Cosmetic dentistry focuses on the appearance of teeth and emphasizes aesthetics, health, and function so that patients can benefit from a long lasting beautiful smile. People choose cosmetic dental procedures/surgery for various reasons-to repair a defect such as a malformed bite or crooked teeth, treat an injury, or just improve their overall appearance. Whatever the reason, the ultimate goal is to restore a beautiful smile. For these and many other reasons, cosmetic dentistry has become a vital and important part of the dental profession.
Some of the more common procedures involve:
- Bonding - A procedure in which tooth-colored material is used to close gaps or change tooth color.
- Contouring and reshaping - A procedure that straightens crooked, chipped, cracked or overlapping teeth.
- Clearcorrect( invisible braces) or conventional braces
- Veneers - A procedure in which ultra-thin coatings are placed over the front teeth. Veneers can change the color or shape of your teeth. For example, veneers have been used to correct unevenly spaced, crooked, chipped, oddly shaped or discolored teeth.
- Whitening and bleaching - As the term implies, whitening and bleaching, a rapidly increasing procedure, are used to make teeth whiter.
- Implants - A procedure that gives another option for replacing a missing tooth or teeth. They are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth.
- Crowns - A procedure to cover and protect the tooth. While a crown can be used for many different reasons such as restoring a tooth that has been broken, has advanced decay or compromised in another way, it can also be used to improve the aesthetics of your smile.
Which techniques should be used to improve your smile? A dental exam will take many factors into consideration, including your overall oral health.
