Having a healthy smile helps people enjoy happy lifestyles. It can even boost self-confidence and lead to better success. Cosmetic dentistry aims to correct the appearance of misshapen or broken teeth, but it can address restorative issues as well, such as where weakness in a tooth might lead to future problems and expense if left untreated. For an understanding of some of the most common types of cosmetic treatments available in modern dentistry, read on.
Teeth Whitening
One of the simplest, most effective and popular cosmetic options available to patients is a professional tooth whitening treatment. High-grade whitening treatments break up stain particles that have built up in the pores of the teeth. Things like coffee, cigarettes or tea are examples of stains that build up frequently on people’s teeth. Professional whitening performed in the dental surgery can remove deep stain and lighten your teeth by several shades. In some cases, an effective whitening session can require less than an hour.
Dental Veneers
Veneers provide one of the most dramatic cosmetic care approaches in dentistry. Each veneer is bonded directly to the front of a tooth, with several veneers placed side-by-side across the front of a person’s smile. The veneers are created to be the size, shape and colour of the patient’s preferences, giving the appearance of a completely new smile. Veneers are used to treat teeth that look crowded, gapped, misshapen or that create other types of aesthetic concerns.
Porcelain Crowns
These crowns are made of ‘tooth coloured’ material, allowing them to blend in with your other teeth. Porcelain crowns are preferred for areas at the front of the mouth or on back teeth that show when a person talks or smiles. Typically, crowns are used over teeth that have had endodontic therapy (also called root canal therapy), nerve damage, very large aging restorations or severe tooth decay.
Composite Fillings
Tooth coloured fillings mean teeth can be repaired without the use of silver amalgam. Each new filling is colour matched to make it blend right in with the tooth being treated. Composite fillings can be placed on the front teeth as well or used to replace older silver fillings.
Dental Implants
Are missing teeth causing you to be worried about how your smile looks? Dental implants are the preferred method of tooth replacement, because they look natural and do not require alteration of adjacent teeth. Implants can support porcelain crowns or bridges that have been designed to blend right in with your other teeth.
Invisible Braces
Invisalign is a popular cosmetic dental ‘package’ that uses leading orthodontic technology to make old-fashioned braces a thing of the past. Rather than using metal wires or brackets, Invisalign moves your teeth into their straightened, properly aligned position by using a series of alignment trays. These ‘clear’ braces are made of thin plastic material, which you can wear without anyone noticing. Invisalign is comfortable to wear and highly effective for people who need to correct the direction of their teeth.
Composite Bonding
Bonding is similar to a composite filling, but it is used in areas such as chipped front teeth, spaces between the front teeth, gum recession, or enamel discrepancies. It can be placed on a smooth surface or the biting edges of teeth, allowing it to recreate the normal tooth structure. This type of procedure is very quick to have completed and also very affordable.
Which option is best for you?
What aspects of your smile would you like to improve? Have you asked your dentist about options to correct those areas? You might be surprised at what methods are available to help you improve your smile, along with your confidence. Smile by Design offers complete in-house cosmetic services as well as smile-makeovers tailored to individual patients. If a combination of procedures will get you a great result, we’ll prepare a comprehensive treatment plan that outlines the time and cost involved so you get the best possible smile. Call us today on 1800 888 645 to explore your cosmetic options. Or book an appointment online and we’ll get straight back to you.
