A whiter, brighter smile can really increase your self-confident and outlook on life. A new smile will not only improve your appearance, but can also make you feel more positive. Today’s cosmetic dentistry is really an art form, combining technology with artistry to produce incredible results. Modern cosmetic dentistry is so advanced that most procedures can be done in minimum visits.
- Teeth Whitening
- Bonding
- Porcelain Laminates
- Fillings
- Porcelain Inlays & Onlays
- Porcelain Crowns
- Porcelain Fixed Bridges
Whitening Your Teeth for a Brighter Smile | Cosmetic Dentistry
- The Problem: Your teeth are stained or dull.
- The solution: Teeth whitening and brightening
This procedure can be done in almost any dentist’s office. The dentist will fill a tray customized to your teeth with whitening gel. This tray is then worn for at least one hour every day. This cosmetic procedure can erase almost any stain, including those from tobacco and coffee. It will also whiten your teeth, removing the yellowing that comes with age to create a new, white smile.
– The alternatives: Other in-office teeth whitening procedures
Depending upon the condition of your teeth, your dentist may recommend an in-office whitening gel treatment. This treatment typically produces faster results. There are some situations where teeth whitening may not be appropriate. If you have challenging or hard-to-treat stains, you may be a better candidate for crowns or porcelain veneers.
Bonding
- The problem: Your teeth are chipped, uneven, discolored, gapped or stained.
- The solution: Your dentist performs a bonding using composite resin.
During this cosmetic dentistry procedure, your dentist applies a composite resin directly to the enamel of your teeth. This resin is tooth-colored and can be shaped to correct other aesthetic issues. This composite resin is then exposed to special ultraviolet light to harden the resin.
– The alternatives: Alternative procedures to bonding include porcelain crowns and veneers.
These may be more expensive than bonding, but will last much longer.
Porcelain Laminates to Whiten or Improve your Teeth | Cosmetic Dentistry
– The problem: Your teeth are chipped, uneven, discolored, gapped or stained.
They may also be disproportionate to your mouth, worn or crooked.
– The solution: Your dentist cements customized, wafer-thin veneers into place directly onto the front of each tooth.
This creates a very natural appearance correcting any issues or irregularities.
– The Alternatives: There are certain situations where veneers are not the best choice.
This includes patients who have tooth decay, severely misaligned teeth, or advanced periodontal disease.
In these types of cases, your doctor may recommend orthodontic treatment or porcelain crowns.
White fillings | Cosmetic Dentistry
– The problem: You have tooth decay which has created a cavity or a small hole in one or more of your teeth.
– The solution: Your dentist will place a filling in each cavity.
First, all signs of decay are removed from the tooth. Next, they fill the cavity with composite resin or silver amalgam. Composite resin fillings are natural colored and easily blend in with the rest of your teeth, matching their natural appearance. Composite fillings are rapidly gaining popularity because they are not as noticeable as silver fillings, thus having much less impact on the beauty of your smile.
– The alternatives: If you have major areas of tooth decay, your dentist may recommend porcelain onlays or inlays.
In cases of more extensive decay, porcelain inlays and onlays are an advisable alternative.
Correcting your Teeth with Porcelain Inlays or Onlays | Cosmetic Dentistry
– The problem: Your teeth have areas which are structurally weak and which may need tooth reinforcement or restoration.
– The solution: Your dentist removes all decay from your teeth.
Then they will take an impression of your teeth, identifying the areas needing restoration or reinforcement.
Using this impression of your teeth, a dental laboratory customizes a restorative onlay or inlay. This is typically made from either gold or porcelain and is designed to fit your teeth perfectly. An inlay will cover any and all tooth surfaces, while an onlay is only used on the chewing surface of the tooth. Once it is created and the dentist has ensured it is the right fit, the onlay or inlay is then cemented into place. This procedure provides a very durable and stable restoration procedure for your teeth. The preferred material for a tooth onlay or inlay is porcelain since it not only matches your other natural teeth, but is also very durable.
– The Alternatives: Your dentist feel you require a crown if there is too much decay on one or more of your teeth.
Treating Tooth Problems with Porcelain Crowns | Cosmetic Dentistry
– The Problem: You have teeth which are badly decayed, cracked or chipped.
Your teeth are basically too weak to stay within your mouth without some type of reinforcement.
– The Solution: Your dentist can place a porcelain crown on one or more of your teeth to save the tooth.
By covering the entire visible surface of a tooth, a porcelain crown can be used to help maintain the appearance of your teeth. Porcelain crowns also add strength and stability to your teeth, helping protect them from further damage. Your doctor will first remove all signs of decay from your teeth. They will then take an impression of each tooth which needs a crown. These impressions are sent to a dental laboratory where laboratory technicians will make the crowns. Crowns are typically customized and made from gold or porcelain. The most popular choice of crown is made from porcelain. These crowns look very natural and just like your other teeth. The porcelain crown is the best choice to repair or reinforce teeth which are visible. If your damaged tooth or teeth are in the back of your mouth, you may decide on a gold crown since these types of crowns cannot chip.
– The alternatives: If your teeth are too badly decayed or cracked, they may need to be extracted.
When a tooth is extracted, the only way to replace it is with a bridge or an implant.
Repairing Teeth with a Porcelain Fixed Bridge | Cosmetic Dentistry
– The problem: If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be having problems chewing or speaking.
You may also be experiencing a shifting of your teeth which can result in a sunken appearance to your face.
Also, if you are missing teeth, this may lead to joint or jaw problems which are very costly to treat.
– The solution: Your dentist may use a porcelain fixed bridge to help fix aesthetic problems caused by missing teeth.
A bridge will also address any problems with chewing and will restore your natural smile. A porcelain fixed bridge is a more permanent and more comfortable solution than dentures. A bridge contains artificial teeth which replace your missing teeth. Your dentist will create a mold of your mouth showing where you are missing teeth. This mold is then sent to a dental laboratory where a customized bridge is created based on this mold. Your dentist will prepare the surrounding teeth before inserting the new bridge. The new bridge is placed into the mouth and your dentist will determine the best fit. Once this is done, they will then cement the bridge to the surrounding teeth. This helps restore your natural smile, as well as your ability to chew and speak naturally. If you select a resin-bonded bridge, the artificial tooth or teeth are placed in your mouth and held secure by a metal appliance. This appliance attaches to the back of the surrounding teeth.
– The alternatives: If your dentist believes your surrounding teeth cannot support a bridge, they may recommend a dental implant.
A dental implant is permanent and once put in place, help stabilize the rest of your teeth. Dental implants do not need to be attached to surrounding teeth.