Whether you need veneers or Invisalign, cosmetic dentistry can restore function to your teeth and improve your smile. However, you may not know how to find a cosmetic dentist that fits your needs.
There are several ways to choose the right cosmetic dentist, from reading their reviews to setting up a consultation.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth. It differs from preventative care, which helps combat potential damage to the teeth, like tooth decay.
Cosmetic dentistry can help address stained, discoloured, chipped, worn, or misaligned teeth, improving your smile. There are several types of cosmetic dental treatments, from teeth whitening to crowns and bridges.
Teeth Whitening
While teeth aren’t naturally white, many patients desire a brighter smile. With your dentist's help, you can improve the appearance of your teeth by several shades. Teeth whitening helps bleach your teeth to lighten their colour.
Your dentist can whiten your teeth in several ways, including:
- Applying a special whitening gel to your teeth
- Using a whitening gel on your teeth and enhancing the effect with UV light
- Inserting a custom tray on your upper and lower arch with special whitening gel
Many at-home teeth whitening options exist, but visiting your dentist is the safest way to improve your smile.
Bonding & Veneers
Dental bonding and veneers can help restore and improve your teeth. These treatments can be restorative or cosmetic, depending on your needs.
Dental bonding can help make minor repairs in your teeth with composite resin. During treatment, your dentist puts a chemical on the chosen teeth to roughen their surface, making it easier for the resin to stick. Your dentist shines a light to harden the material before polishing and shaping the resin for your tooth.
Veneers are shells that cover the front of your tooth, giving an enhanced look and/or restoring potential damage. Porcelain veneers are generally long-lasting and are placed on your tooth after your dentist removes a small amount of enamel.
Dental Implants
Dental implants can help restore a damaged or missing tooth. Both a restorative and cosmetic procedure, dental implants help improve your smile and restore function to your teeth. You can replace one tooth or several missing teeth with dental implants.
The dental implant process has several steps, including:
- Placing an implant into your the bone to act as the root of a tooth
- Attaching an abutment to your implant that holds a crown
Your gums need time to heal after the dental implant is inserted into your jaw, so this treatment takes several months from start to finish.
Inlays/Onlays
Depending on the amount of damage, inlays and overlays help treat decayed teeth. They fit the exact size of the cavity they fill—sometimes called indirect fillings.
Inlays and overlays are used for different areas of the tooth:
- Inlays fit between the cusps of your tooth
- Onlays cover one or more cusps (the round points on your molars)
Invisalign
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces, straightening your teeth with barely recognizable aligners. This treatment uses clear plastic aligners you wear for approximately 2 weeks at a time, replacing them as your teeth move into place.
Invisalign has several benefits over traditional braces, including:
- Easy removal
- Better aesthetics
- Easier teeth cleaning
Crowns and Bridges
Dental crowns and bridges are ways to restore your smile. They’re permanent replacements for missing and damaged teeth.
Crowns repair a single tooth, while bridges can replace several missing teeth. Crowns are a cap that covers a damaged tooth—your dentist reshapes your damaged tooth before covering it with a custom-made crown.
Bridges replace missing teeth by connecting several artificial teeth between 2 crowns. They’re cemented into place to act like a regular tooth.
How Should You Choose a Cosmetic Dentist?
Many dentists offer cosmetic services, but visiting an experienced professional you trust is essential. There are several ways you can find the right person to improve your smile, such as:
- Checking the dentist’s credentials by visiting their website
- Seeing how long the dentist has been practicing dentistry
- Asking trusted friends who may have direct experience with a provider you are considering
- Looking up reviews of the dentist’s office
- Scheduling a consultation to ask any questions you have
Find the Right Treatment for Your Teeth
Everyone deserves a beautiful, full smile. You can improve yours in several ways, from whitening to dental implants. Your dentist can help you find the best treatment for your dental needs.
Contact Green Grove Dental if you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry.