great pride in watching patients see their stunning smiles in the mirror for the first time after their treatment! We aim to create improvements that excel beyond just a physical transformation — our hope is to help you put feelings of low self-esteem and self-consciousness in the past!

Many of our cosmetic dentistry treatments utilize only conservative or minimally invasive techniques to help you preserve as much of your natural tissue as possible. Some dynamic options that can be performed quickly and seamlessly, yet produce transformative results, include porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, same-day dental crowns, and more.

“Dr.Libby is an amazing dentist!! He transformed my husbands smile with same day veneers and I have never loved his smile more!! It’s so nice to have a dentist you can trust!”
Kristy E.

Why Choose Libby Dental for Cosmetic Dentistry?

The answer is simple: trust. When we care for you, we begin by developing a relationship with you so you feel comfortable receiving care and recommendations from our team. This commitment to building relationships and long-term patient trust forms the basis of all that we do here at Libby Dental. In addition to our values, patients appreciate the extensive knowledge and gentle care that we bring to Mission Valley. We provide a soothing dental home that our patients want to return to time and time again for all of their dental needs.

If you find yourself covering your mouth when you laugh, shrinking away from your reflection in the mirror, or avoiding showing your teeth in pictures, these are signs that you could benefit greatly from cosmetic dentistry. You may also be a candidate for treatment if you’re bothered by:

  • Tooth decay and damage
  • A “gummy” smile, or an overly dominating gumline
  • Stains and discoloration in your smile
  • Small gaps or misalignments
  • Irregular or misshapen teeth
  • A chipped or cracked tooth

Dr. Libby and our compassionate team can give you the smile you never thought possible, even after you’ve sustained significant damage, decay, or tooth loss. We understand the emotional burden that dental issues can create, and we’re here to help.

Digital Smile Design

At Libby Dental, we can give you a virtual preview of your new smile even before any treatment begins! Digital Smile Design (DSD) is unique dental imaging software designed to provide you with a look into the potential results of your treatment. This not only allows you to see exactly what cosmetic dentistry can do for your smile, but also gives your dentist the opportunity to change your treatment plan as necessary. With DSD, you can proceed confidently with your treatment knowing the final outcome is consistent with your overall goals.

What are my Cosmetic Dentistry Options?

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers can give you a brilliant smile in no more than two office visits. As a central treatment in cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers are thin, durable shells placed over a tooth to mask chips, misalignments, gaps, and deep staining. They can make your smile look more full, youthful, and healthy without the need for a lengthy treatment process.

These cosmetic restorations are versatile enough to achieve multiple dental goals at once. Dr. Libby would be happy to explain the process of placing porcelain veneers in person so you can better understand how veneers are able to enhance your smile while looking (and feeling) like your natural teeth.

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Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin to repair chips in your teeth. The material is applied to the affected tooth in layers, molded to look natural, and then cured using a special light that bonds the composite resin to the enamel. This can reshape chips and damage, while enhancing the overall proportions of a tooth. Cosmetic bonding is affordable and does not require removal of any natural tissue, offering an excellent conservative treatment to resolve small flaws.

Teeth Whitening

In-office and at-home teeth whitening can provide you with a luminous, bright smile free from any deep discoloration. Our customized whitening trays can be placed at our practice during a teeth whitening appointment, or used at your own convenience in the comfort of your own surroundings. Professional teeth whitening from a cosmetic dentist can lighten your teeth by several shades faster and more powerfully than over-the-counter options.

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Aesthetic Restorations

At Libby Dental, we can repair cavities and other forms of tooth damage with restorations that look more natural than the metal fillings and crowns of the past. We use tooth-colored fillings to treat cavities, and place dental crowns during both cosmetic and restorative treatments to strengthen a damaged tooth. These crowns can look completely natural and blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. Best of all, we have CEREC® technology that can design and manufacture your crown in-office on the same day as your appointment! With these aesthetic restorations, we hope to build a healthy and strong foundation for your smile to support optimal oral health for many years to come.

Gummy Smile Reduction

A “gummy smile” refers to a smile with a disproportionate gumline, often making the teeth look shorter or smaller than they actually are. When excess gum tissue dominates a smile, it’s not uncommon for patients to hide their teeth. With modern cosmetic dentistry techniques, you can now gain a smile you’ll be proud to show off! Gum recontouring, or gummy smile reduction, is a cosmetic treatment that can reshape the gumline to achieve a more balanced appearance, increasing your natural “tooth show” and making your smile look fuller than ever.

Invisalign®

Ever wish you could straighten your smile without the discomfort and restrictions caused by metal braces? Thanks to Invisalign®, the process of straightening crooked teeth and developing a healthier bite is easier than ever before. Using clear, discreet aligners, Invisalign® can correct misalignments, crookedness, biting issues, and other orthodontic concerns. Best of all, your smile isn’t obstructed by braces and you can continue to eat all of your favorite foods!

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How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?

Every smile design plan is different. We know that everyone deserves a dazzling smile, so we offer a number of options that can help you achieve the smile you have always wanted. We can talk to you about the cost of your plan and options that can help you make your dream smile fit into your budget.

It’s important to remember that cosmetic dentistry is more than just a pretty smile — it’s an investment into your confidence, employment possibilities, wooing the love of your life, and making precious memories with the ones you love most! We want to make all of these wonderful things possible by giving you a smile you want to share.

Additional Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs

Am I A Candidate For Cosmetic Dentistry?

If there is something you do not like about your smile, then yes! We can help any smile become more brilliant through our selection of cosmetic services, including restorative services for those who are missing teeth.

What If I Have Not Been To The Dentist In A Long Time?

When you do not see the dentist, your smile and oral health suffer. We can help you restore your oral health and create a beautiful smile for you! The plan we recommend for you may include some services to make your mouth healthy again, but we will get started on your new smile as soon as possible.
Your plan may include something called a full mouth rehabilitation, which is a term that we use to describe a set of treatments that are designed to restore your health. This rehabilitation is a valuable step in restoring both your health and your smile, and we will be here for you every step of the way.

How Do I Know These Treatments Will Help?

We can share a digital smile design that shows you what certain treatments can do for your smile. This means that you can be confident in your treatment plan as we work on creating your new smile!

What Will My Smile Design Include?

This varies from patient to patient, but we do not start planning until we know what you want from your new smile and what your health needs are. These two steps help us create treatment plans that work for you!

Does Cosmetic Dentistry Hurt?

No! We do not begin working until you are comfortable, whether that means a few minutes of conversation or one of our sedation dentistry options. We want you to feel relaxed while we help you enjoy your best smile yet!

How Much Will My Smile Design Cost?

Your smile design is based on your individual needs. We can help you choose a plan that works for your goals, your health, and your budget.

Does cosmetic dentistry only improve smile aesthetics?

One of the greatest things about cosmetic dentistry is that the patient-focused treatments not only benefit your smile, but can also enhance your oral health, dental hygiene, and general well-being! Along with a straight, sparkling smile, patients also usually achieve a healthy mouth and a properly-aligned bite. Both of these factors can adjunctively lower your risk of gum disease, prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth, avoid gum and bone recession, and make it possible for you to eat crunchy, healthy foods without difficulty. These potential improvements merely provide a glimpse into how cosmetic dentistry can elevate patients’ quality of life, as well as their smile aesthetics.

Does every dental practice offer cosmetic dentistry?

While a dental office may provide cosmetic treatments like porcelain veneers and Invisalign®, not all practices house an experienced cosmetic dentist who is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). If you’re considering an aesthetic treatment to improve your smile, we encourage all patients to seek out a dental provider composed of a qualified cosmetic dentist and a multispecialty team. Through his continuing education and training in the most efficient aesthetic dental technologies, Dr. Libby can provide San Diego patients with the care and expertise they deserve.

How long does cosmetic dental treatment take?

The length of your cosmetic treatment will depend on the extent of the concerns to be addressed and the nature of your procedure. Cosmetic bonding, aesthetic restorations, teeth whitening, and similar treatments can often be completed in one office visit, while implant dentistry services and Invisalign® typically involve a months-long process. Once we examine your needs and discuss your goals, our team will be able to give you an approximate timeframe of when you can expect to complete your treatment plan.

Can I see before-and-after photos of previous cosmetic dentistry patients at Libby Dental?

Absolutely! Our smile gallery showcases just some of the stunning transformations that have taken place with our cosmetic and restorative treatments. Watching you see your new smile for the first time is among our favorite parts of dentistry! If you have any questions about how we can help you make your dream smile a reality, our dentists would be happy to talk to you about an optimal treatment plan to achieve your goals.