As a member of the American Dental Association and California Dental Association among many others, Dr. Luminita Markham has demonstrated a passion for dentistry and her patients since starting her career. Dr. Luminitas Education includes
- a Doctorate of Dental Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila – School of Dentistry, Bucharest, Romania, 1998
- Pankey Institute, Essentials, and Interdisciplinary Dentistry
- Spear Institute, Cosmetic Dentistry, Treatment Planning, and Interdisciplinary Dentistry
- DOCS, Sedation Dentistry
- Invisalign Certification
- Laser Dentistry Certification
- CAD/CAM Dentistry
- Sleep Apnea Dentistry
In addition to always continuing her education Dr. Luminita enjoys getting to know her patients as people. Establishing strong bonds with them and making them feel at ease and excited about receiving painless dental treatment.
Dr. Luminita enjoys applying her knowledge and skills to their specific situation, assisting them in understanding their options, and responding to their questions. She understands that an informed patient can better make healthy decisions about their dental care and oral health, so she strives to communicate clearly and directly.
Dr. Luminita discovered that while educating her patients, they also educate her.
Today, cosmetic solutions for your smile are more natural-looking, affordable, and resilient than ever. Thanks to dental technology innovations, more and more of our Auburn, CA patients fall in love with their smiles. A great example of improved cosmetic dental techniques is dental bonding. This versatile, affordable treatment could be just what you need to improve your smile’s small areas of cosmetic flaws.
Read on to learn more about how Dr. Luminita Markham uses dental bonding in her Auburn practice!
Dissatisfied with your smile? In Auburn, CA, Maidu Dental offers a full range of dentistry services, including cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening and dental bonding. If you’re looking for a dental provider who can do it all, choose Dr. Luminita Markham and our team at Maidu Dental! Call us today at (530) 823 – 8771.
However, before you make that call that will change your life and smile forever, let’s look at cosmetic dentistry.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry refers to any dental work that improves the appearance (but not necessarily the functionality) of teeth, gums, and/or bites. It is primarily concerned with improving dental esthetics in terms of color, position, shape, size, alignment, and overall smile appearance.
What Are Some Common Treatments?
Although cosmetic dentistry procedures are typically considered elective rather than necessary, some treatment cases also provide restorative benefits.
The most common cosmetic dentistry procedures are fairly simple, whereas others are more complex and require specialized care. Let’s look at five different types of cosmetic treatments for teeth.
Dental Bonding and What it Can Treat
Dental bonding is a cosmetic treatment that uses the same resin-like composite material used in composite fillings to treat cavities. This composite material can mimic the texture and appearance of enamel, which makes it a great option for covering small cosmetic flaws in teeth. Usually, Dr. Markham uses bonding to camouflage, fill in, or replace parts of teeth that are discolored or otherwise cosmetically damaged.
It’s most often used for:
- Filling uneven spaces between teeth (such as large gaps)
- Repairing chipped or cracked teeth
- camouflaging deep discoloration that cannot be addressed through professional teeth whitening
- reshaping uneven or misshapen teeth.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing Dental Bonding Treatment?
Dental bonding isn’t always the only choice you have to correct a cosmetic flaw. Often, a dental crown or porcelain veneers are other options for improving the aesthetics of your smile. But there are some advantages to choosing dental bonding.
First, dental bonding treatment allows you to preserve more tooth enamel than crowns or veneers. Dental bonding treatments require very little preparation of the natural tooth; usually, a slight smoothing or filing is all that is needed. A much more significant amount of enamel is removed with other cosmetic treatments like crowns and veneers. The minimal prep requirements also mean that dental bonding is reversible, unlike dental crowns or veneers.
Finally, many patients choose dental bonding because of its lower cost. As a simpler cosmetic treatment, the desired esthetic results are achieved in just one dental appointment, at a fraction of the cost of many other cosmetic procedures.
Inlays and Onlays
These are also known as indirect fillings, used when a tooth has mild to moderate decay or insufficient tooth structure to support a filling. As long as the tooth cusps are not damaged. The inlay is bonded to the tooth’s surface. When the cusp or a larger portion of the tooth is damaged, an inlay is used to cover the tooth’s entire surface.
Inlays and Onlays are created in a dental laboratory using composite resin material and adhered to the teeth with adhesive dental cement. They help strengthen teeth, restore their shape, and prevent further decay or deterioration.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are typically made from medical-grade ceramic and are custom-made for each patient to look like their natural teeth. They appear extremely realistic and can correct various cosmetic issues, including crooked teeth, cracked or damaged enamel, and noticeable gaps between two teeth. The dentist applies the veneer to the front of each tooth using dental adhesive.
Whitening of the Teeth
Teeth whitening or bleaching is one of the most basic cosmetic dentistry procedures performed at your dentist’s office. After plaque, tartar, and other debris have been removed from the surface of each tooth; whitening should take place to restore its natural appearance. According to the American Dental Association (ADA) Mouth Healthy website, teeth are bleached to achieve an even lighter shade than the original color.
Teeth become stained and worn over time due to food, drinks, medication, and personal habits such as smoking. Whitening coats the teeth and can be performed in the dental office or at home.
Furthermore, patients can use toothpaste to maintain the same effect for one to two weeks.
Implants
Dental implants replace missing teeth. A small titanium screw is inserted into the jaw at the site of the missing tooth to serve as support for a crown. These implants are nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding natural teeth, and they have permanently secured into place once the bone and supporting tissue fuse to the implant. Patients must maintain good oral hygiene to remove plaque and food debris from the area during the implant placement period.
Cosmetic Dentistry Vs. Orthodontics
If you want that perfect smile with perfectly aligned and healthy-looking teeth, you may notice that orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry are similar in their goals. Orthodontists and cosmetic dentists are both specialists who can help you correct flaws that prevent your teeth from looking their best.
Cosmetic dentistry is the type of dental care you require if you want to improve the appearance of your smile.
On the other hand, orthodontics is a subset of dental care that focuses on repositioning teeth and jaws to correct an improper bite.
How To Decide Who You See
You may have heard that veneers are a popular bracing alternative for straightening misaligned teeth.
If you want immediate results, veneers require only three visits to the dentist: one for a consultation and two for fabrication and application. They typically do not necessitate any special aftercare beyond good oral hygiene practices.
On the other hand, dental veneers can be quite expensive, with typical costs exceeding $1,000 per tooth. They will also need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years. Another disadvantage is that you will potentially harm healthy teeth. If your only problem is misalignment, you should consider how many teeth you will change by putting veneers on them.
Therefore, braces do not damage your teeth and are a non-invasive way to straighten your smile.
Additionally, braces can correct jaw or bite alignment issues, which can impact your overall health. Wearing braces will take significantly longer (1-3 years on average), but having patience may result in a healthier smile (and a much less expensive one).
The Good News is that if you are considering orthodontic treatment or cosmetic dentistry, you can schedule an appointment with our experts at Maidu Dental. Our team evaluates your unique needs and treatment objectives. We always put your healthy, attractive smile first.
Schedule An Appointment
Dr. Markham and our staff at Maidu Dental can help you better understand your treatment options at a cosmetic consultation. We’ll walk you through your treatment options and offer more resources to help you decide what will give you the results you desire. Schedule your consultation with us today to learn more about dental bonding and the rest of our cosmetic solutions!
Four Types of Dental Bridges