Interested in upgrading that smile Cosmetic dentistry is the right solution

It is dental work performed by a dental professional (known as a prosthodontist) that can include procedures and treatment to the teeth, mouth, face, or underlying bone formation. This treatment is designed to improve, enhance, or rehabilitate both the aesthetics and functionality of a patient’s teeth and other facial structures. It’s paramount to note that, while cosmetic dentistry is more concerned about achieving a particular beauty standard, it is also concerned about functionality. Teeth are essential to many vital life activities that range from eating and chewing to speaking and smiling. However, cosmetic dentistry may not be necessarily done for health purposes. Restorative or general dentistry differs from cosmetic dentistry since cosmetic dentistry is elected as opposed to required. Cosmetic dentistry has taken leaps in utilizing techniques that are less invasive and conserve natural teeth as much as possible.

A cosmetic dentist is a restorative dentist who has studied the concept of dental materials and smile design to come up with what can be best described as a work of art. Although the Australian Dental Association does not recognize cosmetic dentistry as a formal specialty, cosmetic dentists are held in high regard. This is because of the extensive education and training they undergo so that they can be able to improve the aesthetics of an individual’s oral appearance.

Due to the advancement in technology, cosmetic dentists can now be able to use materials that are both aesthetically pleasing and durable. Materials such as composite or porcelain closely resemble the appearance and feel of natural teeth thus bringing out a natural appearance.

Cosmetic Dentistry Materials

Modern advancements that have occurred in the field of dentistry over the past years have helped replace materials that were initially used for dental fillings and other tooth restorations such as metal, gold, and amalgam. Today, the dentist is using materials that resemble natural teeth such as resin or porcelain composite. The difference between materials that were used then and the ones used now is that the materials currently used by cosmetic dentists resemble real teeth and are more durable. These materials are bonded to your tooth structure using resin adhesives.

Material consideration proves to be an important part of cosmetic dentistry treatment as different materials differ in appearance and cost. Your dentist will educate you more on the different types of materials available, their characteristics, and their different costs. He or she will assist you in choosing the most appropriate depending on your preference and budget.

Selecting the right cosmetic dentist is imperative when it comes to achieving the actual results you are looking for. Keep in mind that the field of dentistry does not legally recognize cosmetic dentistry as an official specialty so anyone can claim to be a cosmetic dentist. While any dentist trained as a cosmetic dentist can be able to perform cosmetic dental procedures, the ability to achieve ahigh level of expertise requires extensive training and study. Cosmetic dentistry is like fine art; it requires time and skills. That’s why it’s vital that you choose an experienced dentist with a high level of expertise. Here are a few tips to consider while looking for a cosmetic dentist.

Ask for Referrals

If any of your friends or family members have had good cosmetic dental treatment before, ask them for areferral. You can then conduct background research about that specific dentist by visiting their website, contacting their office or even visiting them for apreliminary consultation. You can also ask other dental professionals to recommend for you a good cosmetic dentist.

Look at Their Work

A majority of cosmetic dentists always document their work with before and after photos. You can check their pictures online or even ask for a photo album in their office. Make sure the photos you are shown represent actual people since some can produce them commercially.

Check for Their Credentials

Even if a particular dentist shows you excellent photos of their past work, you will want to ensure that they are well qualified for the job. Check online to know where the dentist went to school, what profession they undertook, and if they are members of any professional organizations.

Check on the Dentist’s Experience

In addition to education, check on how many years the dentist has been practicing in the cosmetic dentistry field. Choose a dentist who has practiced in the field for several years. Experience in most cases means high skills.

Technology and Office Standards

Cosmetic dentists who have much interest in modern procedures have adequate knowledge about the latest technology in dentistry. Check around their office and see if they have invested in equipment such as digital X-rays, chair slide monitors, intraoral cameras, and dental lasers. Ask your potential dentist to describe to you about the current state of technology in their dental office. You may also want to find out what kind of sedation or anesthesia is offered.

Don’t allow anyone to try their hand at improving your smile. While cosmetic dentistry is done in the right way and is effective, safe, and long-lasting, if performed incorrectly can cause lots of problems. Interview your potential dentist with boldness. Once you find your most preferred dentist, proceed with a dental examination and listen to their treatment plan. Discuss their payment options and scheduling. Ensure that you are comfortable with the dentist. A strong and beautiful smile can help build long-lasting self-confidence and also open doors that you never knew existed.

1. Dental Implants

Every single year, thousands of people take advantage of dental implant procedures to upgrade the look of their smile. Dental implants are one of the rare cosmetic dentistry procedures that solve not only aesthetic problems but also health and structural problems. If you have been thinking of undertaking a dental implant procedure, but you are not sure what the whole procedure entails, then pay close attention.

What exactly are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a cosmetic dentistry procedure used to replace missing teeth with a natural look and feel. It’s a long-term replacement that your dental surgeon surgically places on the jawbone. Dental implants can be a good solution for anyone(with the exemption of children) and are an awesome alternative to dentures. Dental implants have been around for about two decades now. However, there have been some significant improvements in the last five years, making dental implants very effective.

What Does Dental Implants Procedure Involve?

Dental implant procedures may slightly differ from one person to another due to different reasons, but the general process of implantation is straightforward and similar across the board. First, any teeth where the implantations are supposed to be placed are removed. The area is allowed some time to heal. Once the healing is underway, your dental surgeon will examine your jawbone to determine if can support dental implants. The actual implantation process will begin once the dentist is satisfied with the jawbone’s ability to hold the implants.

The dentist will drill some small holes in the jawbone where the implants will be screwed in. These posts will now act as the root that will support your teeth. Your dentist will allow you some time for the implants to heal and osseointegrate with the jawbone. After the area has healed and integrated with the jawbone, you will have permanent teeth installed on top of that post.

Dental Implants can Last a Lifetime

Unlike other teeth replacement options such as dental bridge that only lasts for around ten years, dental implants can last a lifetime. The implants are made out of titanium. Titanium is the most preferred material since it is bio-compatible. This means that the body does not reject it and it’s not toxic.

Improves Your Appearance

Dental implants prevent further deterioration of the facial structure by preventing loss of jawbone. A face with no teeth can sag, and appear sunken or sad. When most or some of your teeth have been compromised or are missing, there is nothing left to stimulate jawbone growth. This makes the body sense that the jawbone is no longer necessary and stimulates processes that make it dissolve away. As a result, this causes deterioration of the facial structure, making the lips fold, wrinkles develop, and the face appear sunken. Make sure that you consider tooth replacement options even if it’s only one of your teeth missing. This is particularly important if the teeth are located at the front of your mouth.

Dental Implants Help in Keeping the Adjacent Teeth Stable

The gap left after losing a tooth or teeth can cause the adjacent teeth to start shifting towards the gap. This pulls the teeth out of their position thus affecting your bite, ability to chew, and ultimately your appearance. It can interfere with your smile which may prove difficult to rectify later. The poor bite can also lead to TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues, which may result in pain and headache.

They Behave Just Like Your Natural Teeth

Dental implants look and function just like your natural teeth. They restore your full chewing power. A majority of people cannot be able to differentiate between an implant and your natural teeth. They can eat just like your normal teeth, and you can also brush and floss them normally.

Enhances your Quality of Life

Implants allow both your mouth and smile to function just as naturally. This results in increased confidence and comfort while smiling, eating, and speaking. Implants will help improve the quality of your life since they will allow you to eat all your favorite types of food just as you would do with your natural teeth. You will not have to be embarrassed with your smile because it looks different. You also don’t have to worry that tooth-supported replacements or dentures can loosen and fall out while you are speaking.

Nothing radiates happiness, health, and success like a sparkling white smile. That’s why most people choose teeth whitening to improve their overall appearance. Teeth whitening is one of the most affordable and common cosmetic dentistry procedures. It can be done on the dentist’s chair or even at home using several techniques and products. If you are considering having at-home teeth whitening, make sure you first visit the dentist for a dental examination to make sure there are no other underlying problems with your teeth. However, teeth whitening done by a dentist is always the most effective and quicker. There are different methods of teeth whitening; your dentist will work with you to determine the most suitable one for you.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Teeth whitening generally involves applying a bleach solution to the teeth. The bleach then attacks the highly colored organic molecules found on the tooth enamel or the dentine. These organic molecules are what give the teeth a stained appearance. The bleach is left on the surface of the teeth for about thirty minutes to one hour. It might be sealed inside the tooth for intrinsic stains that are hard to remove. Bleaching works best on yellowish or brownish stains but may fail to be as effective on greyish stains. You must keep in mind that restorative materials such as bonding and fillings cannot be whitened using bleach. If by any chance you are wearing these restoratives in your mouth, you should first consider how your teeth will look if some parts become whiter than others.

Is Whitening Safe for My Teeth?

Teeth whitening is very safe particularly when a professional dentist does it. This is because the bleaching agents used in teeth whitening only attack the stain molecules and do not interfere with the material composition of the teeth. However, a patient can experience some minor side effects such as teeth sensitivity. Your dentist will employ all the necessary measures to make sure that these effects are as minimal as possible.

What Causes Teeth Whitening or Discoloration?

– Age

There is a direct relationship between age and tooth color. Teeth darken over the years as a result of stain accumulation and wear and tear. Younger people will likely experience immediate results with teeth whitening compared to older people. The dentist will need to apply a little bit more effort to an older person while removing the stains.

– Genetics

Everyone has a natural teeth color that is inborn. Some people have yellow-brownish while others have greenish-greyish, which may intensify with age.

– Eating Habits

The habitual consumption of tea, coffee, red wine, soda, and carrots has caused considerable staining over the years. Furthermore, acidic foods such as citrus fruits can erode the enamel. As a result, the surface becomes more transparent thus exposing the yellowish dentin.

– Smoking Habits

Nicotine from tobacco leaves a brownish deposit on the surface of the teeth which slowly soaks into the teeth structure causing intrinsic discolouration.

Dental veneers are ultra-thin pieces of porcelain, composite, or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the shape and color of the teeth. Veneers are used to improve the appearance of discolored, chipped, uneven surfaces, and crooked or unevenly spaced teeth. Although veneers fall into the cosmetic dentistry category because they create a whiter, brighter smile, they also protect the tooth surface from damage. This helps in eliminating the need for other costly dental procedures. Other benefits associated with dental veneers include improved smile appearance and durability. Irrespective of what may have caused your teeth to be unattractive, veneers can solve almost all of your cosmetic issues.

Are You a Candidate for Veneers?

The removal of the structure of any natural tooth is permanent. So, cosmetic dentists today prefer dental procedures that are most minimally invasive. Veneers may not be appropriate for anyone whose teeth are aesthetically and functionally adequate. However, if your teeth are severely discolored or dull, you may be a good candidate for veneers.

To decide if you are a candidate for dental veneers, your dentist will schedule a preliminary appointment. During this appointment, he or she will assess the current condition of your teeth and discuss with you any other available options. Treatment that involves teeth preparation for veneers is irreversible, so your dentist must discuss all the available alternatives before finally settling on veneers. If you finally settle on veneers the next step will involve preparing your teeth for the treatment.

Dental Veneer Procedure- What to Expect

The whole procedure may require two dental appointments over six weeks. The visits may be comprehensive and may need several hours of tooth preparation and examination. The dentist will apply all the necessary measures including sedation dentistry to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. The examination or diagnostic phase of the treatment will be used to identify and rectify any issues you may have with your teeth. With the help of your dentist, you will select the best tooth color from a special shade chart. After you are through with the dental examination, and you have selected the best shade according to your preference, the treatment will now start.

The dentist will start by administering a local anesthetic. Your natural teeth will then be prepared by reshaping them to provide the best fit. If your treatment involves composite veneers, the dentist will apply the shaded composite on your teeth, shape it, and harden it using intensity light. If your treatment involves porcelain, your dentist will first make an impression of your teeth using a mold. The impression will then be sent to the lab to come up with the veneers. After the impressions have been made, your dentist will attach them to your natural teeth.

Tooth reshaping or contouring is a cosmetic dental procedure meant to correct chipped, crooked, irregularly shaped, or overlapping teeth. This treatment is commonly used to shape, position, or alter the length of your teeth. Reshaping or countering the teeth may help in correcting bite problems. It’s common for dentists to combine tooth reshaping with bonding.

Combining bonding with teeth reshaping helps fill in the gaps and chips between the teeth, improves tooth color, and adds shape. Bonding involves adding a material that looks like resin to the tooth. The best thing about this material is that it resembles the natural teeth. Before the procedure, your dentist will take an X-ray to ensure that there is enough bone between the teeth to support them.

Whether you’ve lost your tooth due to an injury, tooth decay, or any other reasons or you have gaps between your teeth; you can replace missing teeth with natural-looking prosthetics known as bridges. Dental bridges are among the latest and best solutions for replacing missing teeth. A dental bridge not only restores your beautiful smile but also restores to you the ability to eat and talk properly. Gone are the days when people with an unattractive smile or poor dental structure had to stay with chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth. Today there is a wide variety of dental treatments that can correct anything from teeth discolouration to minor flaws in the smile.

Dental bridges are referred to as false teeth that help to create a beautiful and healthy smile. They are used to bridge the gap created by a missing tooth. Dental bridges are made of crowns and artificial teeth. A dental bridge is fixed permanently on teeth that are on each side which are called abutment teeth.

Placing a dental bridge usually takes more than one visit to the dental office. During the first visit, the dentist will prepare the teeth on both sides of the gap. He or she will then attach the bridge to these teeth later. The dentist will then take an impression of the space and shape of your teeth and send them to the laboratory. While waiting for the permanent bridge, your dentist will first place a temporary bridge to protect the prepared teeth. After the permanent bridge is ready, the dentist will fit it and cement it to the prepared teeth using dental cement.

Today, dentistry is more than just pulling a tooth. Cosmetic dentistry has introduced a whole new area of dentistry that is different from general and restorative dentistry. Traditionally, the dentist only focused on the general dental health of a patient, monitoring the possible occurrence of oral disease and hygiene. Today, cosmetic dentistry has been introduced to focus on brightening your smile. It helps you improve the aesthetic appearance of your mouth, teeth, and smile. Take advantage of cosmetic dentistry procedures that include gum surgery, inlays and outlays, porcelain crowns, and composite bonding, among others to brighten that beautiful smile.

Check out this Infographic for more Information:

A Better Smile Through Cosmetic Dentistry.

Say Hello To Your New Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry.