Cosmetic dentistry is very popular in Australia today, but many people are a bit unsure of exactly what the term means. In general, cosmetic dentists carry out treatments that aim to improve the appearance of teeth and gums, without compromising their health. Here are a few treatments that fall under cosmetic dentistry.
1. Teeth Whitening
One of the most common cosmetic dental procedures is teeth whitening. Dentists carry out this treatment to remove stains from the teeth and leave them looking whiter and brighter. Professional teeth whitening differs from using an at-home whitening product in that dentists can use higher concentrations of bleaching agents to strip away stains. The treatment is carried out under careful supervision to ensure the bleaching agents do not cause damage to the teeth or gums.
2. Resin Bonding
Resin bonding is another popular procedure, although relatively few people have heard of it. This treatment allows dentists to repair small chips, cracks, patches of discolouration, or gaps between teeth. It is a non-invasive treatment that involves no injections, surgery, or drilling. Instead, a cosmetic dentist applies soft resin to the damaged tooth and shines an ultraviolet light onto the resin to make it harden. A skilful cosmetic dentist can make repairs in this way that completely cover up imperfections in the teeth.
3. Veneers
For slightly larger imperfections, dental veneers are often the treatment of choice. A veneer is a very thin piece of porcelain or dental composite material that can be bonded to the front of a tooth to improve the tooth's appearance. Dental veneers can cover up cracks, chips, stains, and even slight misalignments or gaps between the teeth. They are a relatively permanent solution, but occasionally they break and need to be reapplied.
4. Dental Crowns
Badly broken teeth can be repaired using dental crowns. Designed to look just like a natural tooth, a dental crown can be fitted over the remains of a broken, decayed, or cracked tooth to restore its appearance. Sometimes it is necessary to file down the tooth before fitting the cap, in which case the dentist uses a local anaesthetic to prevent pain.
5. Dental Implants
When a tooth is completely missing, cosmetic dentists can use a dental implant to replace it. Dental implants can replace single teeth or whole arcs of teeth, depending on the patient's needs. The fitting process involves oral surgery to implant metal supports into the gum. A cosmetic dentist can then create crowns that fit onto these metal supports to mimic both the appearance and the function of natural teeth.
Share23 February 2021
When I had my first child, I was a nervous wreck. Every book I read gave different advice, and I just wanted to be right! By the time I had my third child, some of the stress had abated. I now realised, there were tons of different perspectives on everything related to raising children including dentistry. To help parents, I have created this blog dedicated to unraveling dental myths about children. I am including posts that weigh both sides of issues such as thumb sucking, dental caries, breastfeeding, flossing and any other topic I can think of. I hope you find the information you need to unravel dental myths, but most importantly, I hope you find some peace of mind. With kids and dentistry, there can be more than one right answer, and I want you to be able to relax and go with the answer that's right for you.
