If you have teeth misalignment or your teeth appearance isn't good, you might become self-conscious. This self-consciousness can lead to lower self-esteem and can affect your confidence. Imagine you have to give a presentation but need to speak correctly, which ruins your day. Similarly, you might have a gummy smile that impedes your confidence when interacting with people.
Some people might lose all their teeth due to an accident or trauma, severely disrupting their oral health. Along with dental health disruption, they have lower well-being, especially when they see themselves in the mirror.
Modern cosmetic dentistry offers a variety of options to treat your dental health issues. Be it removing plaque from your teeth, correcting teeth misalignment, or otherwise, and now you can avail many good options. In this article, we'll discuss the top trending cosmetic treatments. Doing so will help prepare you in advance to achieve a better smile.
A smile makeover can single-handedly transform your overall appearance and elevate your self-confidence.
So, let's get started.
Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is the most efficient way to whiten your teeth. However, many people also use at-home teeth whitening kits to make their teeth look better. Professional teeth whitening is more costly than whitening kits, but it's an excellent value for money, especially in the long run. It's best to ask your dentist if you want to avail of any home kit to prevent tooth harm. However many dentists recommend in-office teeth whitening procedures for better results. The process is simple and usually follows these standard steps:
- First, the dentist will record the shade of your teeth to have a before and after effect.
- Then, plaque is removed from the patient's teeth and polished with pumice.
- A gauze is used to keep the patient's mouth isolated. Also, it helps to keep the teeth dry. The dentist might use retractors to keep the whitening solution away from the lips, tongue, and cheeks.
- A barrier is used along the gumline to protect it from further exposure.
- Then, the teeth are coated with a whitening solution. These solutions worked as bleaching agents and were applied only on the front surface.
- Some whitening products require a laser light, so the dentist might use it to activate them. Once done, the solution would be left on the teeth's surface for about 30-60 minutes.
- After the teeth attain their optimum shade, they are rinsed. Many patients have tooth sensitivity during teeth whitening procedures. For this, the dentist mainly applies fluoride treatment to help ease tooth sensitivity.
- The dentist will ask the patient for a few repeated appointments if the desired shade still needs to be met even after the procedure.
Stains on teeth mainly arise due to aging and certain foods or medications. At times, plaque or tartar also emerges on the teeth and makes them look dull. Along with appearance issues, it can lead to further dental problems. Teeth whitening treatment helps to remove plaque from the teeth and lighten the natural color of the teeth. You attain better oral health and good teeth appearance.
Gingival Contouring
Some people have uneven gum lines due to receding gums or longer teeth. Genes also play a significant part in the way you smile. Though a gummy smile is not always concerning, it's best to visit your dentist. Many dentists recommend gingival contouring to people who have an uneven gum line. It is a cosmetic treatment that helps elevate peoples' smiles and make them feel more confident. Along with these, there are many oral health benefits of gingival contouring. These include attaining an even gum line, permanent results, a brightened smile, etc.
The contouring process starts with removing excess tissue, which is usually analyzed in between 30-60 minutes. The dentist provides a customized treatment plan depending on the patient's oral health. Once it's done, antibiotics are usually recommended to protect against any side effects of a contouring surgery.
Then, the patient's gums are numbed with local anesthesia, and a small incision is made. It helps remove excess tissue that is accumulated in the patient's mouth. The laser sometimes speeds up the healing process and removes excess tissue. Afterward, stitches or sutures are performed to avoid any bleeding or infection.
Dental Implants
Another cosmetic treatment that is gaining continuous popularity is dental implants. This procedure is usually costly, but it brings many oral benefits in the long run. When you have missing teeth, it can disrupt the way you look. Also, it could be unpleasant to go in public or meet your friends. Dental implants help replace missing or damaged teeth efficiently. Besides improving aesthetics, they offer many other oral health benefits that are listed below:
- Dental implants function just like natural teeth.
- They can last for an entire lifetime.
- They help prevent bone loss.
- Implants keep adjacent teeth in a stable position.
- They aid in the chewing process.
The procedure of dental implants starts with an initial consultation. Here the dentist performs a comprehensive examination to determine the condition of the patient's jawbone. If the jawbone condition is acceptable, then the implants are fitted into the jawbone with minor surgical intervention. Usually, the bone grows around the dental implants within a few months.
Upon the stability of the implant, the dentist then creates a foundation for the new tooth or a set of missing teeth. Finally, they are placed and cemented into the foundation.
Invisible Braces
If you are a candidate for braces but want to avoid availing yourself of the traditional ones, invisible ones are a good option. Gone are when people only had to wear traditional braces to correct their teeth misalignments. Though they helped many people, everyone couldn't wear them. It could be due to several reasons; for instance, they are not so comfortable, food is difficult to chew, and so on.
Invisible braces use clear aligners that put slight pressure on the teeth. This little pressure can be tolerated easily and helps move the teeth into their optimal position. Typically, a 5-staged process is involved in placing invisible braces. Let's have a brief look at these.
First, an initial consultation is done to determine if a candidate qualifies for the criteria. Beyond clinical considerations, the patient's willingness is also checked to ensure the best possible treatment. Then, a customized treatment plan is made to begin the Invisalign treatment. At this step, x-rays, dental impressions, and photographs of the mouth are taken and recorded.
Then, the patient waits for the aligners to enter the dentist's office. Afterward, the patient visits the dentist to get a guideline for wearing the aligners. The orthodontist then refines the patient's smile when the last tray has been worn for a few weeks. If required, some more aligner trays are suggested. Finally, the patient's smile is maintained after consistent oral examinations.
3D Printing
3D printing is the latest trend in cosmetic dentistry that helps create authentic products and minimizes waste. If you are a candidate for dental crowns, bridges, dentures, caps, or other, 3D printing can serve you.
This technology helps the dentist to create a three-dimensional object layer-by-layer from a digital file. It has greater accuracy than lab work and helps restore peoples' smiles. 3D printing is revolutionizing the field of dentistry in the following significant ways:
- Low-cost mass customization
- Brilliant manufacturing process
- Digital implantology
- Digital denture production
- Better patient experience
Final Words:
Cosmetic dentistry provides many oral health benefits besides a better appearance. If you are a candidate for cosmetic dentistry and want to correct your crooked or misshapen teeth, visit your dentist. Achieve a better smile along with securing your oral health.
Contact your Pinole dentist, Dr. Azadeh Hosseini, DDS, or Ghazal Hosseini, DDS, at Top Pinole Dental to learn more about top cosmetic dentistry treatments.
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*This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.*