Advanced Dental Health Center – Clayton C. Cummings, D.D.S. – Ford Gatgens, D.D.S.

Zoom!® Teeth Whitening, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Crowns, and More – Nashville and Surrounding Areas

Advancements in cosmetic dentistry have created many ways to enhance your smile. Dr. Clayton C. Cummings and Dr. Ford Gatgens have advanced training in a wide variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures. They develop well thought-out cosmetic dentistry plans to ensure that patients benefit from not only a beautiful smile, but also long-term oral health. From Zoom!® teeth whitening to porcelain veneers and dental crowns, we offer patients in Nashville and surrounding communities (including Antioch, Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin, Goodlettsville, and Hendersonville), a full range of options for a bright, healthy smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are custom crafted to fit over the visible part of a tooth, covering stains and chips as well as correcting slightly crooked teeth. Porcelain veneers let light shine through to the natural tooth underneath, giving them a very natural appearance. Porcelain veneers are especially popular among patients from Nashville and surrounding areas (including Antioch, Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin, Goodlettsville, and Hendersonville) who wish to correct imperfections in the front teeth, because the veneers can be custom made and tinted to blend in with surrounding teeth.

To place porcelain veneers, our Nashville dentists will first prepare the teeth that are being treated by shaving off a small amount of enamel. We will then take an impression of the teeth so that the veneers can be custom made to sit flush against the existing tooth surface. Once the veneers have been made, Dr. Cummings or Dr. Gatgens will check the color and fit before placing them on your teeth. The porcelain veneers are attached to the teeth with a bonding material and then hardened with a special light. Any excess material is removed, and the tooth is polished for a natural look.

With proper care, porcelain veneers can last for several decades and are resistant to stains and discolorations. Thanks to the convenience and versatility of porcelain veneers, we can quickly and easily create brighter smiles for our patients from Nashville, Brentwood, and surrounding areas.

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Dental Crowns

Porcelain dental crowns give our Nashville-area patients a way to correct gaps, chips, and discoloration in teeth that need added strength and stability. When teeth are weakened by significant damage from injury or decay, dental crowns can protect the tooth from further damage. Porcelain dental crowns are excellent choices for cosmetic reasons as well: they look and feel like natural teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable from surrounding teeth.

Before we place a dental crown, we must first trim down the tooth to make room for the crown. Then, an impression of the prepared tooth is made so that the crown can be custom crafted to fit tightly over the tooth. A temporary crown will be worn on the tooth to protect it until your permanent crown is ready. Once the permanent crown has been created, it is adhered to the tooth with a bonding material, and a special light is used to make the bond extremely solid.

We recommended that you avoid chewing hard foods with the teeth that have dental crowns because over time the crowns can wear down or crack. Crowns typically last for several decades with proper care, including regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings. Dental crowns are also used at our Nashville practice to prepare teeth for a dental bridge or as replacement teeth that fit over dental implants.

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Advanced Teeth Whitening

With the advanced teeth whitening methods available today, we can brighten the smiles of our Nashville-area patients in as little as an hour. We also offer safe and effective methods to brighten your smile at home.

Zoom!® Teeth Whitening

For patients who want to see dramatically whiter teeth almost immediately, we offer the Zoom!® teeth whitening system. The Zoom!® teeth whitening system is the same bleaching system featured on popular makeover shows on television. Teeth can become six to ten shades lighter with just one hour-long Zoom!® teeth whitening treatment at our Nashville practice.

First, we'll prepare your mouth for the treatment by placing a cover over your gums and lips, shielding everything except the teeth that are being treated. A hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gel is applied to the teeth, and a whitening light is applied to activate the gel and help it break up deep stains. The Zoom!® whitening gel is removed after about an hour, and a fluoride treatment is applied.

Advantages of Zoom!® Teeth Whitening

Zoom!® teeth whitening at our Nashville practice has several advantages over most at-home teeth whitening systems. Dramatic results are seen with Zoom!® in about an hour, whereas at-home treatments take a week or more to produce results. Because Zoom!® whitening is performed by our cosmetic dentists, it is also safer and often more effective than at-home whitening products, and the results are longer lasting.

However, many patients prefer our at-home teeth whitening systems for the control they have over the shade, and the convenience of using the products at home. In addition, some patients should not be exposed to the ultraviolet light used in the Zoom!® whitening system. Therefore, people who have skin cancer, are undergoing chemotherapy, or are taking light-sensitive drugs are excellent candidates for at-home teeth whitening.

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At-home Teeth Whitening

The at-home teeth whitening options available through our Nashville practice are safer and more effective than the whitening products that are available over the counter. These products allow our patients to gradually whiten their teeth to the shade they desire in the convenience of their own home. We offer Day White® and Nite White® at-home teeth whitening products. Both products use a whitening gel and tray. The difference is that Day White® is worn for about one hour a day, while Nite White® is used as you sleep.

If you are interested in Day White®, Nite White®, or our in-office Zoom!® teeth whitening system, contact our Nashville practice today to schedule an appointment.

Dental Bonding

Many of our patients choose dental bonding as a cost-effective alternative to porcelain veneers. First, a bonding agent is applied to the tooth, and then a composite plastic resin is applied. This resin is sculpted into the desired shape in order to cover chips and cracks, fill in gaps, or simply hide stains. The tooth is then polished and smoothed to create a natural look. Dental bonding typically lasts three to five years. However, the material used in dental bonding is more likely to stain or chip than are porcelain veneers or your natural teeth.

If you are interested in dental bonding or porcelain veneers, contact our practice in Nashville, also serving surrounding areas (including Antioch, Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin, Goodlettsville, and Hendersonville).

Tooth-colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings allow us to replace old metal fillings with a more natural-looking alternative. Not only do tooth-colored fillings look more appealing, they also prevent several problems that can occur with metal fillings over time, including cracks and leaks that can lead to tooth decay and eventual tooth loss.

If you are interested in replacing your metal fillings with tooth-colored fillings or porcelain dental crowns, contact our practice in Nashville.

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Orthodontics

Dr. Cummings' full-face orthodontics deliver straighter and more balanced smiles to patients both young and old. From traditional metal braces to Invisalign®, the options he offers fit every lifestyle — and with his advanced orthodontics training, Dr. Cummings is often able to create dramatic results in a surprisingly short time. You’ll discover a smile so alive that friends may comment on your new, younger look, and loved ones may even smile more themselves, just because they’re with you. For more information on the treatment options we offer, visit our complete care page to learn more about orthodontics.

Contact Us for Porcelain Veneers, Dental Crowns, and Zoom!® Teeth Whitening

If your smile isn't everything you'd like it to be, contact us today for a complimentary cosmetic evaluation. Through advanced cosmetic dentistry options, such as porcelain veneers, dental crowns, and Zoom!® teeth whitening, we create brighter smiles for patients in Nashville as well as surrounding areas (including Antioch, Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin, Goodlettsville, and Hendersonville).

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If your are interested in dental crowns, porcelain veneers, or Zoom!® teeth whitening, contact our Nashville practice by filling out the following form. We also serve patients in surrounding communities of Nashville (including Antioch, Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin, Goodlettsville, and Hendersonville).