Understanding Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Knowing that your smile looks great is a comfortable feeling. Tooth decay or damage to your teeth can negatively impact the appearance of your smile, unfortunately causing people to feel self-conscious about their appearance. At the Den-Care Smile Center, we offer a full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures that will leave your smile looking its best. From simple single-visit procedures like teeth whitening or bleaching all the way up to comprehensive smile makeovers that can include porcelain veneers, dental implants, full-mouth dentures and even gum contouring.
Cosmetic Dentistry 101
Cosmetic dentistry is a sub-specialty that includes a variety of dental treatments aimed at improving the appearance of your teeth and ultimately, your smile. The purpose of cosmetic dentistry is to improve the look, shape, feel or functionality of the teeth using procedures such as bleaching, bonding, veneers, reshaping, orthodontics, or implants.
Dental procedures that are considered “cosmetic” include:
Teeth Whitening – As we age teeth can sometimes become stained or discolored, especially after smoking, taking certain medications, or consuming beverages such as coffee, tea or other caffeine based drinks. Using a special chemical process, your dentist can “bleach” or whiten your teeth in one of two ways. He can do an in-office procedure, or provide you with a system to use at home.
Veneers – These ultra thin “shells”, made of durable porcelain, cover the front surfaces of the teeth and can provide an instant change to the color and shape of your teeth. They can often be used as suitable alternatives to porcelain crowns and can be the ideal solution for treating many different dental health conditions.
Crowns – Sometimes referred to as “caps”, a dental crown completely cover a tooth, restoring a natural shape and appearance. Crowns can be made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, resin, or ceramic materials. Because crowns are costly, dentists usually suggest them only when other procedures can’t produce an acceptable result.
Braces – People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment with braces. Braces not only improve the appearance of teeth that are crooked or crowded, they can also straighten an irregular bite and help correct jaw positioning and TMJ disorders.
Bridges – Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a dental bridge is used to replace missing teeth with natural looking, artificial teeth. Bridges can be made of gold, metal alloys, porcelain, or a combination of materials. Bridges are anchored to the surrounding teeth, also known as abutments, after preparing them for crowns.
Dental Implants – Implants are considered a cosmetic enhancement, but the procedure involves oral surgery. Placing an implant is one of the more involved and costly cosmetic dentistry procedures, but they are a great long-term solution for replacing missing teeth.
Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures – A variety of other periodontal procedures can also improve your smile. They include procedures to help re-shape or contour your gums.
If you are thinking about a cosmetic dentistry procedure, we hope that you will consider Den-Care Smile Center. Call us today at 1-847-DENTIST and speak with one of our experienced dentists about how cosmetic dentistry can help give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.
