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With tooth whitening, even coffee lovers can have a brighter smile!

Yellow, dingy or just plain dark teeth come about for a number of reasons. First off, your genes determine the color, size and shape of your teeth. But during the course of your life, red wine, coffee and tea can darken your teeth by a few shades. Worse, certain medications permanently stain your teeth, especially when you’re young. And tobacco? Don’t even ask.

Whiter teeth? You have plenty of options

Brighten your teeth right in your own home

Our in-home Opalescence tooth brightening kits are comprised of a whitening gel and trays that hold the gel against your teeth. Wear them daily for 2 – 4 weeks and you’ll be amazed by how white your teeth can be. Pick up a kit at any Brident office.

Find a location

The first step to a whiter smile? A good checkup and cleaning.

First things first. If it’s been six months since your last cleaning, make an appointment with your dental hygienist. Clean teeth are brighter teeth. Not only that, but whitening treatments are more effective if there is no tartar or plaque on your teeth.

Make an appointment

Dental Veneers

Treat yourself to a smile lift!

Dental veneers work wonders for your teeth. They can close gaps, make teeth of a different length line up straight and turn stained or just plain discolored teeth pearly white. If your teeth are basically healthy, but just don’t look like you want them to, veneers may be your go-to solution, and Brident is your go-to provider. 

What exactly are dental veneers?

Veneers are custom-crafted covers for your teeth that are made of porcelain or a synthetic material (like Lumineers®). They are permanently cemented to your teeth, but they don’t require reshaping your teeth like crowns do.

Getting dental veneers. What should you expect?

Talk to your Brident dentist

Tell her what you want to change or enhance about your teeth and your smile. That way, she can fill you in on your various options and the best materials.    

Find out if you’re a good candidate for veneers

Your Brident dentist will first perform a thorough exam and take X-Rays to ensure that your teeth are healthy and sound. Any issues, like cavities or an infected tooth, must be fixed before you can proceed with veneers.

Making an impression

Once you’ve got the green light for veneers, your Brident dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel the thickness of your veneers – about ½ of a millimeter – from the surface of the teeth you are covering. Then, he’ll take an impression of your mouth and send it to one of our labs, where technicians will craft custom veneers just for you.

Fitting and bonding

Veneers require great precision. As such, your dentist will hand-size each veneer so that it matches your gum line and creates the correct spacing and alignment. Once the veneers are trimmed, your dentist will etch your teeth and the veneers with a mild acid that roughens them up so they bond better. Only then will he cement them in place.

Make your veneers last

If you take good care of them, veneers should look terrific for 10 – 15 years. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help keep your veneers looking wonderful.

  • Don’t drink coffee, red wine, tea or soda. These can all stain those beautiful new teeth
  • NEVER use your teeth to open bottles, or gnaw on packages or pens
  • Treat any tooth grinding immediately. If you have a propensity to clench and gnaw, talk to your Brident dentist about a bite guard. It can provide amazing protection for your teeth, especially if you grind your teeth at night
  • If you play sports, wear a mouth guard. One bad tackle in football can take out a veneer. Boxing? You might want to take up tennis instead.
  • Brush, floss and see Brident twice a year for a cleaning and check-up. Take care of those teeth!

If you have a chipped tooth, may we suggest bonding?

Chips are unsightly, especially if they’re on a front tooth. If the rest of your tooth is healthy, we make it look as good as new by rebuilding the missing tooth. We do this by using a durable, plastic resin. This process is called bonding, and here’s how it works.

Color matching

Your Brident dentist will create a custom shade that matches the rest of your tooth so that the repair blends in.

Prepping the tooth

We roughen the surface of your tooth a bit. You won’t even require a numbing agent.

Patching the tooth

Think of the resin as like putty. Your dentist will shape the resin until it’s practically perfect.

Hardening the patch

The resin your dentist uses reacts to UV light. A few seconds under a special lamp and it’s as hard as your natural teeth.

Adjusting the fine details

Your Brident dentist will use a drill to make grooves and textures in the patch in order to make it blend in with your tooth.

Polishing and voila! You’re ready for the world

The last step in bonding is polishing. Your dentist will use a compound to buff and shine the patch until it has the same sheen as your tooth.

It takes just 30 minutes to get your smile back

Bonding is very affordable, painless and quick. For minor chips, it is often the best choice.

Caring for a bonded tooth

Brush, floss and see your dentist like normal. Because bonding resin isn’t as strong as a natural tooth, you’ll want to avoid chewing on pen caps and ice, or biting your nails with your repaired tooth.

Are you missing a tooth?

May we recommend implants? They restore your smile and preserve your overall oral health. When you lose a tooth, the bone that held the tooth’s roots slowly dissolves away. An implant takes the place of your natural tooth, helping the bone of your jaw stay healthy and strong.

Learn about implants