What does cosmetic dentistry consist of?

Cosmetic Dentistry is a field of dentistry dedicated to improving the appearance of your smile. While functional considerations are always key for developing a sustainable smile and bite, cosmetic dentistry is specifically aimed at giving you an ideal "Hollywood" smile, no matter what your starting point is. There are many different materials and techniques in a cosmetic dentist's arsenal including:

Whitening/Bleaching - This is usually the beginning of any cosmetic treatment because any material that will be added to the tooth as part of the cosmetic process will not change color and thus it is important to establish a new whiter shade before adding anything.

Composite Bonding - Bonding is also known as a "filling" however in cosmetic dentistry bonding is typically initiated to correct a cosmetic issue as opposed to a decay issue. The bonding process involves micro-roughening the tooth surface to be augmented and "gluing" a tooth colored plastic like material that is custom fitted to shape, color, surface texture and contour to idealize the smile aspect being addressed.

Veneers - Veneers are essentially covers for the front side of a tooth. They can change the shape, size, color, texture, and even visually change the position of a tooth while being very conservative in tooth structure removal. They are thin layers of porcelain or composite that can be added to a tooth with an adhesive after being custom fabricated in a specialized dental laboratory

Bridges - Bridges can close a space caused by a missing tooth, thus restoring and improving the smile's appearance. They are fabricated in dental laboratory using impressions taken by your dentist at the time of crown preparation.

Crowns - Crowns or caps completely change the entire shape of the visible part of a tooth. In cosmetic dentistry they can be used in place of veneers when a patient is not an ideal candidate for veneers.

Dentures - In patients with teeth that are unsalvageable dentures are an affordable and highly cosmetic option. Dentures are acrylic "plates" with porcelain or acrylic teeth that are inserted on top the bony ridges that previously held teeth. Each night dentures are removed to clean them and give the underlying oral tissues a chance to "air out" which helps prevent microbial growth and sore spots.



Back to Cosmetic Dentistry Home Page