Category: Cosmetic Dentistry

Will Clear Aligners Straighten My Smile?

Closeup of a woman smiling as she puts in her clear aligners to straighten her teeth

Misaligned, crooked teeth can make you feel self-conscious and make it harder to keep your teeth clean. Thus, straightening your smile will not only boost your confidence, but improve your oral health too! Nowadays, many patients can choose between braces and clear aligners to address their misalignment.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are custom mouth trays that use gentle pressure to straighten your teeth. You switch out the aligners every two weeks or so until treatment is complete. Because the trays are made from smooth plastic, they’re more comfortable than traditional metal braces. They’re also removable! You take them out to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush and floss your teeth.

Who Can Get Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners can fix mild to moderate alignment issues. You may need the power of traditional braces if you have a more complicated case. Additionally, you need to have good oral health, be responsible enough to keep track of your aligners, and commit to wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day and keeping them and your teeth clean. The best way to know if you’re a good candidate for this orthodontic treatment is to schedule an appointment with a dentist that is specially-trained in clear aligner therapy!

How Long Do Clear Aligners Take to Straighten Teeth?

While each case is different, clear aligner treatment typically takes about a year for most patients. The process requires checkups every several weeks. Keep in mind that treatment will be prolonged if you do not wear your aligners enough each day.

Clear Aligners in Traveler’s Rest, SC

Clear aligners effectively and discreetly straighten crooked teeth. Unlike traditional braces, they’re removable and not very noticeable. If your dental insurance does not cover the cost, we accept CareCredit and offer a discount on clear aligners with enrollment in our dental savings plan. Please contact us today to set up a consultation at Paris Mountain Dental!

Tips for a Whiter Smile

Brunette woman in a red blouse smiles and looks at her whiter teeth in a handheld mirror

Few people have a naturally white smile. This is because teeth genetically come in many different shades and tend to yellow with age, eating, and inconsistent dental care. Fortunately, some products and techniques can help you achieve a whiter smile. Here are three tips for a naturally whiter smile!

1. Daily Brush & Floss

Consistent brushing and flossing are the best ways to maintain a whiter smile. A toothbrush, especially an electric toothbrush, removes harmful plaque and some surface stains while contributing to good oral health.

If deep tooth stains are already present, brushing won’t make a dramatic difference. However, it can prevent new stains from settling in and be used as maintenance should you choose professional teeth whitening.

2. Limit Deeply-Pigmented Foods & Drinks

Food and drinks with darker pigments and tannins can lead to tooth discoloration over time. Common culprits include tea, coffee, red wine, balsamic vinegar, tomato sauce, and other concentrated and acidic substances.

Consume staining foods and drinks in moderation and rinse with water afterwards.

3. Maintain Regular Dental Cleanings

Routine cleanings at the dentist should recur every six months, and more often if you have current periodontal disease. During these visits, plaque and tartar are removed from the surface of the teeth and the teeth are polished. These cleanings help prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and can also result in a whiter smile after the plaque and tartar are removed.

Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments in Travelers Rest, SC

If you have tried these tips and your teeth are still not as white as you desire, we invite you to consider at-home or in-office teeth whitening or veneers. Then, following the above tips can help you maintain your smile’s new bright appearance!

Our team at Paris Mountain Dental can help you achieve a whiter smile. We offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments like professional teeth whitening and veneers in Travelers Rest, SC. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Paris Mountain Dental can help brighten your smile!

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How Dental Bonding Can Improve Your Smile

Smiling man in the dental chair.

It’s not common to have naturally perfect teeth. In fact, most people have at least one thing they would aesthetically change about their smiles. Whether you have a small gap between two teeth or a chipped tooth, dental bonding is a great solution to enhance your smile’s appearance! Here’s what you need to know about dental bonding and how it can improve your smile.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a treatment that uses a malleable, tooth-colored composite resin that can be molded into any shape necessary. Bonding is applied directly to teeth and can be cured in place with a blue light. The composite resin material comes in a variety of shades, so it can be closely matched to the shade of your teeth.

What Can Dental Bonding Fix?

Bonding is extremely versatile and can be used to correct a variety of aesthetic tooth imperfections.

  • Chipped teeth
  • Cracked teeth
  • Discolored teeth
  • Short teeth
  • Small gaps between teeth

Taking Care of Your Bonding

Even though bonding is strong, it is not as strong as natural teeth and enamel. It’s important to be mindful of your bonding to prevent it from breaking off. Avoid chewing on hard foods like ice and jawbreaker candy or opening packages with your teeth. You also want to ensure you refrain from staining your natural teeth as this will make the shade of the bonding stick out since it will no longer match your tooth. When playing sports, opt for a mouthguard to prevent anything from hitting your teeth and breaking your bonding.

Schedule Your Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation

Dental bonding can’t fix all smile flaws but Paris Mountain Dental offers many other cosmetic and restorative treatments in addition to bonding. We have lots of options available to help patients achieve their ideal smiles. Please contact our office to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation to see if dental bonding is right for you!

Dental bonding can fix many smile flaws!

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Are You Ready for Professional Teeth Whitening?

Smiling young woman pointing to her professionally whitened smile.

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to improve your smile and boost your confidence, professional teeth whitening may be for you. Paris Mountain Dental offers several teeth whitening options in Travelers Rest, SC, that can dramatically improve your smile in a short time!

Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is the simplest way to transform your smile. If you’ve been disappointed with the results of drugstore whitening products, it is definitely time for an upgrade. Professional whitening is also a safe and effective way to brighten your smile. Additionally, it is probably a lot quicker and easier than you’d expect! This cosmetic dentistry service is very popular with our patients and we’ll be here to help you manage any irritation or sensitivity that may occur.

Our Teeth Whitening Options

Paris Mountain Dental offers two ways to whiten your teeth, both yielding professional-quality results: custom tray take-home whitening or in-office whitening.

With in-office whitening, you will see results after just one simple visit to our office! You can sit back and let us handle the entire process.

Alternatively, take-home tray whitening still guarantees a comfortable experience and exceptional results. The custom-fit of the tray maximizes the effectiveness of the powerful gel. It also minimizes the risk for irritation that comes with an ill-fitting tray. You will be able to easily control the whitening process from home. You can adjust the amount of gel used as needed if you find yourself dealing with sensitivity.

Cosmetic Dentistry & More in Travelers Rest, NC

If you would to give your smile a boost, we are just a phone call away. Whether it is professional whitening or another one of our great cosmetic or restorative procedures, we have the tools to transform your smile. Contact us today to get started with a consultation.

Professional teeth whitening provides an instant confidence boost!

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What Are the Most Popular Cosmetic Dental Procedures?

Cosmetic dentistry has become more and more popular over the years as patients increasingly want teeth that are beautiful in appearance as well as healthy. Paris Mountain Dental offers a few different popular cosmetic dental options that can help you achieve your smile goals and attain a dazzling smile that you can’t wait to show off!

Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental treatment. That’s why you see so many drugstore teeth whitening products like whitening strips and whitening toothpastes. It’s very common for teeth to naturally appear a little yellow or simply less bright than we want them to be. Professional teeth whitening is a simple and easy way to achieve a consistently bright white smile that lasts for many months or even years. We can work with you to decide what shade will make your teeth look beautiful yet very natural.

Clear Aligner Therapy

Clear aligner therapy is another popular cosmetic dental treatment. Aligners quickly, effectively, and discreetly can shift teeth. If you have always wished you had a straighter smile but don’t want to wear noticeable metal braces, clear aligners are an excellent alternative option. Orthodontic treatments can be used to correct a patient’s bite and reduce crowding. A straighter smile can lead to better overall oral health. Of course, many patients are more interested in the cosmetic enhancements that orthodontic treatment provides. Regardless of your reason for pursuing clear aligner therapy, our team would be happy to help!

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are less common than teeth whitening treatments and clear aligner therapy for a few reasons, but they are still a popular cosmetic dental service. Veneers are a permanent treatment. Once a patient decides to enhance their smile by having one or more veneers placed, the tooth or teeth must always be protected by a veneer or another dental restoration. Veneers tend to be more of a financial investment as well. However, for patients who are looking to achieve a gorgeous, Hollywood-esque smile, traditional veneers can offer them the straighter, whiter, more uniform smile that they have always wanted.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Travelers Rest, SC

Not sure which treatment option is right for you? Schedule a cosmetic consultation with Paris Mountain Dental today. We’ll be happy to help you decide which treatment or treatments will work best for your unique smile.

Learn more about our most popular cosmetic treatments!

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How Clear Aligners Work

Smiling woman with curly hair holds a clear aligner in front of her face.

Clear aligner therapy is a revolutionary teeth straightening method. Aligner therapy utilizes retainer-like trays to straighten teeth. But how do aligners straighten teeth? It’s a valid question that many patients ask when considering aligners. Keep reading to learn more about how they work and what they can do for your smile!

What Is Clear Aligner Therapy?

Unlike traditional metal braces, clear aligner therapy uses clear, plastic trays to straighten teeth over time. To create the aligner series, dentists utilize digital scanners to create a 3D model of the teeth. With the model, a series of aligners are designed to move teeth incrementally over the treatment period. Clear aligners use gentle force to push teeth into their desired positions. Each new aligner tray gets you closer to the finish line!

How Clear Aligners Straighten Teeth

Clear aligners are worn for one to two weeks at a time. They are specifically designed to not fit perfectly so that they can push the teeth gently into their new positions. After one to two weeks, patients swap out their current trays for a new set. These are worn until the teeth have adjusted to fit in the newest trays. This cycle continues until the preferred smile results are achieved! Aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours a day to stay on the estimated treatment timeline.

Benefits of Clear Aligner Therapy

Wondering if clear aligner therapy is the right choice for you? This advanced orthodontic treatment provides a wide array of perks for patients!

  • Aligners are removed before eating
  • You can easily brush & floss
  • Subtle appearance
  • Smooth, comfortable aligners
  • Minimal pain & discomfort
  • Fewer appointments
  • Reduced treatment time on average

Clear Aligner Therapy in Travelers Rest

Ready to achieve your dream smile without having a mouth full of metal? At Paris Mountain Dental, we are pleased to offer clear aligner therapy. We love watching our patients gain a straight, beautiful smile without having to deal with the stress or embarrassment of braces. Please contact us to schedule your orthodontic consultation!

Discreetly straighten your teeth with clear aligners!

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How Cosmetic Dentistry Impacts Your Oral Health

Attractive dark haired young woman with curly hair shows off a beautiful smile enhanced by cosmetic dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is more than just looking better. It can also impact your oral health and improve your general well-being. Let’s go over some typical cosmetic dentistry treatments and talk about how they can improve your oral health.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are thin ceramic layers that make custom changes to your teeth. Dental veneers are an excellent option for internally stained teeth, minor alignment issues, and chipped teeth. Porcelain veneers do more than give you a dazzling smile. They often save your teeth from further problems down the road. For example, not fixing a chipped tooth can lead to problems like more cracks in the enamel or the potential for a bacterial infection within the tooth. Both of these issues can lead to more costly and extensive repairs.

Teeth Whitening

Stained teeth are a common dental problem. Food and drink particles, smoking, natural aging, or certain medications are reasons for teeth staining. Teeth whitening can lift the stains from your teeth and give you a brighter smile. Professional teeth whitening is superior to store-bought whiteners. A custom-tray whitening treatment from Dr. Ghimire at Paris Mountain Dental is safer for your mouth and more likely to create better results. When you’re proud of your smile, you are more vigilant about taking care of your teeth. This includes implementing a dental hygiene routine that includes brushing your teeth twice a day and regularly flossing.

Clear Aligner Therapy

Clear Aligner Therapy can give you a straighter smile that will leave you a healthier person. All of this while avoiding the appearance of traditional metal braces. Straighter teeth can have a considerable impact on your oral health. They are easier to clean and less likely to get broken. Aligned teeth also improve your bite and prevent excessive wear on your teeth. These factors make you less likely to develop jaw pain, gum disease, cavities, or other oral infections.

Better Oral Health in Travelers Rest, SC

Paris Mountain Dental in Travelers Rest, SC offers several cosmetic dentistry procedures, including veneers, professional teeth whitening, and clear aligner therapy. They all can help improve your oral health and improve your appearance at the same time. Please schedule an appointment with us to discuss your situation.

Ask us how cosmetic dentistry can improve your overall oral health!

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How Do Clear Aligners Work?

Dark haired smiling girl holding her clear aligner

At Paris Mountain Dental in Travelers Rest, SC, we are happy to provide you with the best orthodontic care when it comes to helping you achieve the smile of your dreams. Here, we’ll discuss clear aligners as an option for straightening your teeth and explain how they work.

What Are the Benefits of Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are a fantastic way to straighten your teeth. While traditional braces use metal brackets and wires to straighten your teeth, clear aligners are removable, clear plastic appliances. The benefit to clear aligners is that they are subtle and virtually invisible. People might not even notice you’re wearing them so you can feel more confident about your appearance while you straighten your teeth. Another great aspect of clear aligners is that they are removable. This means that you can take them out for special occasions so you feel your best for the big moment. You can also take them out when you eat and brush and floss your teeth so you can clean your teeth thoroughly.

How Do Clear Aligners Work?

First, a custom-made plan to straighten your smile is computer generated. Next, the aligners will be made to fix your specific alignment issues. The aligners fit snugly over your teeth. Where traditional braces slowly pull your teeth into place, clear aligners gently push your teeth into place. Surprisingly, it usually takes less time to straighten your teeth using this method. For the treatment to work however, you’ll need to wear your clear aligners for about 20 to 22 hours per day. The aligners are replaced with new ones every few weeks so that your teeth are constantly being pushed into the right spot. At the end of the treatment, you’ll receive a final set of clear aligners to serve as a retainer. Wearing the retainer every night will ensure that your teeth stay in place.

How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost?

At Paris Mountain Dental, we offer many payment options so that you can get a straighter smile no matter what your budget is. We accept many insurances and can even accept payment through CareCredit. This allows you to split your costs into easy monthly payments. If you don’t have insurance, we offer the Paris Mountain Dental Savings Plan for a low annual fee so you can get preventive care at no additional cost and a 12% discount on other dental procedures and treatments. Call our Travelers Rest office today for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Contact us to learn more about clear aligners.

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How Long Do Veneers Last?

If your smile leaves something to be desired, it’s time to fix that. Veneers can be a great option if you’re looking to improve the look and feel of your smile.


woman's smile from dental porcelain veneers

Veneers 101

Veneers are tooth-shaped shells custom made out of porcelain to fit over the teeth. They are used to fix up the smile, solving a variety of common issues including yellow or crooked teeth. When installing veneers, your dentist will remove some enamel, making room and creating a rough surface for the veneers to adhere to. Veneers are attached to the existing teeth using a dental resin. The result will be an incredibly natural smile—a durable set of teeth that won’t stain.

Are They Forever?

Veneers are built to last. Porcelain is strong and durable, much like enamel. But again, like tooth enamel, porcelain can crack. Barring any sort of accidental break, veneers will typically last somewhere in the range of 10 to 15 years. Once that time frame has come and gone, your veneers will either need repair or replacement, depending on the shape they’re in.

It’s All About Care

With great care, you can ensure that your veneers will last as long as possible. Since the veneers are simply covering the natural teeth, oral care should remain a top priority. That means brushing, flossing, and seeing a dentist twice a year, in addition to maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle habits. In addition to care, if you’re careful you can minimize the risk of wear and damage. Do not bite your nails, never use your teeth to open packaging or rip off a tag, and if you have a teeth clenching or grinding habit, address it before, or soon after, getting veneers.

Top Quality Care At Paris Mountain Dental

Whether you want veneers, already have veneers, or are fine without them, you have the power to control the look and feel of your smile by paying attention to your oral health, and we’re here to help. Feel free to call our office with questions about your care, or to set up an upcoming visit!

To ask our team any questions about veneers or to schedule your visit to our office, contact us today!

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How Can I Fix Calcium Spots on My Teeth?

As you age, you may notice white spots on your teeth. If these white spots are causing you to hide your smile, it’s time to take action.  Our team at Paris Mountain Dental can help treat these white spots and restore your smile. Today, we want to talk about some of the causes for white spots on teeth along with treatment options.

blond woman looking up at question marks pondering.

What Causes White Spots?

There are two common culprits for white spots on teeth: dental fluorosis and calcium deposits. Dental fluorosis occurs when people ingest too much fluoride as children. This condition is usually harmless and develops before teeth break through the gums. Calcium deposits, on the other hand, develop in adulthood.

Calcium Deposits

Calcium deposits occur when the calcium phosphate in your saliva sticks to plaque on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky biofilm composed of bacteria in your mouth that feed on sugar and starches. Without proper care, calcium phosphate can harden into tartar. Not only does tartar attract even more bacteria and plaque, tartar is an irritant that can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues.

How Do We Treat Calcium Spots?

Unlike plaque, tartar cannot be removed by brushing.  The only way to remove tartar is through a professional cleaning at our office. Our team will use special tools to remove tartar both above and below your gum line. If the tartar buildup is more severe, we many recommend root planing and scaling, a deep cleaning treatment that involves cleaning the root surfaces of your teeth and removing all tartar.

Restoring the Appearance of Your Teeth

Once white spots on your teeth are a thing of the past, you may want to take advantage of our professional whitening services to get that bright, white smile you’ve always wanted. To ask our team any questions about white spots on your teeth or to schedule your next appointment, contact our office today!

Get a whiter smile at Paris Mountain Dental!

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