Tooth Whitening? Veneer? Crown? Porcelain? Plastic?  

Explain please!

Deciding on which dental treatment is the best for you can be confusing with so many options available. The possibilities are endless and we understand that you would like to have some clarity first before you make any decisions.

Below is an overview of the cosmetic dentistry treatments we provide at Dr. Westersund's practice. 

Teeth Whitening or Tooth Bleaching

Tooth whitening involves the use of peroxide-based materials to whiten teeth. It can be done at home (Home Whitening) or in our office (Power Whitening).

Before any tooth whitening, the patient must get all cavities filled, and the gums must be healthy.

Home Whitening requires custom made trays that fit tightly over your teeth. Once a day you will place a gel in the Whitening trays and wear the trays on your teeth. Over a period of several days to weeks, your teeth will whiten.

In-Office Power Whitening speeds up the process for you. It requires usually two office appointments, each about 2 hours long. These appointments are a week apart and during that week you will do Home Whitening to help the process. In our office we will place protection over your gums and then gels are placed on the teeth. A bright light source warms and activates the peroxide to oxidize stains on the tooth surface. In many cases just one session can whiten your teeth become four to six shades lighter. 

Some patients will experience minor tooth sensitivity during whitening procedures. We can remedy this by alternating concentrated fluoride with the peroxide in the mouth trays. READ MORE

Filling Replacement - Nothing lasts forever.

Let's learn a new term: 'Restoration'. We use it today instead of the old term  'Filling'. The term "filling" gets confusing since the new materials available today can fit many roles needed to restore your teeth to the best health possible. 

Modern dental restorations come in two types: porcelain and plastic. Each are white and each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic Dental Restorations:

These are the replacement for the old mercury restorations are  are placed directly in your teeth. They are made of plastic resin and not as durable as a porcelain restoration. Plastic restorations work best in small cavities as they may only last 3 to 5 years in your mouth before they wear out or fail.

Porcelain Dental Restoration:

Porcelain restorations have evolved into the most popular restorative option. Most of our patients find they are  both durable and attractive and hold their colour, shape and strength longer than any other material we have available. These restorations last 10 or more years in most cases. Some of our newest porcelain materials are so strong they are used in police body armour! The advantage of porcelain is that you will not have to replace it as often as plastic restoration. That's a good thing for your teeth and your pocketbook.

The Alberta Dentistry Association (ADA) lists the pros and cons of every material option on its website. READ MORE

Gaps, Broken, Cracked, Chipped, or Lost Teeth

Restorative Dentistry is exactly that--the restoration of natural teeth that have been damaged, decayed or lost.

Once Dr. Westersund has examined your teeth and evaluated your dental and medical history, he will provide a diagnosis and treatment options. Where old methods required a metal and porcelain crown (never an attractive option) new restorative porcelains turn  an individual damaged tooth back to its original form and function with no metals.

Will I have a black line around my crown?

No, because no metal is used, this means no black line around your crown, no irritated red gum tissue and best of all no one will ever know your teeth were treated. Unlike the old technology of metal crowns, new porcelain restorations are bonded onto the teeth providing for long lasting function.  READ MORE

Porcelain Veneers

It is very common for people to have imperfect or crooked teeth and dental veneers are the ideal choice to restore a beautiful smile, Many of our patients found a big difference in their smiles after veneers were placed on their teeth--they now have a smile they're not afraid to show the world!

Veneers are a simple and fast way to improve your appearance.

What are veneers?

A dental veneer is a thin layer of restorative porcelain material bonded onto a tooth surface. These porcelain veneers are used either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth or to restore a damaged tooth surface. Dental veneers are custom-designed shells of tooth-like ceramic material that, when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing and chips or cracks.

They are most often used for cosmetic purpose in dentistry because they help create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned and shaped teeth. Modern porcelain veneers are made to match the need of your tooth and may only cover the front of the tooth or can extend to cover all of the tooth. This versatility allows us to meet and match your specific needs, each and every time.  READ MORE

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root  or fixture used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth. Virtually all dental implants placed today are root-form endosseous implants. (= placed within the jaw bone) Dental implants can be used to support a number of dental prostheses, including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures. READ MORE

Orthodontics (Teeth Straightening)

Orthodontics are used to straighten teeth by using braces or other appliances. They bring your teeth and jaws into proper alignment. Orthodontics can fix chewing problems, crowded teeth, jaws that shift, teeth that meet in an abnormal way and facial asymmetry. Dr. Curtis Westersund works closely together with one of the best Orthodontists in Calgary - Dr. Walinder Dhol. READ MORE