As they say, there is always room for improvement in anything and everything that exists in your life. The same applies to your smile.
Nowadays, with little tweaks, you can get that million-dollar smile that you’ve longed for. With an improved smile, you can look good and feel great.
Here, cosmetic dentistry comes into play. It mainly focuses on improving the appearance of your face, teeth, gums, and mouth, which boosts your smile.
The most commonly used dentistry procedures include:
- Dental veneers
- Dental fillings
- Dental implants
- Dental contouring
- Teeth whitening
Let us now explore all these five procedures in detail for better understanding.
DENTAL VENEERS
The veneer is a thin ceramic or porcelain shell that is moulded carefully on top of the damaged tooth. It covers the teeth and gives them the desired natural look. It is mostly preferred for the front tooth, and dental veneers are the most suitable solution to correct stained, chipped, misshapen or crooked teeth. They can also be used to cover gaps in teeth where orthodontic treatment is not required.
The advantages of dental veneers are as follows:
- They provide a natural tooth appearance
- They adapt well to the gums
- They are stain-resistant (porcelain veneers)
- A colour can be selected to make dark teeth appear natural
- Not much shaping of crowns is required
There are two main types of dental veneers:
- Composite Veneer: It can cover many aesthetic problems, including misshapen teeth, discolourations, and other defects. It has a shorter application process and costs less than porcelain veneers. It has some shortcomings too like the material is weaker than porcelain and may chip quicker. Another concern is that it needs to be replaced or repaired more frequently than porcelain veneers.
- Porcelain Veneer: It is long-lasting due to its stronger material. It can be custom-made. It provides a more natural appearance. It can better fix darker stained teeth or more damaged teeth than composite veneers. But it is one of the most expensive types of veneers, and its application process requires more than one visit.
DENTAL FILLINGS
As the word ‘Fill” suggests, it is used to fill the decayed and damaged tooth. Dental fillings are combinations of certain metals (gold, silver), plastics, glass, or other materials used to repair or restore teeth. These direct/composite fillers have been popular for quite some time.
But today, indirect fillings are more popular. This is because they provide enough support and better results. You will get better tooth restoration as they are made in a dental laboratory. It is recommended when there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling.
There are two types of indirect fillings:
- Inlays: These are similar to fillings, but the entire work lies within the cusps (bumps) on the tooth’s chewing surface.
- Onlays: These are more extensive than inlays, covering one or more cusps, also known as partial crowns.
DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dental implants are used when there is a complete tooth loss with its root. It is a surgical procedure to replace damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like the real ones. They are a great alternative to dentures or bridgework.
Dental implants provide a strong foundation for the replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. They improve the overall appearance. Designed to fuse with bone, they work like permanent teeth. Dental implants also give a better speech as they are fixed. They allow you to speak without worrying.
DENTAL CONTOURING/TOOTH RESHAPING
It is a simple and low-cost cosmetic procedure to improve a smile without using braces. It is also known as dental contouring or tooth reshaping. The procedure is quick and painless. It involves the removal of tooth enamel and then reshaping the desired tooth. After reshaping the tooth, a tooth-coloured bonding resin is sometimes applied, which attaches to the teeth and hardens them for better results.
However, dental contouring is suitable for correcting minor imperfections. If your teeth are badly damaged or severely misaligned, your dentist will recommend dental braces or other procedures for teeth reshaping.
Another important requirement is to have healthy teeth and gums, as it involves removing some of your tooth enamel. After proper dental examination and X-rays, your dentist will decide if you need just dental reshaping or other more advanced cosmetic procedures.
TEETH WHITENING
If you remember any video or audio advertisement of a toothpaste brand, one common thing it promises is pearly and sparkling white teeth. Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures.
A proper tooth cleaning at the dentist’s clinic removes tartar, plaque, and other debris from the teeth, thus improving overall dental hygiene and adding sheen to your smile.
It’s a natural tendency for our teeth to get stained and look dull. The most common reasons include:
- Consumption of coffee, tea, and red wine – most common staining liquids
- Smoking which includes tar and nicotine that cause staining
- Thinning of outer enamel layer with age
- Certain medications that trigger staining
The dental whitening procedure usually requires only one office visit to a dentist’s clinic. First, the dentist adds a protective gel or a rubber shield to protect your gums, and then bleach is applied to the teeth. Sometimes your dentist can provide you with a custom-made tray for at-home whitening. But you have to follow all the instructions carefully to get the best results.
For more information and to book a consultation for any of the above treatments, contact Perfect Smile – Established in 2004, Perfect Smile has given more than 4 million patient’s their smiles back through thorough and honest dental care.