Cosmetic Dentistry

Veneers can last several years when they are maintained. It is important to floss daily, brush at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, and maintain your professional cleanings and exams. Veneers may chip over time; it is important that you wear a custom night guard while you sleep to protect your veneers and prevent chipping. Veneers last around 10 years and may need to be replaced over time.

Veneers are a cosmetic procedure and are typically not covered by insurance. If insurance does happen to cover them, they are about $800 per tooth. If insurance does not cover them, they are around $1300 per tooth. Porcelain veneers have the best esthetic result for a smile makeover, but they are expensive. Another option is dental bonding or composite veneers that are done in the office with a tooth-colored filling material. They do not last as long as porcelain veneers, may stain over time, but are about half the price of porcelain veneers. Dr. Ewell is excited to talk to you about your esthetic options and to help you have a smile you are proud of. Schedule an appointment with us at Dentistry of Arizona in Surprise to find out how we can get you the smile of your dreams!

Everyone's teeth respond differently to various whitening products. Over-the-counter whitening products that contain carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are safe and moderately effective. It is best to avoid highly abrasive whitening toothpastes because they can accidentally remove tooth enamel if used longer than 4 weeks. If you are dissatisfied with the results of over-the-counter whitening, professional products may be more effective. We offer both custom whitening trays with gel and pre-filled trays with professional strength carbamide peroxide. To help with comfort and decrease sensitivity, our Opalescence whitening features potassium nitrate and fluoride. Both Dr. Allen Ewell and Dr. Elizabeth Ewell use Opalescence gel twice per year to maintain their white smiles while minimizing tooth sensitivity.

In general, tooth whitening is safe for most patients when not done in excess. However, over whitening can result in hyper-translucency of the teeth and the teeth will take on a gray appearance. Using an over the counter or professional whitening product 2-3 times per year is typically a safe and reasonable frequency to maintain a white smile.Highly abrasive whitening toothpastes should not be used more than 4 weeks at a time. Abrasive whitening toothpaste works by buffing off surface stains. Overuse can result in accidental removal of your enamel. If a toothpaste feels gritty or sandy, it is more abrasive and should be used sparingly.

There are a few ways to keep your teeth looking healthy and white naturally:
- Healthy oral hygiene habits: Use an electric toothbrush twice per day and floss once per day! Brushing regularly removes yellow, fuzzy plaque from the surface of your teeth. You may also use a whitening toothpaste, but it is best not to use them for longer than 4 weeks at a time to ensure it doesn't over-abrade your enamel.
- Drink water after consuming high-stain drinks and foods: After you enjoy coffee, red wine, or berries, drink some water to rinse away the highly pigmented food and drink.
- Brush with a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste: Baking soda helps remove tooth surface stains due to its mildly abrasive nature and hydrogen peroxide is a natural whitener. When you mix these two together you get the perfect tooth whitening solution! Take one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Mix both the contents, and you’ll end up with a paste. Use this paste to brush your teeth regularly. It’s not magic; you wouldn’t get super shiny teeth just after one session. Use this paste daily, and you’ll eventually start to see the difference.

At Dentistry of Arizona in Surprise, AZ, we whiten teeth by using Opalescence's pre-filled whitening trays or custom trays with whitening gel. Both products are safe, comfortable, and highly effective for most patients. Opalescence features professional strength carbamide peroxide with potassium nitrate and fluoride to help decrease whitening sensitivity. Everyone's teeth have a natural range of how much they can be whitened with whitening products. If you have tried professional whitening and still desire a brighter smile, the next step would be porcelain veneers or crowns.