Cosmetic Dentistry

Who doesn't want a perfect smile? While few people have one naturally, almost anyone can get one with the help of their dentist. In addition to orthodontic treatment, which can straighten your teeth, recent advances in dental materials and techniques offer near-perfect teeth that are almost as strong as the originals.

Things your dentist can do to improve your smile include

• Bleaching to make teeth whiter
• Repairing chips or rough spots with fillings that match your teeth
• Filling cavities with tooth-colored materials
• Reshaping teeth that don't match the others
• Closing gaps between teeth
• Covering broken teeth with porcelain crowns

Above article from: www.nim.nih.gov

Dentist - Dr. Jerome Cutler
Highland Dental
3253 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Telephone: (928) 775-7433

Professional Teeth Whitening Dentist

Teeth Whitening – Dazzling Results in Just One Visit! 

Teeth Whitening Prescott Valley AZ The only way to get your teeth their whitest is by using professional-strength whitening. You may have seen our method of in-office whitening on television. It's called laser power whitening. Now you can have brilliantly white teeth, without stains or darkness, in one to two hours. The results can last for years!

Teeth Whitening Prescott Valley AZ
Dentist - Dr. Jerome Cutler
Highland Dental
3253 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
(928) 775-7433

Dental Veneers - Smile Makeovers

‘Smile Makeovers’ in as Little as Two Visits!
 If you have misshapen teeth, unsightly gaps, or deep discoloration, our porcelain veneers may be the answer. Veneers are thin porcelain coverings that fit over and are bonded to your teeth, look natural, and are made from the most advanced dental ceramic available. We also feature Lumineers™. These are contact-lens thin and super translucent. Since Lumineers are so thin, little to no tooth reduction is necessary. Often times you won't even need a shot!

Highland Dental is an independent reseller and is not affiliated with or sponsored by Den-Mat Holdings/LUMINEERS.

Dental Veneers - Smile Makeovers
Dentist - Dr. Jerome Cutler
Highland Dental
3253 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

Telephone: (928) 775-7433

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth - covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance.

The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.

Why Is a Dental Crown Needed?

A dental crown may be needed in the following situations:

To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth

To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down

To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left

To hold a dental bridge in place

To cover misshapened or severely discolored teeth

To cover a dental implant

What Types of Crowns Are Available?

Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, or all ceramic.

Metals used in crowns include gold alloy, other alloys (for example, palladium) or a base-metal alloy (for example, nickel or chromium). Compared with other crown types, less tooth structure needs to be removed with metal crowns, and tooth wear to opposing teeth is kept to a minimum. Metal crowns withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest in terms of wear down. Also, metal crowns rarely chip or break. The metallic color is the main drawback. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns can be color matched to your adjacent teeth (unlike the metallic crowns). However, more wearing to the opposing teeth occurs with this crown type compared with metal or resin crowns. The crown's porcelain portion can also chip or break off. Next to all-ceramic crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. However, sometimes the metal underlying the crown's porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.

All-resin dental crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

All-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metalallergies. However, they are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and they wear down opposing teeth a little more than metal or resin crowns. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth.

Temporary versus permanent. Temporary crowns can be made in your dentist's office whereas permanent crowns are made in a dental laboratory. Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or stainless steel and can be used as a temporary restoration until a permanent crown is constructed by the dental laboratory.

Above article from: Webmd.com

Dentist - Dr. Jerome Cutler Highland Dental
3253 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
(928) 775-7433

Your Teeth and Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately "bonds" the material to the tooth to restore or improve person's smile.

For What Conditions Is Dental Bonding Considered?

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:

·      To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)

·      To repair chipped or cracked teeth

·      To improve the appearance of discolored teeth

·      To close spaces between teeth

·      To make teeth look longer

·      To change the shape of teeth

·      As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings

·      To protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede

What's the Procedure for Having a Tooth Bonded?

·      Preparation. Little advance preparation is needed for dental bonding. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Your dentist will use a shade guide to select a composite resin color that will closely match the color of your tooth.

·      The bonding process. Next, the surface of the tooth will be roughened and a conditioning liquid applied. These procedures help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored, putty-like resin is then applied, molded, and smoothed to the desired shape. An ultraviolet light or laser is then used to harden the material. After the material is hardened, your dentist will further trim and shape it, and polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.

·      Time-to-completion. Dental bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?

·      Advantages: Dental bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are customized tooth coverings that must be manufactured in a laboratory, bonding usually can be done in one office visit unless several teeth are involved. Another advantage, compared with veneers and crowns, is that the least amount of tooth enamel is removed. Also, unless dental bonding is being performed to fill a cavity, anesthesia is usually not required.

·      Disadvantages: Although the material used in dental bonding is somewhat stain resistant, it does not resist stains as well as crowns. Another disadvantage is that the bonding materials do not last as long nor are as strong as other restorative procedures, such as crowns, veneers, or fillings. Additionally, bonding materials can chip and break off the tooth.

Because of some of the limitations of dental bonding, some dentists view it as best suited for small cosmetic changes, for temporary correction of cosmetic defects, and for correction of teeth in areas of very low bite pressure (for example, front teeth). Consult with your dentist about the best cosmetic approach for your particular problem.

Above article from: WebMD.com


Dentist - Dr. Jerome Cutler Highland Dental
3253 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
(928) 775-7433

Dental Lumineers - Dental Veneers

‘Smile Makeovers’ in as Little as Two Visits!
If you have misshapen teeth, unsightly gaps, or deep discoloration, our porcelain veneers may be the answer. Veneers are thin porcelain coverings that fit over and are bonded to your teeth, look natural, and are made from the most advanced dental ceramic available. We also feature Lumineers™. These are contact-lens thin and super translucent. Since Lumineers are so thin, little to no tooth reduction is necessary. Often times you won't even need a shot!


Dentist - Dr. Jerome Cutler Highland Dental
3253 North Windsong Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
(928) 775-7433