Cosmetic
Cosmetic Dentistry
Personalized Cosmetic Dentistry
Our cosmetic dentistry focuses on creating beautiful smiles while restoring full, healthy function.
Whether you feel self-conscious about old silver fillings or are seeking durable, long-lasting restorations, we are here to help. Using advanced techniques and high-quality materials, we will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. Please feel free to consult with us.
The Future of Cosmetic Dentistry: Our Vision and Approach
A decade ago, cosmetic dentistry was the so-called “tooth replacement” treatment, and many people had the opportunity to see cases so beautiful that they were indistinguishable from natural teeth when working with a skilled technician.
However, after many years of research, it has become clear that teeth that look beautiful can actually become thin and cracked, so the trend nowadays is to create a beautiful finish without cutting. The cases of top dentists in South America, Europe, and the United States show this trend more clearly.
In addition, it is now possible to show a preoperative simulation on digital data, and to use a 3D printer to create a 3D model of the result to provide patients with easy-to-understand information in a visual manner.
Our clinic strives to make better proposals by taking a less cutting approach (e.g., combining whitening and orthodontic treatment) and providing easier-to-understand explanations (simulations on digital data and mockups created by 3D printers).
Our Approach to Cosmetic Dentistry
A Patient-Friendly, Minimally Invasive Approach
We prioritize treatments that are both minimally invasive and easy for you to understand. Our approach includes combining whitening or orthodontics to preserve as much natural tooth as possible, and using digital simulations and 3D-printed models to help you visualize the final result.
Furthermore, we have replaced traditional silicone impressions—which can be uncomfortable and strain the teeth—with a modern intraoral scanner. This captures a precise 3D model of your mouth, allowing us to create highly accurate restorations like crowns and fillings. This digital data can also be used to craft perfectly fitting temporary teeth.
Advanced Digital Technology for Better, Faster Care
Our clinic uses advanced digital equipment to deliver a higher standard of treatment.
A key example is our CEREC system, which allows us to craft precise, aesthetic restorations like crowns and inlays with incredible speed.
However, our primary goal is not just to save time. It is to provide you with the lasting benefits of ceramic—its resistance to staining, its beautiful finish, and a lower risk of recurrent decay—as quickly as possible.
Treatments Tailored to Your Cosmetic Needs
Our cosmetic solutions are designed to address your specific concerns, which often go beyond just appearance.
Whether you’re seeking a more stable and comfortable bite, or wish to explore teeth whitening options other than crowns or fillings, we welcome you to discuss all of your goals with us.
- A desire for beautiful, natural-looking fillings and crowns.
- To achieve a bite that is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.
- A need for durable, long-lasting dental restorations that fit perfectly.
- To restore the natural brightness of your teeth.
- To whiten your teeth without any drilling or altering of your natural tooth structure.
- To achieve a straighter, more beautiful smile.
Cosmetic Concern （1）
For Whiter, More Beautiful Fillings & Crowns
Are you concerned about old, silver-colored fillings or crowns that may be discolored or have changed shape over time?
For a solution that is resistant to staining and deformation and provides a beautiful, translucent white appearance, we recommend replacing them with modern ceramic restorations.
This is also an excellent option if you are currently undergoing cavity treatment and are considering what type of filling or crown to choose. This process of using ceramic for restorations is often called “ceramic treatment.”
Features of Ceramic Treatment
- Long-lasting, natural color and translucency
- No metal allergies or staining
- Resistant to wear, plaque, and deformation
Ceramic offers superior aesthetics with its natural white appearance, and it carries no risk of metal allergies.
Because it can be perfectly color-matched to your teeth, it is a very popular cosmetic option. Furthermore, ceramic is a hard, durable, and highly biocompatible material.
Ceramic Materials We Offer
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are very thin, custom-made ceramic shells bonded to the front surface of your teeth to improve their appearance.
After minimal preparation of the tooth’s surface, these veneers create a beautiful, natural-looking smile. The entire process is often completed in a relatively short amount of time.
All-Ceramic
Made entirely of ceramic, these restorations offer the transparency and beauty of natural teeth. As they are completely metal-free, there is no risk of allergies.
All-ceramic is an ideal choice for front teeth where aesthetics are a top priority, though it tends to be a higher-cost option.
Metal-Ceramic Crowns
These crowns consist of a metal core for strength, which is then covered with a layer of tooth-colored ceramic.
Their high durability makes them suitable for larger restorations, including bridges. While they offer a good balance of aesthetics and strength, please be aware that they do carry a risk of metal allergies.
Full Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia is an exceptionally strong ceramic material, sometimes referred to as “artificial diamond.”
Its superior durability makes it ideal for molar crowns and even bridges, maintaining both beauty and function long-term. Zirconia is also metal-free, eliminating allergy concerns, and is highly resistant to staining.
Cosmetic Concern (２)
For a Beautiful Smile and a Better Bite
While ceramic restorations can create a beautiful smile, ensuring they also provide a comfortable and functional bite is equally important.
To achieve this ideal result, we propose two key steps: crafting a high-precision “provisional” (temporary restoration) to finalize our goals, and carefully selecting the best material for the tooth’s core foundation that supports the crown.
What is a Provisional Restoration?
A provisional restoration is a high-precision temporary tooth or “provisional” that is placed before your final crown is fitted.
Crafted from an easily adjustable resin, it allows us to meticulously test and refine the bite, appearance, and ease of cleaning during this trial period.
This critical step ensures your final restoration will be exceptionally accurate and helps us maintain an ideal oral environment leading up to your final treatment goal. We recommend a provisional to properly restore both the function and aesthetics of your tooth after it has been prepared.
The Role of a Provisional
- Confirming the diagnosis and treatment plan
- Protecting the prepared tooth
- Restoring aesthetics
- Improving gum health
- Maintaining the bite
Using a Fiber Post & Core Foundation
Before a crown is placed, a foundation known as a “core” must be built to support it. In many cases, we recommend using a fiber post for this.
A fiber post and core is made of a strong dental resin reinforced with a glass-fiber post. Its key advantage is a flexibility that mimics your natural tooth. Because it flexes slightly under chewing pressure, it distributes forces evenly, reducing stress on the remaining tooth and root and helping to prevent fractures.
Cosmetic Concern （3）
Ensuring a Stable, Long-Lasting Crown
For a crown to remain stable long-term, a sufficient amount of healthy tooth structure—ideally 1-2mm—must be present above the gum line.
If this foundation is inadequate, the crown may be prone to coming loose. This can also place stress on the tooth’s root, potentially leading to tooth loss in the future. To prevent this, we can perform a procedure called orthodontic extrusion, which gently repositions the tooth to expose more of its structure.
Orthodontic Extrusion (Forced Eruption)
For a crown to be successful long-term, it must be placed on a solid foundation of healthy tooth structure. A crown’s stability is compromised if this foundation is insufficient, increasing the risk of it coming loose.
When a tooth is broken or has decay below the gum line, extrusion is a treatment used to gently draw the remaining tooth root slightly upward. This process creates the adequate foundation needed to properly support a durable final crown.
Cosmetic Concern （４）
Restore Your Teeth’s Natural Brightness
A professional teeth cleaning is a treatment designed to maintain your oral health. Using specialized instruments, we remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains that daily brushing cannot eliminate on its own.
This makes it easier for you to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Additionally, by removing stains, this procedure can brighten the appearance of your smile, providing benefits for both your preventive health and aesthetics.
Cosmetic Concern （5）
Whiten Your Teeth Without Drilling
While replacing old fillings with ceramic restorations may require altering the tooth, teeth whitening is an excellent option for brightening your smile without any drilling.
Using a professional-grade whitening agent, this procedure requires no anesthesia. It is a simple and effective way to lighten the shade of your teeth and remove surface stains in a short amount of time.
Cosmetic Concern （6）
Achieve a More Beautiful, Aligned Smile
In addition to restorations like crowns, orthodontic treatment is another highly effective way to create a beautiful smile by correcting the alignment of your teeth.
Treatment options include traditional braces (using wires and brackets) or modern clear aligners. Both methods work by gradually and gently moving your teeth into their ideal positions.
Case
将来に備えて歯牙が残っているうちに矯正治療をおこなった症例（マウスピース矯正、セラミック修復）
Before
After
| 主訴 | 将来に対する不安がある |
|---|---|
| 診断名 | 歯列不正（叢生）、歯牙の先天欠損および癒合歯 |
| 年齢・性別 | ５０代女性 |
| 治療期間・回数 | ４０ヶ月 |
| 治療方法 | 初診時に歯列不正を伴う多数の失活歯（神経がない歯）があり、将来的な歯牙破折による治療の複雑化が予測されました。各歯牙に問題が起こる前にマウスピース矯正により歯牙のポジションを整え、セラミック修復を行い将来的なリスクを軽減することに努めました。 |
| 費用 | ４００万円 |
| 注意点 | 全顎的に治療が必要なため治療期間がかかります。治療の中には保険治療が含まれていない項目があるため費用がかかります。治療期間中は仮の歯で生活する必要があり、仮歯の破損や脱離が起こることがあります |
| 備考 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cosmetic Dentistry
What exactly is cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a comprehensive field of dental care that focuses not only on restoring function (the ability to chew properly) but also on creating a beautiful, natural-looking smile. We have seen many cases where patients, who were once hesitant to smile, gain remarkable confidence after receiving cosmetic treatment. If you feel self-conscious about your smile or are concerned about the color of your teeth, we warmly invite you to a consultation.
How long will my treatment take?
The duration varies significantly depending on the number of teeth being treated and the specifics of the procedure. A simple crown might be completed in as few as two visits, but more appointments may be required to achieve the most beautiful results. While we strive to minimize the treatment period and number of visits, a precise timeline can only be provided after a complete diagnosis.
I want a confident smile with brilliant white teeth, but I’m worried about the cost.
We understand that the cost of treatment is an important consideration. We can work with you to create a plan that fits your budget, for instance, by using insurance-covered options for certain teeth or choosing partial restorations where appropriate. We will always present you with a clear plan and an estimate of the minimized costs. We also accept credit cards and offer dental loans for flexible monthly payments.
Is cosmetic dentistry covered by health insurance?
Dental care in Japan is divided into insured and private (non-insured) treatments. Cosmetic dentistry often falls outside of insurance coverage due to the high-quality materials used. While standard materials like resin and metal are covered by insurance, premium materials like ceramics—which are not covered—offer far superior results in terms of both beauty and long-term durability.
Regular Check-ups After Ceramic Treatment
Protecting Your New Smile
Even the most beautiful ceramic restorations can be compromised by new cavities or gum disease. We help you protect your investment with personalized self-care coaching from your dedicated dental hygienist.
It’s essential to schedule regular check-ups to maintain your overall oral health and to allow us to make any necessary adjustments to your new fillings or crowns.