A bright smile with beautiful white even teeth adds a lot to anyone’s personality. Your smile is one of the first things noticed by people you interact with, and it goes a long way in making that great first impression.
Certainly, each one of us desires a great smile with teeth not crooked, jutting out of the mouth, or appearing discolored and stale. Fortunately, with the help of technology and a little artistry on the part of the dentist, modern cosmetic dentistry can get you that much-cherished smile and enhance the appearance of your mouth.
Taking the Help of Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of oral medicine that improves the look and appearance of your teeth and lips. So, reducing the gap between teeth, teeth crowning and use of veneers and caps, teeth straightening, teeth polishing, the correct alignment of teeth, and improving the jawline all fall under the realms of cosmetic dentistry.
Simply put, any treatment you undertake in your mouth with beauty and better looks in mind are cosmetic dentistry.
Let’s talk about each of these in a little more detail.
Crowns and Caps
A cosmetic dentist makes use of crowns and caps for missing, broken, or chipped teeth. It is one of the most common procedures undertaken as a part of cosmetic dentistry. Replacing missing teeth with crows also has a prophylactic effect. It helps correct the overall bite of the teeth and protects nearby teeth from early loosening and falling off.
Crowns and caps come in a variety of materials from composite, ceramic to silver, and, maybe, gold in some cases. The ceramic ones are the most popular amongst them all. These resemble the appearance of natural teeth quite closely. The composite or resin ones are pretty inexpensive and bond well with the tooth’s natural surface. Though on the pricier side, porcelain and metal ones give a great esthetic appeal, particularly the porcelain ones.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding using composite or resin is another type of cosmetic procedure in itself. The cosmetic dentist uses it to repair decayed, fractured or chipped, or discolored teeth. You can use the same material to reduce gaps between teeth, giving a fuller and more complete look to the teeth when you smile.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays comprise other pieces of composite, porcelain, or metal (gold, usually) used to bond over the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay looks similar to a tooth filling used inside the tooth, whereas an onlay covers the exterior surface of the tooth too. Also, it is more substantial. Though gold is the traditional choice, porcelain is becoming increasingly popular as it matches the natural tooth color.
Braces (Invisalign)
Another significant area of cosmetic dentistry involves straightening teeth and reducing overcrowding or bite defects. Bite defects like overbite and underbite occur when either of the upper teeth or lower teeth set bite upon the other respective side. Braces help in aligning the teeth more appropriately and ensure symmetry of the jaw when you smile.
Previously, metal braces were used. Those looked ungainly and uncomfortable too. But now, we have clear plastic or silicone aligners, which are way more comfortable and easy to use, painless, and really make your teeth well aligned. The most popular brand in plastic aligners or braces is Invisalign. It is a much better alternative to traditional metal braces.
Teeth Whitening
Lastly, teeth whitening also comes under cosmetic dentistry. It removes yellow or blackish discoloration from teeth, so they look clean and bright white when you smile.
You can enhance your appearance without going under the knife with the help of cosmetic dentistry. Want to know which one will best suit your expectations? Contact the best cosmetic dentist, Gary C. Demetriou, today!