It has become easier to get a bright white, even-toothed smile than in the past. Advancements in cosmetic dentistry means even the most challenging of dental conditions can be addressed and converted into a picture-perfect smile.
People wanting to improve the way their teeth look need only the simple but important regimen of regular cleaning and maintenance.
A person wanting cosmetic dentistry services can choose from simple tooth whitening, fillings and crowns, inlays and onlays, dental veneers, composite bonding, to more comprehensive smile makeovers, and even full mouth reconstruction. Comprehensive cosmetic dental treatments like a smile makeover or a full mouth reconstruction may require the services of an orthodontist to straightening and aligning the teeth.
Your Dayton or Bellbrook cosmetic dentist often uses different material than a traditional dentist to beautify the teeth and mouth. But, cosmetic dentists will sometimes include standard filling placement in their available services.
Inlays and onlays, or “indirect” fillings, are not molded in-situ but prepared in a controlled environment and fitted on to the tooth in the dentist’s office. Inlays and onlays are used in cases where conventional fillings don’t work. Their main role is to restore and strengthen teeth all ready weakened from previous dental work or decay. Whether an inlay or onlay treatment is required, depends on the position and the extent of coverage required. Inlays are attached to just the centre of the tooth, but onlays cover more areas of the tooth.
Composite bonding is a procedure commonly used for both filling and repairing teeth.
Sometimes the nature of the restoration requires a different type of treatment than composite bonding. Small defects like chipped or cracked teeth can be successfully repaired with composite bonding, but substantial damage will require more extensive treatment such as veneers and crowns.
Veneers are crafted on a patient-by-patient basis from a strong ceramic material that is applied to the surface of a tooth to protect worn enamel, chips and cracks, or to provide coverage for uneven alignment or large spaces between teeth. Veneers are, in effect, an all-purpose solution for most cosmetic dentistry issues.
Where veneers cannot be used, patients may choose to have crowns or “caps” placed. After the extensively damaged tooth has been prepared, a crown or cap can be fitted onto it to restore its level of function. Dentists in general prefer to save as much of the natural tooth material as possible, removing only that which is absolutely essential to allow placement of the crown or veneer.
Dayton or Bellbrook dentists will discuss all possible tooth restoration processes with their patients usually leaning towards the treatment plan that will require the least amount of destruction to the existing tooth material.
Porcelain, gold and a combination of porcelain and metal are the main materials used in crown fabrication.
The metal-porcelain combination produces the strongest, most hard-wearing and most aesthetically pleasing crowns. As the patient ages and their gums recede, though, some of the metallic materials may be revealed requiring the use of porcelain “collars.”
When little space is available and, because they are narrower than those crowns with a metal core, porcelain-only crowns are the best option. Unfortunately, for those with a heavy bite, such crowns have been known to fracture.
The use of gold crowns is usually limited to molars or for patients with a habit of tooth grinding, because while gold withstands the pressures of grinding, it will not contribute to the break down of the enamel of occluding (opposite) teeth.
When cosmetic dentistry procedures are necessary for more than one tooth, a patient has two options - smile makeovers and full-mouth restoration. Full-mouth reconstruction precedes a smile makeover and starts with a total evaluation of the requirements. While looking to improve the appearance of the teeth, a cosmetic surgeon may diagnose functional problems with the teeth and bone structure as well as the bite position or muscles around the mouth.
Patients need to consider every treatment option available and choose the one that will most reliably give them the results they would like to see achieved.