|
Types of Cosmetic Dentistry
We all know how important a good smile can be. It could make all the difference the next
time you are considered for a raise, go out on a hot date, or get pulled over
for a speeding ticket. As insignificant
as it seems, a good appearance says so much about you. Not everyone has enough time to get to know
you personally, so all they really have to go on is how you appear to be. Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of cosmetic
surgery that aims solely to enhance the look of your teeth.
There are three main types of cosmetic dental
procedures. Whitening focuses on the
color of the teeth, bonding aims to fix chips and deformations, and veneers do
a bit of both. All of these procedures
are meant to increase you self-confidence through a brighter and more beautiful
smile.
Whitening
Things like coffee and cigarettes accelerate the natural
coloring of your teeth. Everyone wants
the brilliant white teeth of childhood but the truth is that adult teeth are
naturally more yellow and will become progressively more so with time.
The term ’whitening’ is a bit of a misnomer. That’s because white is not the natural color
of teeth. However, it’s just a broad
term to describe processes by which stains and natural coloring can be
significantly hidden. There are two
main kinds of whitening available in cosmetic dentistry. Surface whiteners found in gums and
toothpastes only act on surface staining.
Bleachers physically change the color of your teeth.
Bonding
The only way to effectively fix the appearance of a chipped tooth
is through bonding. A tooth doesn’t
grow back by itself, so it’s necessary to replace any missing portions of a
tooth with a composite resin. These
resins are a paste to begin with, so they can be shaped and colored to look
like the rest of the tooth. Once
exposed to a certain wavelength of light, the resin hardens into a permanent plastic. Bonding is an excellent way to repair
chipped teeth or fill in large gaps between teeth.
Veneers
Veneers are another approach to enhancing the look of your
teeth. They are a thin shell made of
acrylic or porcelain that is cemented to the front of the tooth. A veneer can cover up stains, chips, and
large gaps. They tend to look more
natural than a bonded tooth.
|
