Nowadays, cosmetic dentistry offers a great variety of procedures that can significantly boost the appearance of your smile, as well as your confidence and presentation. This article will outline the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments, such as teeth whitening, dental bonding, and dental veneers.
Most Common Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments
Below, we discuss the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments and the pros and cons of each.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure as it can significantly change the appearance of your teeth in just one visit to a dental office. The whitening procedure usually involves using hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent, to remove staining and discoloration from the teeth. The procedure can make your teeth up to eight shades whiter. However, prior to the procedure, your dentist will talk to you about your goals and the results you want to achieve to adjust the level of whitening.
Hydrogen peroxide works by making the enamel of your teeth more porous and then penetrating its deeper level to destroy the dark pigment. Sometimes, doctors combine this method with other tools, such as lasers. Professional teeth whitening is not harmful to your teeth because it is done after a careful examination of your oral health to choose the optimal strength of the whitening solution. Also, your dentist has complete control over the procedure.
In comparison, over-the-counter whitening solutions can cause permanent damage to your teeth’s enamel because their design does not consider your specific needs. In addition, over-the-counter whitening kits usually yield less results than professional treatments. However, these solutions should not be confused with at-home whitening trays provided by your dentist. Professional whitening kits are custom-made to accommodate your goals and are much safer for the health of your teeth and gums.
The results of professional teeth whitening can last for up to three years, depending on personal habits, oral hygiene, and the initial condition of the teeth. However, depending on the nature of the staining and discoloration, teeth whitening will only sometimes be effective at producing long-lasting results. In these cases, dental bonding or dental veneers are a more suitable option.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a procedure that typically uses resin composite to boost teeth’ appearance. It can effectively cover stains, restore cracked, chipped, or broken teeth, close gaps between teeth, or adjust teeth’ shape. Dentists will match the resin composites to the color and shade of your natural teeth. Typically, dental bonding does not cover the whole tooth; only the part that requires adjustments.
With proper care, dental bonding results can last for up to 10 years before needing retouching. Dental bonding is considered a conservative approach to tooth restoration, as it usually does not require significant removal of the tooth’s enamel. In most cases, the procedure is reversible.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are a good option for people who want to cover the entire front surface of their teeth, which is not possible with dental bonding. Veneers are thin shells, typically made of porcelain. Similarly to dental bonding, they are effective at covering damaged teeth, making the teeth appear longer, changing their shape and size, and closing gaps between the teeth. Veneers can also treat a “gummy smile”, excessive gum tissue, to elongate the teeth in combination with other procedures.
Porcelain looks very natural in the mouth because it is slightly translucent, allowing light to reflect off the veneers in a similar way to natural teeth. You can choose the shade and color of your veneers.
Before dentists apply dental veneers to the front of your teeth, they must remove some of the enamel. The procedure is not reversible, as the teeth can not survive without the enamel. This reality means that you must be fully committed to veneers ahead of the procedure.
Porcelain is a fairly durable and stain-resistant material, and depending on personal habits and care, veneers can last between 5 and 15 years.
Make an Appointment Today
If you are looking to enhance the appearance of your smile, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a cosmetic dentist in Rialto today. At Baseline Dental, we use modern methods and materials to address a variety of cosmetic issues, such as staining, discoloration, and broken or misshapen teeth. We look forward to helping you achieve your smile goals while preserving the health of your teeth.
