|
|
Cosmetic Dentistry
The art of smile
enhancement encompasses color, shape, position, symmetry, texture, and
luminescence. Cosmetic dentistry is the art of transforming your smile
to its natural, youthful beauty. It is also the science of working with
the latest advances in dental materials and techniques.
|
Follow the links listed
in the left column of this page for detailed information on
the procedures listed below |
Bleaching
& Teeth Whitening
 The most conservative
approach for improving tooth color
is the home bleaching systems provided by a dental offices. Bleaching
is a procedure that brightens teeth that have become discolored, stained, or
have been darkened from the result of an injury. The bleaching process
reverses the discoloration of enamel (the outside layer of tooth structure).
This procedure consists of custom trays that have been designed to hold the home
bleaching gel, a 10-20% carbamine peroxide, in intimate contact with the teeth
for an hour or more at a time. This procedure is often done at night, while
sleeping, for 5-10nights. The amount of lightening of the teeth is dependent on
the length of time the bleaching agent is used, its concentration and the
repeated daily application. The safety of the system has been reported to have
no damage to the teeth and only an occasional tooth sensitivity that is very
transient. The lighter color of the teeth tends to remain but some return to
original color after a number of months. This can be reversed by a reapplication
of the bleaching solution. Another approach is to have a one visit power
bleaching at the office. |
Bonding
 |
Composite bonding can
work wonders for your smile. Using materials that match the shade,
translucency and the texture of your teeth, gaps between teeth can be
closed, spots and discolorations can be eliminated, and your self-confidence
can be enhanced through the improved appearance of your smile.
Composite bonding is excellent for small defects in the teeth -- spots,
chips, or gaps between teeth. For smile alterations involving an
entire tooth or multiple teeth, porcelain is the material of choice. |
| Bonding for teeth
involves the use of composite resin tooth-colored filling material.
This material can be used on the anterior (front) teeth or posterior (back)
teeth. The procedure is sometimes referred to as bonding is because an
adhesive agent is used to actually bond the resin to the tooth structure. |
Porcelain Veneers
|
 Another approach to improved
tooth appearance is with thin porcelain cosmetic veneers. This would be
indicated in cases where extensive wear or existing tooth position and/or
fillings would not be improved by home bleaching. Many times there might be
rotations that create shadows and these can be corrected also by veneering the
teeth with porcelain to create a more symmetrical arrangement. Whenever
veneering is done, designing the final shapes of the teeth for treatment is
important. This is usually done by a diagnostic wax-up and/or with cosmetic
imaging. The wax-up helps the technician who is going to make the veneers and
the cosmetic imaging allows the patient to visualize the results at chair side in
color on a TV. screen prior to their fabrication. The wax-up also helps the
doctor as the teeth need to be reduced on the front surface about the thickness
of a fingernail to allow room for the porcelain veneers. These then are bonded
on to the teeth and are very strong. |
Porcelain Crowns
 The final approach to lightening
and correcting tooth appearance would be with traditional crowns which involves
more tooth reduction. These may be all porcelain that are bonded onto the teeth
or porcelain that is fused to a metal substructure Since these crowns are often
in the aesthetic zone, appearance is important. The type of porcelain used can
determine how real the color is. The more sophisticated porcelain crowns use a
multi-layering technique and the color is built in. The simpler crowns might
have only three layers of color while the more cosmetic ones may have eight or
more layers. The margins or junction of the crowned teeth also might be made
totally out of porcelain and blend into the root without a dark line.
These cases are preplanned with
photography and a wax-up before being
started when the highest cosmetic result is desired. Finally
the artistic skill of the dentist and technician determines the end result. An
in-office laboratory can work with the more sophisticated and
aesthetic porcelains and the quality can be excellent.
These are then either bonded or cemented on and are very
strong |
.
[Top]
|
