The Most Popular Cosmetic Dental Services for a More Beautiful Smile
Cosmetic dental procedures are treatments in dentistry that mainly aim to improve the overall appearance of your smile. Although some treatments may also offer functional benefits, the main goal of cosmetic dental procedures is to improve the look of your teeth and gums. If you want to achieve a beautiful smile through these procedures, your first step is to find a reputable clinic, such as My Dental Home (see My Dental Home dental office in Markham).
This blog post will look into some of these cosmetic dental procedures.
Top 3 Cosmetic Dental Procedures Available
The following are three of the most popular ones you can try to achieve a brighter smile:
1. Teeth Whitening
This dental treatment is probably the most commonly available today. Having yellow teeth affects how you interact with other people. It can make you feel self-conscious and limit your social interactions. Fortunately, whitening your teeth can help restore your confidence and make you feel better about yourself.
There are many reasons our teeth discolor or stain, including consuming stain-causing food and beverages (such as coffee, tea, red wine, etc.), poor oral hygiene, aging, certain medications, teeth trauma, and poor habits (such as smoking).
The following are several ways to whiten your teeth:
- In-office or in-chair teeth whitening
This is the most popular method of teeth whitening. It is done by a dentist or another dental professional in their clinic. The procedure usually takes about an hour or a little more to complete, depending on the severity of your teeth stains. This is also the most effective way to whiten your teeth because dentists use higher concentrations of bleaching agents: hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
- At-home teeth whitening
You will be the one to perform this method in the comfort of your own home. Your dentist will provide you with a teeth whitening kit that contains bleaching gel, mouth trays, and instructions. These trays can only be purchased from your dentist because they must be custom-fitted to your teeth.
You can also use over-the-counter tooth whiteners, including whitening toothpaste, mouthwashes, strips, and gels. However, these products are not as effective as professional teeth whitening because they contain lower concentrations of bleaching agents.
Remember that if you plan on getting other dental procedures, such as veneers or implants, you must whiten your teeth first because these don’t respond well to bleaching agents. Follow this link to learn more about dental implants.
2. Dental Veneers
These are thin, custom-made shells made of tooth-colored porcelain or composite resin material. They are bonded to your teeth’s front surface to change their color, shape, size, or length. This treatment takes around three weeks to complete.
On your first visit, your dentist will take x-rays and impressions of your teeth to determine if you are a good candidate for this dental procedure. If you are, they will prepare your teeth for the veneers by removing a thin layer of enamel from your teeth’s front surface. The next step is to take another impression of your teeth, which will be sent to a dental lab to make your permanent veneers. In the meantime, temporary ones will be placed on your teeth.
Your dentist will remove the temporary veneers at your next appointment and place the custom-made ones on your teeth. They will check the fit and make necessary adjustments before bonding the veneers to your teeth.
Dental veneers are an option for people with discolored, chipped, misshapen, or slightly misaligned teeth. You can also use this treatment to close the gaps between your teeth.
3. Teeth Bonding
Teeth bonding is another popular cosmetic dental procedure that can help improve the appearance of your smile. Your dentist applies a tooth-colored resin material to your teeth to change their shape, size, color, or length.
The material used in teeth bonding is similar to that used in fillings and can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.
Teeth bonding is often used to:
- Repair chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Close gaps between teeth
- Change the shape of teeth
- Improve the appearance of discolored teeth
- Make short teeth look longer
- Protect exposed root surfaces
Typically, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes to complete, and the results are not permanent and may last for several years. However, it is a less expensive alternative to veneers and can be done in one visit to the dentist.
In Conclusion
These are only three of the many cosmetic dental procedures you can consider to achieve a more beautiful smile and boost your confidence. Your chosen procedure depends on your budget, time, and desired results. Talk to your dentist about which option would be ideal for you. Visit this page for more about cosmetic dental services.
