Marvin Fier, DDS
Marvin Fier, DDS, FASDA, ABAD, executive vice president, American Society for Dental Aesthetics, and dentist in private practice, Pomona, New York. SmileRockland.com
Ever wonder how you would look with a perfect smile? Now you can find out — before spending a penny. A cosmetic dentist can show you a computerized simulation of your smile with teeth repaired, realigned and/or whitened… and the real-life results are better than ever. Options…
Crowns. Severe decay or damage is repaired with a permanent covering that fits over the original tooth. In the past, a crown had a metal core for strength, but the metal created a visible dark line at the gum.
Veneers. A thin shell of porcelain permanently fixes a chipped or broken tooth… reshapes a short or misshapen tooth… whitens a discolored tooth… and/or closes a gap between teeth.
Whitening. The dentist makes customized plastic trays that fit over your teeth. At home, you fill the trays with whitening gel and wear them for a few hours daily for several weeks, then occasionally as needed.
Braces. These correct crowding, crookedness and bite. Instead of metal bands, orthodontists now use clear or tooth-colored ceramic brackets attached to the front of the teeth… lingual braces applied to the back of the teeth… or transparent removable aligners that use no brackets.
Referrals: Contact the American Society for Dental Aesthetics (800-454-2732, www.asdatoday.com)… or the American Association of Orthodontists (800-787-2444, www.braces.org). At your consultation, ask to see before-and-after photos of the dentist’s patients. Insurance generally does not pay for whitening or veneers but may partially cover crowns and braces.