Cosmetic Dentistry

What is Dentistry?

Dentistry is the part of the medical health field that addresses oral health. The mouth can be a great indicator of how healthy your body is. We can detect signs of general health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and sleep apnea. We assess and help improve the health of your gums, which are proven to be linked to general health issues. We can help detect issues with your teeth early to prevent the need for extensive treatment.  We replace teeth, fix teeth, and help keep them healthy.

What should patients look for when choosing a dentist?

Patients should look for a dentist who is willing to listen to them and involve them in choosing the best care options. There are lots of different ways to address oral health needs and it is important to have a guide to help find the best care for you. Our office utilizes photography to educate patients about their oral health needs and reviews pros and cons of each treatment option to help choose what works best for each individual patient.

Why is visiting the Dentist so important?

Dentistry is focused on preventative care.  In the medical field, many times patients are not treated until they already have a problem. Because we have the advantage of regular exams and radiographs, we can catch cavities and break down early and prevent them from spreading deeper or to other teeth.

How can patients maintain oral health between visits to your office?

Brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes, and using either floss or a Waterpik to clean between the teeth at least once a day. This regimen will help maintain a healthy mouth and make hygiene visits more comfortable and enjoyable.

Why do patients need to see the dentist if they have braces?

Having braces on your teeth makes it much harder to properly clean and can make you more prone to gum inflammation. Having regular cleanings and check ups can keep your gums healthy and help prevent decay from forming around the brackets.

What is involved in the first visit?

During your first visit at Dyras Dental, we will give you a tour of the office and interview you to determine what your concerns are with your teeth and oral health. We then take a series of photographs and radiographs that help evaluate the state of your mouth. Dr Dyras will do a thorough exam of your jaw joint, chewing muscles, gums, tissues in your mouth and your teeth. Any findings that we have are reviewed with you using the photos that were taken so you can see what we are discussing. We listen to your concerns and feelings about what is being presented so that we can come up with a treatment plan that will achieve your goals.

What services do you provide and why should patients choose you for these services?

We provide a wide range of services, including care for jaw joint pain, bleaching, tooth bonding and white fillings, implants, dentures, veneers, root canals, bridges, crowns, treatment for gum disease.  Patients should choose our office because of our focus on quality care, patient service, and excellent communication. We go above and beyond to make sure that you get the treatment that you need in a comfortable environment.

What accreditations/certifications/awards/specializations for various types of dentistry have you received?

I have a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. I have been a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry since 2020.  I lead a study club for local area dentists and have taken extensive post doctorate classes through the Dawson Academy, Spear Education, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. I am a member of the Spear Faculty club, as well as the Michigan Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

Why did you choose to become a dentist?

I chose to become a dentist because I loved working with my hands and wanted a career that melded art, health care and science. So much of dentistry is artistic, as every case is unique and no one solution will work for every patient. I enjoy general dentistry because I can get to know my patients and provide them with excellent comprehensive care that I can be proud of.

Many people are interested in cosmetic dentistry these days to improve the esthetics of their smile.  Cosmetic dentistry will enhance your confidence in your smile and how you are seen by the world. At Dyras Dental, we customize each cosmetic treatment plan to each patients’ goals and dental health needs.

A healthy smile is a beautiful smile, so we always focus on the health of teeth first. We want to make sure that your investment in your smile is one that will last a long time. We start by doing a series of photos to see how your teeth look in your smile, how they function and to screen for other risks of break down. We interview each patient to determine what is important to them so the treatment plan can be customized to your concerns and needs.

Once we have evaluated all the photos and teeth, we review our findings with you to discover what your priorities are and fabricate a treatment plan that addresses your needs.  The most common conditions that benefit from cosmetic dentistry include stained teeth, worn, cracked and chipped teeth, crowded teeth, and those with stained bonding.  Possible treatments to improve the esthetics of your smile include Clear aligners, esthetic bonding, whitening/bleaching the teeth, Esthetic Veneers, and/or crowns.  No matter what treatment option you choose, we will prioritize longevity so you can be confident knowing that your investment will last for years.

We encourage our patients to maintain the beauty of their smiles by using electric toothbrushes with soft bristles and a Waterpik.  Home care is important to keep your gums healthy and prevent decay on your teeth both before and after cosmetic dental treatment is done.

We love transforming our patients smiles into one that looks and functions better than ever.  We have pride in our work and would love to help you achieve the smile that you have always dreamed of.  Call us today to schedule an evaluation to see what is possible for you!

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that go over the front of your teeth to improve the shape, size and/or color of your teeth. They are a great way to achieve the smile that you have always wanted if your front teeth are not shaped ideally. If taken care of, veneers can last up to 20 years because they can be bonded to your enamel, which creates a much stronger seal with your tooth than we can get reliably with posterior crowns or fillings.

It is imperative to brush twice a day and use either a Waterpik or floss once a day to maintain the health of your veneers. As with any restoration, there is an edge where the veneer meets the tooth, which is the most common location for breakdown to occur. Proper care will help prevent that from happening. It is also important to wear your bite-splint or retainers at night to prevent excess wear on the veneers and prevent tooth movement. A bite-splint will help prevent the thin veneer material from chipping and cracking.

We put a lot of planning into creating your veneers. Generally, the first appointment is to plan out your goals and what esthetic improvements you would like to achieve with your veneers. We then take records to have our lab wax up and plan out the shape and size of veneers that would best compliment your smile. Once the plan is in place, Dr. Dyras or Dr. Bedro will prepare your teeth for the veneers and make temporary veneers for you to wear home. The temporary veneers can be a trial run to see how you like the shape and size, and to confirm that we are happy with the plan. The last visit would be to cement or bond the veneers to your teeth. We occasionally will do follow up appointments to fine tune the veneers and make sure they are achieving our goals.

Veneers are great for patients who have small teeth or have gaps between their teeth that they would like closed. They are not appropriate if you already have crowns or fillings on the teeth, however the same effect can be achieved with a crown. There are some cases that will have veneers on some teeth and crowns on others so that they will all match and last a long time.

We prioritize communication with our patients and with our lab to make sure you receive the most predictable and beautiful result with your veneers. We listen to your concerns and help establish your goals so you can get the smile you have always wanted! Please give us a call today to see if Veneers are right for you!

These days, many adults are choosing to straighten their teeth and get the smile they have always wanted by using Invisalign or other Clear Aligner Therapy. There are many similarities and differences between straightening adult teeth vs straightening a child’s teeth. Many of the strategies and forces used with the aligners are similar between adult and children’s orthodontics. The big differences between the two are that adult teeth generally move slower, and we know that the face will not be growing and changing significantly during treatment.

One of the most important tips for successful adult orthodontics, or Clear Aligner Therapy, is to make sure the aligners are worn consistently. Most clear aligners need to be worn 22 hours a day, basically just enough time to eat meals and get the aligners back in. We have found that patients who leave the aligners out longer than 2 hours a day have trouble finishing their treatment on time and will have to restart their case multiple times. If you think you may have trouble remembering to wear the aligners, a non-removeable orthodontic solution like wires and brackets may be a more predictable treatment route.

There are a multitude of benefits of getting orthodontic treatment as an adult. One common benefit is an improvement in your smile. Teeth that are crooked and out of place tend to create a smaller and more constricted smile, whereas teeth that are straight create a broad smile that is easy to be proud of. Another benefit is improved tooth function when chewing. When teeth are aligned properly, they also function properly, leading to less tooth wear and more support if you tend to clench or grind your teeth.

Many of our patients choose to have their orthodontic treatment done at our office because of the familiar surroundings and amazing staff who will help you through the process. We can coordinate your hygiene/cleaning appointments with your orthodontics appointments to minimize your number of visits. We do our best to provide excellent communication with you throughout your treatment so that you know what to expect and can get the best possible outcome.

Our office exclusively provides Clear Aligner Therapy for our patients. We work closely with local orthodontists for cases that would benefit from wire and bracket orthodontics, or for cases that are more complex. Call our office today and ask how you could benefit from Adult Clear Aligner Therapy!

Teeth Whitening is a great non-invasive way to get a brighter and more esthetic smile. It is especially effective for patients who have stained teeth due to coffee, tea and wine stains. Bleaching your teeth is a much less invasive esthetic treatment compared to crowns or veneers, as there is no damage to the tooth and the amount of whitening you achieve can be controlled by how often you bleach.

Professional teeth whitening is recommended so that you can achieve ideal results while minimizing discomfort. If you have active decay in your teeth, whitening products can cause increased sensitivity in those areas. It is best to be evaluated prior to whitening so that any areas of decay can be treated first. Some patients can get sensitive teeth from whitening, and our office has treatments that can be done prior to minimize sensitivity and still get a bright smile.

If you have restorations like crowns or fillings on your front teeth, those areas will not respond to whitening the way a natural tooth would. The dentists at Dyras Dental can work with you to create a strategy to get the restorations brighter as well, so you do not have multiple different colored teeth.

Our office currently works with the Phillips Zoom DayWhite system. We have tried many different brands of whitening over the years, and this system has been achieving great results while not causing as much sensitivity as some previous formulations. The process for whitening in our office is to first discuss your goals with the dentist. We evaluate what color your teeth are now and discuss what is possible to achieve with whitening. We then fabricate custom fitting bleach trays that you will use at home with the Phillips Zoom DayWhite bleaching solution. After bleaching once a day for 2 weeks, we have you return to evaluate your results and determine if we have achieved the goal or if more bleaching is necessary.

Our office works with you to identify your unique esthetic goals and will help craft a plan to help you get the beautiful smile you deserve! Call today to learn more about Teeth Whitening!

Invisalign is a clear aligner system that can achieve many of the same movements as traditional wire and bracket orthodontics, while being more comfortable and less obvious that you are undergoing treatment. Each tray moves your teeth up to 0.25mm using pressure applied by the tray, creating a comfortable and consistent movement that can achieve your esthetic smile goals.

There are many benefits to Invisalign treatment over traditional braces. Because Invisalign trays are planned out digitally before you even begin treatment, there is less pain involved as the movements are much more controlled. Invisalign trays can also be removed so that you can still enjoy your favorite foods during treatment. No wires means no pokey metal ends and more comfortable lips and cheeks!

The time that Invisalign can take ranges from a few months to a few years, depending on how much movement is needed. Generally, Invisalign patients whose changes focus more on esthetics and do not need to move molars or create bite changes will take 6-8 months. More complex movements and malalignments usually take 1.5-2 years. We generally see patients every 6 weeks to ensure that the teeth are following the trays properly. Some patients will need to be evaluated more often or less often; we generally decide based on your unique needs.

The most successful Invisalign patients are those who wear the trays daily and only remove them to eat. Invisalign recommends that the trays be worn 22 hours a day, giving you just enough time to eat and get the trays back in. We recommend having sugar free chewing gum with you to remove food particles from your teeth after a meal prior to replacing the trays if brushing your teeth is not convenient.

There are some movements that are difficult to achieve with Invisalign that are better treated with band and wire orthodontics. This includes patients with unerupted teeth, significant intrusion movements, or arch size discrepancies, as well as others.

Schedule an exam with one of our doctors today to see if Invisalign is right for you!

Teeth whitening is an easy and non-invasive way to brighten your smile. It is great for patients who have noticed their smile is not as bright as they would like it to be. Tooth stain is commonly caused by drinking coffee or red wine regularly, as well as smoking.

We recommend that patients have their whitening done professionally so that they get the best possible outcome. Many times the over-the-counter bleaching products are not as strong or efficient as the professional grade whitening, so they usually take much longer to get to the color that you would like. Many patients may also have resin fillings or crowns on teeth that show in their smile, which will not whiten like a natural tooth. It is better to know that one tooth may not whiten as well so you do not end up with one dark tooth that does not match the beautiful whitened teeth! If you do have any restorations in your smile, we can help devise a plan for getting them to match your whitened teeth.

We have recently started using Phillips DayWhite, the most up-to-date version of the Zoom whitening system. It is one of the easiest systems we have worked with and can get dramatic results quickly. In our office, we will fabricate your custom whitening trays that will allow you to whiten evenly and get a predictable result. When we deliver your trays, we will provide you with enough Phillips DayWhite for two weeks of treatment and will follow up with you to make sure that you get the best outcome possible. We take before and after photos so that we can track your progress and make sure you get the best results possible.

We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you have always dreamed of!