Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening, Veneers, Braces, Invisalign, Six Month Smiles, Bad Breath Treatment, Mouth Guards
Clean Teeth; Bad Breath; whiter teeth; oral hygiene; children's dentistry
FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR SMILE
At Briarwood Dental, we offer much more than cosmetic dental treatment. We have your long-term oral health in mind. Everything we do is with you and your future well-being at the forefront of our approach. We believe a better standard of cosmetic dentistry, by adopting an ethical attitude that puts you first.
We believe the best way is always to achieve the most natural fresh-looking beautiful smile possible by using the minimum of cosmetic treatment necessary. Sometimes simply replacing old discolored composite fillings with practically invisible new white fillings can make a dramatic difference. See below to learn more about all of our cosmetic dentistry options and call or request your appointment today to talk with our specialists to see which option is best for you.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Briarwood Dental offers the best cosmetic teeth whitening in the Des Moines area.
Before deciding whether our in-office teeth whitening is right for you, we will conduct a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums to ensure proper health, as well as talk with you about your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits to determine if you will benefit from whitening. This will help you and Briarwood Dental agree on the whitening product or technique that’s best for you.
During your consultation and evaluation, we will also will note existing dental work, such as crowns and veneers, which will not respond to conventional whitening agents. The complete procedure takes less than an hour, but a regular teeth cleaning is recommended prior to the actual teeth whitening session.
The procedure begins with a short preparation to cover the lips and gums, leaving the teeth exposed. The dentist or dental assistant then applies a hydrogen peroxide whitening gel, which works with a specially designed light to penetrate the teeth and break up the stains and discoloration. The gel remains in place for 15 minutes while the light is activated. During this time, you can relax, watch TV or listen to music. The gel is applied for three 15-minute sessions of light activation, for a total treatment time of 45 minutes. Individuals with a strong gag reflex or anxiety may have difficulty undergoing the entire procedure. Immediately afterwards, a sensitivity-reducing fluoride paste-gel is applied to the teeth.
Veneers
If you have smile imperfections like chipped, worn down, or discolored teeth, we can provide best in class veneers in Ankeny, IA and the Des Moines area. Dental veneers are placed over the front surface of the teeth to give you a Hollywood smile. We invite you to contact Briarwood Dental today to schedule an appointment and learn more.
Veneers are very thin shells, typically made of porcelain or resin, that are bonded to the front of your teeth to enhance the beauty of your smile. We may recommend dental veneers to correct several types of smile imperfections. Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for enhancing your smile because the color and translucence of porcelain is a great match for the natural appearance of tooth enamel. Porcelain is stain resistant as well, so your smile will stay bright for years to come. Resin veneers can also be matched to your natural tooth color. With dental veneers, you can achieve a beautiful, natural-looking smile that you will love to show off.
Our dentist may recommend dental veneers if you would like to improve the appearance of your smile. Custom-made veneers can be used for just one tooth or for your entire smile. We may suggest veneers to:
- Close large spaces and gaps between teeth
- Whiten teeth that are severely stained or discolored
- Improve the appearance of irregularly shaped teeth
- Correct slightly crooked teeth
- Restore teeth that are broken, chipped, worn, or fractured
Orthodontics
At Briarwood Dental in Ankeny, Iowa, we recognize that confidence is key to leading a happier, more successful life. Studies show that the first thing most people notice about you is your smile. Many of us have not had the benefits of wearing metal braces when we were younger and wearing traditional ceramic or metal braces now may not be too appealing.
At Briarwood Dental, we offer expertise in several comprehensive orthodontic treatments from traditional braces to invisible advanced orthodontics (clear braces) from children to adults, to improve a wide variety of conditions and problems. You’d be surprised how many adults are searching for a better smile and who turn to adult orthodontics professionals like Briarwood.
Traditional Braces:
We offer traditional braces for children and adults. Traditional braces can correct many problems with your teeth including; crooked and crowded teeth, a misaligned bite, and jaw problems. Braces can also eliminate any problems you may have with eating, speaking properly, or keeping your teeth clean. With our modern dental technology, traditional braces are smaller, and more comfortable to give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.
Traditional braces consist of metal brackets which are placed on your teeth with adhesive and connected with metal a metal wire. Your braces will require periodic tightening with gentle pressure which will straighten your teeth and align your jaw. Talk to our specialists about your options today
Invisalign Clear Braces:
Invisalign® is a great choice for our patients who are searching for a more discreet orthodontic treatment option. Rather than using metal brackets and wires like traditional braces, the Invisalign system uses a series of custom-made, computer-generated plastic aligners to straighten your smile. Each set of aligners is designed to make small changes to the alignment of the teeth. As you switch sets of aligners about every two weeks, your teeth will be gradually, gently guided to their proper positions. You will also visit our office on a regular basis during treatment to make certain that your smile is progressing as planned.
In general, Invisalign can be used to treat the same orthodontic issues that are normally treated with braces. Our orthodontist may recommend Invisalign to correct:
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gapped and spaced teeth
- Certain problems with the bite, such as an overbite, open bite, underbite, or crossbite
During your initial visit, we will determine whether you are a good candidate for Invisalign. This treatment is often a good choice for adult patients and others who are interested in a virtually invisible orthodontic treatment. In addition to being discreet, Invisalign aligners are also very comfortable because they are custom made from smooth, thin plastic. The aligners are removable as well, which allows you to easily remove them as needed in order to eat, brush, and floss. We welcome you to call or visit us today to learn more about Invisalign.
Six Month Smiles:
Do you have crooked or crowded teeth? Are you self-conscious about the appearance of your smile? Briarwood Dental can help in as little as Six Month Smiles® in Ankeny, Iowa. As the name suggests, Six Month Smiles will give you a straight, beautiful smile in just six months!
Six Month Smiles® short-term braces are a great option for quickly straightening your teeth. Six Month Smiles can give you a straight, beautiful smile in just a few months – the average treatment time is only six months, whereas the treatment time with traditional braces is generally 18-30 months. This orthodontic process uses tried-and-true techniques with a modern twist to give you excellent results in less time. Because your orthodontic treatment time is shorter, the process is more comfortable and hygienic, so your smile will stay healthy.
Six Month Smiles is not only fast; it is also discreet. Six Month Smiles is available with clear brackets and tooth-colored wires that are barely visible in your mouth. This means that most people will not even notice that you are wearing braces, and your teeth will be straighter in less time. In addition, Six Month Smiles is very affordable and typically costs less than traditional braces, dental veneers, or clear aligner therapy. Short-term braces are a great choice for our patients who are interested in a more efficient way to gain a straighter smile, and our dentist will help you make certain this is a good treatment for your smile. If you would like to learn more about Six Month Smiles, please contact us today.
Preventative Care
Sometimes the best action to keep and maintain a beautiful smile is to protect and care for your oral health before damage occurs. At Briarwood Dental we offer the best preventative care in the Des Moines Area. Our friendly staff can help you maintain a healthy smile.
Dental prevention is an area we, as a team, work tirelessly to improve in all our patients. It’s a real passion of ours, and we back it up with real guidance. There are many areas in which we at Briarwood Dental, in Ankeny, IA, are proactive in preventing problems whenever possible, before they begin. See below for a list of products and services we offer to help prevent oral damage.
Bad Breath:
Mouth Guards:
Do you or your child play sports? Briarwood Dental can provide a top quality protective mouth guard in Des Moines, Iowa. Mouth guards will protect the teeth from injury during contact sports. These are made-to-measure, of the best quality available, and can be made in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Wearing a mouth guard is essential to prevent potentially serious injury not only to your teeth but also to the head and brain in many sports.
Sealents:
Fluoride:
Oral Cancer Screening:
When you visit us for your routine dental appointment, our staff will providemodern oral cancer screening in Des Moines, Iowa. Oral cancer screening allows our dentists to diagnose and treat oral cancer early, when it is still easy to treat. We welcome you to contact Briarwood Dental today for more information and to request an appointment.
Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, throat (pharynx), sinuses, and hard and soft palate. While oral cancer can usually be successfully treated when detected early, most cases of oral cancer are not detected until they have progressed into a more serious, advanced stage that is much more difficult to treat. In fact, oral cancer may be life threatening. At our office, we are dedicated to doing all we can to detect and treat oral cancers and other abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. During your routine dental cleanings and exams at our office, our dentist and team will perform an oral cancer screening to check for the signs of oral cancer.
The following are common symptoms of oral cancer:
- A persistent sore throat or feeling that something is caught at the back of the throat
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- A persistent or lasting sore on the face, neck, or mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal within two weeks
- Unexplained loss of feeling, pain, or numbness in the face, neck, or mouth
- Ear pain
- Lumps, bumps, or rough spots on the gums, lips, or other parts of the mouth
- Red, white, or speckled red and white patches in the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, or swallowing
- A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together
