Cosmetic Dentistry – San Antonio, TX
Bringing Out Your Smile’s True Beauty
A healthy mouth is important, but so is having a smile that you can be proud of. Beautiful teeth can help you make a powerful first impression and give you confidence in your day-to-day life. Are you ready to show the world your best smile? The first step is to call to set up a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Patel and talk about the improvements you want to make; we can then put together a smile makeover plan for you using one or more of our many options for cosmetic dentistry in San Antonio, TX.
Why Choose HIC Dental - Implant & Family Dentistry for Cosmetic Dentistry?
- Long-Lasting Veneers and Crowns
- Gum Recontouring Available
- Relaxing, Homey Dental Office Environment
Porcelain Veneers
You may be expecting to have separate treatments done to address the various cracks, chips, stains, and gaps in your smile, but with veneers, we can correct all of these imperfections and more with a single treatment! Veneers are ultra-thin sheaths of tooth-colored materials that are bonded directly to the fronts of your teeth to hide numerous flaws at once. It only takes two appointments to completely transform your grin with fully customized veneers.
Metal-Free Dental Crowns
A big part of cosmetic dentistry is using materials that blend in with your enamel while still being strong enough to endure the biting and chewing that teeth are exposed to every day. We provide metal-free crowns that can be customized to match the appearance of your other teeth, making it look like your smile never needed any repairs at all. If you have a damaged tooth in need of repair and are concerned about getting a dark-colored metal restoration, feel free to ask about our more attractive metal-free options.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Sometimes most of your smile may appear to be completely fine, but one small chip or discolored spot can draw the eye. Cosmetic bonding is quick, affordable solution for these minor imperfections. In less than an hour, they can be hidden with a tooth-colored composite resin (which is the same kind of material used to make natural-looking fillings), which is then blended and molded to match the enamel before being hardened in place instantly with a curing light.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth tend to become dull and yellow as time passes. Part of this is the natural result of enamel getting thinner and making the dentin layer underneath it more visible, but it can also be caused by stains left by dark-colored foods and beverages. Do you wish you had a brighter smile to show off? We can get rid of your tooth stains with a professional whitening process, which can be done in under an hour at our dental office or over the course of a couple of weeks at home.
Gum Recontouring
Some people have an extra amount of gum tissue covering the teeth. Consequently, whenever they smile, their gums look overly developed and their teeth look unnaturally small. If you have a “gummy” smile, you could benefit from a specific kind of cosmetic treatment. We can remove small fragments of gum tissue in carefully selected areas to expose more of the teeth and rebalance the gum line. This treatment only takes one simple appointment, and your comfort will always be our top priority.
Smile Makeover
In some cases, a single treatment may not be enough to perfect your smile. After a thorough consultation, we may suggest a personalized smile makeover. We’ll use a blend of treatments like whitening, bonding, veneers, or crowns to achieve your desired results! Our team strives to make your smile transformation a comfortable and tailored experience. We’ll guide you through each recommended procedure, ensuring you're fully informed about what to expect.
Learn More about Smile Makeovers
Understanding the Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry
One factor that often keeps patients from scheduling a consultation with Dr. Patel to learn more about how they can improve the appearance of their smile is because they aren’t sure about the cost of these services. Our team works closely with patients to help them achieve a beautiful smile within a timeframe and budget that fits their needs. We also offer additional financing through CareCredit to make fitting the cost of a procedure into your monthly budget easier.
Which Cosmetic Service is Right for You?
Dr. Patel offers several cosmetic treatments that can fit a wide variety of needs, from gum recontouring to teeth whitening. What procedure you receive will be the one that can check off the most boxes on your wish list, for example, if you feel self-conscious about having stained teeth, whitening may be an ideal solution. In any case, our team will discuss your wishes with you and help you explore all of the options we offer:
- Veneers are thin, durable porcelain sheaths that are customized to fit over the biting surface of them to conceal a wide array of flaws, including chips, discoloration, gaps, and even slight misalignment. We typically recommend this treatment for patients who are looking to address multiple cosmetic imperfections at once.
- Metal-Free Crowns. In the past, dentists would craft restorations out of noticeable metal. We offer porcelain and ceramic crowns that are custom designed to blend in with surrounding teeth. That way, onlookers can’t tell which of your teeth are damaged.
- Dental Bonding. Bonding is a fast, cost-effective way to address chipped and broken teeth. Using a composite resin material, Patel can restore the broken-off portion of a tooth, making it look whole again.
- Teeth Whitening. For a brighter smile, our team offers both in-office and take-home teeth whitening. Our customized take-home kits can provide transformative results in as little as two weeks, while our in-office treatment only takes about an hour.
- Gum Recontouring. If you’re concerned with the ratio of gum to teeth that your smile shows, gum recontouring allows us to remove overgrown tissue and reveal more of your healthy pearly whites, making your smile appear more symmetrical.
Is Cosmetic Dentistry an Investment Worth Making?
The only person that can decide whether cosmetic dentistry is worth the investment is you! That being said, we can attest to the transformative results it has had for patients, from boosting their confidence to giving their mood a positive revival. In any case, our team is happy to discuss any doubts or concerns you may have about the process with you at your consultation or even over the phone! That way, you can feel comfortable and confident in your decision to move forward with a treatment.
Making Cosmetic Dentistry Affordable
Unfortunately, it’s rarely if ever the case that a cosmetic procedure is covered by dental insurance. In some cases, if the treatment is required to preserve the health of a tooth or your smile, they may pay a portion of it, but that is only for certain situations. To help make the cost of cosmetic dentistry fit within your budget, our team is happy to work with a third-party financer called CareCredit. They offer little-to-no interest monthly payment plans that are convenient for many of our patients.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Are you interested in learning more about cosmetic dentistry in San Antonio? Our team at HIC Dental-Implant & Family Dentistry is happy to help address any of your questions and concerns. We’ve compiled a list of the most common ones we receive below for your convenience. If you still don’t have the information you’re looking for, feel free to give us a call!
How long does cosmetic dentistry last?
The length of your cosmetic dental results will depend on what type of treatment you receive and how well you maintain your smile. Here are the result lifespans of the services that we offer at our practice with good oral hygiene and maintenance:
- Veneers last between 10 and 30 years
- Metal-free crowns can last between five and 15 years
- Dental bonding can last between two and five years
- Teeth whitening results, whether you opt for in-office or take-home, can last for up to a year
- Gum recontouring results are permanent
Which is better, veneers or dental bonding?
The choice between veneers and dental bonding can be hard to make depending on what imperfections you face. We typically recommend bonding if the extent of the damage isn’t severe, like if you have a few small to medium chips out of a tooth. However, if you’re looking to conceal more drastically damaged teeth as well as benefit from other changes, like a brighter smile, veneers may be the better option for you.
During your consultation, our team will listen to your smile goals and walk you through the pros and cons of all of your options so you can make the best choice for you.
Is professional teeth whitening better than store-bought whitening products?
Many patients wonder why they should invest in professional teeth whitening if they can purchase whitening strips from the store for way less. The answer is that these store-bought products can easily be overused, leading to enamel erosion and other oral health issues down the road. Dr. Patel oversees both his in-office and take-home teeth whitening treatments and only uses trusted, professional-grade ingredients for the longest lasting, reliable results. You can also rest assured that no harm will come to your smile as a result of whitening your teeth professionally.
Is cosmetic dentistry covered by insurance?
Unfortunately, it’s rarely if ever the case that dental insurance plans will cover the cost of cosmetic dentistry. However, we’re happy to offer additional financing through CareCredit for patients who qualify! They offer little-to-no interest monthly payment plans that make fitting the cost of treatment into your budget easy.