Cosmetic dentistry has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is easy to understand why. As the name suggests, cosmetic dentistry is any dental work that improves the aesthetics of your smile. You can use it to whiten teeth, straighten crooked teeth, close gaps between teeth, and even change their size, shape, or color. With all these procedures available, it’s no wonder people are opting for cosmetic dentistry to boost their confidence in their smiles. Here are four benefits associated with cosmetic dentistry that you should consider.
1. Fix Gaps Between Teeth
Cosmetic dentistry offers multiple solutions to help close and fill in the gaps. Depending on your particular condition, a dentist may recommend bonding, veneers, or crowns to hide the spaces between teeth. With these treatments, you can finally have the even smile of your dreams.
Bonding is a relatively straightforward and cost-effective solution for closing gaps between teeth. During this procedure, the dentist uses a composite resin material to fill in the gaps and give you an even smile. The composite can match your natural tooth color, making it more seamless. The bonding process takes around 30 minutes and can typically be completed in one visit.
2. Reshape or Resize Uneven Dentition
Cosmetic dental procedures like contouring and reshaping can help even out your smile by removing enamel from select areas of the tooth and shrinking them down to size. Plus, it is ideal if you want to change the shape of your teeth, too.
Your dentist can use various dental tools to reshape your teeth, such as a rotary drill, diamond bur, and polisher. Your dentist will examine the current shape of your teeth and then use the appropriate tool to sculpt them into the desired form. Afterward, you may require additional cosmetic work, such as veneers or bonding, to fix any chipping during the reshaping procedure.
With contouring, you can fix any unevenness in the shape, length, and size of your teeth in just one visit to your dentist. However, you must note that you cannot reverse enamel removal since this is a permanent process. So, it is best to tread cautiously. Your dentist may also use a combination of contouring and bonding techniques to reshape your teeth. Bonding can fix minor chips and cracks in your teeth, while contouring can smooth out any edges that are too sharp or pointed. This combination can create an even and natural-looking smile.
3. Replace Missing Teeth
If you have missing teeth, you can opt for dental implants to restore the look of your smile and regain confidence. A dental implant is an artificial tooth permanently inserted in the jawbone and mimics the appearance and feel of a natural tooth. This helps to give you a beautiful and functional smile again.
Dental implants are considered to be a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. The implant is inserted directly into the jawbone, fusing with the bone and becoming a stable base for your crown or denture. This bond between the implant and the jawbone helps to keep the tooth in place, just like in natural teeth. It also helps to preserve the natural shape of your face, as an implant replaces not only the visible part of the tooth but also its root structure.
4. Get Rid of Unsightly Stains
Coffee, tea, red wine, and cigarettes are all major culprits when staining your teeth. Unfortunately, these stains can be tough to eliminate and leave your teeth looking yellow and dull. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry offers whitening treatments that can help you restore the brightness of your smile in no time. This treatment involves bleaching your teeth with a special gel or laser light to lift deep-set stains safely.
The results of whitening treatment can be seen almost immediately, with some treatments giving you a brighter and whiter smile in as little as an hour. To maintain these results, your dentist may recommend using at-home teeth whitening kits for daily or weekly touch-ups. Alternatively, if your teeth have been particularly severely stained, your dentist may suggest a professional strength bleaching system that could last up to three weeks.
In Closing
Overall, cosmetic dentistry has a lot of benefits that can help you restore confidence in your smile and boost your self-esteem. Whether you want to fix gaps between teeth, reshape or resize uneven dentition, replace missing teeth with dental implants, or eliminate unsightly stains, cosmetic dentistry offers many options to give you the smile of your dreams. It is essential to consult with your dentist first before undergoing any kind of dental procedure so that they can ensure that it is suitable for you.