Cosmetic dentistry procedures may be the answer to a more beautiful, confident smile whether you're self-conscious about your teeth or simply want to improve your smile.
Cosmetic dentistry has grown in popularity in recent years, not only because of the many breakthroughs in cosmetic dental procedures and materials available today, but also because consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with their general health. This involves dental hygiene and having a whiter, more brilliant smile.
There are many cosmetic dental procedures available to improve your teeth and enhance your smile. Depending on your particular needs, cosmetic dental treatments can change your smile dramatically, from restoring a single tooth to having a full mouth make-over. Ask your dentist how you can improve the health and beauty of your smile with cosmetic dentistry.
Cosmetic Procedures:
Teeth Whitening: Bleaching whitens teeth that have been discolored or stained as a result of aging, food, alcohol, and smoking. Teeth that have darkened as a result of injury or medicine can also be bleached, but the success is dependent on the degree of staining present.
Composite (tooth-colored) Fillings: Also known as “bonding”, composite fillings are now widely used instead of amalgam (silver) fillings to repair teeth with cavities, and also to replace old defective fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are also used to repair chipped, broken, or discolored teeth. This type of filling is also very useful to fill in gaps and to protect sensitive, exposed root surfaces caused by gum recession.
Porcelain Veneers: Veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that are custom-made and glued to the fronts of teeth to produce a beautiful, unique smile. They can be used to repair or conceal damaged, discolored, poorly shaped, or misaligned teeth. Unlike crowns, veneers require only a small amount of tooth structure to be removed from the tooth's surface.
Porcelain Crowns (caps): A crown is a tooth-colored, custom-made covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. Crowns protect and strengthen teeth that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. They are ideal for teeth that have large, fractured or broken fillings and also for those that are badly decayed.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are artificial roots that are surgically placed into the jaw to replace one or more missing teeth. Porcelain crowns, bridges, and dentures can be made specifically to fit and attach to implants, giving a patient a strong, stable, and durable solution to removable dental appliances.
Orthodontics: Brackets and wires that are less apparent and more effective are making orthodontic tooth straightening more acceptable to adult patients. In some circumstances, teeth can be straightened without braces using custom-made, clear, removable aligners.
Cosmetic treatments, thanks to developments in contemporary dentistry, can make a difference in making your smile sparkle!