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Not everyone is born with a perfect smile, but with advances in the field of cosmetic dentistry, people can change the smile they were born with into a smile they love. Characteristics of an attractive smile often include straightness, cleanliness or whiteness of teeth. Cosmetic procedures include bleaching, bonding, veneers, reshaping and contouring, among others. People often choose cosmetic dentistry for various reasons, such as repairing a defect such as a malformed bite or crooked teeth, to treat an injury, or just to improve their overall appearance. No matter what the reason is, the ultimate goal is to restore a person's smile into one they have always desired. Cosmetic Dentistry: The Basics Cosmetic dentistry has become a vital and important part of dentistry, improving the smiles of people who desire straighter, whiter and brighter teeth. Common esthetic dental procedures can be performed to correct misshaped, discolored, chipped or missing teeth. These treatments also can be used to change the overall shape of your teeth - from teeth that are too long or short, gapped teeth, or misaligned teeth. Some common cosmetic dentistry procedures include:
• Bonding
• Contouring and reshaping
• Veneers
• Whitening
• Crowns
• Tooth colored fillings Veneers Veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic or composite resin material which are bonded to the front of your teeth to mask undesired dental blemishes. The veneer procedure requires little to no anesthesia, making it an ideal choice for improving the appearance of your front teeth. Typically, veneers are placed to mask discolorations, to brighten teeth and to improve a person's smile. In many cases, veneers are excellent alternatives to crowns and sometimes even work in place of orthodontic braces. They provide a more conservative approach to changing a tooth's color, size or shape. Crowns A crown is a cosmetic restoration that covers a tooth in order to restore it to its normal shape and size. This strengthens and improves the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is broken down and fillings won't solve the problem. Additionally, if a tooth is cracked, a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks and prevent damage from getting worse. They are also used to restore a tooth when there isn't enough of the tooth remaining to provide support for a large filling, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth. Your dentist's main goal is to create a crown that looks like your natural teeth. In order for your crown to match your natural teeth, you dentist will look at the color, bite, shape and length of all of your natural teeth. Any one of these factors by themselves can significantly affect your appearance. Tooth Colored Fillings Today, dental fillings fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry because you can select fillings made of porcelain or composite materials that closely match the color of your teeth. This helps to maintain the natural appearance of your teeth and smile. Many people even choose to have their older fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored fillings in order to enhance their oral appearance. If you are unhappy with your smile, contact your cosmetic dentist in Radcliff and Elizabethtown for consultation. By meeting with your dentist, you can come up with an appropriate solution for restoring your smile.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading Elizabethtown and Radcliff dentist at Dyer Family Dentistry, Dr. Marc Dyer. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Dyer graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Dyer Family Dentistry offers services in Radcliff dental implants, teeth whitening, crowns, veneers and others.
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