Do you hide your smile behind closed lips? You don’t have to feel embarrassed about the state of your teeth. Instead, consider procedures like dental implants or teeth whitening.
The cosmetic dentistry market could reach $30.1 billion by 2025. More people are recognizing the benefits of improving the state of their teeth. For example, you can renew your self-confidence by filling a gap in your smile.
On the fence about visiting a cosmetic dentist? Here’s everything you need to know about cosmetic dental care. After reading this guide, you can make a more informed decision with your oral care in mind.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about this form of dentistry today.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
First, let’s answer the question that likely brought you here: what exactly is cosmetic dentistry?
There are now over 29,000 cosmetic dentists in the US. These professionals complete the same training as general dentists. They also learn how to improve your teeth’s health, function, and appearance.
Cosmetic dentists learn how to improve the appearance of your smile without compromising your dental health. For example, they can fix a chipped tooth or brightened discolored teeth.
A licensed, experienced dentist will meet the highest standards of care. They can improve the appearance of your smile, boosting your confidence in the process.
Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
When learning more about cosmetic dentistry, it helps to understand the services these dentists offer. Here are a few cosmetic dental procedures you might want to consider. You can schedule a consultation with your local dentist to determine which services suit your needs.
Teeth Whitening
Cosmetic teeth whitening is now a $3.2 billion global industry.
Each time you drink a cup of coffee, tea, or wine, your teeth can become discolored. Certain foods can cause your teeth to yellow, too. You might feel self-conscious about the appearance of your teeth as a result.
Instead of trying to hide the state of your smile, schedule a tooth whitening procedure. In addition to an in-office procedure, you can use at-home kits, too.
Your dentist will first need to determine the current shade of your teeth. They might polish the surface of your teeth using pumice. The pumice can remove plaque from the surface of your teeth.
Then, they’ll use gauze and retractors to isolate your mouth, lips, and tongue from the whitening solution. Some solutions use carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as the bleaching agent.
After applying the whitening solution, your dentist will use a curing light or laser. They’ll activate the peroxide to reach your desired shade.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers can fix a range of oral health issues, including:
- Discolored teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Smaller-than-average teeth
- Broken teeth
Dental veneers are tooth-colored shells. They’re designed to attach to the surface of your existing teeth. Your dentist can create veneers using resin or porcelain.
The veneers will permanently bond to your teeth, improving the state of your smile.
You can have the veneers created in a lab. Then, your dentist can fix them in place with a single appointment. A high-intensity light will harden the dental cement used to bond the veneers to your teeth.
Inlays and Onlays
If you’re dealing with mild to moderate tooth decay, consider inlays and onlays. These cosmetic dental procedures are ideal if you have insufficient structure to support a filling.
Inlays are placed onto the tooth structure if the tooth cusps haven’t sustained damage.
If there is damage, you might want to consider an onlay over the entire tooth instead.
Composite Bonding
Dental bonding is ideal if your teeth appear decayed, damaged, or discolored. Treatment involves creating a composite material that matches the shade of your teeth.
First, your dentist will need to drill any existing decay away. Then, they’ll apply the composite to the surface of the affected tooth. They’ll use a high-intensity light to cure the composite over the tooth.
Dental Implants
If you’ve lost or severely damaged a tooth, you can talk to your dentist about dental implants.
Implants can fill any gaps in your smile.
Your dentist can insert a small, titanium screw into your jaw. The jaw helps by supporting the implant. It will stimulate your jawbone, helping you avoid deterioration, too.
Dental implants are designed to match your natural teeth. No one will realize you have an implant in place.
First, you’ll need to wait for the bone and supporting tissue to fuse to the implant. This will ensure the implant will remain securely in place.
Then, your dentist will place the implant into position. You can chew, speak, and smile as you normally would.
Crowns
If you have a cracked or damaged tooth, consider dental crowns.
Dental crowns will cover the damaged tooth. They’re created using porcelain, ceramic, or composite. Some crowns are also made using zirconia or metal.
Your dentist will determine the best material to use based on the tooth’s location and function. How much of the tooth appears when you smile is a factor, too.
The Benefits
As you learn more about cosmetic dentistry, you might want to talk to your dentist about the benefits of certain procedures.
For starters, these procedures can improve the appearance of your smile. If you’re feeling self-conscious, these procedures can improve damage or staining. You can start showing off your new, stunning smile with renewed confidence.
These procedures can help you chew properly, too. Otherwise, you might struggle to eat certain foods. You could experience digestive issues or malnutrition as a result.
You might want to consider these procedures to avoid future dental health issues, too.
For example, a gap between your teeth can cause jawbone deterioration. Your remaining teeth might lean toward the gap, too. Your teeth could start to look crooked as a result.
These procedures could improve your overall dental care.
Stunning Smiles: Your Comprehensive Guide to Cosmetic Dentistry
Don’t feel embarrassed about the state of your smile. Instead, consider cosmetic dentistry. Scheduling a procedure can improve the appearance of your smile.
You can start grinning with renewed confidence as a result.
Eager to schedule your first appointment? We’re here to help.
Contact us today to get started.