Daniel T. Quevedo, D.D.S. - Member Florida Academy Of Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry

Tremendous advancements have been made in the last ten years in cosmetic dentistry. We are now able to create beautiful smiles in situations that used to be difficult at best. Those patients who have undergone a cosmetic "make-over", have very often reported a new outlook on life, and an increase in their self-esteem. They feel so much better about themselves, that they smile most of the time, and are so much more motivated to maintain good homecare habits. The net result of all of this is a patient with not only a beautiful smile, but a healthier mouth as well. Remember to check out some of the before and after photos of many of the treatments on this page in our Photo Gallery.

Dr. Quevedo has a special interest in cosmetic dentistry, and has taken many continuing education courses to stay up to date with all the latest techniques and materials. He is a member of the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and a certified Invisalign provider. Some of the more popular procedures are:

Porcelain Veneers- Thin laminates of porcelain bonded onto the front surface of the tooth. A minimal amount of tooth structure is removed, typically about half a millimeter across the front. Using our Smile Style software as a guide, we let you chose your preferred smile, and then have our lab create a wax up of the smile you chose to allow you to see a "preview" of your new smile. After your approval, we can begin treatment. Since we use the wax up as a pattern to create your temporary veneers, it allows you to preview the look and feel of your new veneers before you get the "real thing." This is definitely a good example of the wisdom of the old saying, "The best surprise, is NO surprise!" For patients who only need one or two veneers, we can make your veneers in a single visit (if you wish) while you watch with our amazing Cerec 3D system. No matter how we create your new smile, our Easy Shade digital color spectroscopy scanner makes matching shades much easier!

Tooth Whitening- For a great outline of the pros and cons of each whitening system.....click here. To see Dr. Quevedo's interview with Fox News 35 about whitening your teeth, click on the my Fox Orlando icon.

We offer three different ways to whiten your teeth at our office:

TreWhite is our entry level system. It's a great alternative to "over the counter" systems that don't always work so well. They are similar to White Strips, but cover more of the teeth than strips do, while being much more effective. You receive a ten day supply of trays for both the upper and lower teeth, and wear them once a day for 30-60 minutes. They are MUCH easier to place and use than White Strips as well.

Our most popular whitening option are custom made trays you wear at home using Opalesence. Prescription strength whitening gels are not to be confused with watered-down, over-the-counter imitations. Most patients see dramatic results in 14 to 21 days. All you have to do is wear your custom made whitening tray one of two ways....either overnight.....OR...two to four hours a day. Having a well fitted tray that accurately follows the gumline is crucial to success. Only your dentist can provide this tray.

For patients that have VERY dark teeth, tetracycline stains, or who simply want the whitening process sped up somewhat....we offer an in office power bleaching system called Deep Bleaching. Unlike some other in office power bleaching systems that are marketed heavily, this system produces equal (or better) results without the short comings of those systems. Here are the issues with the heavily marketed brands that use a special light:
     1. The light has NO beneficial effect on your teeth. According to the CRA Newsletter (an independent research firm similar to Consumer Reports who evaluates dental products) the light is nothing more than a marketing tool used to make patients believe they're getting something more.
     2. The bleaching gels these systems use are "anhydrous"...which means they have no water in them. The result of this (along with having your mouth open with a light shining on your teeth for an hour) is to dehydrate your teeth. Dehydration of your teeth does two things....it whitens them (for a while, anyway)....and it makes them VERY SENSITIVE! In some cases, it goes beyond that to what most would call severe pain.
     3. It is because of this that you will be asked to wear customized bleaching trays for at least two weeks after your in office visit using the light. Without wearing these trays, your teeth will redarken almost back to square one as the teeth rehydrate themselves. It is RARE for any system to be able to provide a significant amount of whitening (that's long lasting) in a single visit.
     4. Because the strength of the peroxide gel these systems use is so concentrated, much time has to be spent isolating your lips and gums from the gel to prevent what is in effect a chemical burn. This isolation apparatus is not always comfortable to wear, but it is VERY necessary if you're going to use this type of bleaching.

ALL of our bleaching systems (including Deep Bleaching) use hydrated bleaching gels which will not dehydrate your teeth. In addition, none of them require special isolation to prevent burning your lips or gums.

Cosmetic Recontouring- Sometimes the teeth are just not shaped as attractively as the patient would like. We can smooth out chips, uneven areas, round off sharp corners, or just the opposite, sharpen a corner that's too rounded. If your teeth are white enough to suit you, but irregularly shaped, then this may benefit you.

Invisalign®- The invisible way to straighten your teeth, without braces! Invisalign® can give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign Express is the newest option that allows patients with minor orthodontic needs to get things looking nice at half the fee of a full Invisalign program.

Composite Veneers- Very similar to porcelain veneers, except the material used is composite resin instead of porcelain. It may or may not cover the entire front surface of the tooth, either. When smaller areas need to be addressed, this is usually the material of choice. It is done in one visit. This material is also used for "white fillings". We do not place amalgam (mercury-silver) fillings.

Porcelain Inlays/Onlays- There are some instances when more strength or support than composite is necessary and so porcelain inlays are placed. An Onlay is simply an inlay that "overlays" a cusp that needs extra support. They are stunningly life-like, and very strong. This is a one-step procedure, somewhat like the porcelain veneer. An "optical" 3-D impression is made and then Dr. Quevedo designs your restoration on the computer. You can get up, stretch your legs, and watch during the 12-14 minutes it takes for the Cerec machine to mill (carve) your inlay or onlay.

Empress Crowns- Probably the most beautiful restoration available today! These are all porcelain crowns using technology developed by Ivoclar in Liechtenstein. They look more natural than natural teeth! 90% of these can be made and delivered in a single visit using the Cerec 3.

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