Cosmetic Dental Services to Improve the Appearance of Your Teeth
Cosmetic dental services can improve the aesthetics of your teeth. Many of these treatments also have restorative benefits, improving the function of your teeth. The appearance of your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you, and not feeling good about the way that your teeth look can make you self-conscious.
Popular cosmetic dental services
Here are popular cosmetic dental services that a dentist might recommend.
1. Dental implants
Implants are often recommended for patients with missing teeth. These oral prosthetics are inserted into the patient’s jaw to replace lost teeth roots. This helps prevent the bone tissue loss that can take place when teeth fall out. The implant fuses with the patient’s jawbone in a process called osseointegration, becoming one with the jaw. Restorations like crowns, bridges, or dentures can then be placed on the implant to restore the patient’s lost teeth.
Implants are almost as good as natural teeth because they replace the lost roots. They also do not require any specialized maintenance to keep them in good condition.
2. Composite bonding
This non-invasive treatment involves using resins made from glass and plastic mixtures to improve the patient’s smile. The process does not cause the patient any pain, so anesthetics are rarely used. The composite is applied to the patient’s tooth in layers to create a stronger bond. The restoration is hardened with a curing light and polished to complete the treatment.
Issues that can be fixed with composite bonding include chipped, discolored, and broken teeth. Composite bonding can also be used to address dental issues like tooth decay.
3. Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening treatments involve using whitening compounds like hydrogen carbamide and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from the patient’s teeth. The molecules of the bleaching agents penetrate deep into the patient’s teeth, removing stains and discoloration from its inner layers.
Teeth whitening treatments are effective on most stains, like those caused by the coloring agents in food, tobacco products, or the aging process. A professional teeth whitening session can last up to 90 minutes, and it can improve the whiteness of teeth by up to eight shades. Dentists can also provide whitening kits that patients can use at home.
4. Teeth reshaping
A dentist can improve the appearance of a patient’s teeth by reshaping their enamel. It is typically recommended for issues like small chips on a tooth that only affect its enamel. The procedure is used to smooth out the area around the damage so it is no longer visible.
5. Veneers
Veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells cemented over the front parts of teeth. These restorations serve as masks that hide any imperfections. Covering most of a person’s front teeth with veneers is one of the most effective ways to transform how their smile looks. Issues that can be repaired with veneers include crooked teeth, short teeth, deformed teeth, discoloration, and minor chips and breaks.
Restoring a tooth with veneers involves removing enamel from the front of the tooth. The quantity of enamel removed is proportional to the thickness of the veneer being used. This prevents the restoration from making the person’s teeth appear abnormally bulky.
No-prep veneers do not require removing enamel from teeth, but these are not as effective at covering up imperfections. Getting a tooth restored with veneers requires at least two trips to the dentist.
6. Crowns
These are among the most versatile restorations used to repair teeth. A crown is a cap that covers the visible part of a tooth, instantly transforming its appearance. Crowns can be used to repair all sorts of damage to teeth, like decay, breaks, fractures, or deformities. They can also be used to close abnormal spaces between teeth. They provide a long-lasting solution for various problems and last up to 25 years when properly maintained.
Getting a tooth restored with a crown typically requires two trips to the dentist. The first visit is used to prepare the patient’s tooth for a crown by removing enamel from all its sides, and the second visit is used to place the custom crown. The patient gets a temporary crown to protect their prepared tooth while they wait for their customized crown.
Transform your smile
Due to recent innovations in dentistry, any smile can be transformed. Give us a call or stop by our Tempe clinic to explore ways that our cosmetic dental services can improve the appearance of your teeth and gums.
Request an appointment or call Desert Breeze Dentistry at (480) 864-4118 for an appointment in our Tempe office.
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