Perhaps one of the most common sources of a person’s physical insecurity is their teeth. As with any root of insecurity, we either hide them, live with them, or we can change and improve them.
Thanks to the expanding world of professional oral care, there are increasing benefits of the branch of dental science that deals with the improvement of the appearance of one’s smile and, of course, teeth: Cosmetic dentistry!
General public perception is that cosmetic dentistry has previously been catered primarily to celebrities, beauty queens and affluent members of society due to the perceived costs associated with the procedures. However, today, subtle procedures – from teeth whitening to minor oral surgeries needed for veneers – are relatively inexpensive and can conveniently be done in a day’s visit to your dentist.
Teeth whitening or bleaching is among the most common cosmetic dentistry methods, but it isn’t the only cosmetic dental procedure available. If the quick fix isn’t quite enough to resolve your concerns, there are other procedures that can help solve your oral problems and are worth being familiar with, so that you can inquire about them with your dentist.
Veneers
Veneers are used to address damaged, cracked, discolored, gap-filled teeth. They are custom-made thin layers of porcelain or plastic coating cemented over a tooth. If you opt for a porcelain-made veneer, a repeat visit will likely be required since they will be ordered and custom-made to fit you at a professional dental lab, ideally by a certified technician. Out of the different cosmetic dental procedures, veneers have a longer lifespan and you should not have to repeat the procedure in years.
Teeth Contouring/Reshaping
Also known as dental contouring, this procedure helps fix crooked, overlapping, uneven teeth. This procedure is also commonly coupled with bonding. The affected teeth are scraped, reshaped, or lengthened/shortened, giving the patient a subtle smile makeover.
Bridges
Dental bridges are used to fix broken or missing teeth. A bridge resembles natural teeth and is put in the place of the missing tooth. It is fastened into position with a cap placed atop a neighboring tooth. If you have only one or two missing teeth, this would be the best remedy, but keep in mind that when it comes to cosmetic dentistry procedures quality is always key.
Crowns
For those who have lost a tooth due to decay or damage, and when the other forms of cosmetic dental restoration procedures mentioned above would not be viable, crowns are the way to go. Crowns are artificial replacements for the visible part of a tooth that was removed.
In some cases this form of cosmetic procedure can be completed in one visit to your dentist, but in most cases it would require a subsequent visit. This is because you will be fitted with custom-made tooth replacements. As one who has had several of these I can attest that you don’t want to short yourself on the quality of material and the fit of the crown.
Whatever the reason, with the help of cosmetic dentistry, you can truly have the bright and remarkable smile you have longed for. For more information on other dental procedures and services feel free to contact Treasure Dental Lab.
