Many people are perfectly happy with their smile and would not change a thing about it. Others may be unsatisfied but do not bother doing anything to make a change. And then there are those who decide that they want to make their teeth look better. That latter group of people will need to use cosmetic dentistry to improve their smile. Just like cosmetic surgery, cosmetic dentistry is all about improving a person’s look, only the focus is on their teeth.
There are many different types of cosmetic dentistry available ranging from teeth straighteners to dental implants to whitening for those who are interested. Cosmetic Dentistry procedures can fix teeth that are chipped, broken, misaligned, discolored, and more. Cosmetic dentistry can help to fix those problems and restore confidence in people who are embarrassed about the state of their teeth. It is easy to find qualified dentists who can perform these procedures no matter where you live, but if you are in Wall Township, New Jersey, then Dr. Anthony Mancino is the one to see.
Teeth Whitening
This is one of the most common types of procedures and it is used to restore a shine to teeth that have been discolored or were never all that white to begin with. It is a very simple procedure that involves the dentist bleaching the patient’s teeth in their office. In fact, it is simple enough that the dentist can create a mold that allows the patient to perform the procedure at home by themself. Of course, you may be familiar with over the counter teeth whitening products, but they are not as effective or as long-lasting as cosmetic dental procedures, though they are more affordable.
Dental Implants
These implants are permanent replacements for missing teeth. The way they work is that a titanium tooth root is implanted into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the bone around the implant heals, it becomes firmly anchored in place, where it can serve as a foundation for a tooth replacement. This is a lengthy and relatively expensive procedure, but it does result in very secure tooth replacement that can pass for the real thing.
Dental Veneers
This is a procedure that can change several different aspects of the teeth, such as their level of whiteness as well as their length and shape. Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or enamel that are custom made and cover the front of the teeth. A very thin strip of enamel is removed from the surface of the tooth and then the veneers are bonded to it. This is an expensive procedure, which means that it is popular in the entertainment industry since it allows many aspects of the teeth to be changed while maintaining a natural appearance.
Dental Crowns
This is also called a cap because it is used to fit over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. This helps to restore the appearance of the tooth so that it looks just like all of the other healthy teeth. Dental crowns can strengthen a weak tooth or hold a cracked tooth together, which means that they go beyond just being cosmetic procedures since they can prevent further damage to a tooth. Crowns can be made of ceramic, resin, metal, or porcelain fused to metal. Crowns are fairly expensive, but since most people only need one or two, they are more reasonably priced than other procedures that cover most or all of the teeth in a person’s mouth.
Inlays and Onlays
These are also called indirect fillings and are meant to fill decayed or damaged teeth. They are made of gold, porcelain, or composite materials and are molded while visiting the dentist but are actually made in a dental laboratory. The difference between an inlay and onlay is that the former occurs when a filling is bonded with the centre of a tooth. An onlay is when more than one part of the tooth needs to be filled. They are meant as an alternative to crowns and serve the same purpose of protecting as much of the tooth as possible.
Dental Bonding
With dental bonding a malleable resin material is bonded to the tooth and molded to fit seamlessly onto the tooth. Bonding is a technique used to fix chipped or damaged teeth and is a good, affordable alternative to fillings. It only takes about an hour and is one of the cheaper cosmetic dental procedures.
Cosmetic Dentistry Gives Your Teeth a New Lease on Life
There are multiple different types of cosmetic dental procedures available, some of which only make the teeth look better and others that do so along with protecting the teeth. As with most cosmetic procedures, they can be expensive, but it is up to the individual to decide if the expense is worth it.
Fortunately, most of these procedures last for a long time so they do not have to be repeated often. Also, there are more affordable alternatives to many of these procedures so people can try them if they find the others too expensive. That means cosmetic dentistry is available to a wide variety of people so that they can have a bright smile and a mouth full of strong teeth.