Customize Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry

Porcelain Veneers

Would you like to have a beautiful, symmetrical, bright-white smile without spending years wearing braces? Porcelain veneers can give you the smile you've always wished for, and the whole procedure can be performed over the course of one or two office visits. To straighten and whiten your smile, Dr. Baldiviez resurfaces your teeth and then covers them with a thin layer of porcelain, which is custom made using our in-office Cerec 3D system. Contact us today to find out if porcelain veneers are a good option for you.

Zoom!™

There are countless things that can stain and discolor your teeth. Coffee, tobacco, smoke, and the passage of time all take their toll on your smile. Now, thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry, we can fight back. We use the Zoom!™ In-Office Whitening System to get your teeth six to ten shades whiter over the course of a single office visit. A specially formulated whitening gel is applied to your teeth, then activated with the Zoom!™ Whitening Lamp. After about an hour, you'll be walking out of the office with a whiter, more brilliant smile. Contact the Santa Maria, California office of Dr. Carolyn R. Baldiviez for more information on Zoom!™ teeth whitening.

Bonding

Bonding is a process whereby a material made of plastic or resin is applied to problem areas of your teeth. Bonding can repair chipped, cracked, and stained teeth and can even fill in gaps between teeth. When the bonding material dries, the problems have disappeared, and the repaired area appears nearly identical to a normal, healthy tooth. For more information about bonding, please contact us today!

Breath Control

Bad breath is most often the result of sulfur produced by the breakdown of food, and of bacteria on the gums and tongue. Good oral hygiene is essential in preventing bad breath, but sometimes it's just not enough. We offer professional, effective treatments for recurring bad breath. Your breath can benefit from such treatments as anti-microbial mouthwashes and special soft tissue treatment. Contact our office to see what treatment could best benefit you.

All-Porcelain Crowns

A crown is essentially a cover for a damaged tooth. Crowns provide support for chewing and give you a more natural smile. In the past, crowns were made of metal (usually gold or silver), or porcelain bonded to a metal substrate. While the porcelain-and-metal crowns are less obtrusive than garish all-metal crowns, the metal substrate has a tendency to discolor over time, leaving dark areas at the base of the crown. We use all-porcelain crowns, which will not discolor, and we can even replace existing crowns with metal-free ones. Contact us to find out more about all-porcelain crowns.

General Dentistry

Preventative Dentistry – Keeping Teeth and Gums Healthy

Good dental health begins with healthy gums and clean teeth. When you have teeth cleanings and regular check-ups at the office of Dr. Carolyn Baldiviez, you will get to know your teeth and gums better than you ever thought possible. Our patients know how many bleeding points they have on their gums, how many they had last time, and what that means for their dental health. If our patients are in need of more involved gum treatments, we can refer them to a skilled periodontist.

At the office of Dr. Baldiviez, we know that building healthy habits and having regular preventative care are the cornerstones of a beautiful, strong smile that will last through the years.

Porcelain Inlays – An Alternative to Fillings

When we fill cavities, we no longer have to use ugly, dark metal. With our powerful Cerec 3D system, we can create porcelain inlays at our office. The inlay is essentially a porcelain filling milled to precisely fit your tooth; it is attached with a strong bonding agent. Porcelain inlays are more durable than traditional fillings , provide a longer-lasting restoration, and are nearly identical in color to the surrounding tooth. Most dental plans allow patients to have inlays for the same co-pay as a crown.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

When we fill cavities, we no longer have to use ugly, dark metal. Now, a variety of materials are available to restore teeth inconspicuously. Tooth-colored fillings are just as strong and long-lasting as old metal fillings, just as easy to install, and virtually indistinguishable from the tooth around them.

Dentures

Dentures are an excellent option for people who have lost some or all of their natural teeth. The custom dentures we offer at our office are specially designed to fit your mouth. They fit you comfortably and, in addition to helping you chew, give your cheeks and lips a more natural shape.

Partial dentures are removable artificial teeth that attach to existing teeth with a clasp. This is generally the best option for people who have lost some, though not all, of their teeth.

Full dentures are the best option for people who have lost all, or nearly all, of their teeth. They fit snugly over the gums and are held in place by the muscles of the cheeks and tongue.

Bridges

When you have lost teeth, a bridge can help restore function as well as appearance by filling in the spaces with natural-looking artificial teeth. Bridges are attached to neighboring teeth, providing the support needed for chewing, and are semi-permanent. Fixed bridges can only be installed and removed by a dentist. Contact Dr. Baldiviez's office to find out if bridges are the best option to restore the function and appearance of your teeth.

Dental Implants

One of the most natural looking and feeling ways to replace missing teeth is by using dental implants. Dental implants consist of an anchor that is surgically implanted into the jaw bone and an artificial tooth attached to the anchor. Both bone and gums grow in around the implant, rendering it virtually indistinguishable from surrounding teeth. Unlike bridges, dental implants do not require filing down neighboring teeth.

At the office of Dr. Baldiviez, we refer our patients to a skilled oral surgeon for the implantation of the anchor, then we attach an artificial tooth specifically selected to match its neighbors. Contact Dr. Carolyn Baldiviez for more information about dental implants.

Root Canals

When the tissue, or "pulp," inside a tooth becomes damaged or infected, the rest of the tooth will die and decay unless action is taken. In a root canal, or "endodontic" treatment, your dentist drills through the top of the tooth, exposing the nerve and surrounding tissue. The dentist then removes the infected tissue and seals the top of the tooth with a crown. Root canal treatment can save a tooth that would otherwise have to be extracted.

Children's Dentistry

Dr. Baldiviez and the team at her office work with patients of all ages. Children need a dentist who can understand and relate to them, and who knows how best to care for a child's developing teeth. A good reserve of patience doesn't hurt either. The team here at the offices of Dr. Carolyn Baldiviez has experience working with children and knows how to keep them at ease and focused. We help kids build the habits that will lead to a lifetime of good dental health.

For further information about our procedures, or to set up an appointment, call us today or fill out the form below.