Dr. Russell believes that everyone deserves to have a beautiful smile. If yours suffers from the effects of aging, disease, discoloration, or injury, cosmetic techniques can help you turn back the clock and achieve straighter, whiter teeth. Whether you’re seeking cosmetic dental work for professional or personal reasons, Dr. Russell will help you rediscover the brilliant smile you’ve had all along.
- Lumineers® Porcelain Veneers
- Invisalign®
- Dental Bonding / Tooth-Colored Fillings
- Porcelain Crowns
- Rembrandt® Teeth Whitening
Lumineers® Porcelain Veneers
Lumineers® are a great way to improve the appearance of crooked, chipped, or discolored teeth while restoring structural integrity. Made of ultra-thin, lightweight porcelain, Lumineers® fit easily over your natural teeth without the painful preparation process associated with the placement of traditional veneers. Dr. Russell can use Lumineers® to correct gaps, uneven spaces, “fang-shaped” teeth, or any other imperfections that keep you from smiling as broadly and as often as you’d like.
Porcelain closely matches the natural luster of teeth and has many of the same properties as their original enamel. Not only will your teeth appear whiter and more attractively shaped, they will also be better protected from damage or decay. If you ever choose to have the veneers removed, your original teeth will remain intact.
Lumineers® allow you to walk away from our office with a natural, luminous smile after just two visits. Dr. Russell also offers a free consultation for patients interested in Lumineers®.
Invisalign®
If you want to straighten your teeth but are worried about the conspicuousness of traditional braces, Invisalign® offers the perfect combination of orthodontics and aesthetics. Here’s how it works:
- Using Invisalign®’s 3-D computer imaging system, Dr. Russell will create a series of customized, clear aligners that fit easily over your teeth. You will change your aligners approximately every two weeks for about a year as they gradually straighten your teeth and align your bite.
- The aligners are removable, comfortable, and virtually undetectable. You can take them off while brushing, flossing, and eating, making it easy to maintain good oral hygiene.
- You will see Dr. Russell once every six to eight weeks to check on your progress, receive a new set of aligners, and make any necessary adjustments. Over the course of the treatment, which takes 11 months on average, you will achieve the straight, vibrant smile you’ve always wanted.
Invisalign® isn’t for everyone, but it has proven to be a highly effective method of realigning teeth, even in severe cases. It is especially popular among older teens and adults who want a subtle alternative to traditional metal braces. Talk to Dr. Russell to determine if Invisalign® is the right choice for you.
Dental Bonding and Tooth-Colored Fillings
Dental bonding is an excellent way to repair cracked, chipped, or broken teeth and can also be used to replace silver-mercury amalgam fillings. Using a composite resin specially matched to your natural tooth color, Dr. Russell will repair and reshape your teeth in a relatively short and painless process. First, the tooth is “roughened” to make sure the resin adheres. The resin is then applied, shaped, and hardened using a high-intensity light. Finally, Dr. Russell will polish the tooth so that it gleams with a natural luster.
Not only does the resulting tooth look much better, it is also now protected from further cracking and decay. Dental bonding is a convenient and affordable way to repair your teeth and eliminate obvious metal fillings.
Porcelain Crowns
When the size of a filling exceeds a certain proportion of the tooth, it must be replaced with a crown. A crown is essentially a “cap” that fits over the top of a damaged tooth and protects it from further decay. Although metal crowns are also an option, porcelain crowns tend to be more popular for the front teeth. When the crown is applied, it will look, function, and reflect light just like a natural tooth.
Rembrandt® Teeth Whitening
One of the most common cosmetic concerns our patients have is that their teeth are yellow, stained, or discolored. Over time, teeth tend to lose their natural whiteness, especially in people who smoke or frequently drink coffee, tea, colas, or red wine. Luckily, there is a solution. The effects of aging and staining can easily be reversed through our in-office whitening system. In just over an hour, we can whiten your teeth by up to ten shades.
The process is simple:
- First, we apply a hydrogen-peroxide-based bleaching gel to the surface of each tooth being treated.
- We then activate the solution using a special plasma arc light to enhance the gel’s effectiveness. We let the solution do its work, and then remove the gel to reveal brighter, whiter teeth. The process takes about 90 minutes of total office time.
- For patients concerned about pain, Rembrandt®’s special formula includes a desensitizing agent to help prevent any bleaching-related sensitivity.
Maintaining your new, white smile simply requires the same excellent oral hygiene we expect from all of our patients. Brushing with a whitening toothpaste can also help counteract the effects of staining and aging.
Contact Dr. Russell
To see how cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
Leonard A. Russell, D.D.S.
2204 South Taylor Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
Phone: 216-321-3462
