|
Cosmetic Dentistry
While traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing,
diagnosing, and treating oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on
improving the appearance of a person's teeth, mouth, and smile.
Beautify your smile and appearance with cosmetic
dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry may also provide restorative benefits. For
example, dental fillings are a common procedure used to treat decayed
teeth. Previously, most dental fillings were composed primarily of gold,
amalgam, and other materials that left visible dark spots on the teeth.
Today, dental fillings may fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry,
because you can select fillings made of porcelain or composite materials
that closely match the color of your teeth, thus maintaining the natural
appearance of your teeth and smile. Many people have their older
fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored fillings to enhance their
oral appearance.
Cosmetic Dentistry Trends
A smile makeover improves the appearance of the
smile through one or more cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental
veneers, dental implants, and teeth whitening.
Full mouth reconstruction may include treatment
for functional problems with the bite, muscles, teeth, and bone
structure as well as the use of additional cosmetic procedures. Full
mouth reconstruction involves advanced restorative treatment designed to
address severe wear of the teeth, pain, and other problems. Full mouth
reconstruction frequently involves several dentists who focus on their
specific areas of expertise in order to obtain the best outcome.
Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
Cosmetic dentistry procedures currently in use
include:
Dental Fillings - As noted above, this
traditional procedure can also be included in the category of cosmetic
dentistry when porcelain and composite resin materials are used to
provide a tooth-like appearance.
Bonding - The repair of chipped or broken teeth
may be done via a procedure called bonding. A dental composite material
with the look of enamel is applied to the surface of a tooth, where it
is then sculpted into shape, contoured, and polished, making the crack
or chip invisible.
Teeth Whitening - Teeth whitening is perhaps
the most commonly recommended cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth are
often stained from smoking, food, drink (coffee, tea, or red wine), or
poor oral hygiene. Bleaching the teeth can enhance the appearance of
your smile.
Dental Veneers - Plastic or porcelain laminates
bonded to the surface of a tooth to replace chips and cracks will
improve a worn appearance or severe tooth discoloration. Veneers may
also be recommended if you have gaps in your teeth or if you have not
had success with teeth whitening.
Dental Implants - Dental implants are
artificial tooth root replacements that are used as a part of prosthetic
(artificial replacement) dentistry in order to compensate for tooth
loss. Often the result is not only an enhanced smile, but also a more
youthful appearance, since missing teeth cause the face to collapse,
making you look older.
Cosmetic dentistry offers many options for people who
are unhappy with their smile. If you are one of these people, we
encourage you to read our comprehensive cosmetic procedure articles to
learn about the various treatments available to beautify your smile.
|
