What to Expect with Cosmetic Dentistry
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Improving your smile with Cosmetic Dentistry can change your life. Cosmetic Dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on improving the colour, position, size, shape, alignment, and general appearance of your teeth. Its aim is to create a healthy, brighter smile for you.
Dentistry is continuously evolving and with a variety of treatment options, achieving a healthy, attractive smile is easy. cosmetic services include Teeth Whitening, Veneers, Dental Implants, Crowns, Bridges and Fillings.
Crafting the perfect smile
cosmetic dentists have the knowledge and expertise to train student dentists in the effective deliver of cosmetic dental techniques. Using the most advanced technology and practices, these clinicians transform smiles while also addressing functional issues.
Cosmetic dental treatments can:
- Change the size, shape and alignment of certain teeth
- Fill in unattractive spaces between teeth
- Improve or correct bites
- Lighten or brighten the color of teeth
- Repair decayed, broken, cracked or chipped teeth
- Replace missing teeth
- Replace old, unattractive dental treatments
Candidates for Cosmetic Dentistry in Aliso Viejo CA
To learn whether you’re a candidate for cosmetic dentistry, it is essential to contact dental office to schedule an examination with dentist. Not only can he determine whether you’re a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry, but he can also help you plan your smile. During this exam, dentist takes his time to answer your questions, make suggestions, and address your concerns.
The good news is that with so many cosmetic dentistry options available, you can usually find the right combination of treatments and procedures to enhance your smile. Considerations for cosmetic dentistry may include the condition of your teeth and gums and specific health-related issues.
Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments
Dental Bonding Treatment and Procedure
Dental bonding is great for fixing small imperfections on a tooth. It is mostly used to fill gaps, restore chips and cover stains. A thin coating of composite resin is placed on the tooth. The resin is then shaped and coloured to suit the patient. This quick and simple procedure is perfect for patients who have minor imperfections on their tooth/teeth and wish to improve the appearance.
The procedure for dental bonding can range between thirty minutes to one hour for one tooth. The procedure for dental bonding is quick and simple:
- Schedule a consultation with your dentist to discuss available treatment options and your goals. dentist will help you match the shade of composite resin to your tooth or teeth
- dentist will lightly scratch the surface of your tooth. After your tooth is roughened, your dentist will coat your tooth with a conditioning liquid that helps the resin adhere to your tooth
- Your dentist will then mould and smooth the tooth-coloured resin onto your tooth before hardening the bonding material with a laser or ultraviolet light
- Once hard, your dentist will trim, shape, and polish the resin until it is a perfect match.
Dental Veneers Treatment and Procedure
Veneers are custom-made porcelain shells used to imitate the natural color and shape of your tooth and improve your tooth’s strength and resilience. Veneers can be a good solution for stained teeth that don’t respond to whitening, chipped or worn teeth, or teeth that have spaces between them. Because they are custom made for your teeth, they look better than bonding and cost less than crowns.
Once you and your dentist have decided that veneers are a good solution for you, your dentist will take an impression of your tooth and make the veneers. You will need to come in for another visit to have them cemented into place. First, your dentist will remove a tiny layer of the tooth’s enamel, then fix the veneer to the tooth with cement. You can expect your teeth to feel sensitive for a few days due to the removal of enamel, but the feeling should disappear quickly and your veneers will look and feel exactly like your normal teeth.
Dental Bridges Treatment and Procedure
A dental bridge is a prosthetic device placed on existing teeth to fill a gap created by one or more missing teeth and create a beautiful smile. The three main types of dental bridges include traditional, cantilever, and resin bonded or Maryland bridges. dentist can help you choose which option is best for you.
Whether or not you are a suitable candidate for dental bridges depends on factors such as:
- Oral health diagnosis
- Jawbone density
- Personal preference
The procedure for dental bridges is simple:
- dentist will prepare the teeth next to the gap for the treatment by reshaping them. This creates room for the bridge to be placed
- dentist will then take impressions of your teeth to ensure a perfect, customised fit. The impression is sent to a dental lab as a model for your bridge
- In the meantime, dentist will create a temporary bridge for you to wear
- Once your bridge is created, dentist will fit and adjust your bridge so it fits you perfectly. You may need to visit your dentist multiple times to have a correct fit and bite
- If your bridge is a fixed bridge, it may be placed temporarily for a trial period before its cemented. This is to ensure your dental bridge fits comfortably.
Your dentist will consider certain factors, such as the health of your surrounding teeth and your gums, before determing how many teeth need to be replaced.
Dental Crowns / Tooth Caps Treatment and Procedure
Dental crowns or tooth caps can generally restore your smile in just two visits to dentist – no matter whether you need to correct chipped, cracked and worn down teeth or misshaped and discoloured teeth. This simple procedure is ideal for patients looking to restore the shape, size and strength of their teeth. Crowns are available in several materials including metal, porcelain fused to metal, resin and ceramic depending on your needs and budget.
The main benefit of dental crowns is aesthetics. Dental crowns improve the appearance of your teeth and can help you feel more confident in your smile.
A dental crown typically involves two visits to the dentist. The first appointment will involve dentist:
- Examining the strength of your tooth to support a crown. Your dentist may need to file down or fill your tooth so it can properly receive the crown
- Taking an impression of your tooth and the surrounding teeth. While this impression is sent to a dental lab, dentist may also create a temporary crown to protect your tooth in the meantime.
Once your permanent crown is ready, dentist can begin positing and fastening the permanent crown with a special adhesive.
Teeth Whitening Treatment and Procedure
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that helps to lighten teeth by removing stains and discolouration. All teeth whitening products contain peroxide as the active ingredient, either as carbamide peroxide (CP) or hydrogen peroxide (HP).
Over the counter whitening treatments can be dangerous and it may take months to see results. Professional in teeth whitening gives you faster and dramatically better results. This safe and proven method is great for patients who are looking to noticeably brighten their smile. Whether your teeth have lost their shine due to too many coffees, dentists can offer in practice and take home whitening products to whiten your teeth safely with the fastest and best results possible.
Treatment for teeth whitening typically starts with a consultation with your dentist where you can discuss your desired results.
Take-home products supervised by your dentist are the most popular teeth-whitening method. Here, a tray is custom made to hold the teeth whitening product directly against the teeth while minimising any contact with the gums. This form of treatment typically takes between 3 – 4 weeks.
Alternatively, there is also in-chair whitening. dentist will first place either a rubber shield or gel on your gums prior to your whitening treatment. This protects your gums and other soft tissues from the effects of bleaching. They will then apply the whitening product to your teeth. Depending on the product used, this treatment can take between one to three hours.
White Tooth Fillings Treatment and Procedure
Dental fillings are one of the most common dental treatments but patients are often self-conscious about their fillings being noticed when they smile, laugh and talk. White tooth fillings are used to eliminate this issue. Designed to match the colour of the natural tooth, these fillings help to restore the tooth while blending in as much as possible.
The procedure for white tooth fillings, also called composite fillings, can take longer than other types of fillings. This is because the tooth must be kept isolated from saliva after the decay is removed. Once the decay is removed, dentist will first apply an adhesive and then several thin layers of the tooth-coloured composite. The filling will then be chemically hardened, or cured, for less than a minute with a special light.
Dental Implant Treatment and Procedure
Dental implants are ideal for replacing missing or badly diseased teeth. Dental implants are a great alternative to dentures and are the most natural looking restoration option.
A dental implant is a screwlike anchor that is used as an artificial replacement for natural tooth roots. Made of materials that are compatible with the human body, such as titanium, implants have been used for decades in upper and lower jaws. By attaching to the jawbone and gum tissue, they provide a stable base for artificial replacement teeth, such as dental crowns, bridges and dentures.
Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or several teeth, or to support partial or full dentures. Implants and crowns remain inside the mouth and do not require any adhesives to hold them in place.
The procedure for dental implants can take several months from start to finish. It’s important to start with a consultation with a dentist, so your dentist can determine that you are a good candidate for this treatment.
- dentist will surgically insert the implant into your jaw before inserting a screw to prevent any debris from entering. It can take between 3 to 6 months for the implant to fuse with the jawbone.
- At your next appointment, an extension called a post will be attached to your implant. Once your gum tissue has healed around the post, both the implant and post will act as the foundation for your new tooth.
- Lastly, dentist will create a crown that will be attached to the implant post. Your dentist will make a crown that suits your natural teeth, considering factors like size, shape, and colour.
Can I have more than one cosmetic dentistry procedure?
you can plan your smile according to your lifestyle and budget. Provided you’re a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry, it is easy to schedule cosmetic treatments and procedures on a timeline that works for you.
Sometimes people opt for professional teeth whitening, for example, before restorations so they can choose a whiter material.
How Long Is Recovery For Cosmetic Dentistry?
For most cosmetic dental treatments, patients can resume work and their normal activities shortly after treatment – often the same day. Patients who have received porcelain veneers, for example, often return to work the same day. If you have opted to receive sedation dentistry, you will need the rest of the day to recuperate and may need someone to drive you home following your appointment. For the week following your treatment, you may initially experience slight teeth sensitivity and want to avoid very hot or cold beverages and food.
What Are The Alternatives To Cosmetic Dentistry?
As cosmetic dentistry procedures are elective, the alternative is to not have treatment.
There are numerous different cosmetic dentistry treatments available and each can correct many aesthetic concerns and help improve your smile.
For example, the closest alternative to porcelain veneers would be composite resin. Composite resin is a tooth-coloured filling material that can be used to correct the same aesthetic issues veneers. For a less permanent solution, dental bonding can help improve the appearance of chipped or misshaped teeth similar to dental veneers.
What Are The Potential Risks Of Cosmetic Dentistry?
You may initially experience temporary symptoms such as swelling, tiredness, discomfort, and tooth sensitivity. Like normal teeth, porcelain veneers can chip. If this happens your dentist can simply repair the veneer. Teeth whitening and bonding will discolour over time. The effect of the treatments will be reduced if you frequently smoke or drink dark liquids, such as coffee.
How Do I Avoid The Potential Risks Of Cosmetic Dentistry?
You can keep your smile bright by avoiding staining foods and drinks. To avoid any potential risks associated with your treatment, follow your dentist’s instructions regarding after care and maintain proper oral hygiene.
