Cosmetic Dentist – Hammond, IN

Enhancing Your Smile to Help You See a New You

Although our focus at United Dental Centers of Hammond is largely dedicated to helping you maintain better oral and overall health, we know you also care about your smile’s aesthetics. Because it is the first thing people see when looking at you, it can be problematic if your teeth and gums do not capture the positive attention you desire. Instead of continuing to be displeased with your smile, call us to schedule an appointment and let us help with cosmetic dentistry in Hammond. From dental veneers and direct bonding to teeth whitening, gum recontouring, smile makeovers, and everything in between, our team of dental experts will ensure your goals are met so that you can embrace a more confident, beautiful you.

Why Choose United Dental Centers of Hammond for Cosmetic Dentistry?

  • See Your Results Before Ever Starting Treatment
  • Expert Dentists Who Bring Decades of Advanced Training
  • CareCredit Flexible Financing Is Available

Veneers

When it comes to hiding a variety of smile imperfections, you cannot go wrong with dental veneers. A long-lasting cosmetic dental treatment, these thin sheaths fit over the front surfaces of teeth, changing the size, shape, and color, if desired. They are often made out of porcelain or ceramic and require the removal of a small bit of tooth enamel. As long as they remain in good shape, you can expect your veneers to last a decade or longer, allowing you to enjoy your fully transformed appearance.

Learn More About Veneers

Teeth Whitening

Young woman getting teeth whitening in dental office

It can be tempting to spend your money on cheap, do-it-yourself, store-bought teeth whitening kits. Unfortunately, these often lack the high-grade bleaching gels that eliminate stains in their entirety. This is why choosing a professional to administer your teeth whitening treatment is best. Whether you choose in-office or take-home teeth whitening, you can expect to walk away with a brighter smile that is unlikely to cause serious tooth sensitivity. With in-office teeth whitening, you’ll see results in as little as one hour, while take-home kits will take two weeks.

Metal-Free Dental Restorations

Several dental crowns against a black background

Metal-free dental restorations are a great way to not only conceal flaws but also restore and repair chips and cracks that hinder the functionality of a tooth. Capable of blending in with your existing smile, these customized dental crowns, bridges, fillings, inlays, and onlays do not capture the attention quite like traditional amalgam and other metals. This is a unique benefit that you’ll be eager to take advantage of when it comes to improving the health and aesthetics of your smile.

Direct Bonding

Gloved hands touching the face of a smiling woman in dental chair

Unlike other cosmetic dentistry treatments that are more invasive when it comes to hiding dental flaws, direct bonding is a conservative method that uses composite resin to conceal tooth cracks, chips, and other minor imperfections. By shaping and sculpting the resin onto the tooth, it will blend in with the natural shade of your tooth enamel. In the end, you’ll have a flawless smile that is fully repaired in just one appointment.

Gum Recontouring

Close up of blonde woman with even gums smiling

A gummy smile can often be the culprit when it comes to being unhappy with your appearance. When smiling, you don’t want your soft oral tissues to be what others see but instead, your teeth. To address this issue, we can perform gum recontouring by removing excess soft tissues surrounding your teeth. This will not only elongate your pearly whites but also reduce your risk for gum disease and create a more balanced aesthetic.

Digital Dental Imaging

Dentist shining light into a patient's mouth

Do you have a hard time picturing what your smile will look like after a particular cosmetic dentistry treatment? Maybe you want veneers to hide your cracked, stained teeth. Or instead, it is overgrown gum tissue that is causing embarrassment. No matter the problem, our team can help you see your results before you even begin treatment. With digital dental imaging, we can use advanced dental technology to create a digital model of your smile and apply one or more services so that you can see the changes and expected results ahead of time.

Smile Makeovers

Close up of woman with straight white teeth grinning

A smile makeover might sound like something you might do with your friends, but it is actually a unique dental treatment option that is designed for individuals with multiple cosmetic dental imperfections. When one service simply isn’t enough to achieve desired results, we can create a treatment plan that brings together several restorative and cosmetic dentistry options. So, you’ll experience a more seamless approach that leads to long-lasting, beautiful results.

Understanding the Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental tools lying on a pile of dollar bills

Cosmetic dentistry may sound expensive, but its price varies from one patient to the next. The only way to get a precise estimate is to see our dentists for a consultation. Once you’ve done that, our team will gladly work to make your care more affordable. We can even walk you through your treatment’s pricing factors, the role of dental insurance, etc. For further details, please keep reading or call our office in the coming days.

Which Cosmetic Dental Service is Right for Me?

A dentist using a shade guide to assess a patient’s smile

When someone gets cosmetic dentistry, they usually aim for whiter, straighter, or differently-shaped teeth. Still, treatments in this field vary in their exact costs and effects. You should consider your options carefully to get the best results possible.

United Dental Centers of Hammon offers cosmetic services like:

  • Direct Bonding – With direct bonding, a dentist hides minor smile flaws by applying tooth-colored resin to your teeth. Its results don’t last long, but treatment is highly cost-effective.
  • Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening uses a bleaching gel to directly brighten your smile. It works relatively quickly, and it has a moderate cost.
  • Veneers – Veneers are porcelain shells placed on teeth, meaning they can fix many smile flaws at once. That said, they also tend to be costly.
  • Smile Makeovers – Rather than its own treatment, a smile makeover combines several cosmetic procedures. That means it’s the most expensive form of cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic Dentistry Is An Investment Worth Making

A hand putting a coin in a piggy bank that’s next to dental tools

Even if it seems needless, cosmetic dentistry is quite a good investment. Any one of its treatments would provide you with priceless perks and long-term savings.

For starters, a grin transformed by cosmetic work will boost your quality of life. That means your beautiful smile should raise your confidence, reduce your stress levels, and help with first impressions. Through these and similar effects, you’ll have enjoyable day-to-day outings that ensure your emotional and social health thrive.

You can also trust cosmetic dentistry to “pay for itself” in most cases. After all, a gorgeous grin will usually lead to career opportunities – job interviews, promotions, etc. Such incidents will give you a higher income that covers your treatment’s cost.

How to Make Cosmetic Dentistry Affordable

A man using a credit card to pay the cost of dental care

While dental insurance seldom covers cosmetic dentistry, treatment can still be affordable. All you need to do is use our office’s payment options! Given the right one, your dreamy smile can be budget-friendly.

Take our flexible financing program, for instance. This option lets you work with CareCredit – a reputable 3rd party financier. Through their aid, our cosmetic dentists allow for payment plans or financing. That setup ensures you don’t have to cover everything all at once.

Today’s cosmetic dental work doesn’t have to “break the bank.” Instead, visit us – we’ll gladly explain your financial options and make your treatment affordable!

Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs

Patient after seeing a cosmetic dentist in Hammond

When preparing to meet with your cosmetic dentist in Hammond, there is likely to be a thorough discussion about which type of cosmetic treatment you wish to pursue. Because there are often many questions that can arise during this appointment, we invite you to review the ones we have compiled below. If you do not see yours listed, please feel free to call us or bring them with you to your visit. We’ll be happy to go over them with you so that you are fully comfortable and prepared to move forward in pursuit of a more beautiful smile.

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Expensive?

Several factors can determine the cost of your cosmetic dentistry. During your consultation, your cosmetic dentist will determine which type(s) of treatment you need as well as if you need any preparatory procedures (i.e., periodontal therapy, etc.). The geographic location of your dental office as well as how you plan to pay for treatment will ultimately determine how much you can expect to pay upfront or over time for your care.

How Can Cosmetic Dentistry Change Your Life?

Cosmetic dentistry is commonly viewed as a type of treatment that focuses solely on aesthetics. But the truth is that it can do more for your overall health and life than just improve your appearance. When you look in the mirror to see your new smile, not only will you be happier, but you’ll feel more confident as well. Your mental and emotional health will improve in addition to the physical enhancements.

This can positively impact other areas of your life that you might otherwise not have considered, such as your profession as well as your personal relationships.

How Do I Know If I Need Cosmetic Dentistry?

Individuals who are unhappy with their smile are likely to be cleared for cosmetic dental treatment, but the only way to know for sure if one or more services are right for you is to schedule a consultation with a member of our team. You will discover if the status of your current smile will allow you to move forward right away or if you require preliminary care first. No matter the situation, you can trust that we will do our best to prepare your smile so that it has the best chance to look and feel good in the future.

What is the Difference Between a Dentist and a Cosmetic Dentist?

What is important to know is that both dentists must have a DDS or DMD degree from an accredited institution. General dentists treat the most common dental problems such as cavities and gum disease. They are focused more on the health of your smile instead of its aesthetics.

Currently, the American Dental Association (ADA) does not recognize cosmetic dentistry as a specialization, which is why you will not find it necessary for cosmetic dentists to undergo additional schooling. However, if a professional wants to provide cosmetic services to patients, it’s imperative that they enroll in continuing education courses and advanced training to develop the skills to place veneers, administer teeth whitening, and more.