Cosmetic dentistry is a professional oral care method that focuses on improving the appearance of teeth. It is an elective procedure that can provide both aesthetic and restorative benefits. From braces to crowns, veneers, teeth whitening, bridges, implants, gum reshaping, and even a complete dental makeover, there are many ways to improve your smile. Veneers are custom-made, wafer-thin housings that cover the front surface of teeth.
They are made of porcelain or resin composite and can be used to change the color, shape, size or length of teeth. Veneers offer a conservative approach to changing the color or shape of a tooth compared to crowns, but the process is not reversible. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a weak or damaged tooth to improve its shape, size, strength, or appearance. Most crowns last five to 15 years and can be made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, resin, or ceramic.
Before a crown is set, the existing tooth is filed; then, the crown is cemented on it, completely covering the tooth. Onlays and three-quarter crowns cover the underlying tooth to a lesser extent. Shaping or contouring enamel is a quick and painless process of shaping natural teeth to improve their appearance. It is usually used to correct small imperfections, such as uneven teeth or teeth that are a little overcrowded. Enamel modeling is often combined with bleaching, veneers, or bonding. Millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss due to tooth decay, gum disease, or injury.
Dental implants are replacement dental roots made of titanium that provide a solid foundation for the attachment of permanent or removable artificial teeth (crowns). Instead of individual crowns, some patients may have attachments on their implants that support a removable denture. A fixed (permanent) bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on both sides of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them. The bridge is then cemented into place. A cantilever bridge is used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space.
Maryland Bonded Bridges Have Porcelain Teeth Supported by a Frame. A combination of dental techniques can be used to achieve a great smile. Porcelain veneers and crowns can correct crooked teeth, irregular gum line, and other types of chipped, worn, and discolored dentistry. While cosmetic dentists can make a dramatic difference to a person's smile and overall oral health, the work must be carefully planned. One of the easiest ways to improve your smiles is to whiten your teeth. First, the dentist will clean the teeth of any plaque or tartar that may have appeared on them.
Then you will use a bleaching or bleaching solution on them. With teeth whitening you can achieve lighter tones than the natural color of your teeth. Dental veneers are thin shells that are custom-made of resin or porcelain and cover the surface of teeth. They stick to the front of the teeth after removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth. Veneers can be used to change the size, color, shape, or length of teeth.
They can also be used to fix problems such as cracked enamel, sunken teeth, or a space between teeth. With dental bonding, a tooth-colored resin is applied to the tooth and then solidified with a laser or ultraviolet light that binds the material to the tooth. Your dentist then trims, shapes and polishes it. Bonding can repair deformed chipped cracked or decayed teeth. Dental implants are made of titanium and are usually used to replace missing teeth. For this procedure a small screw will be surgically inserted into the jaw.
Once the screw has healed it will serve as a support for the implant crown. Indirect fillings also known as inlays and inlays are made of composite materials porcelain or gold and fill damaged or decayed teeth. They are created in a dental laboratory and are molded in place by your dentist. When the filling adheres at the midpoint of the tooth it is called an “inlay” and when it includes one or more points of the tooth it is called an “inlay”.Cosmetic dentistry is dentistry aimed at creating positive change in your teeth and smile. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) is the primary dental resource for patients who strive to maintain their health function and appearance throughout their lives.
We believe that cosmetic dentistry should complement the patient's general and oral health. While total cost varies widely based on condition of your teeth and procedures needed to correct them you may be surprised to find that affordable cosmetic dentistry isn't out of your budget. Cosmetic dentists create crowns with materials such as porcelain or acrylic that melt with metal to resist bite pressure. Dental implant surgery is used to remove and replace tooth roots with screw-type metal posts and broken or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look like real ones. Tooth bonding is considered a cosmetic procedure but resin can be applied to a cavity to repair a decayed tooth. Some dental offices specialize in family dentistry and offer numerous services as “one-stop shop” for oral care needs of your entire family. While American Dental Association (ADA) does not officially recognize cosmetic dentistry as specialty dentists who focus on more artistic aspects of dental care are considered cosmetic dentists by their patients and other dentists. With modern advances in dentistry cosmetic procedures can range from basic color correction to replacement of missing teeth and everything in between.
However some cosmetic procedures may have oral health benefits as well.
