Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentist has gone mainstream. Just about every dentist today offers some form of cosmetic dentistry procedure. There are numerous cosmetic dentistry techniques available to treat the many teeth problems such as discolored, chipped, misaligned or missing teeth. While general dentistry is concerned with health of teeth & gums, cosmetic dentist focusesd on helping the appearance of the dental structure, for instance, teeth whitening, and translucent teeth to complete teeth makeover. It has been around for ages but the techniques used today are more durable and more natural-looking than before. This article describes the various types of Midtown dental care cosmetic dentistry procedures available.
Teeth Whitening
This is one of the simplest and least expensive procedures to brighten teeth that were previously discolored or stained. Also referred to as bleaching, the procedure can be done in the dentist’s office or one can purchase the required gels and mold, and do it at home. There are also numerous teeth whitening products available over-the-counter at various retail stores. These include whitening toothpaste, white strips, and rinses.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells of porcelain or composite resin placed on the surface of the teeth to improve their appearance. The surface of the enamel is removed to about half a millimeter and the wafer-thin shells cemented on top. They are ideal for changing the shape, color, size or length of teeth. It’s a fairly expensive procedure and the veneers have been aptly named “Hollywood teeth” because of the consistent use by celebrities.
Dental Bonding
With bonding, a putty-like resin, which is a durable, tooth-colored plastic material, is placed on the teeth and hardened with laser light, bonding the material to the teeth. Once cemented there, it’s trimmed, shaped, and polished. Bonding is suitable for cracked, chipped, decayed or misshapen teeth and is a good replacement for silver fillings. The procedure takes about half-an-hour to complete.
Dental Crown
Dental crowns are materials used to cosmetically cover severely discolored or misshapen teeth. They are made of metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic or resin. Also referred to as a cap, dental crowns are ideal for extremely decayed teeth replacements. The crown is fitted on top of the entire tooth above the gum, thereby restoring its shape, strength, size, and appearance.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and Onlays are used to fill damaged teeth. Also known as indirect fills, they can be made of composite materials, porcelain or even gold. Inlays and Onlays are made in a dental laboratory and molded into place during an office visit. If the material is placed within the center of the tooth, the filling is referred to as an inlay. However, if its bonding covers the biting surface and includes one or more points of the tooth, the filling is referred to as an Onlay. They are a suitable alternative to dental crowns and they preserve as many healthy teeth as they can.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants are frames or metal posts, surgically placed inside the jawbone underneath the gums to allow a dentist to mount replacement teeth on them. Because they are surgically fused into the jawbone, they are stable support for artificial teeth (such as dentures and bridges) to remain securely mounted especially when one is eating or speaking. One must have healthy gums and adequate jawbones in order to have sufficient support for the implants to be mounted. Implants are usually more expensive than the other teeth replacement methods.
