Dentists like Dr. Kaveendra Ranasinghe have the training, experience, and technologies to provide all sorts of dentistry services – from protecting the teeth with preventive cleanings and exams to repairing damage with cavities, crowns, and more. However, Dr. Kaveen takes a special interest in cosmetic dentistry care. He loves to blend the art and science of dentistry to “makeover” your teeth and your entire smile in a safe, comfortable, and predictable manner. Portland Dental has had the great privilege of caring for our neighbors from across the greater PDX, Lake Oswego, and Beaverton, Oregon, area with the following four highly treatable cosmetic imperfections.

No. 1: Yellow teeth

Due to the cumulative effects of a coffee, tea, and smoking habit, your teeth can become stained over time. They can also look brown or yellow due to wear and tear; as the protective enamel thins, the darker dentin layer can become exposed. Whatever the case may be, there is an effective treatment to restore the beauty of your teeth. By applying a powerful whitening gel, Dr. Kaveen can safely lighten your teeth in just one quick appointment at our office. He may recommend veneers to cover up the stained teeth for more stubborn cases, such as intrinsic or internal discoloration (like tetracycline stains).

No. 2: Chipped teeth

Your tooth enamel is stronger than skeletal bone. But it can still become damaged due to wear and tear and habits like untreated teeth grinding. Such damage can manifest as chips and other surface imperfections. These flaws can detract from the uniform and balanced appearance of your teeth and smile. Dr. Kaveen brings beautiful balance back to your smile by disguising chips and similar cosmetic concerns with veneers. These thin layers of porcelain are shaped and secured to the chipped front surfaces of the teeth. While the chips are still there, no one sees them! These durable and natural-looking porcelain coverings effectively hide them.

No. 3: Irregularly shaped, sized teeth

Veneers are so versatile that Dr. Kaveen may even use design and apply them to reshape a tooth that sticks out in your smile. A single overly pointy or otherwise oddly shaped or poorly contoured tooth can greatly impact the appearance of your smile as a whole. The porcelain can be shaped so the tooth blends in with the rest of the smile in a pleasing way. We can take the same approach with a worn tooth that may appear undersized when you smile. Veneers allow us to effectively add height or length to the overly short tooth.

No. 4: Misalignment

Gone are the days of wearing silver-colored, fixed metal braces for years to straighten your teeth! Dr. Kaveen and Portland Dental are proud providers of Invisalign^®. This orthodontic treatment allows us to correct everything from modest spacing issues to more severe bite problems with clear aligners. These aligners are not visible when you smile and can be removed for ease of eating and effective brushing and flossing. They also straighten teeth in a fraction of the time as conventional braces. You may not even need orthodontic treatment at all. Again, veneers can cover up gaps or other mild spacing issues that do not require orthodontic treatment.

Combined with these and other dentistry procedures, they are a true smile makeover! Whether you want to improve the appearance of one tooth or a mouth full of gapped, chipped, and stained teeth, contact us today! To schedule an appointment at our greater PDX, Lake Oswego, and Beaverton, OR area office, call (503) 227-1693 today.

At Portland Dental, we offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry solutions to patients in PDX, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, and northwest Oregon. Veneers are among the top cosmetic services we offer.

Why are veneers so popular?

One reason for their popularity is their versatility. Professional teeth whitening removes stains, while Invisalign^® straightens teeth. But veneers can do it all. Dr. Kaveendra Ranasinghe may apply them to cover discoloration, gaps, chips, and worn-down teeth. They also improve your smile without looking fake.

How do veneers cover up these problems?

The veneer is designed to replace the top visible part of the “imperfect” tooth. Dr. Kaveendra expertly planned and developed it. Once he has gathered all the information and details needed to make the veneer, that info is sent to our lab partners. Our lab then perfectly makes your veneer to exact specifications regarding color, shape, size, and other characteristics. Once the veneer is ready, it will be applied over the “trouble” tooth. If everything looks and feels right, it is secured or bonded to the natural tooth. After it’s secured, the veneer effectively covers up the flaw so no one can see your staining, chips, jagged edges, or other concerns. Of course, more than one veneer may be placed depending on your needs. Some of our patients opt for a full smile makeover with veneers, applying them to the front surfaces of all teeth that are visible when they smile.

Does it truly appear natural?

Yes! Dr. Kaveendra’s attention to detail ensures that even the smallest aspects of your new tooth structure are accounted for when planning and designing your veneers. Our lab only uses the finest and highest quality materials to make your veneers.

What material do you use?

Veneers are made from porcelain. Cosmetic dentists love to use porcelain in these procedures because it looks so lifelike. The properties of porcelain are similar to natural tooth enamel. Both porcelain and enamel have nearly identical translucency and reflect light similarly. While porcelain may seem fragile, it is quite strong. When secured properly, it can withstand all the chewing behaviors and functions your teeth will use. But it differs from natural enamel in a good way – it resists staining very well!

How should I care for my veneers?

We’re happy to help with that! Generally, since veneers are made to replicate the appearance and strength of natural teeth, you should care for them like all of your other teeth that do not have veneers. This TLC includes consistently good brushing, flossing, and avoiding anything that could damage the veneer and the tooth underneath it. If, for instance, you grind your teeth at night/while you sleep, we’ll discuss that in advance of your getting veneers. Grinding teeth could be the reason you need veneers in the first place: to cover up chips and other wear and tear. We can fit you with a nightguard that protects your teeth and dental work from further damage. Of course, all teeth (fully natural or not) must be regularly examined and cleaned by our professionals at Portland Dental.

If you are overdue for a visit to your dentist or are interested in learning more about veneers and other cosmetic dentistry services, schedule an appointment today. Our office serves PDX, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, and northwest Oregon. Our phone number is (503) 227-1693.

Invisalign^® is a comfortable alternative to conventional orthodontic treatment with braces. It’s also gentler on your teeth and tissues. There are at least six reasons that Invisalign^® is such an appealing way to support optimal oral health and the best treatment experience at our office, which serves PDX, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and northwest Oregon with only the most innovative and proven therapies.

No. 1: Others only see your smile!

Invisalign^® is a cosmetic option at Portland Dental. The aligners that “do” the straightening blend seamlessly with your teeth and smile. Invisalign^® uses clear, transparent plastic aligners. You no longer need to wear silver braces to fix crooked, crowded, gapped, and misaligned teeth.

No. 2: Straightening your teeth isn’t a pain.

The advanced plastic used to make your aligners is not only clear in appearance but also smooth and designed to flex. These features help to support the most comfortable experience. No wires or other metal hardware are poking up against your teeth and the delicate tissues in your mouth.

No. 3: Eat everything you like!

Our Invisalign^® patients do not have to alter their diet for several months and years while undergoing treatment. They continue to enjoy even sticky, crunchy, and hard foods. This is because aligners can be easily removed. You can take them out as effortlessly as you put them in. By removing the aligners before snacking or meals, nothing stands in the way between you and your varied, nutritious, and enjoyable diet.

No. 4: Oral hygiene doesn’t suffer.

You won’t struggle to clean around brackets, wires, and elastics. Invisalign^® eliminates these obstacles. Just remove the aligners before brushing and flossing to keep your mouth healthy and reduce the risk of decay or gum disease.

No. 5: No pain, all gain.

There are no “trade-offs” with Invisalign^®. You are not sacrificing the quality of treatment for a more comfortable and discreet experience. Invisalign^® is based on similar principles to braces; brackets, wires, and elastics generate consistent pressure to reposition the teeth, so the aligners do the same. In fact, Invisalign^® can be used for a variety of conditions—from minor cosmetic straightening to more advanced bite-related problems, such as underbite or overbite.

No. 6: Get results, faster.

Treatment at Portland Dental is customized. A series of aligners is provided at the start. The total number depends on factors such as misalignment severity. Each aligner is worn for about one to two weeks. Many patients straighten teeth faster than with braces. Average treatment time is twelve to eighteen months, with some seeing results in six months.

To experience the beauty, ease, and precision of Invisalign^® for yourself, schedule a consultation at our office serving the Beaverton, Hillsboro, and greater northwest Oregon area. Call us at (503) 227-1693 today to get started.

While Dr. Kaveendra Ranasinghe has the experience and knowledge to handle all your oral health needs, he takes a special interest in dental implants. So, when looking for a “dental implant expert in my area,” we encourage you to stop searching at Portland Dental. We serve PDX and our greater Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and northwest Oregon area. We are happy to walk you through what to expect from the implant process, courtesy of our patients’ questions about this popular way to replace teeth.

So, are the implants the replacement teeth?

Implants are part of the replacement teeth and are attached to them. Such replacement teeth may include crowns, bridges, or dentures. The implant functions as a tooth root to hold the new or artificial tooth in place, just like a natural tooth root.

How do implants hold the teeth in place?

The implant must be inserted into the jawbone. Dr. Kaveendra accomplishes this during an in-office surgery or procedure. Sometimes, a connector piece or “abutment” is applied while he inserts your implant. This “healing cap” may also be used as the implant heals, a process known as osseointegration.

Doesn’t it hurt?

You shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort. Dr. Kaveendra uses an anesthetic and ensures the area to be treated is fully numbed before accessing the jawbone and precisely placing the implant.

What is osseointegration?

We know it’s a mouthful of a word. But generally, we are just referring to how the bone surrounding the implant naturally grows around this artificial tooth root. If this process didn’t occur, the implant could not function as a tooth root to stabilize the replacement tooth (crown) in the jawbone. This process is also possible because implants are made from special materials designed to naturally and safely fuse to the surrounding tissues.

How long does this process take?

It can take several months. But with some implant systems, we can place your new teeth at the same time that the implants themselves are inserted. These systems include “immediate dentures.”

Can you use implants to replace that many teeth?

Yes! We can use implants as an alternative to conventional removable dentures. One way to consider your versatile options is to consider how a single implant may be positioned to support one restoration (a dental crown). A few implants may be applied to support several teeth (as a dental bridge)—a minimum of four to six implants to stabilize an upper or lower denture. We can completely rehabilitate the smile with both upper and lower implant dentures.

How long do implants last?

Artificial teeth cannot decay like natural teeth. With that being said, the natural tissues around the implant are vulnerable to damage from conditions such as gum disease-like peri-implantitis, which can ultimately lead to the loss of the tooth. Portland Dental works with you on home care tips and products and ongoing in-office professional services to keep your implants healthy and disease-free.

To learn more about the implant process and get on the path to a new smile today, contact our office in PDX serving the greater Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and northwest Oregon today at (503) 227-1693.

Our dentist at Portland Dental, Dr. Kaveendra Ranasinghe, specializes in cosmetic dentistry procedures. He blends the art, science, and health care of dentistry to restore smiles in PDX, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, and surrounding communities in Northwest Oregon. He’s excited to share how veneers can make your smile in six ways.

No. 1: Lighten stubbornly stained teeth

Some severely discolored or intrinsically (internally) stained teeth resist even the most powerful professional whitening gels. Patients frustrated by whitening treatments can turn to veneers. This surefire solution covers up stains and discoloration. While the stains remain, they become invisible. We accomplish this in just two visits.

No. 2: Disguise chips

Dr. Kaveendra may recommend veneers as a natural-looking, fast, and long-lasting solution when the protective enamel is damaged due to grinding or wear. Each veneer is designed precisely by our lab partners to blend seamlessly with natural tooth enamel. Once ready, veneers are placed and secured over the chipped teeth. It’s like waving a magic wand over your “imperfect” teeth to make the chips disappear!

No. 3: Close gaps

You don’t need braces or Invisalign^® for a straighter, more attractive smile. Dr. Kaveendra applies veneers over gaps between teeth. Once secured, veneers create an even, beautifully balanced smile.

No. 4: Other alignment issues

Veneers can correct various misalignment concerns. Dr. Kaveendra designs veneers so teeth no longer appear crowded or crooked. Veneers may even be appropriate for our patients with minor “bite” issues, which refer to imbalances in how the upper and lower teeth come together when biting down or when the mouth is closed. For those with greater misalignment or bite-oriented needs, Dr. Kaveendra is happy to discuss Invisalign^®, a great way to fix orthodontic problems without obvious-looking and tedious (non-removable) braces.

No. 5: Reshape teeth

A pointy tooth or an oddly shaped one can affect your smile. An opposing tooth on the other side of your mouth may look “off” due to its contours or shape. Dr. Kaveendra uses stain-resistant, lifelike porcelain to create a smooth, natural-looking shape. When the dentist cements the reshaped tooth structure or veneer to the natural enamel,  the overly pointy or jagged tooth is no longer visible when you smile.

No. 6: Resize teeth

Veneers can add length to short or worn-down teeth as we refine a poorly contoured tooth. Lengthening improves proportion, enhancing both your smile and facial appearance. Your smile looks healthier and is more visually pleasing. Modern veneers are so thin that only minimal enamel is removed.

If you want to correct these or other imperfections, contact Portland Dental today. Our PDX office serves the oral health needs of our neighbors in Lake Oswego, Beaverton, and northwest Oregon. Call us at (503) 227-1693 to schedule an appointment or to answer any questions.