The scope and ability of modern cosmetic to improve your smile is remarkable indeed. Cosmetic dentistry has advanced in terms of both techniques and materials to the point where some would say we can even improve on nature in some cases, providing that Hollywood smile that everyone longs to have. Cosmetic dentistry can replace missing teeth, straighten crooked teeth, enhance the appearance of discoloured, chipped, or otherwise disfigured teeth, and even close gaps between teeth. This cosmetic dentistry guide aims to give you the information you need to be able to discuss usefully with your dentist the types of treatments that might benefit you.
Some of the main cosmetic dental procedures that are now available are: Dental bonding – This uses a special etch technique to securely bond tooth coloured resin fillings on to teeth to enhance their appearance by covering unsightly marks, repair chipped corners, or improve the shape of teeth. The resin material is usually hardened very quickly with a special light source so the treatment is quick, painless, and relatively inexpensive.
Porcelain veneers - these are ultra-thin slivers of porcelain fabricated from models of your teeth to fit them exactly. They are similar in appearance to false fingernails, but thinner, and more sophisticated in their structure. Veneers can incorporate an opaque layer to completely mask a dark coloured tooth and make it look as white as you like! A small amount of tooth enamel is usually removed before a veneer is placed in order that it does not appear too bulky but this is easy and virtually painless so no anaesthetic is normally required. The porcelain veneer is bonded on to the tooth with a light-activated low viscosity resin, and can repair a chipped or broken tooth, close gaps between teeth, or change the shape and colour. Your smile can be transformed with veneers without having to reduce the teeth to small stumps as is necessary with crowns.
Crowns or caps, as they are commonly called, are still a commonly prescribed treatment for patients with ugly, decayed, or otherwise broken down teeth. A central core of natural tooth is all that is required to support a new crown made of all porcelain, sintered glass, or porcelain bonded to metal, depending on circumstances, which will make the tooth as good as new. All-porcelain crowns can look the most natural, but they may need a metal substructure if your bite is heavy.
Bridges – These are rather like two or more crowns bonded together, so that when fitted in the mouth they replace a missing tooth. The missing tooth is replaced by an artificial one that just sits on the gum, but looks as though it grows from the gum like a natural tooth. The artificial tooth is in fact supported by one or more crowns fitted over adjacent teeth. New, stronger cements make it possible in some circumstances to make bonded bridges and avoid the need to reduce teeth for crowns.
Implants – These are artificial teeth that are actually supported by a special bio-compatible anchor that is fixed into the jawbone. They require considerable expertise to place properly and may take time to become adequately firm, but they do look exceptionally good; to all intents and purposes just like a natural tooth. An implant can replace a missing tooth without the need for a bridge or denture.
Orthodontics – This is the art of straightening teeth, and in fact has become very scientific with modern technology producing more effective braces for teeth, which take up less space in the mouth and are much less visible. These days orthodontics can be carried out for adults as well as for children, reducing over-jets (protruding teeth), relieving crowding, and straightening up rotated teeth.
If you are less than happy with the way your teeth look, why not speak to your dentist because you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that he may just have the answer to all your problems!