Cosmetic Dentistry

At Desert Valley Dentistry in Pocatello, Dr. Larry and Dr. Trevor know your smile is more than an accessory – it is key to your feelings about yourself and the world around you. If you hide your smile, or cover it up every time you laugh, you may be a perfect candidate for cosmetic services, such as teeth whitening, veneers, and dental implants.
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Smile Design

Keeping in line with our holistic approach to your oral and systemic health, Dr. Larry and Dr. Trevor view designing your smile as a collaboration.

First, your dentist will meet with you to learn more about your lifestyle and goals, as well as what you want your new smile to look like. Then we develop a plan to make it happen. The plan includes tooth contour, tooth shades, gingival contour, your current smile, lip line and much more.

Smile design improves both the appearance of your smile and your view of yourself. An important part of the process is addressing underlying health issues, such as tooth decay, so that your smile is not only beautiful but also healthy.

After your oral health is restored, you and one of our smile design experts may decide to move forward with cosmetic treatments such as whitening, veneers, restorations, and implants.

Tooth Whitening

Though your teeth may be perfectly healthy, stained teeth can take on a damaged appearance that may make you look older, as well as shy about your smile. But while over-the-counter kits and toothpastes may remove some surface stains, these approaches are limited and can even be painful or cause tooth and gum sensitivities.

At Desert Valley Dentistry, we offer KöR® Whitening options for both in-office and at-home whitening treatments to restore your bright and beautiful smile. Widely recognized as a provider of the world’s most effective systems, KöR offers cost-effective solutions that even include treatment for stubborn tetracycline cases – plus everything in-between.

For at-home bleaching, a custom-designed tray will be made for you, and you’ll be given a bleaching gel and regimen to follow. Done from the comfort and convenience of your home, whitening typically takes about 10 to 14 days to achieve desired results.

But while this is convenient, it can’t beat in-office whitening, that can whiten your smile by one or two shades in a much shorter amount of time. The bleaching agent will be applied with a custom-fit tray designed to protect your gums and prevent irritation, though some sensitivity following treatment is not uncommon. A standard visit lasts about 90 minutes.

Still too long to wait? Laser assisted whitening can get results even faster – and without compromising the safety of your teeth and gums. The unique wavelength characteristics of our Er:YAG dental laser mean the laser is fully absorbed in the gel, protecting your teeth while accelerating its whitening power. This can make the procedure go up to 10 times faster!

With in-office whitening, results can last anywhere from several months to three years, depending on how you care for your teeth and how often you consume food and drink likely to cause stains.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for fixing discolored or slightly chipped teeth. They can be shaped to give you the tooth size, shape, color, and spacing you want, restoring your confidence and quality of life.

These ultrathin, biocompatible, tooth-colored coverings are custom made and bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. The entire process of placing them usually takes place over the course of three visits.

Your first visit is a consultation with Dr. Larry or Dr. Trevor to discuss your goals and design your new smile. This visit may include taking x-rays and making digital impressions of your teeth in order to create a model for you to evaluate what your smile will look like after treatment.

During your second visit, the doctor will prepare your teeth and create a model or mold of your them for the dental lab. Temporaries will be placed so you can eat, talk, and smile with confidence while the lab techs craft your permanent veneers. On your final visit, you’ll have the opportunity to approve your new look before your new veneers are bonded to your existing teeth, perfecting your smile.

Porcelain veneers are incredibly durable and can last up to 20 years or more if cared for properly.