Wish you could improve your smile? Your smile is often the first thing people notice about you, and many view an attractive smile as an important social and career asset. Many of today’s cosmetic dental treatments have a restorative component along with their aesthetic purpose, and work doubly to improve your smile while also improving your oral health. Listed below are the 6 most popular cosmetic dental treatments today.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening is probably the most popular cosmetic dental treatment because it’s a quick and effective way to transform a smile. A single professional tooth whitening treatment takes under an hour and can brighten teeth color by up to 8 shades. Professional teeth whitening also has a degree of flexibility: people can opt for a single whitening session, or to whiten their teeth gradually over several sessions, or a combined whitening system that includes treatment plus take-home whitening kits. Due to the wide range of whitening systems as well as patients’ eating and oral care habits, professional teeth whitening can last anywhere from six months to three years.
Professional Teeth Whitening is recommended for: People with good oral health and yellowish stains on their teeth are the best candidates for teeth whitening, and will see the most noticeable and dramatic results. Your dentist will require a consultation prior to beginning a teeth whitening session, in order to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough for the treatment.
Professional Teeth Whitening is not recommended for: People with brownish or gray stains on teeth, due to issues such as intrinsic staining, smoking, pulpitis, taking tetracycline, or fluorosis. These types of stains usually do not change color noticeably with teeth whitening. For teeth with intrinsic staining (discoloration of the inner layer of a tooth), an internal bleaching treatment might be effective.
Existing dental restorations (such as crowns and tooth-colored fillings) will also not change color with teeth whitening. If you have tooth-colored restorations and want to brighten them along with your natural teeth, explore other options with your dentist such as dental veneers or cosmetic bonding.
Porcelain Veneers
Dental Veneers are wafer-thin shells of color-matched porcelain that fits over the outside of teeth. They typically take two appointments to complete. During the first, your dentist will examine, shape, and make an impression of your teeth; during the second, your custom-made dental veneers will be placed.
Veneers are a popular option for cosmetic dentistry because they provide quick results, are a less intrusive option than dental crowns, and have a wide range of uses, such as: brightening and correcting discolored teeth, straightening a smile, closing gaps between teeth, correcting a misshapen tooth, and fixing small fractures and chips. Porcelain veneers are also quite durable, typically lasting 10-30 years with good care, and highly resistant to staining.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Cosmetic Dental Bonding is a great choice for people who want to fix minor cosmetic dental issues quickly and affordably. It is a simple, low-cost, virtually painless alternative to other more extensive cosmetic dental procedures like porcelain veneers or aesthetic crowns.
Cosmetic Bonding is completed in one easy visit - under 30 minutes per tooth - and can improve a tooth’s shape and/or color using a tooth-colored resin, which your dentist custom-matches to the shade you desire. The result is very natural looking, and completed in one easy visit - typically 30 minutes or less per tooth. The main drawback of cosmetic bonding is that it is far less durable than porcelain restorations and more prone to staining. However with good care, cosmetic bonding can last for 4-8 years, depending on tooth location and the patient’s biting/chewing habits.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants are artificial tooth root replacements, made up of a titanium screw surgically implanted into the jaw. When healed and completed with a custom-made dental crown, dental implants provide the very highest level of durability and strength along with natural tooth-like aesthetics. However it is a more invasive procedure and takes about 6 months to complete. Despite these potential disadvantages, a dental implant is the best and longest lasting way to completely restore a missing or damaged tooth for both function and appearance. With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.
Invisible Aligners
Invisible Aligners are an excellent choice for older teens and adults who want a straighter smile without the intrusion or look of metal brackets and wires. Invisible aligners are a series of custom made, snug-fitting clear aligners that gently straighten your teeth over the course of several months, and are virtually undetectable when worn.
Though aligners should be worn every single day for at least 22 hours a day for effective results, aligners are very easy to remove while eating and cleaning teeth. After a brief adjustment period, most patients find invisible aligners entirely comfortable and unnoticeable.
Gingival Contouring
For people who want a less gummy smile, Gingival Contouring can remove excess gum tissue in order to reveal more tooth length. Gingival contouring treatments are often performed by specialists such as periodontists or orthodontists, and can be performed in a variety of ways including: laser treatment, surgical gingival sculpting, orthodontics, surgical lip repositioning, and maxillofacial surgery.
Do you want to improve your smile with a cosmetic dental treatment, and have further questions? Contact us today to book your cosmetic dental consultation~ We would love to help you love your smile!
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