Cosmetic Dentistry in San Diego, CA
A Beautiful Smile Tailored to Your Goals
- Metal-free restorations for natural results
- Diode laser gum contouring available
- Free consultations and second opinions
Our dentist, Dr. Stragier, has provided the communities of the greater San Diego area with expert care since 1985. Our conveniently located dental office in Clairemont opens early to accommodate your busy schedule. Other reasons to choose our dentistry practice for your cosmetic care include:
Diode Laser and Advanced Digital Technology
Dr. Stragier uses a precise diode laser for gum contouring procedures and relies on 3D cone beam imaging and digital X-rays to diagnose and plan your cosmetic treatment with accuracy. Digital impressions replace messy traditional molds, and every tool in our San Diego office is selected to help deliver results that look natural and last.
Metal-Free Restorations for a Natural Look
When your treatment calls for a crown or veneer, we use metal-free materials that closely mimic the translucency and color of natural teeth. Without a metal base, your restoration blends seamlessly with your smile under any lighting. Our San Diego cosmetic dentistry patients consistently appreciate the difference in both appearance and comfort.
Trusted Cosmetic Care Since 1985
Our dentist in San Diego, CA, has cared for the community for nearly four decades, and many of our staff members have been part of the Balboa Dental Care team for years. We offer free consultations and second opinions so you can make confident decisions about your smile. For patients who feel anxious, sedation options are available to keep you comfortable throughout your visit.
How Can Cosmetic
Dentistry Help Me?
Our San Diego dental office can provide you with a custom treatment plan to address the imperfections affecting your smile. Cosmetic treatments at Balboa Dental Care can:
Veneers Completely
Transform Your Smile
Veneers are translucent porcelain shells bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Veneers can conceal dental imperfections such as chips, cracks, gaps, minor misalignment, misshapen teeth, and intrinsic staining that doesn't respond to whitening treatments.
Crafted from the same durable materials as dental crowns, porcelain veneers can give you a beautiful smile that looks and functions just like natural teeth.
If you are facing a quickly approaching event such as a wedding or class reunion where you want to leave a lasting impression, veneers can transform your smile in as little as two weeks.
Teeth Whitening
Safer and more effective than over-the-counter alternatives, professional teeth whitening can provide dramatic results.
In-Office and At-Home Options
Depending on your needs and preferred treatment method, teeth whitening can be performed in-office or from the comfort of your own home. While take-home whitening kits are convenient, in-office whitening can provide a stunning transformation in a single appointment.
Teeth whitening at our San Diego dental office can lighten teeth by up to eight shades in less than an hour. Multiple sessions can be scheduled for substantial discoloration.
Faster Whitening Results
With professional teeth whitening, many patients can get rid of stains in just a visit or two. It can take weeks to achieve the same kind of results with over-the-counter whitening strips and bleaching systems.
More Dramatic Whitening Effects
Even if you've used whitening strips for months, you may not achieve the same results as professional teeth whitening. Cosmetic dentists use much stronger bleaching agents in order to treat deep stains in the tooth enamel.
Proper Monitoring by a Cosmetic Dentist
When you come to our San Diego office for teeth whitening, Dr. Stragier will make sure you're comfortable throughout treatment and your teeth don't get too sensitive. With at-home kits, you don't receive this level of attention to prevent tooth sensitivity or gum irritation from the bleaching gel.
Dental Crowns
A tooth that has been compromised due to trauma or decay can be restored and protected with a durable porcelain dental crown. With proper care and regular checkups, crowns can last over a decade.
Save Your Tooth from Extraction
Advanced tooth decay and major fractures to a tooth could necessitate extraction in order to prevent infection and relieve pain. Prompt treatment with a dental crown can help you avoid the need for extraction, allowing you to retain your tooth.
Crowns for Tooth Loss
If a tooth is compromised to the point it cannot be saved, Dr. Stragier can fill the gap in your smile. Crowns can play a crucial role, whether they're used to anchor a bridge in place or used to cap a dental implant.
The Benefits of Dental Crowns
Protects Healthy Tooth Structure
A crown is designed to cap the healthy portion of a tooth's structure, protecting it from further decay and trauma.
Relieves Dental Pain
With a crown in place, patients should no longer experience tooth sensitivity or discomfort. This allows patients to eat all their favorite foods again and experience restored oral function.
Restores Oral Function
The tooth-colored materials used to craft a crown are color-matched to your existing teeth. With proper care and regular checkups with your dentist, a crown can last 10 years or more.
Dental Bonding
An affordable way to make cosmetic improvements to your smile, dental bonding can repair cracks, fill gaps, and improve the color of dull teeth in a single appointment.
Alternative to Other Treatments
Dental bonding is a good alternative to other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Given the issues bonding can address, its reversible nature, and its affordability, some patients opt for bonding instead of porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, or crowns.
How Bonding Works
Using a composite resin material, Dr. Stragier can refine flawed teeth for a more pleasing appearance. Once you and the dentist are happy with the results, he will cure the resin with a UV light for a durable finish.
Gum Contouring
Did you know your gumline can affect the overall appearance of your smile? Using a state-of-the-art diode laser, we can reshape and enhance the contour of your gumline. The results can be dramatic.
Treating Gummy Smiles
Prominent gums can make your teeth look small and alter the symmetry of your smile. Thanks to the diode laser, we can perform a subtle crown lengthening procedure to remove excess gum tissue.
Improving Overall Appearance
Dr. Stragier can also use the diode laser to enhance the results of crown or veneer treatment. Removing excess gum tissue before placing a crown or veneer can bring better balance and beauty to the final results.
Invisalign
Braces aren't the only treatment option for misaligned teeth. Invisalign is a popular orthodontic treatment that adults and teens turn to when they don't want to wear braces.
Clear Alternative to Braces
Invisalign uses clear plastic aligner trays to straighten teeth instead of brackets and wires. These aligner trays apply pressure to the teeth, gradually shifting them into proper alignment.
Simple and Discreet Treatment
Invisalign makes orthodontics convenient without sacrificing effectiveness. The removable clear aligners are virtually undetectable and allow you to eat your favorite foods during treatment.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are an excellent option for patients missing a tooth or several teeth. Multiple implants can be used to address varying degrees of tooth loss.
Artificial Tooth Roots
Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into your jawbone. The implants fuse with the bone, giving them a high level of stability comparable to natural tooth roots.
Anchoring Restorations
Dental implants can be used to support a crown for single-tooth replacement, a bridge to replace a few missing teeth, and even dentures to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. We offer the advanced All-on-4® implant technique, which offers several benefits to denture patients.
If your teeth are affected by multiple imperfections, Dr. Stragier can completely transform your smile with a comprehensive smile makeover. Custom-tailored to suit each patient's individual needs, a smile makeover can combine multiple treatments to save you time and money.
Candidates for smile makeovers are people who need multiple dental treatments to address their needs.
Our cosmetic dentist will ensure you get the necessary procedures to treat your unique cosmetic flaws.
Combining multiple dental procedures can totally revitalize the appearance of your teeth and gums.
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQ
Does insurance cover cosmetic dentistry treatment?
Cosmetic dentistry treatments are generally not covered by dental insurance. If you require any preparatory care to restore your oral health beforehand, our friendly office staff will gladly file all the necessary paperwork with your insurance provider to ensure you take full advantage of your benefits. Plus, procedures like dental crowns that have both cosmetic and restorative purposes should be at least partially covered.
For patients without dental insurance or who are concerned with out-of-pocket expenses that may not be in line with their budget, we accept payment plans and financing. Our team will work with you so that you can achieve your goals while staying within budget.
How long do cosmetic dentistry results last?
This varies depending on the procedures performed. Teeth whitening results will require periodic touch-ups to keep your smile looking bright. Veneers and crowns typically last 10 years or longer with proper care.
It's important to visit our San Diego practice regularly for checkups. This will allow Dr. Stragier to examine your teeth and let you know if additional cosmetic treatments will be needed.
Do I need a smile makeover or a full mouth reconstruction?
That depends on your dental health. Smile makeovers are typically performed to address aesthetic flaws. Full mouth reconstructions can address aesthetic flaws but predominantly focus on restoring function to the teeth, gums, jaw joints, and other structures of the mouth.
We should note, however, that while smile makeovers are predominantly cosmetic and full mouth reconstructions generally restorative, there is a lot of crossover between the dental services performed.
During a consultation with Dr. Stragier, he can examine your teeth and discuss different kinds of dental work that may be required to meet your goals.
I'm anxious about dental visits. Can I still undergo cosmetic dentistry?
Yes. Dr. Stragier always strives to make new patients and returning patients feel as comfortable as possible. It's why many people who come to Balboa Dental Care have been coming for decades.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, we offer sedation options to help you remain relaxed. This includes nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for mild yet rapid relaxation and oral sedation for a deeper level of comfort.
Do You Want to Rejuvenate Your Smile?
Set Up a Visit to Balboa Dental Care
Daniel E. Stragier, DDS has so many ways to enhance your smile. Whether you need a single procedure, a simple cleaning, or a total smile makeover, we're here to help. Come to the practice that has proudly served Clairemont Mesa for decades.
