Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of general dentistry, where the dentist who has undergone advanced training in dental aesthetics will work to provide an improved appearance to the teeth and smile of an individual.

Cosmetic dentistry is gaining more and more popularity among all the people who are in the public eye most of the time because of their careers, and also those who may not be very high profile, but want have good smiles to keep them desirable in their social circles. Today scores of people opt for cosmetic dental procedures because of its proven ability to produce desired results for improving the smile. Over the years, cosmetic dentistry has developed to a great length and now it has advanced technology and appropriate tools to accomplish the look of your dreams.

Some Common Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental implants, dental caps, tooth shaping etc. are some common procedures.

It would be advisable to be in the know of the basic procedures that are in vogue now to improve your smile. There are always advantages and disadvantages involved in all the procedures, and after studying these you can take your decision. You should also know about the maintenance required and the cost of the procedure that you are considering.

Teeth Whitening

As you age, you tend to lose the shine and glow of white on your teeth. There are many other causes like tobacco, red wine, coffee, and such coloured foods which may stain your teeth. Then there are some medications which makes your teeth change colour. Smiling with teeth which are stained, or less than white is not pleasing. To overcome this unpleasant smile, many people opt for teeth whitening process.

Teeth whitening can be done with products that are available over the counter with instruction about how to use it. Then there are teeth whitening procedures that can be done at home but under the supervision of the dentist. But the best method for teeth whitening would be to get it done at the dentist’s office because the dentist knows your history and the condition of your teeth, whether you are on any medication and if you have any problems of the gums.

Teeth whitening is actually bleaching of your teeth where either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is used to break down the stains into tiniest pieces which makes the colour of the teeth lighter. Not all the colours bleach well. Gray colour shows poorest response to bleach, whereas yellow colour of teeth responds well. Brown responds to a certain extent. You cannot bleach veneers, crowns or fillings in or on the teeth.

The products available for teeth whitening procedures at home include, toothpastes, tooth gel, mouth wash and whitening stripes. You must follow the directions on the package to get the best results but in office teeth whitening gives best results which lasts longer.

Dental veneers

Dental veneers are thin covers over your frontal teeth which look like natural teeth and are made to order according to the natural dimensions of your teeth. Dental veneers are available in a variety of material and costs, in which your dentist can help you to choose from according to suitability for your teeth. Dental veneers are used to correct conditions like teeth that are worn down, chipped, broken, misshaped, or unevenly spaced.

Veneers are made of porcelain or composite resin material. Porcelain veneers are natural looking and strong, and do not stain easily.

To put the porcelain dental veneers in place, the dentist will prepare mould of your teeth and send it to the lab which will make the veneers according to order. You may wear temporary veneers till the lab has prepared your order. If in case veneers do not fit well or make you uncomfortable, then the dentist will make the necessary changes. Composite veneers are also made to order with a tooth-coloured material to fit your teeth. It is cheaper than porcelain and easier to place.

Veneers are not advised for people who have the habit of clenching teeth called bruxism, because clenching teeth will damage veneers by putting pressure on them.

Dental implants

Dental Implants are a very good choice for people who need cosmetic procedures to get a better smile. It consists of screws which are implanted in the jawbone. The gum tissue is allowed to grow around it so that it is completely covered and it acts as a natural root. The artificial tooth is placed on top of the screw on abutment to hold the crown properly. It is as near as a natural tooth that can be installed in place of broken or diseased teeth. Dental implants are suitable for most people who have healthy gums and are not on medication for any other ailments.

Dental caps

Dental caps, also known as dental crowns are caps made for individual shape of the tooth that it is going to cover. They are used for protecting broken, decayed or traumatised teeth. They are also used for dental implants as a replacement tooth. Sometimes teeth become loosened because of age too. They restore the shape of the tooth after the diseased tooth has been filled with a dental filling. These crowns can be made of porcelain, resin or ceramic. Like dental veneers, the dentist has to prepare the tooth for the dental cap or crown. The tooth will be scrapped a little from all sides so that the crown can be fitted onto it.

Tooth shaping

Odontoplasty or tooth shaping is a cosmetic dentistry procedure for chipped or broken and broken teeth as also misaligned or uneven teeth. It is very convenient and inexpensive treatment to get a better smile. The cosmetic dentist usually has to reshape the tooth by scrapping an extra-long tooth to size or when teeth are misaligned, the dentist will realign the teeth by doing minor scrapping of over bearing tooth. This procedure is used only for minor issues which can be carried out in any of the appointment with your dentist. For issues of major misalignment or cracked or injured teeth, your dentist may suggest other procedures.

For all the procedures to be successful, your dentist will make sure that your gums and jaw bone are healthy. There is no serious disease, which requires medication which may interfere with the medicines for healing in the present work.