Dr. Christopher Banks is a cosmetic dentist who serves patients in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC. Even after completing his Doctorate in Dental Surgery, he has continued learning about the latest technologies and treatments to help patients improve their smiles. His cosmetic dentistry services in his Washington, DC, dental office improve the smile’s aesthetics and even contribute to improved oral health. Our office also offers comprehensive dental services to the public in Washington.
Cosmetic care isn’t just about the look of your smile. Many patients who get cosmetic dental care are more motivated to maintain their new smiles with an excellent oral hygiene routine. Dr. Banks looks forward to helping patients make over their smiles with cosmetic treatments that can improve their self-confidence.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Washington, DC
Dr. Banks is dedicated to providing patients with the latest cosmetic services. Learn about the different cosmetic dental treatments that Dr. Banks offers at Dupont Dental:
Invisalign
Clear Invisalign aligners can straighten misaligned and crooked teeth without brackets and wires. Invisalign is a discreet alternative to metal braces that benefits patients with mild to moderate orthodontic problems.
Invisalign works by using a series of custom-made clear aligners that fit over your teeth. Each set of aligners is designed to gently shift your teeth into the desired position over time. You wear each set of aligners for about one to two weeks before moving on to the next set in the series. This gradual movement allows your teeth to adjust comfortably and effectively.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are shell-like treatments that cover the front of the tooth enamel. Veneers cover single teeth or all of the teeth in the smile line to change the shape and shade of the enamel. Patients who do not require Invisalign or teeth whitening treatment but want to improve their smile benefit from veneers.
Teeth Bonding
Teeth bonding treatment uses tooth-colored resin materials to address tooth chips, cracks, gaps, and discoloration. Bonding offers a quick and comfortable treatment for patients who want to improve one or more teeth and create a seamless smile.
Teeth Whitening
Opalescence and Zoom, teeth whitening treatments, offer convenient in-office and take-home options for patients who want brighter smiles. We customize whitening treatment to minimize sensitivity and help patients achieve the best results.
What is a Smile Makeover?
A smile makeover uses multiple cosmetic dental treatments to make over the smile. It completely transforms your smile into the one you dream of. As modern dentistry advances and makes more procedures affordable and accessible to more patients, smile makeovers are attainable to almost anyone. Dr. Banks offers smile makeovers for patients who require more than one cosmetic treatment to address discolored teeth, crooked teeth, and even facial wrinkles.
Before recommending treatment, Dr. Banks will examine the smile and consider each patient’s cosmetic goals. He will then create a custom treatment plan that includes the order of required treatments. For instance, he recommends that patients straighten their smiles before receiving teeth whitening treatment.
We aim to make a smile makeover a completely comprehensive process. Our office provides a variety of different services to ensure you get everything that you need. Your smile greatly impacts your self-esteem, and we want you to be proud to show off your smile every chance you get.
Why Choose Cosmetic Dentistry?
When patients want cosmetic care, it’s usually because they aren’t happy with how their smiles look. While cosmetic dentistry focuses on the aesthetics of your smile, it comes with many other benefits you may not realize:
Better Self Esteem
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. The impact of a beautiful smile goes past the aesthetic value. When you’re happy with your smile, you have a more positive outlook and are happier overall. Your self-esteem is better, and people can see how sure you are of yourself in public.
People who are insecure about their smiles are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression. They’re worried about how people perceive them and try to keep their smiles hidden.
Improved Confidence
People are more likely to want to be friends with someone that projects a comfortable, self-assured air. With these personality traits, you attract positive opinions from people. You can feel confident in your social situations and immerse yourself in them properly, since you don’t have to worry about hiding your smile. You’re more comfortable out in public, and it shows when you’re out and about.
Your smile even has an impact on your professional life. A healthy, beautiful smile projects that you’re more trustworthy and confident when you have a job or promotion interview. When you really want a job, you want to put all of your efforts into assuring you look and come off your best. Cosmetic dentistry can help you get your dream job.
Improved Bite Function
Many cosmetic problems are associated with oral health concerns. Crooked teeth are one of the best examples. When patients want Invisalign, it’s usually because they aren’t happy with how their teeth look. However, crooked teeth can cause a variety of health concerns.
Crooked teeth are much more difficult to clean than straight teeth. They come together at odd angles and are often cramped or crowded. In some cases, you can’t even get dental floss or specialized dental tools in between them. If there are areas you can’t clean, they’ll still experience plaque and tartar buildup. Even if you’re doing everything right, you’re still at high risk for tooth decay and gum disease because of these areas.
Tooth Damage Prevention
When your teeth are crooked, you have an uneven bite. When we bring our teeth together, the pressure of our bite usually distributes evenly throughout all of our teeth. If your teeth are uneven, some of them take on more pressure than the others. These teeth are more likely to wear down prematurely, crack, or fracture than the rest of your teeth. Then, you normally require restorative dental solutions to fix them.
Lowered Risk of TMJ
An uneven bite is one of the main causes of TMJ disorder development. Your jaw muscles tense up because they’re moving unnaturally and the jaw joint breaks down. You may experience popping and clicking noises, pain and tension throughout your face and head, and an inability to move your jaw into certain positions. The longer you go without correcting your bite, the worse the symptoms become.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Discover more about cosmetic dentistry in Washington, DC, with answers to these frequently asked questions:
What is the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment?
The most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment is teeth whitening. Many people choose this treatment because it can make a big difference in the appearance of their smiles. Over time, our teeth can become stained from things like coffee, tea, soda, or smoking. Teeth whitening helps to brighten your smile by removing these stains and making your teeth look whiter and healthier.
Am I a candidate for Invisalign?
We recommend Invisalign treatment for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic problems. Invisalign can treat overbite, underbite, crossbite, crooked teeth, and gaps between teeth. We may recommend traditional braces if patients have more severe problems that require extensive care.
Are dental veneers permanent?
While dental veneers are not permanent, they can last for many years with the proper care. In addition, patients must be committed to veneers because treatment requires tooth preparation. Preparing the teeth removes part of the tooth enamel, meaning patients must cover their teeth with veneers or another treatment.
Can a cosmetic dentist fix cavities?
A cosmetic dentist can fix cavities using tooth-colored fillings that blend well with your natural teeth. While the treatment addresses the cavity, the cosmetic focus ensures an aesthetically pleasing result. If the decay is severe, other options like crowns may be necessary.
Does insurance pay for cosmetic dentistry?
Insurance typically doesn’t cover purely cosmetic procedures like veneers or teeth whitening. However, treatments with functional and cosmetic benefits, such as crowns or bonding for damaged teeth, may have partial coverage. Check your policy for specific details.
Can cosmetic dentistry fix an overbite?
Cosmetic dentistry can improve the appearance of an overbite but does not correct the bite itself. Veneers or bonding can make teeth appear more aligned, but severe overbites often require orthodontic treatments like braces or Invisalign. Dr. Banks will recommend the best approach based on your condition.
Make Over Your Smile
Whether you want to make a small change in your smile or want a complete makeover, Dr. Banks is here to help you reach your goals. Call Dupont Dental for cosmetic dental care today at (202) 946-4720. You can also schedule a dental appointment with cosmetic dentist Dr. Banks online.