Indianapolis Center for Implant & Extreme Makeover Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic Dentistry, Veneers, Bleaching, Whitening, Bonding, Caps, Crowns, Dentist in Indy, IN. Dr. Ted M. Reese

Cosmetic Dentistry

smile photo
A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of your face. Even a subtle change can make a big difference in the way you look and feel. New techniques like bleaching, bonding, enamel shaping, veneers, and white fillings allow us to create a beautiful smile with, at times, only minimal changes to existing teeth.

before and after Bleaching (Whitening) is a very popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry. It is a relatively easy and effective technique for obtaining a dazzling, whiter smile at home in a matter of days.

before and after Bonding is a procedure where tooth-colored composite resin material is placed to "fill in the blanks." One of the most frequent uses of the bonding technique is to fill in a gap between front teeth.

Enamel Shaping (Contouring) is the process of shaping natural teeth to improve their appearance. Shaping can be used to correct minor cases of crowded or overlapping teeth, smooth rough edges or make small adjustments to the shape of a tooth.

before and after Veneers are laboratory fabricated, porcelain facings that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to whiten teeth, close spaces, straighten teeth, or repair chipped or worn teeth. The veneers are only about 1 mm thick (the thickness of a fingernail). That same thickness is "shaved" off the natural tooth surface so when the veneer is bonded to the tooth, the tooth doesn't feel or look "thicker."

before and after Caps (Crowns) are rarely used for cosmetic correction any more, since the advent of veneers. In some cases, however, a crown may be necessary for a particular tooth. A tooth with a bad fracture or a large filling that is breaking down or has decay around it may be a candidate for a crown instead of a veneer. This patient has veneers on top, but one of the front teeth had a large filling and had to be crowned.

before and after White fillings replace silver or gold fillings with a more natural looking tooth-colored material. Since teeth are translucent, dark fillings cause the whole tooth to appear darker when viewed from the side. Replacing older dark fillings with white fillings will keep your smile glowing!

before and after Orthodontics is no longer just braces. Arch expanders can sometimes be used in younger children to prevent or minimize any need for braces. A patient that needs braces now has a choice of silver or white/clear brackets.

Case Study 1

This 40 yr. old woman wanted to have her life long 'gap' or diastema closed but didn't want her teeth altered in any way. Veneers were an option but it would have required a minimal alteration to the existing teeth which the patient wanted to avoid. After discussing the options, she elected for orthodontic care with 'ceramic braces' which are tooth colored to close the space and align the teeth, followed by whitening of the upper and lower teeth.
Another option, available today, would be the 'braceless' Invisalign treatment option.


Before	After

Case Study 2

This swimming pool/diving board accident was repaired the same day with direct bonded 'filling material' that is shade blended and able to disappear as if no trauma to the tooth or smile ever occurred.


Before	After

© Copyright 2002- Dental WebSmith, Inc. and Ted Reese, DDS. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.