This four-part article series provides a FAQ guide to cosmetic dentistry and the various techniques, procedures and tools available for the improvement of your smile.

1. This four-part article series provides a FAQ guide to cosmetic dentistry and the various
techniques, procedures and tools available for the improvement of your smile.
Your smile is your body’s most powerful tool for communication and interaction. It’s what makes
you YOU. Everyone wants a beautiful, healthy smile and thankfully, the field of cosmetic dentistry in
Palos Verdes makes this attainable to all. Naturally, many patients have questions for their dentist
about what can be done to improve the appearance of their smile and so, in this four-part article
series, we shall be providing the answers to the more frequently asked of these questions.
Let’s get started!
Query: Skew, Overlapping Teeth
FAQ: I want to get my teeth straightened, but I work in a busy advertising firm and I need to
look my best, so traditional orthodontic braces are out of the question. Is there another
solution?
Answer: “There IS another solution to skew, overcrowded, overlapping teeth and it doesn’t require
patients to spend years wearing unsightly and painful metal braces on their teeth,” explains a
cosmetic dentist in Palos Verdes. “It’s called Invisalign® and it’s really a revolutionary new
approach to providing orthodontic care, particularly to professional adults who don’t want to have
to turn up at work with a mouth full of metal.
“It works very simply through a series of transparent aligner trays (or mouth trays), which you
wear at all times throughout the day, except when eating or cleaning your teeth. You wear an

2. aligner for two weeks before changing to the next aligner in the series. Each one is designed to push
your teeth into slightly different positions until you have straight, even, beautiful teeth. It’s really
that simple!”
FAQ: Does Invisalign® do the same job as orthodontic braces?
Answer: “The Invisalign® system is designed to do exactly the same job as traditional orthodontic
braces and it typically takes the same amount of time to do so,” says the Rancho Palos Verdes
cosmetic dentist. “Only, instead of having to see your dentist every two weeks to have your braces
tightened, you really only need to see your dentist every six weeks or so. This reduces the cost of
orthodontic treatment considerably.”
FAQ: Can Invisalign® be used to treat all kinds of orthodontic problems? Am I a candidate?
Answer: “There are some limitations on the variety of cases Invisalign® can be used to treat. The
most severe of orthodontic problems may require alternative treatment approaches and possibly
even surgery. The best way to find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign® is to schedule a
consultation with an orthodontist or cosmetic dentist in Palos Verdes. Call in first and make sure
that his or her office offers Invisalign®.”
Query: Gummy Smile, Small Teeth
FAQ: I seem to have more gums than teeth. I hate my gummy smile: it makes my teeth look
small. Is there anything you can do to solve this?
Answer: “There is a cosmetic procedure called gum recontouring and it can be used to treat
patients who have an unnatural gum-to-crown ratio. However, before you can be considered for

3. this, we first need to ascertain the cause behind your excessive gum tissue,” advises the Palos
Verdes dentist.
“Gingivitis, which is a bacterial infection of the gums, can cause this soft tissue to swell and cover a
greater percentage of the tooth crowns. This can give the appearance of a gummy smile and small
teeth. If you do present with gingivitis or gum disease, we will first treat this condition and that
should take care of the problem.
“If, however, your excessive gum tissue is a congenital feature (you were “born” with it) and you are
in good oral health, we can likely safely proceed with gum recontouring to establish a more natural
gum-to-crown ratio!”
Stay Tuned for Part 2
To read the answers to more of your FAQ on cosmetic dentistry in Rancho Palos Verdes, stay tuned for
the second installment of this four-part article series coming next week.