How important a role the smile of a person plays in enhancing his or her overall personality! We have not been stressing this fact enough. But that is changing now. People are getting increasingly conscious about their smiles and the boost a sterling smile gives to their confidence. As a result, cosmetic dentistry treatments are getting more popular by the day.
What Does Cosmetic Dentistry Entail?
Today, dentistry is much more than just fixing your teeth and cosmetic dentistry is a big part of this. It involves various procedures to increase the functional and aesthetic appeal of your teeth. It can entail various treatments that make your teeth brighter and whiter, along with fixing misaligned, broken, damaged or missing teeth.
This way cosmetic dentistry consists of a wide range of cosmetic treatments. It can be tricky to figure out one of these treatments you need to consider to achieve that sparkling smile. So, to make it a bit easy for you, here we have presented five of the most common cosmetic dental procedures and who might need them.
1. Teeth Whitening
Stained teeth or teeth discolouration can be a result of an improper diet, habits, age and genetics. Several underlying ailments like tooth decay can also result in yellow or stained teeth. Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dental procedures that people take.
Teeth whitening involves the removal of both internal and external stains. In a typical teeth whitening procedure, your dentist will apply a whitening gel to your teeth using trays. This gel is kept on for several hours and then rinsed off. The gel continues to work for about 24 hours after application giving you a brighter and whiter smile over a few days. In some cases, an activation light may be used to reduce the duration of gel retention from several hours to several minutes. Typically the effect of this procedure lasts for six months to two years depending upon various factors. To know more about teeth whitening you can check our article on Professional Teeth Whitening.
2. Dental Veneers
Dental veneers have been a staple in cosmetic dentistry for decades. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that fit over the front of the teeth, quite similar to false nails. They are most commonly used to correct chipped or unevenly shaped teeth. As mentioned, they are generally made up of porcelain, but can also be made from composite resin. In this procedure, a small amount of the enamel of your tooth is gently filed down. Then your dentist takes an impression of your teeth to get custom-made veneers. These veneers are shaped and coloured to be as close as possible to your natural teeth. This way they are virtually invisible. Dental veneers are particularly famous for their durability. Porcelain veneers can last for 10-15 years with proper maintenance.
As well as the dental veneers, a dental crown is also a common option to correct a missing tooth.
3. Dental/Cosmetic Bonding
Just like dental veneers, dental bonding is a procedure used to correct stained or chipped teeth. In dental bonding, a high-density modern plastic called composite resin is used. It is added to the existing damaged tooth. In this procedure, little to no tooth reduction is required. The composite is mouldable and can be colour-matched to the shade of your natural teeth. Dentists often carry out the complete procedure in a single visit and therefore, it is less expensive than veneers or crowns. But the drawback of this treatment is that it lasts only up to 5 to 7 years when maintained properly.
4. Clear Braces or Invisalign
Clear or invisible braces like Invisalign have come as a boon for those who are apprehensive of wearing obvious metal braces to correct their misaligned teeth. As the name suggests, clear braces or Invisalign are virtually invisible when used. These braces are custom-made clear trays that are made to fit perfectly to your teeth.
After the initial check-up, your dentist takes the impression of your teeth and orders sets of personalised clear braces that will last until your next visit to the clinic; which is after about six weeks. These are removable braces that need to be replaced around every two weeks. You will need to remove them before you eat or drink anything, except for water. Besides being virtually invisible, there are many other advantages of these braces over traditional braces. Convenience, comfort and faster results are the most noteworthy among them. You can read our article on Invisalign to know more.
5. Dental Implants
It is a cosmetic dental procedure used to replace missing teeth, be it a single tooth, a bridge or the entire set of teeth. A dental implant is essentially a titanium screw that is inserted deep into your jawbone. This implant replaces the natural tooth root of the missing tooth. Once inserted, it serves to hold the artificial crown in place through an abutment that connects them both.
Your dentist may generally complete the procedure in two appointments, about 3-6 months apart. Dental implants are gaining popularity over traditional dentures owing to their durability and natural appearance. Once in a place, a dental implant can last up to 10 to 15 years with normal dental hygiene practices. You can read more about dental implants here.
How Can We Help You With Cosmetic Dental Treatments?
We at Super Smile Dental are a team of dedicated dentists and clinicians that are experienced and highly skilled in carrying out all cosmetic dental procedures. We carry out treatments with utmost precision and care and use the most advanced, state-of-the-art cosmetic dentistry technology. With our customised treatments, we help you achieve that sterling smile that positively impacts your self-esteem and confidence.
If you too are looking to get that super smile, book an appointment with us today or contact us directly to schedule a visit. Being one of the most trusted dental practices in Cardiff, you will not be disappointed.