Services

Cosmetic Dentistry

Go to the mirror for a second and smile. Do you like what you see? What would you improve if you could? Is your smile not as attractive as it was in your 20's? Or worse, has it never been what you desire? If you are concerned with the appearance of your teeth and smile, if you have broken , damaged or discolored teeth, if you have crowded or missing teeth, or a gummy smile, at the starZ’ we have the solution for all those problems.

There’s no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed of your condition any longer. If you desire a complete smile makeover or simply want to rejuvenate or optimize your nice existing smile to look your very best, we can help you. Our philosophy is that consideration must be given to naturally beautiful esthetics combined with structural integrity , for the proper restoration of any dental problem. With cosmetic dentistry there is not a "smile formula" that works for everyone, as a cosmetic dentist, Dr Nabbout considers numerous elements, including: face shape and tooth shape, mid-face and lip symmetries, amount of gumline "show", age and personality, lifestyle, and tooth color when creating one-of-a-kind, dazzling smiles. If you find it difficult to imagine what the results may look like after cosmetic dental treatment, cosmetic imaging and modeling will give you a preview/simulation of the smile that's waiting for you just around the corner.

We offer the entire following spectrum of cosmetic dentistry:

- Teeth Whitening.

With so many people seeking a white or “Hollywood Smile”, it seems we have finally succumbed to the American belief that the brighter and whiter your smile, the younger and happier you'll feel. But is the quest for a bright, sparkling smile as safe and effective as dental brochures claim?

As we get older our teeth get darker. This is partly due to our getting older, but it is also caused by the foods we eat and drink, and by other habits such as smoking. Tea, coffee, blackcurrant juice, red wine and other foods that have strong colours can have an effect on the overall colour of our teeth. Teeth may also darken as a result of some antibiotics.

Some people naturally have a more grey shade of teeth. Other people have white spots on their teeth. This can be caused by early tooth decay, or illness when the tooth was forming. ‘Calculus' or tartar can also affect the colour of your teeth. Some people may have staining under the enamel surface or tiny cracks can appear in the teeth which take up stains.

All available techniques target stain particles from food and drink which get trapped in the surface layers of tooth enamel. Toothpastes try to remove them, while hydrogen peroxide bleaches them.

Professional teeth whitening is a treatment to get your teeth to return back to their natural color. It will not make a complete change of color but will rather lighten the current shade.

The whitening techniques :

*Professional internal bleaching.
This is a process where the bleaching product is placed within the tooth. This is only done on teeth which have been root treated, where the blood vessels and nerves have been replaced.

*Bleaching home kits.
This technique is cheaper but takes longer to get satisfying results. The total length of the home bleaching treatment can vary depending on how discolored your teeth are and the shade you want to get to. It can usually be finished within two to four weeks. The dentist will discuss with you exactly how long you should keep the tray in your mouth. It is important to follow the instructions that you are given to get the best result.

*Chair-side ‘power whitening'.
Although this is often called ‘laser whitening'. Gel is painted onto your teeth, a rubber dam is put over the teeth protecting the gums, then a light is shone onto the bleaching gel to speed up the whitening reaction. This technique is more expensive, but faster. We can get many shades whiter in only one session. Laser Whitening is not recommended to people who have sensitive teeth.

*Whitening toothpaste
Using whitening tooth paste will not change the natural color of teeth as the other treatments do, however they may remove staining, and can make the teeth look better in to certain degree. Dr Nabbout recommend her patient not to use regularly because of the risk of abrasion of the teeth .

- Smile design :

Cosmetic dentistry includes much more than the six front teeth. A beautiful smile which complements one's features, skin tone, and personality requires an serious individual analysis by a highly-skilled, sensitive dentist who understands that each person has unique beauty, someone who has had enough training and experience which assures the quality of the experience you deserve. You can call it smile makeover or Hollywood smile, at the end you have to know it will be your special and unique smile.

At StarZ’ dental clinic we will work to redesign your teeth and recreate the best smile for you. At the second visit or cosmetic consultation, you will be the star, as you will undergo a nice photo shooting session. You will be our super model for a while, so Dr Rosanie could take as many photos as possible to study your case. X-rays and preliminary impressions are also taken to help the doctor and the lab technician design your new teeth.

-Tooth colored fillings (Mercury-free fillings) :

With the huge care for beauty in our days, metal fillings are not accepted by most people. The composite fillings are metal-free material, shaped and colored to retain the natural look and bite. In most cases, no one can tell where the tooth begins and where the filling is at.

Although White vs. Silver fillings continues to be an ongoing controversy Dr. Rosanie mostly places white composite material to give you a more natural smile, while retaining the original strength of the tooth.

Advantages of White Fillings:

-Composite material directly binds to the teeth, restoring most of the original structure of the tooth. Old amalgam fillings can weaken the teeth, making it more susceptible to breaking.
-Less tooth structure is removed when prepping for white fillings.
-Natural colored fillings provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance when smiling or laughing.
-Less sensitivity to hold or cold.
-Free from toxic Mercury.

- Veneers :

Porcelain veneers or laminate veneers, ( Lumineers ) are one of the most popular and beautiful ways to improve your smile. If your teeth have been stained by years of smoking, coffee drinking or simple genetics (some people are born with yellow teeth) porcelain veneers can create a bright new smile . Just as important as the new look you get from them is the use you can expect from them. These thin, strong porcelain restorations are bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They are designed to mimic the structure of your natural teeth. They are durable and capable of biting into anything your normal teeth would.

These are very thin and strong shells of porcelain bonded to the front surface of a tooth. They are used to change the appearance of a tooth, often to correct the color, shape or alignment. Unlike crowns they do not require large amounts of tooth to be removed. Veneers will transform your smile to a bright, straight, natural-looking smile, in as short as two visits to the dentist. !! Porcelain veneers are designed in a style and proportion to fit your face, look naturally beautiful, and give you a great new smile you’ll be proud to show off.

What are they key benefits:

-A terrific smile in a short time.
-Much less tooth preparation needed than for crowns.

Veneers are not suitable for every patient, and teeth bleaching or whitening may be more suitable for those patients who have healthy teeth but want them to be whiter.

Two types of veneer are available:
* Porcelain Veneers : they have a more natural looking appearance and are stronger and longer wearing than the composite alternative. Disadvantage is that they are more expensive .
* Composite Veneers or bonding : they do not last as long but are cheaper and are more suited to small chips. Composite bonding can be done in one session.

- Ceramic inlays/onlays :

When we have a medium to large cavity, a fractured or cracked tooth , porcelain inlays and onlays are the best methods for replacing the missing pieces of the tooth, especially when the damage is not enough severe to require a crown. Sometimes ceramic inlays and onlays are used to replace metal fillings for patients who want a more natural looking smile.

- Dental crowns :

A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers or surrounds a tooth or dental implant and it is typically fixed to the tooth using traditional dental cement.

Dental crowns are placed on teeth that have had extensive fillings; have been root canal treated; have exhibited signs of fractures or have an increased risk of fracture. Sometimes a crown is used to cover a dental implant or to improve the aesthetic appearance of a tooth.

A dental lab fabricates a dental crown from an impression taken by your dentist. A crown can be made of resin, porcelain, metal, zirconia or a combination of porcelain and metal. It is bonded to its base with dental cement.

Zirconia Crowns

Zirconium is becoming one of the most chosen materials for dental crowns. Its many advantages include:

-Extraordinarily tough
-Can withstand wear and tear
-Translucent enough to be similar to natural teeth
-Less tooth removal
-No Metal fuse
-Modifiable size, shape and color
-Biocompatible

Zirconium crowns won’t corrode and the normal black gum line that you can see around a porcelain fused metal crown, won’t happen because of the strong ceramic material used. Also the normal too hot/cold sensations you can feel with other crowns does not normally occur because of the lack of electrical conductivity.

- Dental Bridges :

A dental bridge is one way of replacing a missing tooth. A dental bridge is cemented onto the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. Same as for a crown, a dental lab fabricates a dental bridge from an impression taken by your dentist. The teeth on either side of the missing teeth must be made smaller before the impression is taken. When the dental bridge is cemented in place the normal shape and size of the teeth is preserved. \

A dental bridge serves one of all of the following functions:

-Restoration of patient’s ability to chew food
-Restoration of proper speech
-Restoration of the natural shape of patient’s face
-As a space holder, to prevent existing teeth from moving around and becoming unstable.

- Gum recontouring or gingivoplasty :

Also called gingivoplasty, crown lengthening , gum reshaping , gum rejuvenation or gum lift. It is the procedure that eliminates the gummy smile . Sometimes we do it just for one or couple of teeth.

Most dentists will focus their smile makeover on perfectly aligned, pearly white teeth mainly. They forget on another important detail : the gum. What is gummy smile?? It is the excess of gum tissue that makes the teeth look short , and when a person smiles, we can mostly see the gum not the teeth.

Other factors could contribute to a gummy smile, as a high lip-line, or the muscles that controls the upper lip can be hyperactive. This is sometimes caused by genetic factors, but it can also be due to certain health problems or a side-effect to some medication. Gummy smile can affect a person’s self-esteem or self-confidence and can make the process of smiling unappealing , which makes the gum recontouring procedure an important treatment.. It mainly affects the front teeth and it can also shape back teeth.

The procedure is most commonly done through traditional surgery with the use of a scalpel . In some cases we might need to remove bone to improve the look of your teeth .

At the StarZ’, we use the new Laser technology to treat this condition. It offers a number of benefits for patients affected by a "gummy smile," including:

-Reduction of excess gum tissue surrounding the teeth
-Better balance between the teeth and gums
-Less bleeding and swelling when compared to traditional surgery

- Gum Bleaching :

This procedure goes under several names including dark gum treatment, gum bleaching, gum depigmentation and other variations on the name. Some people have dark gum, a discoloration that is unappealing .Normal gum color is pink. Excess deposits of melanin can create the appearance of brown or black spots or patches on the gums or gingiva. Known as melanin hyper-pigmentation, “dark gums” can range from spots to covering nearly the entire area. While harmless, many people find these spots aesthetically undesirable.

Although many dentists who perform this procedure may use surgical procedures, The most modern approach to gum bleaching involves the use of a dental laser to remove the dark pigmentation on the gums. Laser technology can now effectively and painlessly remove these problem areas. This treatment is an accurate, quick way to eliminate dark gums in as little as one visit and with very short healing time.

- Dental Facelift :

Tooth wear caused by dental erosion, abrasion or attrition results in a shorter face, which makes an individual look older prematurely. Some people are already born with short teeth that makes them look older as well. Facelift dentistry is a type of dental procedure that uses various techniques that allows to assess the bite of a person in order to restructure a mouth which enhances the bite and the entire face and it will results in younger appearance.

Another option is the “Facelift Dentures”: when muscles are mismanaged by dentures, it will result in the person looking older than they should, while dentures fit poorly. A good facelift denture could result in patients looking 20 years younger and it lets them eat better.

-Snap-On Smile® :

Snap-On Smile® covers up teeth that are crooked, worn, cracked, chipped, discolored or missing. Priced at a fraction of the cost of a full set of porcelain veneers, Snap-On Smile is an affordable cosmetic alternative to permanent dental work.

At StarZ’, you can consult and have your new Snap-On Smile® procedure performed by our certified dentist Dr Rosanie Nabbout, who took the Lumineers and Snap-On smile certification from New York. The course was given by Dr. Marc Liechtung himself who is the inventor of the Snap-On Smile.

Benefits are :
-No shots
-No Drilling
-No Adhesives
-You Can Even Eat with It
-Easily Snaps Into Place

How it is prepared: After your consultation, your Dentist will take an upper and lower impression. Then you and your dentist choose the preferred shape and shade.

Lastly, your case is sent to Snap-On Smile® Creations for fabrication and within 10-14 business days, your beautiful smile is ready to wear.

If you are interested in cosmetic dentistry, schedule an appointment with Dr. Nabbout. She will evaluate your teeth and illustrate your potential smile by using digital cosmetic imaging. You will see what you will look like after your smile has been transformed, and she will discuss all your options for creating a beautiful smile.

Seeing the reaction on our patients’ faces when they first look in the mirror and see the change we have been able to recreate for them is an unforgettable and lasting joy , for the patient and for us.