Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures - Santa Barbara & Montecito

Dental Implants for Restoration Dentistry Patients

The dental implants we fit at our Santa Barbara practice are designed to attach artificial teeth to the gum line for a secure fit and natural look. Dental implants are actually artificial tooth roots to which crowns, bridges or dentures are attached . In many cases, we find that dental implants are a more ideal restoration option for our Montecito and Santa Barbara area patients.

In the dental implant placement procedure at our Santa Barbara office, an anchor is used to secure the implant. The dental implant anchor is placed into the jawbone through the gum tissue. Once the anchor is placed in the jaw, the gum tissue is closed with stitches. The anchor is then left in place so that bone may grow around it. It usually takes between three and six months for the bone to fuse to the titanium anchors or posts. After this waiting period, you will return to our practice in Santa Barbara and we will fit your permanent dental implant.

Once completely healed, the dental implant anchors serve as a very rigid foundation for the placement of artificial teeth in the form of dental crowns, bridges or dentures. These artificial teeth are designed to compliment your natural facial structure, resulting in a natural, durable and beautiful smile.

If you would like more information about dental implants and you live in Montecito or Santa Barbara please contact our practice today.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are often used at our Santa Barbara office to beautify your smile by concealing stains, chips, cracks, injuries, and misalignment. They are an excellent alternative to crowns and are virtually undetectable. Porcelain veneers are resistant to injury and are long-lasting, making them one of the best cosmetic procedures options available.

Typically, our patients discuss the pros and cons of porcelain veneers with Dr. Dining to make sure the procedure is right for them and to answer any questions they have about porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are made of a type of very strong and durable ceramic material that is "cemented on" to the tooth's surface once it has been prepared by shaving off a small layer of enamel. This gives the porcelain veneer material an ideal surface to adhere to and makes room for the new material that will be added to the tooth's surface so that the veneer naturally blends with the gum line.

Once prepped, Dr. Dinning will take an impression of your teeth that will be used to make the porcelain veneers. Our Montecito and Santa Barbara patients return to the office once the porcelain veneers are manufactured, and Dr. Dinning places them on your teeth to finish your new smile!

If you would like more information about porcelain veneers and you live in Montecito or Santa Barbara please contact our practice today.

Dental Crowns

Also known as caps, dental crowns are used at our Santa Barbara practice to hide misshaping, misalignment, cracks, discoloration, or other imperfections. Dental crowns are often used when fillings or bonding will not provide sufficient support. Crowns decrease physical discomfort in teeth and offer extra support to those that are weak or damaged.

There are several types of dental crowns that we offer to our Montecito and Santa Barbara patients. Metal, ceramic and dental crowns that are a combination of porcelain and metal can be used depending on the location and application.

In many cases, Dr. Dinning will perform a root canal on his Santa Barbara and Montecito patients before placing a dental crown. If this is done, Dr. Dinning will take additional steps to make sure your crown and the root of your tooth are strong and long lasting. Your original tooth will be filed down and the dental crown will be placed over the tooth.

Dental crowns have vastly improved the overall appearance of many of our patient's smiles while leaving their teeth much more durable. If you would like more information about dental crowns and you live in Montecito or Santa Barbara please contact our practice today.

Composite Fillings

Amalgam metal fillings used to be the only choice when it came to filling cavities. Our Santa Barbara practice now uses composite fillings because, frankly, those unsightly, potentially dangerous mercury fillings are old news. Our state-of-the-art practice in Santa Barbara uses only mercury-free, tooth colored materials to restore decayed teeth. The composite fillings, made of resin, ceramic or porcelain, are bonded to your teeth and are much more natural looking and comfortable than their metal counterparts.

If you would like more information about composite fillings at our Santa Barbara practice, please contact us today.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is often used at our Santa Barbara practice to correct cracked, misaligned, stained, or imperfect teeth. During dental bonding, which is a fast and relatively simple procedure, a thin plastic coating is painted onto the damaged teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Dr. Dinning matches the plastic resin color to your teeth and then prepares your tooth's surface for the dental bonding material. He then applies the dental bonding resin to the tooth and shapes, cures and polishes the dental bonding to match your other teeth.

The dental bonding procedure at our Santa Barbara practice can be achieved in one visit that typically lasts about an hour. If you would like more information about dental bonding at our Santa Barbara practice, please contact us today.