A smile is one of the most important tools for social interaction. Smiling makes people around you more comfortable. It essentially allows you to present yourself as friendly and confident. It is, therefore, not surprising that a vast majority of adults are concerned with the appearance of their smiles. Unfortunately, people with dental imperfections find it difficult to make use of this essential social tool. For instance, if you have discolored, chipped, cracked, or missing teeth, you may not feel confident enough to smile with the people you meet.
The good news is that most dental imperfections can be corrected by a cosmetic dentist near your area. Here are some important things you need to know about cosmetic dentistry.
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry can be understood as a branch of dentistry that deals with improving the appearance of teeth. Cosmetic dentists usually offer treatments that correct dental imperfections and enable their patients to smile more confidently. Furthermore, some cosmetic dental procedures can strengthen a patient’s teeth, fill cavities, protect teeth roots, and make teeth look stronger. In other words, cosmetic dentistry can have both cosmetic and aesthetic benefits.
Cosmetic Dentistry Options
There are several cosmetic dental treatments meant to resolve a different dental imperfection. Some of the most common cosmetic dental solutions include:
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is used to correct the issue of discolored teeth. Your teeth can get discolored by dark-colored food and drinks, such as tea, coffee, and berries. Cosmetic dentists apply several techniques and use safe teeth whitening solutions to lighten the shade of discolored teeth and give their patients a bright smile; visit https://www.randrdental.com/plainview-ny/ to know more. After teeth whitening, you will need to take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing daily and avoiding dark-colored foods to maintain the results.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are strong, medical-grade ceramic shells that are usually attached to the front surface of the teeth to conceal dental imputations such as chipped teeth, cracked teeth, and even discolored teeth. These shells have the color of natural teeth, meaning that people will not know that you are wearing them. In most cases, porcelain veneers will need to be replaced after a decade or so.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is used to conceal dental imperfections, such as chipped and cracked teeth. Dental bonding is also effective in camouflaging tooth discoloration. The procedure involved applying a tooth-colored composite resin on the affected tooth. In addition to concealing the above-mentioned dental imperfections, dental bonding is also used to fill cavities and protect the tooth root exposed by receding gums.
Tooth Contouring
Tooth contouring involves improving the shape of a tooth by removing a small amount of enamel. The procedure can be completed in a single dentist’s office visit. Since your teeth only have so much natural enamel, there is a limit to the extent to which the procedure can be used to alter the shape of a tooth.
Gum Contouring
This procedure is used to improve the smile of patients with gummy smiles. In this procedure, your cosmetic dentist will surgically remove excess gum tissue and reshape your gum line to give you a more balanced appearance.
Other cosmetic dental treatments include:
- Dental implant to replace missing teeth
- Invisalign and other cosmetic orthodontics
- Cosmetic dental crowns
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Can Cosmetic Dentistry Improve My Dental Health?
In addition to giving you a more beautiful smile, some cosmetic dental treatments can significantly improve your dental health. For instance, while dental bonding is essentially meant to conceal dental imperfections such as cracked or chipped teeth, it can strengthen the affected teeth and prevent further damage. Some cosmetic dental solutions can also improve your bite and allow you to chew your favorite food more easily.
Why Should I Get Professional Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. Since there are a lot of teeth-whitening products marketed through electronic and print media, a lot of people wonder if seeking professional teeth whitening is really worth it.
It is important to note that there is a difference between what can be achieved by over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions and what professional cosmetic dentists offer. For instance, most over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions need to be used over an extended period to give the desired results. The problem is that even after using them, you may never achieve the results you are hoping for.
On the other hand, teeth whitening solutions that are provided by professional cosmetic dentists can significantly brighten your smile in a single visit to the dentist’s office. Therefore, by seeking professional teeth whitening services as opposed to trying at-home teeth whitening solutions, you can save a lot of time and money.
Can Teeth Whitening Cause Tooth Sensitivity?
After getting your teeth whitened, your teeth might get more sensitive to pressure and temperature. In other words, you might feel some pain when you bite down or drink something too hot or too cold. However, this should only last a couple of days, and it is not an issue that should keep you from getting a brighter smile.