An attractive smile can be life-altering. It can boost your confidence, self-esteem, and social interactions. And if you are not pleased with the appearance of your smile, you can improve it with cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the aesthetics of your smile and teeth, utilizing customized treatments and advanced techniques.
Modern cosmetic dentistry offers a wide range of procedures tailored to your specific concerns, including your budget, needs, and personal preferences. This blog discusses the types of dental treatments considered cosmetic to help you make an informed decision.
Teeth Whitening
Dental whitening is among the most basic procedures in cosmetic dentistry and among the least costly. Over time, our teeth can become stained from medication, drinks, food, or habits such as smoking and tobacco use. Many individuals undergo teeth whitening to achieve a brighter smile.
Teeth whitening aims to remove discoloration and stains, making teeth up to eight shades whiter. After teeth are cleaned of tartar, plaque, and food particles, dental whitening bleaches the tooth surfaces to achieve a whiter, brighter appearance.
There are two types of teeth-whitening procedures:
- In-office or professional dental whitening
- Professional at-home dental whitening
During in-office whitening, the dentist generally uses a bleaching agent, such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The bleaching agent in these products penetrates tooth enamel, removing the stain that causes discoloration. Professional at-home whitening involves wearing customized whitening trays or whitening strips. These are filled with a bleaching gel containing hydrogen peroxide. You must wear these trays or strips daily for one to three hours to see results.
A cosmetic dentist supervises professional at-home whitening. It is a gradual process that safely brightens teeth by several shades over one to four weeks. Ensure you distinguish between professional at-home whitening procedures and over-the-counter treatments such as rinses and toothpastes.
Professional dental whitening is a safe, controlled treatment, as the dental professional will adjust the concentration of the bleaching solution based on your teeth’s condition. At-home teeth-whitening products do not serve each patient’s needs. Also, these products may be less efficient since they are generally less concentrated than professional dental whitening solutions.
In-office dental whitening usually takes only 60 minutes. On the contrary, at-home whitening may take several days. While at-home whitening and over-the-counter products provide results, in-office whitening is more effective.
Professional whitening can lead to slight sensitivity to cold or hot foods for a few days after treatment. However, the sensitivity soon disappears. Also, some stains may not resolve with whitening. Your dental professional can predict the outcome of the treatment after checking your teeth. With good care, the outcome of in-office whitening can last 3 years or more before you need another whitening procedure.
Dental Veneers
Veneers refer to thin, clear shells that a dentist attaches to the teeth’s front surface to solve various cosmetic problems, including the following:
- Tooth discoloration and staining
- Broken, cracked, or chipped teeth
- Damaged enamel
- A gummy smile (generally coupled with other dental treatments)
- Gaps between teeth
- Slightly crooked teeth
- Irregularly sized or shaped teeth
Porcelain is the most common material for veneers. It provides excellent translucency and durability. It also makes veneers mimic the appearance of natural teeth. Other materials used to make veneers include zirconia, ceramic, and composite resin. Veneers are customized for every patient to fit properly over their natural teeth and resemble them, improving the appearance of their smile. They are practically invisible when in place.
The dental veneer placement process is irreversible. That is because the dentist removes a small part of the enamel to create sufficient space for veneers and ensure they bond properly to the tooth surface. That means if you choose veneers for your dental cosmetic needs, you will need to commit yourself to wearing them for the rest of your life.
Once the dentist removes a small portion of the enamel, they will attach the veneer to the tooth using a strong dental adhesive. The veneer placement process is painless. It requires 2 to 3 dental appointments, contingent on your dental health, cosmetic goal, and whether any adjustments and preparation are needed. These appointments are spread over approximately two to three weeks. That means you can dramatically improve how your smile appears in a brief period.
Dental veneers are durable. Zirconia and porcelain veneers generally last 10 to 15 years, while composite resin veneers last 5 to 7 years. Other benefits of these dental restorations include the following:
- They are stain-resistant.
- They are barely noticeable when in the mouth
- They are less invasive compared to other cosmetic procedures, like crowns
- They do not damage the adjacent original teeth; hence, they provide a conservative treatment option
Gum and Tooth Contouring
Tooth contouring is the removal of part of a tooth’s enamel to alter its shape. Since the dentist removes only a small portion of the tooth enamel, the tooth’s shape changes only slightly, and the procedure is safe.
Gum contouring helps individuals with excessive gum tissues, also called a gummy smile. A dental professional can remove excess tissue and then reshape the gum line. Gum contouring can be combined with veneers to elongate teeth.
Dental Bonding
Tooth bonding is a minimally invasive, highly versatile procedure that utilizes composite resin material to conceal and restore stained, cracked, misshapen, chipped, decayed, or discolored teeth. Composite resin resembles original tooth enamel. Bonding can also be recommended to lengthen teeth or cover gaps between teeth.
During the tooth bonding procedure, the dental professional will first remove any damaged or decayed parts of the tooth. They will then apply moldable composite resin to the affected tooth and then shape it to match the tooth’s natural contours. After that, the dental professional will harden the material using ultraviolet light, ensuring a durable, strong bond. After hardening, the dental professional will trim, shape, and polish the resin to blend perfectly with the tooth’s surface.
For small cosmetic repairs, bonding is an ideal option. It is especially effective at concealing slight imperfections, giving the patient the appearance of well-shaped, healthy teeth. Dental bonding is more affordable than crowns and fillings. It is also more affordable compared to veneers. However, the results of this process are still as natural-looking as those of composite resin and can be matched to the shade of your teeth.
In addition, dental bonding does not necessitate removing enamel. Therefore, the bonding procedure is reversible in many cases. The dental bonding results can last 5 to 7 years, and the procedure is quick and painless.
Dental Implants
If you have lost one or several teeth, or your teeth are severely damaged or decayed, implants can be the solution for you. They provide a highly long-lasting tooth replacement solution. Implants comprise a titanium post that the dentist surgically inserts into the jawbone. This post serves as a synthetic tooth root, replacing the root of the missing, decayed, or damaged tooth.
As time goes by, the titanium post fuses with the jawbone via a process called “osseointegration,” providing a solid base for the replacement tooth that the dentist will attach to the top. A replacement tooth can be a dental crown, a dental bridge, or a denture.
Apart from restoring functionality, dental implants provide a cosmetic dental solution that feels and looks natural. The replacement tooth that the dentist places atop the implant is customized to resemble the shape, size, and color of your adjacent teeth, making it almost identical to the rest of your smile. Dental implants have many benefits, including the following:
- They are durable and long-lasting. With proper care, these dental restorations can last a lifetime.
- They do not damage the adjacent natural teeth
- They help prevent bone loss and maintain bone structure
- They maintain bone density and health
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, are another cosmetic option. They fit over damaged or decayed teeth. Unlike a dental veneer that covers only the front surface of a tooth, a dental crown covers the entire tooth surface. Crowns can prevent a weak tooth from breaking. They can also be utilized cosmetically to conceal severe tooth discoloration or misshapen teeth. Crowns are also useful in covering other procedures such as dental implants, dental bridges, enamel fillings, and root canals.
Onlays and Inlays
Onlays and inlays are also called indirect fillings. They are utilized when a tooth is so decayed that it cannot support a regular filling, but is mildly or moderately damaged or decayed, and it does not require a full dental crown. Inlays and onlays are created in a laboratory. Then a cosmetic dentist bonds them into place. They are made from gold, composite resin, or porcelain and are customized to fit onto or into the tooth.
When the filling is bonded in the center of a tooth, that is an inlay. It is used when the damage is only to the tooth surface and has not affected the cusps. When the fillings cover a single or several parts of a tooth, or the whole surface, that is an onlay. Onlays are used when the damage is more significant.
Inlays and onlays are an alternative to tooth crowns. They preserve more of a tooth’s original surface and structure while still restoring and strengthening the tooth following deterioration or decay and preventing further damage. The benefits of inlays and onlays are the following:
- They restore a tooth’s strength
- They prevent further deterioration and decay
- They preserve more of the original tooth compared to crowns
Orthodontic Treatments
Although they improve function and provide significant general and oral health benefits, orthodontic treatments can also be considered cosmetic. That is because they also enhance a person’s smile by straightening crooked or misaligned teeth and correcting jaw irregularities. Some of the orthodontic treatments that can also be used for cosmetic purposes include braces and clear aligners.
Dental Braces
Braces have been the standard for many years for enhancing tooth alignment. These appliances consist of two primary components: wires and brackets. An orthodontist cements a bracket to every tooth. The wires then connect all the brackets on one side of the jaw. Braces work by constantly exerting pressure on the teeth, shifting them into the desired alignment over time. The tighter the archwires, the more pressure the brackets apply on the teeth.
The treatment period with braces ranges from 2 to 4 years. By the end of treatment with braces, you would have achieved an aligned smile that is more attractive. There are various types of braces you can choose from, including traditional metal braces, lingual braces, self-ligating braces, and ceramic braces.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are customized, transparent plastic trays that work using a similar concept to braces. They exert constant, gradual pressure on teeth, shifting them into the required position. However, unlike braces, clear aligners are removable and near-invisible.
Clear aligners enable individuals to achieve straight teeth without compromising their smile appearance. They often provide faster results than braces because of the more precise exertion of pressure on a person’s teeth. At the beginning of your treatment, you will receive multiple sets of clear aligners, each worn for approximately 2 weeks. After two weeks, you will then switch to a new set of trays that will move your teeth to the next stage. This process is repeated multiple times until your teeth reach the required alignment.
Since clear aligners can be removed from the mouth, treatment with them is more convenient for many individuals. Unlike braces that can limit the kind of food you can eat, you can remove clear aligners for oral hygiene and meals. You can also remove the aligners whenever your teeth require a break. However, ensure you wear them for approximately 20 to 22 hours daily for optimum results.
Find a Cosmetic Dentist Near Me
If you are considering a cosmetic procedure to improve the health and appearance of your smile, there is a wide range of options available. However, you should consult a cosmetic dentist first to determine which options best meet your needs. At The Hawthorne Dentist, we thoroughly evaluate your dental health and recommend a procedure to achieve your desired results. Then, we will ensure you have an excellent cosmetic treatment experience. We use high-quality materials and modern techniques to meet all of our clients’ dental goals and needs. Call us at 310-775-2557 to schedule an appointment.
