Cosmetic Dentistry

Aesthetic or Cosmetic dentistry is about health and well being, not just about the look of your smile. Dentistry has come along way in the past decades and cosmetic dentistry utilizes the most advanced dental knowledge and practices in treating your teeth.  Our Nanaimo dentists, trained at the prestigious LVI, will recommend the ideal solution to help you look and feel your best!

When looking for a smile that will turn heads, turn to Dr. Mahara at his Nanaimo dental clinic for a smile makeover. Using a combination of cosmetic dentistry procedures, Dr. Mahara can create the smile of your dreams.  Learn more about a Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group smile makeover now.

It’s easy to get started, just come in for a consultation. Our trained Nanaimo dentists will evaluate the aesthetics of your smile, as well as the health of your individual teeth and gums.

Before any work is done, our Nanaimo dentist will build waxed up models to show you exactly how your new smile will look after the dental procedure. We’ve taken the unknown out of the process, so you can feel comfortable moving forward.

Here are some of the cosmetic procedures that may be recommended by our Nanaimo dentists to create your optimum beautiful smile:

• Crowns
• Bridges
• Veneers
• Inlays and onlays
• White fillings
• Invisalign
• Full mouth restoration
• Implants

Smile Makeover By Design

A smile makeover is not the same as full mouth restoration. While full mouth reconstruction is based on the need to correct TMD, or bad bite, a smile makeover is for cosmetic purposes. Many patients have reported increased confidence in both work and personal life after having a smile makeover. It will be done in combinations of crowns, bridge, veneers, bonding and teeth whitening. To estimate how many teeth may be involved in a smile makeover, give a broad smile in front of a mirror. Count how many of your upper teeth you can see from corner to corner of your mouth. In an ideal situation all of these teeth should be addressed in a smile makeover.  Learn more about a Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group smile makeover done by our trained dentists.

Crowns

A crown completely caps a tooth and is typically bonded to the tooth. Crowns can be made from gold, or ceramic material which looks more natural and blends with your existing teeth, read more about our advanced aesthetic crown process available at Downtown Nanaimo Denatal Group. Crowns are typically used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth. In the process of crowning a tooth, first a dental impression of a prepped tooth is taken at our Nanaimo dental clinic, and a crown is custom made in a dental lab. The shade and the shape of the crown can be adapted to suit your smile. The crown is then bonded at the next dental appointment with our Nanaimo dentists.

Bridges

A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. A bridge is created by prepping the teeth on either side of the missing tooth and bonding the bridge to the prepped teeth.  If you have missing teeth, come in for a consultation at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group with our Nanaimo dentists to see if a dental bridge is the right solution for you.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin layer of ceramic material, similar in concept to a fake fingernail covering, placed over a tooth surface. It is used to improve the shade or shape of a tooth, or to repair an imperfect tooth surface. Anyone with a gap between teeth, crooked, discoloured, rotated or otherwise imperfect smile, can benefit from having veneers done. This is usually the best option in smile makeover cases.
A veneer is a more conservative method of restoring your smile in comparison to crowns, which require more prepping of the teeth.

If you are considering veneers to improve the appearance of your smile, book a consultation at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group with our Nanaimo dentists to find out the benefits of this treatement for you.

Inlays & Onlays

An inlay is a dental lab made filling precisely fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place. An onlay is the same as an inlay, except that it extends to replace worn or broken chewing surface.
Inlays and onlays are stronger and have a longer life span than fillings because they are made in one solid piece which is bonded to the tooth. With advances in bonding technology, onlays and inlays may be recommended by our Nanaimo dentists instead of crowns, since they conserve more of the original tooth surface.

Direct Bonding

Direct Bonding is similar to veneers in that it straightens, repairs, and whitens teeth, however, may not have the longevity of veneers. It is simpler procedure that doesn’t involve processing in a dental lab and therefore can be cost effective. Using a composite of materials to match the shade of your teeth, Dr. Mahara can use bonding to restore your smile. The end product is a beautiful, healthy smile without a sign of fractured, discolored, or uneven teeth.
Direct bonding could be affected by a variety of food stains and may require touch ups or refinishing. As a long term alternative, veneers are usually a better option.

Invisalign®

With Invisalign® clear invisible braces, the teeth are moved using a series of custom-made, removable trays, similar to bleaching trays. This modern technique is an excellent option for adults hoping to improve their teeth and can create a straighter smile without using traditional metal braces and wire. A specialized computer program creates a series of clear plastic trays to fit the unique contours of the patient's mouth. With Invisalign® technology, achieving a wonderful smile has never been easier and more comfortable.  Find out how easy Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group's Invisalign process is.

White Fillings

Composite resin fillings, also called white fillings, take on the appearance of the natural tooth. They are strong, durable and look more natural than silver or mercury amalgam fillings.
White fillings are bonded on to your tooth, which provides support to your tooth structure, whereas the amalgam fillings are simply packed and locked into the tooth. Eventually this packing and locking of amalgam fillings could increase pressure and stress or crack the tooth.

If you have crowns, bonding or fillings, tooth whitening may not be right for you since they will not lighten in color. The option here would be to complete the tooth whitening process and then replace the restorations to match your newly achieved shade.