Cosmetic dentistry has become popular now, from whitening, shaping, closing spaces, to replacing teeth. Dentists now have a lot of tools and techniques to help improve your smile. But before you undergo any cosmetic procedure, you should do some research to identify the benefits and risks, and what you should expect during the process. Make sure you know everything about it before you seek a Culver City dentist for the procedure.
Culver City Dentist: Different types of cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a process of professional oral care that targets the improvement of the appearance of the teeth, mouth, and smile. And while the procedures are usually elective, some cases of this treatment offer restorative benefits. Below are the different types of cosmetic dentistry. Knowing their difference will help you determine whether or not you need it.
Teeth whitening
Your teeth can become discolored or stained over time, especially if you smoke, take certain medications, or consume food and drinks like coffee and tea. A Culver city dentist can bleach your teeth in two different ways: in-office procedure or a DIY system.
Your dentist will create a custom mouthpiece tray that will ensure the right amount of whitening solution to reach your teeth. You may find this process convenient if you’re doing this at home. However, it may take two to four weeks (or perhaps longer), depending on the strength of the peroxide used. The in-house process will take place in one or more dental appointments, each lasting 1 to 2 hours.
Bear in mind that even if your teeth whiten, they may become stained again if you always expose them to the same substances that caused them to stain. Also, whitening products aren’t meant to clean your teeth, so you should still continue practicing daily oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss them at least once a day, and rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash every day.
Bonding
Bonding can help improve how your teeth look if there’s excess space between them, or if they’re broken, stained chipped, or cracked. A Culver City dentist also uses bonding materials to protect the exposed root of a tooth or to fill small cavities.
The dentist can do this in just one session by applying an etching solution, followed by tooth-colored materials, directly to the tooth’s surface. And while this can last for years, they’re still more likely to wear down.
Veneers
These custom shells are usually made of porcelain, and they cover the front sides of the teeth to change their color and/or shape. They last longer compared to bonding, and they provide a superior appearance. Veneers are good for:
- Teeth with spaces between them
- Teeth that have become worn or chipped
- Permanently stained teeth
- Slightly crooked teeth
Before you insert veneers, the dentist will first take an impression of your tooth, and then buff it before cementing the veneer in place. A beam of light will help harden the cement, which will secure the veneer to the tooth.
Crowns
Crowns completely cover a tooth to restore its normal shape and appearance. You will need them to:
- Protect a weak tooth
- Cover a misshapen or discolored tooth
- Hold a dental bridge in place
- Cover a tooth with a large filling
- Cover a dental implant
They can be very costly, that’s why doctors suggest them only when the other procedures couldn’t produce a pleasing result. A Culver City dentist can make a temporary crown or an in-office same-day crown. Permanent crowns last longer if you take good care of them.
Braces
Braces are probably the most popular, especially since people of almost all ages benefit from them. Braces don’t only improve the look of your teeth that are crowded or crooked, but they also improve the irregular bite and correct your jaw positioning and jaw joint disorders.
People wear braces to apply pressure to the teeth and reposition them. To place braces, your dentist bonds brackets to your teeth and then places wires through the brackets. The wires guide the teeth into their correct positions. Sometimes dentists will attach lingual braces to the backs of the teeth to hide them from view.
You can expect discomfort after applying the braces, especially after each dental visit, when the dentist tightens them.
The risks when wearing braces are minimal, but people who are allergic to metal or latex are at risk for problems during this procedure.
Bridges
Bridges help replace your missing teeth with artificial teeth. They can be made of alloys, gold, porcelain, or a combination. Your dentist will anchor them onto the surrounding teeth after preparing them for crowns. Then, a false tooth joins to the crowns, and your dentist will cement the bridge onto the prepared teeth.
The success of your bridge depends on its foundation. Therefore, always remember proper oral hygiene to keep your remaining teeth healthy.
Implants
Implants will need an involved and expensive cosmetic dentistry procedure, but they’re a perfect long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. These are an alternative for bridges, as they use adjacent teeth as anchors. Implants have three different parts:
- An abutment – it fits over the part of the implant sticking out from the gums
- Titanium metal – it fuses to the jawbone
- The crown – your dentist creates it for a natural tooth-like appearance
You can get implants to replace a tooth. If you have two or more implants, then they can provide stable support for replacing several teeth. If you have bone loss from lost teeth or periodontal disease, then the surgeon will probably need to graft your bone so that the implant has something to secure to.
Having implants will require the following steps:
- Consultation, a comprehensive exam, and X-rays
- Surgical implantation of the screws
- Taking impressions of both the upper and lower jaws
- Making a model to create the crowns or dentures
- Placing the crown
- Follow-up exams with the members of the implant team
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