General Information About Cosmetic Dentistry

Posted on: 28 January 2015

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Cosmetic dentists can perform various procedures that will improve your smile, ranging from subtle modifications to major tooth repair operations. If you're looking to treat your teeth that have chipped, discoloured, misaligned or gone missing, cosmetic dentistry might help. A dentist is able to close gaps between teeth, reshape, restore or even alter the length of your teeth. Most common procedures include bonding, bleaching, crown implants, reshaping and adding veneers. It's worth noting that these changes are not only for cosmetic purposes. Some treatments will improve your bite and various other oral problems.

Bleaching Procedures

Probably one of the most common chemical procedures, bleaching is often used to whiten teeth. People seek the help of cosmetic dentists in order to make their tooth stains disappear or to give their teeth a whiter shade.

Tooth discoloration occurs to the tooth enamel and is caused by medication, tea and most heavily by coffee and cigarettes. It can also be hereditary or a sign of old age.

While bleaching is usually performed at the dentist's office, it can be performed at home. Patients generally prefer bleaching their teeth as home as it's far more convenient. Whitening your teeth at home can take between two and four weeks, while whitening at the office might take a couple one-hour visits to the dentists.

Crowns

Crowns are also known as caps, and their primary purpose is to cover teeth in order to restore its normal appearance and shape. Due to their high cost, they are only used when all else fails. Out of all cosmetic restoration procedures, crowns have the longest lifespan, but they are also the most time consuming.

Which procedure is right for you?

Your dentist is qualified to answer any question you might have about the techniques available to improve your smile. The best procedure is dictated by your teeth's condition as well as the desired result. Here are some questions you might want to ask before deciding if a procedure is right for you.

  • What types of problems should I expect during the treatment?
  • What will it look like?
  • What sort of maintenance will I have to perform?

What to look for in a dentist

Before undergoing treatment, it's recommended to ask your dentist for the following items:

  • Before and after photos of previous patients. These will allow you to examine the results of others, to make sure the dentist's work fits your needs.
  • References. They will allow you to get a sense of the quality offered by the dentist.

For more information, contact a business such as Wallsend Dental Surgery.