Repairing the chipped teeth, damaged teeth, removing the stains from the teeth to give a dazzlingly white appearance and straightening the misaligned teeth are all parts of this smile makeover treatment procedure. These are the obvious and common teeth defects or flaws that dental clinics often practice and recommend to take care of.
About cosmetic dentistry:
Cosmetic dentistry is that wing of dentistry, in which the appearance of the teeth is taken care of, rather than the teeth health problems. However, many of these procedures overlap with that of the endodontics, periodontics and orthodontic treatments. Although most of the cosmetic dentistry treatment procedures are not covered by insurance policies, if it is related to repairing the cavities or cracks, dental filling or replacing the filling, it will be covered by the insurance.
Cosmetic dentistry over the ages:
For a very long time, cosmetic dentistry has been quite popular amongst the dentists and they practiced various types of dentistry on the teeth of patients. This included materials like plastic that had serious drawbacks and did not perform well. In such a case, the materials required an upgrade, so that they did not stain or lead to chips or rough spots. The new treatments, technologies and materials that are used commonly in cosmetic dentistry includes –
- Bleaching or whitening the stained teeth
- Porcelain laminates
- Bonding of front teeth
- Replacement of silver or amalgam fillings with white fillings
- Using tooth colored fillings
- Veneers and crowns
Whereas the plastic crowns or coats for teeth chipped easily or stained or discolored teeth, the porcelain veneers or crowns are quite long lasting and also gives an absolutely real or natural appearance of the new tooth or teeth. Not just for damaged or broken teeth, porcelain veneers and crowns are also used to give the teeth a better appearance. In cases, where there is no damage of the teeth, but the teeth only require a better color of shape improvement, these treatments are very useful as these require minimal enamel removing.
Use of modern technologies:
Amalgam filling or gold covers for teeth are always the strongest option. However, there is always a need for replacing amalgam. The composite resins on the other hand are easier options. Although there is a problem that the composite resins or plastic materials are tend to break or damage easily, they have now become better and stronger as technology has improved their quality. Many people prefer to live with the minor fractures or small chips of teeth, but with the custom-made crowns, color matched bonding for teeth can easily manage the minor damages. The veneers also are matched with the surrounding teeth and hence, they too can give you an original appearance. With the absolutely newest technology, patients can now even take a look at how their teeth are going to look like, once the treatment is complete. This is an imaging technology that can depict how the appearance of the teeth is going to be like.
The latest cosmetic dentistry technologies:
For a long time, cosmetic dentistry was limited only up to shaping the teeth, removing a significant portion of the teeth to use the teeth adhesive, so that it can hold the teeth filling. However, in the recent time, the quality of the adhesives are improved and hence, they do not require too much of the teeth to be removed. The latest cosmetic dentistry technologies include –
- Teeth whitening: The first thing that can damage the appearance of the teeth is staining or discoloration. Over time, the outer cover of the teeth called enamel and the second layer underneath the enamel, called dentin, get stained. Using over-the-counter bleaching agents, the teeth can be whitened. Whitening the teeth can also be done at home as well as at the dental clinics, using properly fitting molds.
- Cracks or cavities: The popularly used material was the silver amalgams made up of mercury. However, it is now considered to be toxic to the nervous system and also it does not look good to reveal a metal tooth when smiling. Hence, plastic or porcelain white fillings are pressed into the dental cavities. These are sometimes, made in the laboratory to match the surrounding teeth of the patient. These tooth-colored fillings cost more than the amalgam fillings, but are more appropriate and attractive, suiting the natural appearance of the teeth.
- Rough spots or chips: For small chips or rough spots on the teeth, composite resins are used to fill these chipped spots. These are smoothed and polished, to give the teeth a natural look.
- Gaps between teeth: Those, who have gaps between their teeth, are mostly recommended to use the costly but most effective cosmetic dentistry material, veneer. This is a thin shell like chip that is attached to the tooth and it matches the color of the tooth. These veneer chips make the teeth slightly wider and reduce the gaps between the teeth.
- Uneven teeth: A procedure called re contouring can effectively reshape the teeth and give them a proper and even shape. A crooked tooth can easily be shaped with this technology.
- Crooked or broken tooth: Using a porcelain crown, the broken or crooked or damaged teeth can well be managed and covered. Usually these crowns cover the entire tooth from front to back. In case where there is slight damage only to the front of the tooth, only veneer chips are used as teeth bonding.
Depending on the type of damage that your teeth has experienced, the dentist will choose the particular cosmetic dentistry treatment to bring the naturally beautiful smile back.
