Aesthetic Dentistry

Aesthetic dentistry improves the appearance of your teeth without losing sight of their health and function. At our private practice in Küsnacht near Zurich, we plan the colour, shape and position of your teeth so that they suit your face and look natural. Our principle: as gentle as possible, as extensive as necessary.

“All human longings are about beauty.” (Rufenacht CR.)

In ancient Greece, aesthesia meant something like sensation or sensitivity. In modern European languages such as German, aesthetics refers to the perception of beauty. The term cosmetics also comes from Greek – there, kosmos meant something like adornment or ornament. In the view of some dentists, aesthetics and cosmetics are not necessarily the same thing.

Aesthetic dentistry enhances the natural beauty of the mouth and face not through superficial means, but through genuine structural change.

That is why, over the last 20 years, I have devoted myself to aesthetic and reconstructive dentistry – and to orthodontics, which is essential for carrying it out perfectly – through numerous further training courses and master’s degrees.

Dr. med. dent. S. Tanja Karamousli holds a Master of Science in Aesthetic-Reconstructive Dentistry and a Master of Science in Orthodontics from the Danube University Krems. She is a Digital Smile Design Provider, and our practice is an Invisalign Gold Partner. There is a reason for combining the two fields: a smile can often be changed more gently if the position of the teeth is corrected first.

What aesthetic dentistry covers

Aesthetic dentistry has become increasingly important in recent years. It covers everything that shapes the appearance of your teeth and smile: tooth colour, the shape and length of the teeth, their position, gaps, chipped edges, visible old fillings or crowns, and the line of the gums. Often several of these factors come together. A so-called “Smile Makeover” therefore combines different treatments into a single plan.

Beauty and health cannot be separated. Teeth, jaw joints and chewing muscles form a functional unit. A change that looks good but disturbs your bite will not stand the test of time. That is why every aesthetic treatment with us begins with a thorough examination. We treat tooth decay or inflamed gums first, because healthy teeth and healthy gums are the foundation for any aesthetic result.

Treatments at a glance

Modern dentistry offers numerous treatment methods for this. These are the options we offer at our practice:

Invisalign: discreetly straightening your teeth

With Invisalign invisible braces, clear plastic aligners gently move your teeth step by step into the desired position. Unlike conventional braces, they are barely visible and therefore cause little disruption to your everyday life. The teeth do not need to be ground down. You can find other ways of correcting tooth position under Orthodontics.

Ceramic veneers

Veneers are wafer-thin ceramic shells that are bonded to the front surface of the front teeth. They can change shape and colour, for example in the case of discoloured or chipped teeth or small gaps between teeth. We use conventional veneers, for which the tooth is lightly ground down, and, in suitable cases, no-prep veneers, which are applied without any grinding. Ceramic is durable and hardly discolours.

teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is also part of aesthetic dentistry. Discolouration stored in the tooth enamel is lightened with a whitening gel. In the practice, we work with the light-activated fläsh system by WHITEsmile; a session takes about 20 to 60 minutes. For use at home, we make trays that you fill with Opalescence gel. We often recommend a combination of both, always after a professional teeth cleaning.

Tooth-coloured fillings

Minor defects and chipped corners can often be built up directly on the tooth with tooth-coloured composite. The filling is modelled directly and completed in a single session.

Crowns, CEREC and implants

If a tooth is badly damaged, crowns restore its shape and stability. For this, we use only metal-free materials such as zirconia or e.max. With CEREC, we design and mill crowns, inlays and veneers right here in the practice, often in a single session. Alternatively, the restoration is made in our Swiss laboratory. If a tooth is missing, a dental implant can close the gap: an artificial tooth root in the jawbone that supports a crown or bridge. If many teeth are affected, we plan function and aesthetics together as part of a full-mouth reconstruction.

How we plan your new smile

Every beautiful smile is individual. That is why we start with a careful analysis:

• Your wishes: What bothers you about your smile, and what would you like to change?
• Face and lips: How much of your teeth shows when you speak and smile, and what does your smile line look like?
• Proportions: The length, width and shape of the teeth in relation to one another and to your face.
• Gums: The health and contour of the gum line.
• Tooth colour: The starting shade, the type of discolouration, and any existing fillings and crowns.
• Function: Your bite, jaw joints and any signs of teeth grinding.

With the iTero scanner, we capture your teeth as a digital 3D model. With Digital Smile Design, we first design your new smile on screen, tailored to your facial features. We then transfer the design into your mouth as a mock-up. This lets you see and feel the shape and length of your future teeth before anything is changed. The teeth are not ground down for the mock-up, and it does not commit you to anything.

Least invasive first

One principle of modern aesthetic dentistry is to preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible. That is why we look at the gentler options first. Put simply, the sequence can be described as follows:

• Teeth cleaning and whitening: Removing deposits and lightening the colour of your teeth without altering the teeth themselves.
• Straightening with aligners: Moving crooked teeth into the right place instead of covering up the misalignment.
• Tooth-coloured fillings: Building up small defects and chipped edges with composite.
• Veneers: Changing the shape and colour of the front teeth with ceramic shells, with little or no grinding.
• Crowns: Covering badly damaged teeth all the way round. This requires removing considerably more tooth structure than veneers.

The steps often complement each other. If teeth are aligned with aligners before veneer treatment, less enamel often needs to be removed afterwards. And if you would like whiter teeth, it is best to whiten them before getting veneers or crowns, because the shade of the ceramic is then matched to your whitened teeth.

What is realistic

Aesthetic dentistry can achieve a great deal, but it has its limits. We discuss them openly so that you can make a well-informed decision:

• Teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. Fillings, crowns and veneers do not become lighter. If they are in the visible area, they may need to be adjusted after whitening.
• The starting point determines the result. How white your teeth become depends on their original shade and the type of discolouration. A specific shade cannot be guaranteed.
• Grinding is permanent. For conventional veneers, some tooth enamel is removed, and this cannot be reversed. No-prep veneers, on the other hand, usually cannot fully cover severe discolouration.
• The result needs care. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking cause teeth to darken again. Regular check-ups and professional teeth cleaning help preserve your teeth and restorations for a long time.

Frequently asked questions

Is aesthetic dentistry purely cosmetic?

No. Many aesthetic treatments also benefit your health, for example when a crown protects a weakened tooth. Conversely, a healthy mouth is the prerequisite for any aesthetic treatment.

Can I see the result in advance?

In many cases, yes. With Digital Smile Design, we show you your planned smile as a digital simulation and as a mock-up in your own mouth. Before Invisalign treatment, we use the 3D scan to show you how your smile could look after your teeth have been straightened.

Do my teeth need to be ground down?

That depends on the treatment. Teeth whitening, straightening with aligners and no-prep veneers require no grinding. For conventional veneers, a small amount of enamel is removed; for crowns, considerably more. We explain in advance what is necessary in your case.

How much does aesthetic treatment cost?

The cost depends on which treatments are combined and how many teeth are involved. After the examination and planning, we discuss the costs openly with you. If you wish, you will receive a cost estimate in advance.

Personal consultation in Küsnacht

We will work out which treatment is right for you in a personal consultation. At our practice on Seestrasse in Küsnacht, we place great importance on individual advice and gentle treatment. Book an introductory appointment – we look forward to meeting you soon.