Cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, with more and more people looking for ways to improve or restore the appearance of their smiles. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a staggering 99.7 percent of adults see a smile as an important social asset, and 74 percent believe that an unattractive smile has the potential to inhibit professional success. In some cases, current cosmetic dental treatments also have a restorative component. Teeth whitening is one of the most popular and affordable ways to enhance your smile.
Braces, crowns, veneers, bridges, implants, gum reshaping, and even a complete dental makeover can all be used to improve your smile. Veneers are custom-made, wafer-thin shells that cover the front surface of teeth. Attached to the front of the teeth, they can change their color, shape, size or length. Veneers are usually made of porcelain or resin composite and offer a conservative approach to changing the color or shape of a tooth compared to crowns. 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. Here, porcelain veneers and crowns 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. Dental implants are considered the cream of the crop when it comes to restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
They provide unparalleled durability with natural aesthetics similar to that of teeth. Implants consist of an artificial tooth root (usually titanium) that is surgically implanted in the jaw where it fuses with bone in a process known as osseointegration. A crown is placed on top of the implant to serve as an actual dental replacement. The procedure is invasive and requires a six-month recovery period before the crown can be placed and the procedure completed. For those who don't need implants but still want straighter teeth without braces, adult braces are an option.
Bonding occurs when resin is added to the edges of the teeth to make them look straighter. Bonding is one of the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedures. The composite resin used in the bond can be molded and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Most often it is used for cosmetic purposes such as improving discolored or chipped teeth or closing spaces between teeth and making them look longer.
Adhesion is sometimes used as an alternative to amalgam fillings or as protection for exposed tooth roots due to receding gums. The joint usually lasts several years before it needs repair but it depends on how much it has been done and your oral habits. Veneers are new front surfaces for teeth custom-made from ceramic or porcelain for various aesthetic reasons such as imaging pitted chipped and broken teeth lengthening discolored teeth (where typical whitening does not work) and providing an alternative to orthodontics for creating a homogeneous smile appearance. The process usually takes several weeks from consultation to adaptation.
In the next stage “we prepare the teeth including probable drilling” referring to trimming tooth enamel for effective bonding. Technicians then prepare your real veneers (while you use temporary ones) which are ready for placement two weeks later. On average veneers last about ten years although it depends entirely on individual habits. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving appearance and aesthetics of your smile with common procedures including whitening bonding veneers and contouring dark-colored foods and beverages (such as coffee tea and berries) can stain teeth over time.
Professional whitening can dramatically lighten your smile while adhesion adds material directly onto your tooth surface for repairing chips cracks gaps discoloration etc. Bonding material can also be used for reshaping misaligned crooked or misshapen teeth while contouring reshapes gums for an even look. Cosmetic dentistry aims at creating a more balanced symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing smile with common services including whitening adhesion veneers and contouring.
