Exploring the Transformative Power of Cosmetic Dentistry
While some people feel free to smile confidently, exposing two rows of perfectly shaped, glistening white teeth, others are too embarrassed to follow their example. Perhaps the latter have missing, misshapen or chipped teeth, or maybe their teeth are badly discoloured from smoking or inadequate oral hygiene. However, thanks to the numerous advances in dental technology, these and many other dental problems can now be remedied with the help of cosmetic dentistry.
Even before the establishment of this subdiscipline, dentists were already addressing the problem of missing teeth with removable dentures, but their focus remained mainly on primary care. By contrast, the focus of a cosmetic dentist is mainly on the aesthetic aspects of teeth and their contribution to one’s overall oral health. The following are three of the most sought-after procedures these specialist practitioners perform.
Teeth Whitening: One of the Mainstays of Cosmetic Dentistry
As we age, the outer layer of enamel covering the teeth becomes worn, exposing the underlying dentin, which has a yellowish colour. Also, factors like diet, tobacco use, and certain medications may cause teeth to become discoloured and unsightly.
Although there are many over-the-counter bleaching kits that can be used at home, their effects tend to be relatively short-lived, so people who use these products need frequent repeat treatments. By contrast, the advanced teeth whitening techniques used by a cosmetic dentist today can leave teeth up to eight shades lighter in a single session and give a patient the confidence to smile again. Another advantage of professional teeth whitening is that it can be customised according to the degree of discolouration, ensuring a more natural-looking result.
The Role of Veneers in Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental veneers are also a cosmetic measure, much like those thin layers of natural wood that disguise the cheap fibreboard, the main component of modern kitchen cupboards. In dentistry, they are designed to conceal imperfections in teeth like chips, cracks or severe discolouration. Dental veneers are shell-like structures fashioned from porcelain or a composite resin and custom-made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, restoring its natural flawless appearance.
Fitting veneers offers the patient a quick and inexpensive means to conceal wide gaps, minor misalignments, and the other aesthetic issues described earlier. In addition, the treatment is non-invasive, and its results are long-lasting.
Dental Implants: The Ultimate Achievement of Cosmetic Dentistry
Dentures are no longer the only or the most effective means to replace missing teeth following the development of implant dentistry. Interestingly, the first tooth implant was performed by an orthopaedic surgeon and not by a dentist, and it served the patient for 40 years. That was in 1965, but today, dental implants are the purview of the cosmetic dentist.
The implant consists of a titanium post embedded in and fused with the jawbone. Once secure, the post can be used to support crowns, dentures, or bridgework to create stable, natural-looking replacements for missing teeth.
The above procedures are all undertaken by Dr Ivan Marx, a leading South African specialist in cosmetic dentistry. If you have missing, chipped, misaligned or discoloured teeth, why not click here for a free virtual consultation?