Cosmetic dentistry is about enhancing the beauty of your teeth and smile. It includes procedures like teeth whitening, dental bonding, and veneers. It differs from restorative dentistry, which deals with necessary treatments that fix problems like missing or damaged teeth. A cosmetic dentistry can help you resolve any insecurities you may have with your smile. These include crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, or discolored teeth.

Dental implants

Dental implants are titanium posts inserted into a person’s jaw bone to act as tooth roots and provide a strong base for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that look and feel like natural teeth. They also preserve bone in areas where teeth are missing, which helps prevent jaw deterioration and improves oral health.

Cosmetic dentists offer several different types of dental implants, including endosteal and subperiosteal models. They are usually used in the front of the mouth to replace single or multiple teeth that have been lost due to gum disease, accident or ageing.

A dental implant can help restore your appearance and boost your self-esteem. It can also help you chew and speak better, and it can avoid the need to minimize healthy adjacent teeth as is required with conventional bridgework. It can also reduce the load on remaining natural teeth, which can help preserve your existing bone structure and reduce bone resorption and deterioration.

Dental bonding

A cosmetic bonding procedure uses composite resin – the same material used for tooth fillings – to reshape or repair a damaged tooth. It can be applied to a single tooth or multiple teeth and is less invasive and less expensive than veneers. It can even close gaps, repair chipped or misshapen teeth and address discoloration.

Your dentist will help you pick a shade of bonding material to match your natural teeth and then prepare the surface by roughening it and applying a conditioning liquid. The putty-like material is then added, molded and smoothed to your desired shape. A curing light is then used to harden the composite. A matrix is then placed between the bonded tooth and its neighbouring tooth to protect them from abrasions and damage.

Dental bonding is not permanent, but with proper care and maintenance it can last three to ten years before a touch-up is needed. Brushing and flossing twice a day, avoiding stain-causing foods and smoking, and coming in for regular checkups will keep your bonded teeth looking great.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. It involves applying a bleaching agent to teeth in order to lighten them. The whitening agent usually contains some form of hydrogen peroxide, although other chemicals may also be used. Whitening is not suitable for every patient, and a dentist can recommend a treatment plan that will work best for you.

The procedure can be done at home, but it is preferable to have it performed in a clinic. This is because the bleaching agent is applied to the teeth under professional supervision, which helps to minimize sensitivity and ensure that the teeth are evenly whitened.

Whitening is not permanent, and your teeth will start to stain again after a few months. However, if you maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly, touch-up treatments can keep your smile bright for much longer. The appearance of your smile can have a major impact on the way people perceive you. A beautiful white smile is often viewed as a sign of happiness, good health and vitality.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin coverings that we attach to the front of your teeth. They can help you conceal a wide range of cosmetic imperfections, including chipped teeth, discoloration, and minor gaps between your teeth. They can even correct your smile’s shape and size, making it appear more attractive.

During your first appointment, we’ll take X-rays and impressions of your teeth. This will allow us to craft a set of porcelain veneers that are tailored specifically to your smile. When you come back in for your second appointment, we’ll test them out on your teeth to ensure they fit well and look great.

You’ll probably have to avoid eating sticky or hard foods, and you may also need to brush and floss your teeth more often to keep them healthy. While porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, they’ll still need to be treated with care if you want them to last. We sometimes recommend that patients use a mouth guard when they sleep to prevent them from grinding their teeth, which can damage veneers.