Our Services

Family Dentistry for Central Maine
Dental Care for the Individual

Maintaining your dental health is important at every age! Please schedule regular appointments for preventative care. We look forward to your visit at least twice a year for a cleaning, exam, and x-rays.

In addition to routine dentistry, Smile Solutions of Maine offers a full-range of specialized dental services in both of our offices. We use progressive dental technology to develop individualized treatment plans and personalized service. The outstanding clinical care Smile Solutions provides will help you achieve optimal oral health.

Porcelain Veneers

Dazzle Everyone You Meet with a Truly Stunning Smile

Dental veneers are a fantastic option for people that want a minimally invasive, long-lasting solution to their cosmetic dental problems. You’ll be amazed at how drastically this cosmetic dentistry solution can transform your smile. Call one of Smile Solutions of Maine’s offices in Winthrop or Waterville Maine or contact us online to schedule your consultation today!

Here’s the Basics

Dental Veneers are custom-made, ultra-thin, porcelain shells that are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. They are durable and can be made to match the existing color of your teeth, or they can be made a whiter, brighter shade than your natural teeth. Veneers are a great way to correct crooked, cracked, discolored, and misshapen teeth for a vastly improved smile. Our dentists at our offices in Waterville and Winthrop, ME make sure that they match the rest of your teeth character, shape, and shade.

Our dentists will recommend veneers to:

1. Minimally correct the size of a tooth or lengthen worn teeth
2. Fix minimal wear on your teeth
3. Repair enamel discrepancies which causes dark teeth or tetracycline staining
4. Close spaces between teeth which at times requires very minimal roughening of the tooth surface
5. Help balance forces on teeth by putting back what has been lost due to wear

Are Veneers Permanent?

Once veneers get bonded to the natural tooth structure they become permanent. Dental veneers get bonded to enamel, which means their bond is even stronger to regular full coverage crowns. The only way to remove them is to actually cut them off with a high-speed hand-piece.

Will Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?

Just the opposite actually; veneers are designed to protect your teeth. Our dentist place veneers to replace the natural tooth structure that you have lost and protect the remaining enamel. They are very conservative and require very minimal removal of tooth structure. For instance, a crown preparation requires about 1.5mm to 2mm of tooth structure removal, where as a veneer only requires 0.3mm to 0.6mm.

You’ll be Amazed at the Benefits that Veneers Offer

Veneers are an amazing cosmetic option to strengthen and enhance your smile. The major advantages of veneers are that they:

• Require very conservative removal of your tooth’s structure
• Are very esthetic
• Are long lasting
• Don’t stain
• Require no metal substructure underneath.
• Are bonded which means they strengthen and protect teeth from cracking.
• Are very natural
• Do not create sensitivity issues because they do not involve the dentin but only get bonded to enamel

Interested in finding out more? Chat with one of our dentists about it today!

Our Process for Crafting Personalized Veneers for Your Smile

Each case is unique and teeth are sculptured to match our patient’s personality and facial characteristics. We offer a variety of different types of porcelain veneers depending on the actual location in the mouth, characterization that we are trying to create, and thickness of the material. However, our most common and esthetic option is feldspathic veneers. Our dentists will work with you to find the right type that will strength and enhance your smile.

Typically, the dentists at our Waterville and Winthrop offices will follow this process when applying dental veneers to your smile.

1. Creating the Molds

Initially, we’ll take preliminary impressions of the upper and lower arch, along with multiple pictures. We will then spend a time preparing and waxing the length of the tooth for the veneers.

2. Making Sure We Get the Look Just Right

During your second visit, we use a temporary material that goes over your teeth to give you an idea of how your veneers will look. One of the advantages of choosing Smile Solutions of Maine is that we can show our patients exactly what the final esthetic result will look like with a mock up approach without removing any tooth structure. We will take multiple pictures and discuss any concerns you might have and adjust our models accordingly. Once you approve and are happy with the result, only then will we proceed to the actual procedure. You’ll have full control of this appointment and it is one of the most rewarding experiences for us and our patients. If you need more time to evaluate your veneers, we can email you your pictures and mockups discuss the esthetics with their family or friends prior to moving forward with the final procedure.

Creating and Applying Your Final Veneers

Once you have approved the look of your veneers, our extremely talented technicians will begin work on creating your beautiful porcelain veneers. Our lab technicians will craft a natural result that will look just like your natural teeth. Once the veneers are ready, our dentists will attach them to your tooth’s enamel.

Veneers Really Are Worth It

Dental veneers are one of the best cosmetic procedures we offer.

1. They preserve the natural tooth structure and require very minimal preparation.
2. They are very natural so most people will admire your teeth without knowing that it’s a veneer.
3. They help stabilize forces in your mouth by adding material where wear is evident.
4. They get bonded vs cemented like full coverage crowns. This means that their bond is stronger than crowns and it is extremely rare that they will become loose.
5. Will give extra strength to thinner teeth and protect them from breaking or chipping.

Ready to Discover How Veneers Can Perfect Your Smile?

Smile Solutions of Maine has over four decades of experience in helping patient’s achieve Hollywood level smiles. Contact our offices in Waterville and Winthrop and let’s start your journey towards a more beautiful smile!

Smile Solutions of Maine is the Best

At Smile Solutions of Maine, our cosmetic dentists take the time to discover what makes your smile unique and how we can help improve it. We utilize the latest techniques and cutting-edge technology to provide you with the best professional teeth whitening treatment in Maine. Our dentists will also take the time to educate you on how to help ensure your teeth stay whiter after the teeth bleaching is complete.

Customized Teeth Whitening Trays

Our most popular dental whitening solution is the at-home tray. During your professional teeth whitening appointment, our cosmetic dentist will record the initial shade of your teeth first. We will then continue with impressions to create thin, custom trays that fit over your teeth. These plastic trays are a one set fee, and you can store them in a plastic container that our office will provide for any future applications.

Small quantities of whitening gel are then placed within the tray. The whitening gel comes in plastic tubes of varying strengths. They can last a long time. These teeth bleaching gels can also be applied with at strengths, depending on your sensitivity level.  The advantage of these customized trays is that you can store them and use them again at a later time, like before a wedding or school pictures.

After your initial visit, we will schedule appointments at two-week intervals to check the progress of your teeth bleaching and increase the strength as needed.

Is teeth whitening bad for your teeth?

Teeth bleaching does not hurt the enamel of the teeth. However, some patients have sensitive teeth, and whitening at higher strengths can intensify sensitivity. For this reason, we start with the lowest strength of whitening gel for short periods of time to ensure our patients are comfortable. This is a safe technique, and we can always increase the whitening strength depending on your comfort level.

How long will your teeth whitening last?

How long your professional teeth whiting lasts will depend on a variety of factors. Are you a smoker? Do you drink red wine, tea, or coffee every day? Do you have a dry mouth? Your dental whitening will not last forever, which is why we create custom trays that you can use as you wish. Some patients will have results that last for a few weeks to months at a time depending on their diet and how meticulous they are in brushing and flossing regularly.

Our Ultimate Aesthetics Teeth Whitening Option

Our cosmetic dentist can also provide you with our “Renamel Composite Technique” option. Some patients cannot achieve the ultimate white smile they desire unless we do direct composite veneers. These ultimate aesthetics are not only reliable, but can strengthen your teeth at the same time. Our professional teeth whitening procedure requires very minimal tooth preparation and, we usually only need to roughen the enamel prior to adding this composite material. These are very different than the porcelain veneers you might be used to receiving.

We usually recommend the teeth whitening process to patients who already have worn or chipped teeth and would like to restore the tooth structure that has deteriorated over the years. It’s very different than a crown preparation and preserves the natural tooth structure. This technique requires time, skill, and passion. Our cosmetic dentists are very happy to go over this option with you in more detail during your initial consultation appointment.

Ready to Brighten Your Smile?

Smile Solutions of Maine has over 40 years of experience in providing professional teeth whitening solutions that can drastically brighten your teeth. You deserve a more natural-looking, whiter smile. Schedule your dental whitening consultation with one of our conveniently located offices in Winthrop or Waterville, ME to learn more about how we can enhance your smile.

TMJ Treatment in Waterville and Winthrop, ME 

Functional and Esthetic Solutions to Your TMD Pain 

Jaw pain, problems chewing, misaligned teeth, and toothaches are all common TMD symptoms and signs that you should schedule a visit with our dentists. If left untreated, your teeth and jaw could deteriorate and lead to more serious problems. At Smile Solutions of Maine, our TMJ dentists are extensively trained and provide long-term results. Our thorough exams will find the source of discomfort and then we’ll create a targeted TMJ treatment plan customized to your unique situation. Call our offices in Waterville (207 873-2073) or Winthrop (207 377-6958) or contact us online to set up your consultation today! 

What is TMJ / TMD 

A Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull. It allows for the opening and closing of the mouth. This is the most used joint in the entire body, and it affects your teeth and gums, and your ability to talk, chew, and swallow. Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) occurs when the lower jaw is not in the proper position relative to the upper jaw.  

What Causes Temporomandibular Disorder: 

TMD can be caused by a variety of factors including:  

1. Moderate wear of posterior teeth
2. Clenching and grinding of the teeth 
3. Non-stable contacts between the upper and lower teeth 
4. Placing final restorations without proper planning can start a TMD issue even if the joint was stable before 
5. Sport and car accidents 
6. Genetic causes 
7. Anterior open bite 

The Risks of Leaving TMD / TMJ Problems Untreated 

If you ignore TMD and prolong your TMJ treatments, your symptoms may start to worsen and you could experience:   

1. Increased teeth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures  
2. Multiple visible cracks which can cause the tooth to split in half 
3. Existing restorations including crowns, esthetic work, white and silver restorations, implant crowns and bridges will wear or even shows signs of porcelain fracture 
4. Recession of the gum will become evident between the tooth and tissue 
5. Teeth will eventually become loose due to the bone loss 
6. Periodontal issues will continue to worsen over time due to the attachment and bone loss 
7. Migration of teeth out of position, and spaces between teeth 
8. Unpredictable outcomes upon delivery of our permanent restorations 
9. Degenerative issues of the disk when opening and closing our jaw and locking of the jaw 

Say Goodbye to TMD 

During the early stages, over 90% of TMD pain and dysfunction problems can be solved. TMD can be caused by a variety of factors and the earlier we are able to start your TMJ treatments, the more predictably it can be corrected. Ultimately, there is no guaranteed time frame for when a patient will feel relief after they start their TMD treatment, but many times, depending on at what stage someone is in, we can alleviate their symptoms.  

Our TMJ Treatments in Waterville and Winthrop  

In our practice every dental exam includes careful examination of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Only then can we create a predictable plan for our patient’s needs. The most important stage is to recognize what system of the TMJ needs treatment. Is it the disc within the joint that needs to be repaired, the muscles, or the teeth? All these components need to be in harmony and there are ways we can check this. It is also extremely important not to continue with permanent restorations such as crowns, bridges, implant crowns, or esthetic work unless the joint is repaired and stable first. 

If symptoms arise, we have the ability to reverse them if caught at an early stage. The best TMJ treatment is to maintain proper and balanced forces on each tooth. Balancing how each tooth comes in contact with the opposing teeth can prevent the rise of symptoms such as clicking, locking of the jaws and degenerative issues that can become irreversible. Our TMD treatments include splint therapy to help the joint recover after trauma such as a car accident, and sport accidents, equilibration of the teeth so they hit in a balanced manner, building up the worn teeth, and custom-made night guards.  

Custom made mouth guards for TMJ can relieve symptoms immediately if the issue is muscular. Sometime patients will require specialized night guards to be adjusted frequently in order to create a “peaceful neuromuscular system.”  

Our TMJ Dentists Are Extensively Trained  

Our doctors have completed the Dawson Academy curriculum which takes a few years to complete. During this program, some of the points covered include treating TMJ symptoms, clicking of the joint and headaches, uneven forces on teeth which can be the causes of temperature sensitivity, visible cracks and moderate wear of the enamel. 

Ready to Alleviate Your Discomfort?  

Smile Solutions of Maine has over 40 years of experience in creating specially targeted TMJ treatment plans that are functional and esthetic. Our TMJ dentists are here to help using cutting-edge technologies and the latest TMD treatment techniques. Contact one of our two conveniently located offices in Waterville and Winthrop, ME to start treating your discomfort and pain.