If you’re self-conscious about an uneven gumline or discolored teeth, cosmetic dentistry can provide solutions beyond hiding your smile.
Crowns, bridges and dental implants can improve the appearance of your smile and help maintain bite strength, while preventing other concerns related to infection, misalignment, uneven wear, tooth or jawbone loss.
Due to these factors, demand for cosmetic dental procedures continues to grow. Learn about some of the most in-demand services.
Teeth Whitening
Many people who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their smile try at-home whitening products like trays, strips or toothpaste but results can be slow to emerge.
In-office teeth whitening delivers more noticeable and quicker results. Professional teeth whitening can lessen yellow-to-brown staining that has developed from years of drinking coffee and eating acidic foods. Teeth are lightened during multiple in-office procedures and the results can last for months, based on how well you care for your teeth post-whitening.
Veneers
To create a whiter, even smile, veneers deliver more immediate and impactful results. In turn, more patients are requesting this cosmetic dental procedure to upgrade their smiles.
Veneers are thin porcelain or ceramic shells bonded to the front of each tooth. The material can help conceal an uneven shape, cracks, spacing issues, mild alignment concerns and moderate discoloration. During the procedure, a small amount of enamel is removed before the veneer is secured. With the right care, veneers can last for at least 10 years.
Cosmetic Bonding
Bonding involves the application of a resin compound in the same shade as the tooth to conceal minor cosmetic issues like hairline cracks, small chips and discoloration. The resin can also be used to reshape the tooth to camouflage an uneven appearance and create a more uniform smile.
Unlike with veneers, enamel does not need to be removed before the compound is applied. Bonding won’t last forever and you may need a touch-up after five years.
Crowns
Crowns are considered both cosmetic and restorative. They can help improve a tooth’s appearance by evening out jagged edges or concealing cracks and ensure more even bite strength. Crowns also help mitigate more serious dental issues that may result from ignoring a chipped, cracked or damaged tooth.
These restorations are often made of porcelain, metal or ceramic. Whether you’re a good candidate for traditional or same-day, crowns are secured to the top of the tooth’s existing structure and may be added after a root canal to remove infected pulp.
Implants
Dental implants play a similar role as crowns, helping to improve bite strength and the appearance of your smile. While crowns require existing tooth structure for placement, implants are a more invasive procedure after you’ve lost one or more teeth or the existing tooth needs to be extracted.
A titanium post is placed into the jawbone, then you wait a few weeks or months for the rod to secure to the bone. Once this stability is established, a crown will be added to the post. Implants can be a drawn-out procedure, especially if bone grafting is needed ahead of time.
Invisalign and Braces
Most people tend to associate braces and Invisalign with the correction of alignment issues during the teenage years but adults get these procedures too:
- Invisalign or clear aligners are a less-prominent solution to address moderate alignment issues. Trays are changed every couple weeks as your teeth are guided back into their natural places.
- Braces help correct more significant alignment and overbite issues.
Gum Contouring
Even if teeth look straight, a gummy smile can still cause some people to feel self-conscious. Gum contouring or gingival sculpting can create a more balanced gum line. Excessive or uneven gum tissue may be removed manually or via laser.
Interested in exploring cosmetic dental procedures to improve your smile? To schedule an appointment, contact our Shelton, CT office today.