Cosmetic dentistry procedures bring back brighter, whiter smiles to patients who have suffered damage to teeth or loss of teeth. New technology and better methods now make it possible for more people than ever before to afford these treatments. Three of these options that people can consider are tooth reshaping, dental bridges, and tooth whitening.
Tooth Reshaping (Contouring)
If a person has all of their teeth, but if some teeth are longer than the others, they are a candidate for tooth reshaping. This is also known as contouring. The procedure is simple enough?it basically alters the lengths of teeth by either adding or removing tooth matter until all teeth extend to the desired length and are alignment with one another.
Contouring is considered one of the safest cosmetic dentistry procedures because the dentist only needs to add or remove a very thin layer of enamel from the teeth. It is a convenient procedure as well for busy professionals, and takes only one or two dental visits to complete.
Tooth Whitening
Tooth Whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that restores the natural whiteness of teeth.
So many things that people eat and drink end up staining their teeth. Drinks like coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages, along with certain medications, and smoking, can all turn teeth yellow or brown.
Many stores now carry do-it-yourself kits for tooth whitening. However, it is better for people to go to a dentist for professional tooth whitening procedures. Dentists have access to superior whitening agents.
The results people get will be much better, and the results will be longer lasting.
There are a number of cosmetic tooth whitening methods that a dentist may use. There is laser whitening, air abrasion, acid whitening, and chemical whitening.
Our office uses a bleaching gel during the appointment, and then sends the patient home for two or three weeks to apply special whitening agents that we have them apply on their own every night.
Dental Bridges
When a person loses a tooth, they need to do something about it right away. One cosmetic dentistry procedure that can do this is an implant or a dental bridge. If the tooth is not replaced, the other teeth will start to shift and the individual will end up with alignment problems.
A dental bridge is made using an artificial tooth called a pontic that has a crown on each side. In order for the dentist can install the bridge, he or she has remove enamel from the two teeth next to the missing tooth. Once the appropriate amount of enamel has been removed, the dentist will craft a mold of the teeth and send it to a dental lab.
The lab will then custom make a dental bridge, and in the meantime, the patient will wear a temporary bridge. When the permanent bridge is ready, the patient returns to the dental office, and the new permanent bridge is cemented in place.
Dental Implants
This is the best form of tooth replacement because it replaces both the natural tooth root and the crown of the tooth. Dental implants imitated tooth roots by going into the jawbone itself. Implants are crowned with porcelain crowns that look virtually identical to natural teeth and can chew any foods normally eaten.
Over the years, cosmetic dentistry procedures have become so sophisticated that the costs are now within the reach of the average American. Tools and materials are so much better than they were in the past.
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