Many people are turning to cosmetic dentistry to improve their appearance. A beautiful smile speaks confidence in every situation, but what should you do if your smile leaves you frowning? Cosmetic dentistry offers many great solutions.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures involve treatment by a professional cosmetic dentist to improve your smile and the appearance of your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry is becoming very popular as a means of improving one’s appearance, and even many family dental practices offer cosmetic services.
There are many common cosmetic dentistry procedures including teeth whitening, dental veneers, implants and indirect fillings.
We will take a brief look at each procedure.
Teeth Whitening
This is a very basic procedure and can be done at the family dental practice. It involves various method of lightening the color of the teeth to remove discoloration and staining that can occur over many years. After a routine cleaning and exam, the teeth can be whitened using a bleaching technique that removes the staining or a coating the whitens the teeth making them several shades lighter.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are applied over the top of the tooth using an adhesive and can improve the appearance of cracked or uneven teeth. Veneers are also used to fill unsightly gaps between the teeth. They are individually made for each patient, and are designed to look like the surrounding teeth so the do not appear to be an obvious repair, but part of a normal healthy smile.
Implants
An implant is used to replace a missing tooth. the dentist inserts a screw into the jaw and this serves an an anchor for a dental crown. The crown is usually made of porcelain, and is created to resemble the surrounding teeth. With proper oral hygiene a crown can be expected to last for decades.
Indirect Fillings
Also called an inlay or an overlay, this is a procedure used when a tooth is decayed and doesn’t have the structure to support a filling, but does not need to be extracted. The inlay is made of resin, colored similarly to the tooth, and applied to the surface of the cleaned tooth with an adhesive.
If you are considering cosmetic dentistry, it is very important to find a qualified professional dentist who will discuss specific cosmetic dentistry procedures with you that will meet your needs. Begin by asking your family dentist what he or she offers and to obtain referrals.