A smile has a major impact on your self-esteem and confidence. While traditional dentistry addresses the functional issues of your teeth, cosmetic dentistry focuses on their appearance. Cosmetic dentistry helps enhance your appearance by improving your smile and your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry can help get rid of teeth gaps and replace damaged teeth. Cosmetic dental procedures offer a wide range of benefits that help boost your confidence. Cosmetic dentistry includes several procedures such as whitening, bonding, restorations and fillings.
Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Dental Implants A dental implant is a method to replace one or more teeth. Implants are used to keep dentures securely in place. They rest on your gums and are inserted into the bone socket of your missing tooth. Once the implant is fully bonded to the jaw, it won’t require any replacement. A crown is then placed on top of the dental implant to complete the procedure. You can get two or more implants to replace your missing teeth. Implants are usually made up of titanium metal. Dental Bonding Bonding helps fix teeth if they are broken, stained or damaged. With bonding, small cracks in your teeth can be corrected. Dentists usually use a resin which is a durable plastic material, to cover the imperfections. It’s an excellent choice for patients who have excess space between their teeth. Dental bonding takes about 30-60 minutes and can be completed in one visit. Dental Veneers These are porcelain shells that cover front teeth and can last up to a decade. Veneers help cover teeth imperfections such as staining and discoloration. Dental veneers may also help fix damaged, stained and crooked teeth. The dentist will first take your teeth impression and then brush the tooth before bonding the veneer. A beam of light is used to harden the cement used for securing the veneer in place. Crowns Crowns, also known as caps, are placed over a tooth that has been comprised. Crowns are used to cover a tooth after a root canal procedure, dental implant or to cover a large filling that may weaken the tooth structure. The difference in a crown and a veneer is that the crown covers the whole tooth while a veneer covers just the front part of the tooth. Crowns can be made from metal, resin or ceramic materials. Most crowns last longer with proper care. Teeth whitening Teeth may turn yellow or stain over time due to lifestyle and dietary habits. Teeth bleaching or whitening is used to lighten your teeth colour by several shades. You can opt for a home treatment or a laser method. For home treatment, your dentist takes your teeth impression and advises you to use bleaching gel along with mouthpiece tray. The bleaching gel can be used for around 8 hours a day and the procedure lasts up to several weeks. Laser whitening can be performed in an hour, with the bleaching product brushed onto your teeth and laser beam focused on them to activate the whitening. Braces Braces are used to reposition your teeth if they are crooked or crowded. They enhance the overall teeth appearance and may rectify the positioning of your jaw. To place braces, metal and ceramic brackets are bonded with the teeth. Wires are placed through the brackets for correct positioning. Braces may cause discomfort for a few days. Dentists usually tighten the braces after each visit for accurate positioning. Oral hygiene plays an important role while wearing braces. Bridges Bridges are used to replace missing teeth with artificial ones. They are quite similar to crowns but have several teeth attached together. They are usually used for complete restorations. Dental bridges match your existing natural teeth perfectly and are customized according to the patient. Bridges help improve your appearance and enhance the overall function of your teeth. Enamel Reshaping Also known as dental contouring, this method involves removing small amounts of tooth to make your smile evener. This is a great option for minor dental imperfections so you don’t feel insecure about your smile. Cosmetic dentistry is generally noninvasive and is an ideal option for many patients. To determine which option suits you better, it's important to book an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist can examine your teeth and make a treatment plan for you. Durham Dental Centres offers dental care and emergency services for patients of all ages. Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about cosmetic dentistry.