Cosmetic Dentistry Know Your Options
ByLinda Moore
Your smile is your welcome sign to the world,
and you want that sign to be the best one
on the block. If you weren't lucky enough
to be born with a show-stopping smile and
perfectly straight, white teeth there is hope
for you yet. The world of cosmetic dentistry
can fix any dental problem from missing teeth
to yellow teeth to the most crooked of smiles.
When you are thinking of having any
type of cosmetic dentistry done, the first
step is to find a qualified dentist, on
that is a member of the AACD (American
Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) this will
help to ensure that he is well versed
in all areas of cosmetic dentistry.
When interviewing possible choices for
a dentist, ask to see his portfolio of
before and after photos of previous patients,
this will give you an idea of the quality
of the work that is being performed. Always
ask for references from these patients,
ask them how they feel about the work
that has been done for them. Finally find
out about any education that has been
completed since the dentist has been practicing
dentistry. It is important that education
is kept up to date with the advances that
are being made in this field.
The most common form of this type of
dentistry is the use of braces. Braces
are generally put on adolescent children
beginning at around age 12, by a qualified
orthodontist. The area of orthodontics
deals with the straightening and realigning
of teeth. This treatment not only beautifies
the smile, but by realigning the mouth
orthodontics can also eliminated future
problems of the jaw. The type of cosmetic
dentistry that is more common with adults
includes teeth whitening, the placement
of veneers and bonding. These procedures
are solely for cosmetic reasons and have
no health benefits associated with them;
however, the emotional benefits from these
types of procedure can be huge.
Teeth whitening is growing in popularity
due in part to the availability of at
home systems. These systems make it possible
to get a whiter, brighter smile without
the cost and inconvenience of visiting
a dentist office. There is also the option
of in office bleaching, this is done under
the supervision of the dentist and generally
takes about an hour per each application.
It is wise to consult with your dentist
as to which whitening product is right
for your teeth, as not all teeth take
to bleaching in the same manner. Your
dentist will help you decide which type
is right for your teeth as well as for
your budget.
Bonding is done to either repair a chipped
or cracked tooth, to cover an exposed
root or for strictly cosmetic reasons.
In any of these cases, the tooth or teeth
to be treated are cleaned and then have
an etching solution applied. This solution
will help the resin composite to bond
with the tooth. There are several different
colors of resin available to match the
color of the teeth. The resin is then
shaped so that the new teeth have the
desired shape to them; the resin will
then harden and finally be polished to
a shine so that they match the rest of
the teeth in the mouth.
Veneering teeth is becoming increasingly
popular as a way to cover up fillings,
chipped teeth, stained teeth or gaps in
the teeth. A veneer is a thin porcelain
shell that fits directly over the tooth
in question and is bonded in place. The
veneers can also give the appearance of
straight teeth with out the time that
is involved with braces; however, they
are the more expensive of the two options.
Linda Moore writes on a variety of subjects
including family matters, personal enrichment,
cosmetic
dentistry, and breast augmentation/reduction
surgery.
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