General whitening treatments including in-office and take-home whitening trays.
Crown is a gold or porcelain restoration that is designed to completely encase a single tooth.
Most popular treatments in cosmetic dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry includes dental procedures that focus on improving dental aesthetics and overall smile appearance. With the growing awareness among people to look better, there is an increase in demand for dental cosmetic services. Nowadays, people believe that having healthy teeth is not enough to have a perfect look. To feel and look good, it is important to have bright, white and flawless teeth. While regular dentistry focuses on dental health and oral hygiene, cosmetic dentistry emphasizes improving teeth appearance.
Modern dental techniques have significantly increased the options in cosmetic dental procedures. Earlier, the cosmetic dental practices were confined to only certain procedures, but the latest advancements in dentistry have paved way for many new safe and reliable techniques. Cosmetic dentistry offers several procedural options for treating discolored, crooked, chipped or missing teeth. The clinical treatments include procedures for removing stains, lightening teeth, reshaping and closing gaps, altering the teeth length, oral restoration through dental fillings, placing dental implants, veneers etc. More than simply improving the smile, these treatments provide the person with several restorative benefits. Based on the dental problem or cosmetic need, dentists recommend the proper procedure to restore patient’s natural appearance of teeth and smile.
Among several treatment options, the following are popular procedures in cosmetic dentistry.
Whitening
Many factors affect an individual’s natural teeth such as drinking tea or coffee, eating high pigment foods, medication, smoking cigarettes etc. Also, as people age the teeth color changes and often becomes darker or stained. The discoloration can be on the inner structure of the tooth caused by changes in enamel, exposure to high levels of fluoride or tetracycline, use of antibiotics as a child, trauma, internal bleeding and others or it can be external on the outer layer mainly caused by food and smoking habits.
While there are many over-the-counter products available for treating discoloration, in-office treatments by dentists are safe and effective. Frequent cleaning of teeth by dentists removes stains on outer enamel and restores natural color. Bleaching is another method to remove tough stains and transform teeth color into white. Before applying the bleaching agent, the dentist will cover the gums with a gum protecting substance. Then a whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide is applied directly to the teeth and is activated by a light or laser. Bleaching can also be done at home under the professional guidance of a dentist. The dentist will first take the impressions of upper and lower teeth of the patient to create a custom mouthpiece to hold the teeth whitening product. The patient is required to fill the tray with the whitening product and wear it for several hours as suggested by the dentist. If the stains are deep in the enamel, the dental practitioner may recommend more effective alternative procedures like veneers and composite bonding.
Composite bonding
The treatment is recommended to restore a chipped, decayed, fractured or discolored tooth. In this procedure a composite resin matching with the tooth color is used as a bonding material to fill the gaps, bond chipped tooth or change the shape of teeth. The resin is placed on the tooth and is shaped properly to cover the flaws of the tooth. Then it is hardened using a UV light or laser and is polished properly to match with surrounding teeth. Composite bonding procedure is effective to fix minor tooth imperfections and improve the appearance.
Veneers
Veneers are better alternatives than composite bonding to restore the shape or change the color of teeth. In this procedure, a thin custom made covering made of porcelain or resin composite material is cemented to the front surface of the teeth and is properly shaped to suit the patient’s natural smile. The procedure may or may not need local anesthesia which will be decided by the dentist. Before cementing veneers, the dentist will follow some procedures to clean, etch and prepare the tooth for the bonding process. Once properly placed the dentist will apply a light beam or laser to activate the chemicals in the cement for effective bonding. When compared to a composite resin, porcelain veneer is stronger and requires fabrication before the actual treatment.
Root canal treatment may be required to save the remaining tooth structure.
Why are dental implants recommended for missing tooth problems?
Dental implants are typically recommended to people who lost their tooth or teeth naturally or due to diseases. Tooth loss changes the appearance of the smile and also deteriorates the jaw bone that anchors them. Dental implants eliminate the necessity of using dentures and other alternatives for missing teeth. Through a surgical procedure called Osseointegration, titanium roots are fixed into the jaw bone to replace the functionality of lost teeth roots. Once the implants are in place, it is covered with gum tissue and left to fuse with the bone naturally during the healing period. In some procedures, a small tooth shaped connector called abutment is screwed into the implant which acts as a joint between the crown and implant.
Dental implant procedure is suggested to the patients only after examining the bone in the area of missing teeth. The surgery is typically done by a specialist called prosthodontist or a dentist who has additional training in implant dentistry. The surgical procedure is carried out under local anesthesia and is done as a single or multi step process. The number of implants needed depends on the number of missing teeth. After it is completely healed, dental crowns or a bridge may be recommended to fill the empty spaces between teeth. They are securely placed on top of implants to provide the normal functionality of teeth. When compared to other replacement procedures, implants are better alternatives for missing teeth problems.
Prevents collapse of facial features and premature aging
Losing teeth can affect much more than just worsening the smile. Since the jawbone tissue relies on the stimulation from the teeth, loss of tooth for prolonged period can alter the jawbone structure and deteriorate gradually. This will affect the overall shape of the face and people look much older than their actual age. Replacing missing teeth with implants will prevent bone loss in the jaw and restores the natural appearance of the face.
Resistant to decay and gum problems
Though other metals are now being used, typically dental implants are made of titanium or titanium alloys which are naturally strong and biocompatible. They are damage tolerant, immune to corrosion and integrate well with bone and other tissues. They are resistant to decay and less likely cause dental health problems once implanted.
Durable and provide long term protection
Unlike other restoration procedures like dentures and bridges, which require a change whenever they collapse, dental implants are durable and long lasting. They are ideal for long term tooth replacement. However, misuse of implants, improper dental hygiene or a gum disease can cause failure of implants. If properly maintained, implants can last a lifetime.
Implants are natural
Implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth than ordinary dentures and bridgework. Once the procedure is done, the smile looks completely natural and no one would know about it unless it is told. Like dentures, they do not slip or become loose inside the mouth. The person may feel little pain or discomfort immediately after the procedure, but once it is healed there will be no inconvenience for eating and speaking. They get fused into the jaw and work like regular teeth. They restore the normal functionality of biting and chewing and enable patients to have a regular diet.
No strain on adjacent teeth
Implants are self-supporting and do not impose any strain on adjacent teeth. To fix a bridge, sometimes nearby healthy teeth have to be removed to support the replacements. But implants do not have any impact on existing teeth. Even when the procedure is done for a single tooth, it will not affect the adjacent teeth.