There are various techniques that may be used to achieve straighter, more even, and beautiful teeth.
Cosmetic Dental Surgery aims to solve any dental problems you may be experiencing.
The more common procedures are:
1.) Tooth Whitening – (also Tooth Bleaching ) Considered the most common procedure. This involves the lightening of discolored teeth due to different factors (i.e. Genetics, Age, Chemical Damage, Disease, etc.). Dentist-supervised treatments are still more recommended even with the advent of over-the-counter products and other whitening treatments.
2.) Enamel shaping – (Also called: enameloplasty, odontoplasty, reshaping, slenderizing, recontouring, and stripping) The procedure consists of removing parts of the contouring enamel to help enhance the tooth’s appearance, and may be used to fix a very small chip.
3.) Dental Bridges – These can lessen the risk of developing gum disease, help fix some bite problems and improve your speech. Two types: a.) Fixed bridge; and b.) Cantilever bridge.
4.) Dental Contouring – (or Reshaping ) One of the few available “instant” treatments in Cosmetic Dentistry. Often applied to adjust the shape, length or position of teeth, and to improve crooked, cracked, chipped, and overlapping teeth with just a single session. In some instances, this may also be used as an alternative for braces.
5.) Veneers – This may be one option for closing the gaps in between teeth or masking discolored teeth that haven’t responded to whitening treatment. Ultra-thin porcelain laminates that are custom-made are fixed directly to the tooth or teeth.
6.) Bonding – Involves the application of an enamel-like dental composite material to the tooth surface, which is then sculpted into shape, hardened, and polished.
7.) Gum Lift – (or Cosmetic Gum Surgery) Tissue and/or the underlying bones are reshaped to make the teeth appear to be longer and more symmetrical by gum raising and sculpting.
Other procedures include:
1.) Accelerated Orthodontics – Applies Orthodontic and Periodontal techniques that involve the spacing, straightening, closing of gaps and repositioning of the teeth. Mostly used for cosmetic reasons to correct malocclusion or teeth misalignment. This helps improve your teeth and smile in lesser time than the traditional braces.
2.) Root Canals – The tiny canals inside the tooth are filled in order to remove any infection, afterwhich the tooth receives either a crown or a filling. In most cases, crowns are preferably performed as they add strength to the tooth itself.
3.) Dental Caps – This may be an option when the problem lies on the entire surface of the tooth, but the root system is still intact.
4.) Dental Crowns – Used to cover the entire surface of the affected tooth or teeth that may have resulted from grinding, clenching, age, improper bite, fillings, or tooth decay. Crowns add strength, durability and tooth stability.
5.) Dental Fillings – Composite Dental Fillings have now become a substitute for the traditional metal and amalgam (or silver) fillings. These are fillings made of plastic dental resin that are colored to look like a natural tooth.
6.) Dental Implants – Generally used to replace missing teeth, but may also be used to replace some types of bridges and removable partial dentures. These are titanium fixtures that are surgically screwed into your jaw bone. Ideally, they are placed in the front portion of your lower jaw. If there is not enough bone, however, you may have to undergo bone grafting.
