There are many different cosmetic dentistry treatments for creating a great smile. Some treatments don't take much time in the dentist's chair but still offer a noticeable difference. Other treatments are a little more complex.
The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to make your teeth look natural and more uniform by treating damaged, broken, decayed, and misaligned teeth.
Here are some of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures.
Teeth Whitening
Are yellow teeth aging your smile? Whitening your teeth is a simple treatment and one of the least expensive in the dentist's arsenal of cosmetic dentistry tools.
There are a few ways to whiten your teeth. One includes an in-office whitening treatment that only takes about an hour. You'll see immediate results.
You can also opt for an at-home whitening procedure from your dentist that includes special trays molded for your mouth and teeth. You'll use a special whitening agent in the trays.
The American Dental Association recommends you talk to your dentist first before trying any type of teeth-whitening products.
Dental Bonding
Do you have cracked, chipped, or misshapen teeth? Your cosmetic dentist may recommend dental bonding. This is when the dentist uses a putty-like resin to fix your existing teeth.
The resin is tooth-colored and the dentist hardens it to the tooth using ultraviolet light. The dentist then trims the material before shaping and polishing it. One of the nice things about bonding is it only takes about an hour per tooth.
Veneers
A veneer is a thin, custom-made covering of porcelain or resin. The shell covers the front of the teeth. The dentist first removes a small layer of enamel from your existing tooth and then bonds the veneer to the front.
A dentist can change the shape, size, length, or color of your tooth with a veneer. The procedure is an investment, costing anywhere from $500-$1,300 per tooth.
Dental Implants
Do you hate smiling for photos because you're missing a tooth or two? Your dentist in Mount Vernon, NY can fix that!
Dental implants are a good option for most people to replace a missing tooth.
Made from titanium, an implant post replaces the tooth root. The dentist inserts the post into the bone socket of the missing tooth.
The jawbone heals and grows around the post. This anchors the post into the jaw and becomes the foundation for the tooth implant.
Implants are popular because they look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Unlike dentures, you never have slipping or any type of movement with the teeth.
Dental implants are an investment of time and money. It takes about a year from the initial consult to the final result. You'll get the post first and wear temporary teeth while the posts are healing into the jaw.
One of the best things about implants is their permanence and durability. If you care for them well, you'll have them the rest of your life. Like your natural teeth, it's important to floss and brush every day!
Dental Inlays or Onlays
You may only need a filling for a decayed or damaged tooth. These are inlays or onlays. The materials are porcelain, gold, or other composite materials, so they're also called
composite fillings.
Your dentist bonds the molded material to your tooth. If it's an inlay, it's bonded in the center of the tooth. An onlay covers one or more areas of the biting surface of the tooth.
The dentist preserves the healthiest part of the tooth with an inlay or onlay while covering the damaged area.
Crowns
It's called a crown because it's a cap for the tooth. The crown fits over the damaged or decayed areas of the tooth helping restore the size, shape, strength, and appearance of the tooth.
Do you have a cracked tooth?
The crown can hold the tooth together or keep a weak tooth from breaking. Crowns are also an option for misshapen teeth or even a badly discolored tooth.
Crowns are made from resin, ceramic, metal, and sometimes porcelain fused to metal.
