We offer several whitening packages for every need and budget. During your visit to our office you may discuss your whitening goals with Dr. Schotthoefer and together find the solution that is right for you.
Would you like to get whiter teeth fast? Opalescence Boost is a chemically activated power whitening gel that provides brighter, whiter teeth after just 60 minutes in the dental chair. The powerful 40% hydrogen peroxide gel is chemically activated, so it doesn’t require a hot, uncomfortable light to work. This is a great way to get a great result in a relatively short time.
Looking for a tooth whitening option that fits your schedule? Our custom, take-home whitening trays are perfect for you. We will take impressions of your teeth and send you home with custom whitening trays and whitening gel. The gel has different levels of hydrogen peroxide and the amount of time you leave the trays on your teeth depends on the % of hydrogen peroxide. Patients will often use this method as a “touch up” to the in-office whitening to keep their smile bright. Whitening lasts different lengths of time depending on the types of staining foods or drinks you consume and your hygiene habits. Drinks such as coffee, tea, and red wine and foods with tomato-based sauces or curry can stain your teeth. Practicing good oral hygiene and rinsing after drinking or eating a stain causing food can help. By having your own custom whitening trays at home you can touch up as needed. Bleaching gel is available through our office.
After your in-office Opalescence whitening, we will scan teeth with our iTero scanner to make a digital impression for custom trays so you can continue whitening at home. Whitening gel is included to take home and use with your trays until you reach your desired shade.
After your in-office whitening, you will get a box of 10 disposable whitening trays. You will use them 1x day for 10 days or until desired shade. 30-60 minutes if using the 10% Hydrogen Peroxide 15-20 minutes if using the 15% Hydrogen Peroxide.
Dr. Schotthoefer has done over 3000 crowns and veneers in her career. Veneers are made from porcelain or a resin-composite material. In our office we use the porcelain-type veneer in order to achieve the most natural-looking and lasting result. We send patients to our certified dental lab for custom shades for anything that is aesthetically visible to ensure a perfect match. A porcelain veneer is made from thin layers of dental-grade porcelain that resemble natural tooth enamel. The veneer is affixed to the surface of the tooth using a special adhesive that creates a permanent bond. Most of the tooth structure remains with a veneer. It’s similar to placing a corrective shell over the natural tooth. More tooth structure is removed when a crown is necessary. Some patients get just one veneer to correct a chipped or discolored tooth but many will do a full eight teeth for a nice even, naturally-shaped, and beautiful smile. We use the iTero digital scanner to capture the exact tooth anatomy instead of relying on the older messy and uncomfortable stone impressions. Patients say that when Dr. Schotthoefer does the crown or veneer, it does not feel foreign to their mouth. Veneers do not stain. They are an excellent correction for small gaps, too small teeth, discolored teeth, or chipped and cracked teeth.
Veneers may also be a great addition or alternative to whitening. Maximum white shade for everyone’s teeth is different. Some can achieve a uniform clear white shade. Others just do not whiten to a bright white or the shades between teeth are not consistent. If you have tried everything to whiten your teeth, but they are not yet to your satisfaction, veneers may be the option for you to go even whiter or to make your teeth more uniform in color.
Tooth bonding is a quick and easy solution to cosmetic problems that many patients face. It can be completed in one office visit vs the 2-3 it takes to place veneers. Like veneers, tooth bonding can be used to repair chipped or cracked teeth or even small gaps when the repair is minor and the teeth are otherwise healthy. We use a leading edge composite for bonding called Omnichroma. This product has a self color-balancing formula that matches any tooth color! Once cured the natural color of the surrounding teeth reflect the bonding to give a great color match and a total natural appearance. Bonus! Since it is reflecting the surrounding teeth, it allows the patient to continue to use their whitening products without needing to replace the bonding! Bonding is also minimally invasive and done with a simple chemical etch that leaves the tooth structure intact. There is no reason to not love your smile. Dr. Schotthoefer would be happy to let you know if you are a candidate for this type of bonding and the related costs. It’s free to ask!
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is designed to fit over your tooth to restore it back to its normal shape, color, appearance, and strength. Dental crowns offer multiple benefits to patients who have chipped, worn, discolored, and damaged teeth. We generally recommend crowns when a tooth is too damaged or decayed to be treated with bonding or composite fillings. Dr. Schotthoefer has restored countless teeth for patients using a crown. Crowns come in several different forms including porcelain, gold, porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, and a few more specialty materials. Dr. Schotthoefer will talk with you about the right crown for your specific needs as each has their own pros and cons. You will be given a temporary crown to wear while your permanent crown is being made.
One key to a great fitting crown is getting a great impression and in our office we use the iTero digital scanner to create a 3D digital image of your exact tooth anatomy. The scanner is the size of an electric toothbrush. It takes just minutes to move the camera around the tooth and opposing teeth to create the image. No messy impression materials are necessary. The file is then sent directly to the lab so your crown can be fabricated right away. This precise digital image vs a plaster mold is not only more precise but cuts the time it takes to receive the finished crown back to our office for placement. This kind of custom, patient-specific dental care is something we pride ourselves in and our patients enjoy the benefits of.
Invisalign is used to address a number of mild to moderate orthodontic issues. Treatment consists of a series of clear, nearly invisible, custom-fitted plastic trays that you place over your teeth. Each tray is worn for 10-14 days full time (only removing to eat and brush) and will incrementally move your teeth to their final positions. Dr. Schotthoefer is a certified Invisalign provider and has been providing Invisalign for her patients since 2009. We have added the iTero digital scanner to our process so now instead of a series of goopy impressions, we simply use the 3D digital iTero scanner to scan your teeth. Dr. Schotthoefer uses the digital impression to digitally place your teeth in their corrected positions and then sends the scan and her treatment plan out to Invisalign so your trays can be fabricated. Bonus! –The iTero scanner allows us to show you a before and after of what your final result will be based on Dr. Schotthoefer’s treatment plan!
Once your trays arrive, you will begin wearing them for the prescribed amount of time. Most patients will change their trays every 10-14 days. Each tray slowly moves your teeth into the proper position.
Invisalign can be used to treat a number of mild to moderate orthodontic issues. With no food restrictions, brushing is easy, and the aligners are so transparent it’s very difficult for anyone to know you are straightening your teeth. In a relatively short time, you too could be enjoying a better smile for a lifetime!
Dental fillings are used to restore teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay. We use the same, leading-edge Omnichroma dental composite that we use for bonding in fillings. It blends with almost any patient’s surrounding teeth and makes for a very natural looking repair.
Inspired Family Dental Care is a full service dental care practice for all ages. We are proudly serving the greater Grosse Pointe metro area including Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Harper Woods, St Clair Shores, and beyond! Give us a jingle and let Dr. Kristen Schotthoefer and her team help you put the confidence back in your smile.
