Services Available From Cosmetic Dentists
Cosmetic dentists are skilled at the many ways to repair or restore a smile. This includes making dental implants, crowns, porcelain veneers, restorative dentistry, teeth whitening and tooth bonding techniques. While cosmetic dentistry and family dentistry share some overlap (i.e. you can probably get teeth whitening and dental bonding for a chipped tooth at your family dentist), cosmetic dentists are solely focused on how to effectively repair the look and function of a smile.
Dental Care for Missing Teeth in Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentists who deal with dental implants and dentures can provide a permanent solution for missing teeth. The cosmetic dentist will create implants that will align the replacement teeth with the existing teeth. Multiple dental implants can be installed in instances where several teeth are missing. This procedure restores the patient’s smile and increases their confidence and their self-esteem. The crowns on the implants are “teeth” made of porcelain, which perfectly mimic the appearance and function of the tooth/teeth you lost or had extracted.
Full or partial dentures can be made to replace missing teeth, and these will match the permanent teeth perfectly in shape and color. Dentures are a less effective option for replacing missing teeth, as they will have to be adjusted and refitted every so often as the jaw recedes.
Cosmetic Dentistry and Correcting Crooked Teeth
Cosmetic dentists also provide some excellent procedures for straightening crooked teeth and teeth that are askew – even leveling uneven teeth. Several methods are available, including different sets of nearly invisible aligners to reposition the teeth gradually. Another popular method is the use of porcelain veneers – a much simpler and more immediate method for “straightening” teeth. With tooth veneers, the natural tooth is filed down and the porcelain veneer is placed on top, but in the correct position. This makes it look like the tooth is straight.
If a tooth is just a bit crooked, or for straightening unleveled teeth, a cosmetic dentist may choose to instead use dental bonding, which is where a tooth-like resin is added to the area to be altered, sculpted into the right shape, and then hardened with a UV light. Dental bonding is matched perfectly to the color of your tooth, so you can also fix a broken filling or repair a chipped tooth with it.
Cosmetic Dentistry for Professional Teeth Whitening
Cosmetic dentists see many patients who ask for teeth whitening. Perfectly white teeth can help produce a bright and confident smile. Tooth whitening is a procedure whereby the dentist bleaches the patient’s teeth until they are white. Not everyone’s teeth can be bleached white, but the dentist can inform the patient upon examining their teeth. The great thing about professional teeth whitening is that it’s way more effective than OTC whitening kits, it’s totally safe, and it also kills all the bacteria in your mouth during treatment.
How Cosmetic Dentistry deals with Full Smile Restorations
One of the most valuable functions performed by a cosmetic dentist is a smile makeover. This initially entails the dentist making a comprehensive assessment of the appearance of the smile and the teeth. Many people find that their job prospects and their social lives are severely limited by the lack of a pleasant smile. Often, the process is not a complicated one, but the results can be wonderful. Lives can change. It’s definitely worth discussing with your dentist!
If your smile repair is to correct several chipped teeth, tooth reshaping can be done to improve the patient’s appearance. The cosmetic dentist may choose tooth veneers, dental bonding, or a combination of both to restore a natural-looking smile. For extreme circumstances like multiple tooth extractions due to decay, or several missing teeth resulting from facial trauma, restoring a smile is more complicated. A cosmetic dentist might recommend bone grafting and dental implants or an implant-anchored dental bridge.
If you have any dental problems that are causing you concern, don’t hesitate to ask for a consultation with Dr. Andrea Schmerler or Dr. Paul Hynes. You may find that there is an affordable and convenient plan to solve your concerns.
REFERENCES:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/cosmetic-dentistry.aspx