Cosmetic Dentist Lake Mary, FL
Cosmetic dentistry is dental treatment that improves the look of a smile, including teeth whitening, bonding, veneers and clear aligners, and Dr. Akmal Ahmed, DDS, provides cosmetic dentistry in Lake Mary, Florida. At Orlando Healthy Smiles in Lake Mary, Florida, Dr. Akmal Ahmed provides cosmetic dentistry for patients from Lake Mary, Heathrow and Sanford, and is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
At Orlando Healthy Smiles in Lake Mary, Florida, Dr. Akmal Ahmed, DDS, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, provides cosmetic dentistry for patients from Lake Mary, Heathrow, Sanford, Longwood and Altamonte Springs, in English, Urdu, Hindi and Kannada, following the American Dental Association.
A veneer is a thin porcelain shell bonded to the front of a tooth, composite bonding builds up a chipped edge, and professional whitening uses a peroxide gel. Invisalign clear aligners start with an iTero 3D scan and move teeth a little at a time without brackets or wires. The American Dental Association advises a check-up before whitening because it does not change the color of crowns, veneers or fillings. Dr. Akmal Ahmed provides cosmetic dentistry for patients from Lake Mary, Heathrow, Sanford, Longwood and Altamonte Springs, and most whitening patients top up once or twice a year.
Cosmetic dentistry covers porcelain veneers, composite bonding, professional teeth whitening and Invisalign clear aligners. A veneer is a thin shell bonded to the front of a tooth, bonding builds up a chipped edge with composite resin, and whitening uses a peroxide gel that lightens colour from inside the tooth.
Invisalign clear aligners start with an iTero 3D scan of the teeth and move them a little at a time without brackets or wires. The American Dental Association advises that whitening works best after a check-up, because it does not change the colour of crowns, veneers or fillings. Dr. Akmal Ahmed provides cosmetic dentistry for patients from Lake Mary, Heathrow, Sanford, Longwood and Altamonte Springs.
Cosmetic dentistry at Orlando Healthy Smiles includes porcelain veneers, composite bonding, enamel shaping and gum contouring. Porcelain veneers are thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth, composite bonding repairs a chip in a single visit, enamel shaping smooths a rough edge, and gum contouring reshapes an uneven gum line. Dr. Akmal Ahmed plans the smile with the patient in Lake Mary, and the American Dental Association recommends a check of the bite and the gums before any cosmetic work.
Cosmetic dentistry is dental care that improves the look of your smile with veneers, dental bonding, teeth whitening and clear aligners. Call Orlando Healthy Smiles at (407) 790-4181 for a cosmetic dentist in Lake Mary, FL: Dr. Akmal Ahmed plans veneers, dental bonding, teeth whitening and Invisalign clear aligners around healthy teeth, and gives honest advice about what is realistic. Cosmetic dentistry covers the treatments that change how teeth look: whitening, bonding, veneers and aligners. The order matters. Healthy gums and sound teeth come first, because cosmetic work placed on an unstable foundation does not last. At your consultation we look at both, then discuss what is realistic.
Who is cosmetic dentistry for?
Cosmetic dentistry is for people with discoloured teeth that have not responded to whitening, chipped, worn or uneven front teeth, small gaps or crowding they would like to close, and old fillings or crowns that no longer match their other teeth. It is for anyone who wants their teeth to look better, as long as the teeth and gums are healthy first.
- Discoloured teeth that have not responded to whitening
- Chipped, worn or uneven front teeth
- Small gaps or crowding
- Old fillings or crowns that no longer match
What does a cosmetic dentistry visit involve?
A cosmetic dentistry visit starts with an examination of teeth, gums and bite before any cosmetic plan. Photographs and a shade check help us plan, and we discuss what is realistic and what it will cost before anything is agreed. Nothing is done without your agreement.
- An examination of teeth, gums and bite
- Photographs and a shade check
- A realistic plan agreed in advance
- The cost quoted in writing first
What options may we discuss?
After the examination, these are the four options most cosmetic patients are offered. None of them is agreed to without discussion, and every option is explained before anything is done. The right choice depends on the condition of your teeth, your budget, and how long you want the result to last.
Whitening — the least invasive way to change tooth colour
The least invasive way to change tooth colour, whitening uses a peroxide gel to lighten natural teeth. In-office whitening works in one appointment, while custom trays at home work more gradually over one to two weeks. Whitening does not change the colour of crowns, veneers or fillings, so we check your restorations first.
Composite bonding for chipped or uneven edges
Direct shaping of chipped or uneven edges with a tooth-coloured resin that is bonded to the tooth in one visit. Bonding is quick, it needs little or no preparation of the tooth, and it can close small gaps or repair a chipped edge. Bonding can stain over time and may need replacing after a few years.
Veneers for shape and colour, with some enamel preparation
Thin resin or porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth to change their shape and colour. Veneers need some enamel preparation, so they are not reversible, but they can transform teeth that whitening cannot help. Most veneers last 10 to 15 years with good care.
Clear aligners for crowding or spacing
For crowding or spacing, before veneers, clear aligners straighten teeth without brackets or wires. A 3D scan maps your teeth, a series of aligners moves them a little at a time, and the aligners are removable for eating and brushing. Aligners are often the first step before veneers.
How do the cosmetic options compare?
Each option suits a different problem, and their time, cost and maintenance differ. The American Dental Association notes that whitening works best on surface stains from food, drink or smoking. Our guide on teeth whitening options, in-office vs at-home treatments explains the whitening choices in more detail. This table compares the four options.
| Treatment | What it does | Time | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitening | Lightens natural teeth | 1 hour to 2 weeks | 1 to 3 years |
| Bonding | Repairs chips and small gaps | 1 visit | 3 to 5 years |
| Veneers | Changes shape and colour | 2 to 3 visits | 10 to 15 years |
| Clear aligners | Straightens teeth | 6 to 18 months | Long-term with retainers |
What does cosmetic dentistry cost?
Cosmetic treatment is priced per tooth or per arch. Whitening costs least, bonding costs more, and veneers cost most per tooth. Clear aligners are priced for the whole treatment. Every plan is quoted in writing before treatment begins, so you know what you will pay before anything is done.
What happens after cosmetic treatment?
Bonding and veneers need care around the edges: avoid biting hard objects, keep the gum line clean, and come back if an edge feels rough. Whitening needs you to avoid staining drinks for a short period, and aligners need retainers afterwards to keep teeth in place. We explain the care for each option before you leave.
Fees: every plan is quoted in writing before treatment begins. If you have PPO dental benefits, we help submit the claim.
What do patients ask about cosmetic dentistry?
Patients usually ask the same four questions before cosmetic treatment, and the answers are short. Veneers can look natural when they are planned well, whitening often comes before veneers, every treatment has risks, and cosmetic work can improve the look of crooked teeth but cannot straighten them. The answers below explain each one in more detail.
Will veneers look natural?
Yes, when they are planned well. The shape, shade and size are matched to your face and your other teeth, and we show you what the result would look like before anything is done.
Do I need whitening before veneers?
Usually, yes. Whitening the natural teeth first means the veneers can be made to match a brighter shade, and the result looks more even. We plan the order at your consultation.
Are there risks?
Yes, as with any treatment. Whitening can cause sensitivity, bonding can chip, veneers need enamel to be removed and cannot be reversed, and aligners need to be worn as directed. We explain the risks before you decide.
Can cosmetic work fix crooked teeth?
Cosmetic work can improve the look of mildly crooked teeth, for example with veneers or bonding. For more crowding, clear aligners are usually the better first step, and we explain the options at your consultation.
What other services help with a better smile?
These related services are the ones cosmetic patients most often use. Teeth whitening is the simplest place to start, Invisalign straightens teeth before veneers, and family dentistry keeps your teeth and gums healthy first. See the full list of dental services in Lake Mary for all ten services.
Teeth Whitening
Professional whitening that lifts stains from coffee, tea, red wine and smoking. In-office whitening works in a single visit, while custom trays at home work more gradually over one to two weeks. We check your teeth and gums first.
Invisalign
Clear aligners that straighten teeth without brackets or wires. A 3D scan maps your teeth, a series of aligners moves them a little at a time, and you change to the next set on schedule. Most adults and teenagers can be treated this way.
Family Dentistry
Routine dental care for everyone in the household, with one dentist who knows the family. Check-ups, cleanings, fillings, gum care and prevention for parents and children, planned together so families can be seen on the same day when that helps.
Patients in Lake Mary can also explore our dental care in Lake Mary overview for a broader explanation of how care is planned.
Orlando Healthy Smiles is a single-office practice at 946 International Parkway, Suite 1550, in Lake Mary, Florida. Dr. Akmal Ahmed is the sole dentist and treats patients from Lake Mary, Heathrow, Sanford, Longwood and Altamonte Springs, in Central Florida’s Seminole County, in 4 languages: English, Urdu, Hindi and Kannada. Orlando Healthy Smiles offers 10 dental services and has a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 381 Google reviews.
How do I know which cosmetic option is right for me?
Book a consultation and ask. You do not need to book treatment to get a straight answer about whether cosmetic treatment is right for you. You can request an appointment online or call Orlando Healthy Smiles at (407) 790-4181.
The tools, brands and methods Dr. Akmal Ahmed, DDS, uses for cosmetic dentistry at Orlando Healthy Smiles are porcelain veneers, Lumineers, e.max lithium disilicate, composite bonding, enamel shaping, gum contouring and the iTero 3D scanner.
The standards come from the American Dental Association and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dr. Akmal Ahmed plans smiles in Lake Mary, Florida, for patients from Heathrow, Sanford, Longwood and Altamonte Springs in English, Urdu, Hindi and Kannada.
The professional bodies, credentials and materials Dr. Akmal Ahmed, DDS, follows for cosmetic dentistry are the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Florida Dental Association. Dr. Akmal Ahmed, DDS, holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. The materials used include porcelain veneers, Lumineers, e.max lithium disilicate and composite bonding resin.