Get Your Perfect Smile With Cosmetic Dental Care
Chipped or cracked teeth? No need to break the bank for a
beautiful smile. Find out how cosmetic dental care and direct bonding can give
you a reason to smile.
Are you embarrassed
about your smile? Thinking about cosmetic dental care? You're not alone.
A recent survey by the
journal Dental Economics showed cosmetic dental care accounted for
23% of general practice production. Another study by the American Academy of
Cosmetic Dentistry revealed 86% of
patients who had cosmetic work done did it to look better and raise
self-esteem.
Cosmetic dental care
comes in a variety of forms. Whether you want to cover up any chips or cracks,
replace a tooth or simply achieve a brighter smile, there are a number of
procedures that can help. They don't have to cost a pretty penny, either.
Here are some cosmetic
dental care procedures to help give you that perfect smile.
Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic
procedures.
Depending on things we
eat and drink, such as coffee, or particular habits, like smoking, teeth can
become stained and discolored over time. A dentist can work on bleaching your
teeth in the office or provide you with a kit to do it at home. Whitening at home
may be more convenient, but you'll get results faster if you visit the dentist.
Whitening is not meant
to replace cleaning and doesn't make your teeth immune to stains. It's
important to maintain good oral hygiene and avoid the same things that stained
your teeth in the first place.
Bonding
Bonding can fill in the
spaces between teeth in order to hide gaps, chips or cracks by applying resin
material directly onto your teeth. The material is shaped to your teeth to make
your smile look as perfect as possible.
The procedure can often
be completed in one session. Bonding can last for several years, but the
material isn't as strong as natural teeth so it can be subject to wear and
tear.
Veneers
Typically made from
porcelain, veneers are shells that cover the front of your teeth in order to
adjust the color and shape. Veneers last longer than bonding and can also look
better.
Before inserting
veneers, a dentist takes an impression of your teeth and buffs them before
cementing the veneers in place. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory, so
a second visit is required before they're applied.
Crowns
As the name suggests,
crowns cover a tooth in order to give back it's normal shape and appearance.
They can be used to fix a misshapen or broken tooth, protect a weak tooth or
cover a tooth that's had another procedure performed on it.
Crowns are made of
metal, resin or ceramic materials. They tend to be costly, but can have a very
long lifetime if you take care of them.
Bridges
Dental bridges literally
bridge the gap created by missing teeth and replace them with artificial ones.
The surrounding teeth are first prepared for crowns before the false teeth are
anchored to the crowns and the bridge is cemented to the prepared teeth.
Bridges can be made of
metal, porcelain or a combination.
Implants
Dental implants are a more long-term solution to replacing
missing teeth. Rather than being anchored to adjacent teeth, like in bridges,
implants attach artificial teeth directly to the jawbone.
One implant can replace
a tooth, while two or more can support the replacement of several teeth.
Show Off Those Pearly Whites
Are you thinking about
getting a cosmetic dental procedure? Have you had one and would like to share
your experience?
Comment below!
