Cosmetic dentistry is any dental procedure that improves the appearance of teeth and gums. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry offers many options for those who want to improve their smile without undergoing a major dental procedure. It includes everything from simple whitening treatments to full mouth reconstruction using crowns, veneers, and implants. In addition, cosmetic dentists may make minor adjustments to a gap or contour of a tooth, or the amount of gum displayed by bonding and crown lengthening treatments.
Procedures of Cosmetic Dentistry
The word Cosmetic comes from the French, cosmétique, which came from Greek kosmētikos, meaning skilled in arranging. So Cosmetic Dentistry is “arranging” your teeth so that you can have a beautiful smile. With Cosmetic Dentistry, we aim to create a desired change in how your smile looks and improve the function of your teeth. Here are just some of the services we deliver at Dental Arts & Wellness:
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening helps to remove and lift stains and severe discoloration from teeth. Anyone’s teeth can naturally yellow over time, but the process can be sped up and made worse with a particular lifestyle and dietary habits. Some things that can cause your teeth to look dull and yellow include:
- Medication side-effects from acne treatment or mother’s using antibiotics during pregnancy
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco
- Drinking coffee
- Drinking red wine or colored soda
- Eating staining foods (berries, chocolate)
- Natural aging
Professional Teeth Whitening Versus Over-the-Counter Products
While many over-the-counter products are available, professional whitening uses prescription-strength ingredients that deliver quicker, brighter results. You can sometimes see a significant improvement within an hour after in-office treatment. We offer professional in-office and at-home whitening systems, whichever best fits your needs.
Crowns
A crown is a total cover for the weakened, or broken tooth, much like a helmet that protects your (softer) head. For this reason, it is also called a “cap.”
When a tooth has become damaged beyond the simple fix of a filling, it requires a crown. For example, we can place a crown to protect a weak tooth from breaking and hold together an already breaking or worn tooth. An implant post also requires a crown on top so you can use an implant like a natural tooth.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge consists of one artificial tooth connecting or “bridging” two adjacent crowns. A “bridge” literally bridges the gap created by one missing tooth (sometimes more missing teeth). A bridge is often confused with a partial denture, which also “bridges” the gap between teeth. However, in dentistry, a bridge is a cemented, fixed-position restoration that is not removable. Unlike a partial denture, a bridge is fixed in the mouth and can thus restore your ability to chew, speak and smile more naturally. It also maintains the shape of your arch and helps prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
Implants
A dental implant is an artificial root or “post” fused to the bone to replace a lost tooth root. Dental implants provide a strong foundation that connects to an artificial tooth that mimics your natural teeth. They are durable, will last many years, and could last a lifetime. It will help with the problem of losing bone in the jaw because there will be a “tooth” there to create the force of a natural tooth.
Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin custom-made to fit over teeth. They provide a natural, attractive look. We use veneers to fix chipped, stained, misaligned, worn down, uneven, or abnormally spaced teeth.
Gum Reshaping
Gums that are low or too high can affect your smile. For example, gums that cover too much of your teeth can make your teeth look smaller. Whereas gums that are receding can make your teeth look too long. With gum reshaping, we can even out a gum line and make it look natural.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
As the name implies, Invisalign clear aligners are made of almost invisible plastic. Rather than being cemented or bonded to the teeth as metal or clear braces are, clear aligners are completely removable — for important social occasions, for eating, and, most importantly, for tooth-brushing and flossing.
The technology of clear aligners gradually straightens teeth using a series of invisible, removable clear aligner trays. The trays are custom-designed for your smile using 3-D imaging technology.
You can find out more about our Invisalign services on our website.
Final Words
Our aim with Cosmetic Dentistry is to change how your teeth look and improve your health. No one should suffer from undesirable dental conditions like crooked teeth, chipped teeth, missing teeth, weak or damaged teeth, etc. These problems can negatively affect your bite and cause further damage to your teeth.
Your smile represents you in every social situation and has invaluable ties to your overall physical well-being and health. Please do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Manami Yamaguchi
