Nothing illuminates the face more than a bright smile. While some people are naturally gifted with straight, perfectly shaped, and white teeth, some need the help of cosmetic dentists to achieve a perfect smile.
For the uninitiated, cosmetic dentistry is the branch of oral care that aims to enhance the appearance of your teeth. There are a few aesthetic dental procedures that make this possible. Cosmetic procedures are often considered non-essential, but they can be life-savers for people suffering from a lack of confidence due to chipped, misshapen, or dark-colored chewers.
If you’re suffering from mild to moderate teeth problems—such as missing, crooked, and deformed pearly whites—consider the following cosmetic dental procedures for an irresistible smile makeover.
1. Cosmetic Dental Contouring And Reshaping
Cosmetic dentistry uses advanced tools to make it possible for dentists to smoothen your chipped tooth without any hitches.
If you’re only bothered by slight problems such as a deformed tooth, you can visit the clinic for this quick and inexpensive procedure. Tooth contouring merely aims to re-shape your tooth so that it balances the look of your smile.
2. Cosmetic Teeth Whitening
Teeth bleaching is one of the most in-demand cosmetic dental procedures. In fact, the market is said to be worth over USD$6 billion as of 2017. The sector is on an upswing, likely reaching USD$7.4 billion in 2024, according to market estimates. While there are natural ways to whiten teeth, this procedure is widely popular for its proven efficacy and instant results.
The procedure is performed inside a dental clinic and requires tooth cleaning and the coating of a bleaching agent for your pearly whites. You need to have it redone in a few years, though, depending on your habits. Smoking, drinking coffee, and taking certain types of food and medication can all contribute to darker teeth.
3. Cosmetic Dental Fillings
Also called inlays and on lays, fillings are done in dental laboratories rather than clinics. Inlays are used for minimal tooth damages, while inlays are used in moderate decays.
The fillings are typically made from porcelain and ceramic materials and are attached to your teeth with the use of dental cement. More than making your teeth look better, fillings can also help strengthen and reshape teeth. They can restore the shape of your damaged teeth and prevent further tooth disfigurement. Complement this procedure with proper oral care and you’re sure to achieve a lovelier smile.
4. Cosmetic Dental Crowns
If fillings aren’t enough to protect your teeth from further damage, a cosmetic dentist will recommend a dental crown to fully protect and cover any decayed, chipped, or cracked tooth. This procedure is also often advised in making a dental bridge secure and protecting a tooth that just underwent a root canal.
Having cosmetic dental crowns typically requires a few visits to your dentist in the course of up to three weeks. Like dental fillings, crowns can protect the tooth and improve its strength, apart from improving the quality of your smile.
5. Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Moderately decayed, chipped, and cracked teeth can benefit from dental bonding. This cosmetic dental procedure aims to repair damaged and discolored chewers by taking out the decayed parts and applying the composite to your tooth.
The dentist then molds the composite according to your ideal tooth shape and applying high-intensity light to let it stay in place.
6. Cosmetic Dental Veneers
Another popular cosmetic procedure, dental veneers are thin shells of medical-grade ceramic that are placed on your teeth to dramatically change their appearance. Veneers can also be made from porcelain and resin-based materials. It’s up to you to choose which one looks better on you.
Veneers can change the color, shape, size, and length of your teeth while looking extremely realistic. Apart from fixing these aesthetic problems, these teeth coverings can also resolve issues like huge gaps in between your two front teeth.
7. Cosmetic Dental Implants
If an accident cost you your tooth or left it severely damaged, you’d need a dental implant to replace it.
A cosmetic dentist inserts a titanium screw into the area with the missing tooth to support the crown, which is attached to mimic the look of your natural tooth. Over time, the bone and tissue grow to cover the affected site, strengthening implant support. With your teeth complete, you’ll have a better grin, too.
8. Dental Brackets
Bucked or crooked teeth need dental brackets to align properly. In the past, this dental appliance was only available in metal—not a very good sight to most.
These days, though, there are better alternatives such as ceramic and smart braces. Clear aligners are the most popular alternative because they’re almost invisible. The only downside with this device is the lengthy treatment period.
The Bottom Line
Going through life with a perfect smile requires having a great set of teeth. If you’re not born with it, seek the help of a cosmetic dentist to help you out. As an expert, your dentist can present you with all of your options while explaining the pros and cons of each procedure and helping you make an informed decision.
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