Cosmetic Aesthetic Dentistry
Everyone would like to have a perfect smile, but nature is rarely so accommodating. Even if you're one of the lucky ones who never needed braces, the rough-and-tumble of life, along with habits such as smoking or drinking coffee, invariably result in chips, stains, or an overall dingy appearance. Until fairly recently, there wasn't a lot you could do to improve the appearance of your teeth beyond having them cleaned once or twice a year. In the last decade, however, improvements in dental materials and restorative techniques have made it possible for most of us to have close to model-perfect teeth that resist colour changes and are almost as strong as the originals.
If you have been considering ways to brighten your smile or correct imperfections, there's never been a better time to do it.
Aesthetic Dentistry is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of dentistry available today. More individuals than ever before are looking to their dentist to improve their physical appearance. They realize that embarrassing dental imperfections and ugly stains can be corrected by their dentist.
Cosmetic Dentistry covers a broad range of dental services. It typically involves Appearance Related Dentistry. Orthodontics and porcelain crowns / bridges are considered the most traditional ways of smile enhancement simply because they have been in use the longest.We offer comprehensive treatment to improve your smile. We work together with orthodontic specialists and provide all other aesthetic services in our office.
As with all dental procedures,the aesthetic needs are addressed after a comprehensive examination. The teeth should be examined and treatment planned and then cleaned, before aesthetic procedures begin. Of course, any necessary dental work, other than purely aesthetic changes, must be incorporated in the treatment plan.
It's important to be realistic. Dentists who specialize in cosmetic procedures are enhancers. They can manipulate, shape and polish materials in an infinite variety of ways to create smiles that are truly dazzling. What they can't do is change the shape of your mouth, the color of your skin or your overall appearance. In order for tooth restorations to truly look natural, they have to be work for you. Cosmetic dentistry can improve your appearance; it won't completely transform it.
There are many cosmetic options to choose from, depending on what you need to have done.
For example:
Stained or discolored teeth The enamel that covers the teeth isn't impervious to stains and the underlying tooth structure (the dentin) often yellows over time. As long as the teeth are healthy, it's easy to eliminate stains by applying a bleaching agent.
Chips or rough spots These can be filled with a tooth-coloured material called composite. The colour of the composite can be chosen so that it matches the color of your teeth. Once the material has been smoothed and polished, it's virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding area.
Cavities or cracks Traditional amalgam fillings work fine in the back of the mouth, but most people don't want to reveal a metal mouth when they smile. An alternative is to use tooth-colored fillings, which match the colour of the teeth. These fillings are made with composite material similar to that used to repair chips or cracks. Some white fillings (direct composites) are pressed into the cavity and cured (hardened) with a special ultraviolet light. Others (indirect composites) are made in a laboratory and then cemented in place. They cost much more than amalgam fillings, but are much more attractive.
Uneven teeth It';s not uncommon for a tooth to be slightly longer or have a different shape than its neighbours. With a procedure called recontouring, your dentist can reshape the tooth so that it's a better match.
Gaps between the teeth Small gaps can be closed by applying composite material between the teeth. For large gaps or other imperfections on the surfaces of the teeth, your dentist may recommend veneers. Veneers are among the most expensive cosmetic procedures. Made from ultra-thin shells of porcelain that come in every shade of white, veneers are permanently bonded to the fronts of the teeth, giving them an entirely new esthetic appearance.
Broken or crooked teeth ; If a tooth has been badly broken or is structurally weak, you may need a crown. Crowns used to be made of metal, but today they're often made of tooth-coloured porcelain materials.
The foll conservative cosmetic dental procedures have greatly enhanced a dentist's ability to give their patientsa better smile.
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