Perfecting Tulsa Smiles with Cosmetic Dentistry in Tulsa, OK

When you feel confident about your smile, you feel more outgoing and upbeat. That's why Dr. Rigdon offers some of the most popular cosmetic dentistry services currently available.

We can help patients from Tulsa, Jenks, and Broken Arrow enjoy whiter, straighter-looking smiles. What's more, with a restorative service like dental implants, Dr. Rigdon can improve both the functionality and the appearance of a smile missing one or more teeth.

If you don't know already, contact Dr. Rigdon at his Tulsa dental office. Our team would be happy to schedule a consultation visit for you. During your consultation, we can talk with you about the results you'd like to achieve and can explain all your options.

Virtually everyone desires a bright, beautiful, youthful smile. An American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) survey found:

• More than 92% of adults agree that an attractive smile is a social asset.
• 88% say they always remember a person with an especially beautiful smile.
• 74% agree that an unattractive smile endangers career advancement.
• 85% agree an unattractive smile makes a person less appealing to members of the opposite sex.

Patients who are interested in quickly and comfortably transforming their smiles without extensive restorative or orthodontic treatment may want to consider porcelain veneers. These thin sheaths of dental grade porcelain fit seamlessly into patients' smiles concealing any number of cosmetic irregularities leaving patients with flawless smiles. The process is simple. A minimal amount of tooth enamel is removed from the surface of teeth to allow the veneer to lay flat within the natural smile line. We then capture impressions that are sent to our dental lab and place a temporary veneer. When the custom veneer is completed, patients return to our office to exchange their temporary for the custom porcelain veneer.

The vast number of teeth whitening products available from any local grocery store or pharmacy makes it clear that people are interested in brightening their smiles. However, while these products offer dramatic whitening results, they are typically unable to deliver on these promises as they contain an ineffective amount of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, the active whitening agent. Professional whitening treatments not only utilize an adequate amount of peroxide to deliver results, these whitening treatments are also able to keep the active ingredient on the surface of teeth and prevent saliva from neutralizing the whitening effects allowing the peroxide to actively whiten for longer periods of time.

Similar to porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding can be used to correct or conceal a number of minor smile flaws quickly in just a single visit. Using the same composite resin used for tooth-colored fillings, any number of irregularities like chips, cracks, gaps, and stains can be corrected or concealed without the loss of any natural dental structure in most cases. Unlike veneers, the entire cosmetic bonding procedure is completed in a single appointment saving patients time and money.

Patients who have extensive tooth decay or damage may need a dental crown to repair the tooth and restore its full form and function. We use a variety of materials to craft dental crowns. A porcelain crown is one of the most cosmetic solutions we can provide for our patients. We are able to provide a full ceramic or porcelain bonded to metal crown that blends seamlessly into patients' smiles. These restorations offer both restorative and purely cosmetic enhancements.

Traditionally, teeth with minor decay or damage were repaired with amalgam fillings. These materials were silver or metallic in appearance and did not seal tightly to the damaged tooth leading to potential decay in the future. Additionally, amalgam expands and contracts when exposed to changes in temperature potentially damaging teeth. Tooth-colored, composite resin fillings repair the tooth blending seamlessly into the natural smile line, and creating a strong bond with the tooth enamel that lasts decades.

Patients interested in straightening their smiles without a mouth full of metal, multiple years of treatment, and frequent, lengthy orthodontist visits may want to consider the Invisalign orthodontic system. Rather than shifting teeth with a system of brackets and wires affixed to the surfaces of teeth, Invisalign uses a series of clear, plastic alignment trays to apply gentle, consistent pressure and shift teeth into their ideal alignment. In addition to removing the need for uncomfortable, noticeable metal brackets and wires, the Invisalign system also reduces the length of treatment time. Most patients complete treatment within a year compared with 18 to 36 months typical of treatment with traditional braces. Throughout treatment, patients save time with fewer and shorter checkup visits to the dentist. Best of all, patients do not need to change their diet or oral hygiene routines during Invisalign treatment. Simply remove aligners during meals or while brushing and flossing and replace the alignment trays after.