Cosmetic dentistry refers to dental treatments that are designed to enhance the smile and correct chipped, cracked, discolored, and unevenly spaced teeth. From porcelain veneers to tooth-colored fillings, patients can choose from a variety of dental solutions to restore the health and vitality of their smile.
Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
Aesthetic dental treatments can be performed to correct everything from minor flaws in the smile to severe tooth discoloration, missing teeth, and uneven spacing between teeth.
The following is a list of common aesthetic dentistry options:
Gum Contouring: Do you have a gummy smile or uneven gum line? Gum contouring treatments can reshape your gum line to produce a more beautiful smile.
Porcelain Veneers: Ceramic shells applied to the front of the teeth to conceal cracks and chips, overlay gaps, and create a whiter appearance to a person’s smile.
Teeth Whitening: There are two methods for whitening teeth: laser teeth whitening (performed in the cosmetic dentist’s office) and at-home teeth bleaching (involving the use of take-home bleaching kits).
Restorative Procedures
In addition to improving the appearance of the teeth, the following procedures restore and repair teeth that have been damaged as a result of tooth decay, gum disease, or injury.
Dental Bridges: A sturdy structure composed of two crowns and a prosthetic tooth. Dental bridges are used to “bridge” the gaps where teeth are missing.
Dental Crowns: A dental crown, or cap, is used to repair badly decayed or damaged teeth. The crown is created from a mold of the original tooth, and then applied after the decay is removed and the tooth is prepared. Dental Fillings: A composite resin material matched to the natural shade of your teeth. Tooth-colored “white” fillings are an attractive alternative to silver amalgam fillings. Dental Implants: Artificial roots that are embedded in the jaw and are each topped with a prosthetic tooth.
Dental implants are a restorative and cosmetic dentistry solution for missing teeth.
Inlays/Onlays: Durable and attractive restorations used to repair cracked or otherwise damaged teeth. Inlays and onlays require less tooth reduction than fillings or crowns.
Orthodontic Treatment Orthodontic treatments improve the symmetry and alignment of the teeth and jaw. Popular orthodontics treatments include
Invisalign®: An orthodontic solution for unevenly spaced, overlapping, or gapped teeth. Invisalign® is a popular teeth-straightening solution for adults who want to avoid orthodontic braces.
Braces: Braces can be used to correct severely overcrowded teeth and other orthodontic problems.