Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry This morning I woke up and looked in the mirror and noticed that my teeth were not as white as I like them to be. I think to myself, I need to call and make an appointment to get my teeth whitened with my dentist. Teeth whitening is an example of Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic Dentistry is different than regular dentistry in the sense that regular dentistry deals with oral hygiene and the prevention, diagnosing and treating of any oral diseases. Cosmetic dentistry however focuses on improving a person’s teeth, smile, and mouth. General dentistry deals with what needs to be done whereas Cosmetic dentistry is what you desire to be done. Cosmetic dentistry takes a lot of extra time and special training on the materials used. So therefore only dentists who are truly passionate about improving the teeth and smile take the time and extra money to do it. Cosmetic dentistry can also be used to restore a cavity. This is because cavities are mostly fixed by digging out the debris and filling them with a material. There used to only be gold, amalgam and other dark materials that left visible spots on the teeth. Now they have things like porcelain that are closer of a match to your tooth color. This makes it cosmetic dentistry because of the tooth color match. People tend to use porcelain or composite in fillings that they get and they even have their present fillings filled with these resins. In this essay I will go into detail about three different treatments of Cosmetic dentistry. I will explain to you first about how to fix a chipped tooth with dental bonding. Then I will explain to you how to improve that not so beautiful smile to an extraordinary smile by the use of veneers. And last but definitely not least I will explain to you about teeth whitening and the great effects. So sit back and get ready to enjoy learning about three amazing things we have in this world to make us look and feel amazing. DENTAL BONDING Your riding your bike for a nice trail ride but its starting to get dark and you don’t notice the rock on the ground your about to hit. You Fly off your bike and hit your front teeth on the ground chipping both of your beautiful front teeth. How are you going to fix this? I have a solution. Dental bonding is a type of cosmetic dentistry that permanently attaches dental materials to the teeth by using adhesives and a special curing light. Dentists use tooth colored composite to restore chips or cracks. Also to fill cavities, close gaps between your teeth and repair worn down edges of your teeth. Dentists are the ones who do the direct composite bonding which means that the procedure is usually done in one dental visit. Dental bonding does not require any impressions or temporaries. First the dentist will place a plastic coating on the front of the teeth. Then they will place a bonding agent, colors it according to the color of your teeth, and shapes it. Then a light called the curing light is shined through the plastic that causes it to harden and makes the surface look shiny and polished. Then a thin layer of etch is placed on your teeth to make little fine holes in the enamel of your teeth. This is so the resin can stick to your teeth very well. Then many coats of composite resin are placed on your teeth and after each coat the curing light is used to harden that coat. Finally when the final cure is done, the tooth is sculpted to match the ones around it. The cost of dental bonding depends not only on the location, it can also depend on the bonding process and how small or big the procedure you had done was. The average cost of dental bonding is $300 to $600 dollars per tooth. Dental insurance sometimes covers the procedure depending on if it is used for structural purpose. Let’s say that you are a ex-smoker, and after 5 to 10 years of smoking your teeth are just not as white as you like them to be. An easy fix for your tooth discoloration are Veneers. Veneers commonly known as porcelain veneers are thin sheets (half a mm thick or about as thick as a fingernail) of tooth colored porcelain that cover the front and sides of your teeth. They are used to fixed severe discoloration, chips, and cracks. They are also to help fix the gaps in your teeth. The placement of veneers usually takes two appointments. At the first appointment your tooth is prepared. The dentist does this by removing a thin layer of the surface of your tooth (about 0. 5 mm) so that the veneer can fit on the tooth. Next a gingival retraction cord is placed so that the dentist can get a good impression. Then an impression is taken so that the Lab Tech can create your veneers. Since your teeth feel rough after this preparation, the dentist will usually place temporary veneers. If he doesn’t it is ok because they are not always needed. They are easier to stain while in this state though, so you should keep your teeth very clean. At the second appointment you will first have a try-on. The dentist will place a temporary bonding agent on your teeth and place the veneers on to see if the shape and color look good. If they do the dentist will then clean the veneers. A thin layer of acid etch is placed on the teeth to roughen the surface for a extra good hold. Then cement is placed on your teeth, followed by the veneer. Then the tooth is light cured and the cement dries and hardened within seconds. Finally the edges will be trimmed and the tooth will be polished. These veneers will provide you with a beautiful smile. Although veneers are amazing for smile improvement they are also a bit pricey. The type of veneers you get determines your price. Porcelain veneers are higher in price. They average at $925 to $2500 dollars per tooth but last for 15 to 20 years. Composite veneers average at about $250 to $1500 dollars per tooth, but only last 5 to 10 years. Dental insurance doesn’t cover veneers. TEETH WHiTENiNG If your teeth are looking yellow and you just want them white, you could get teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is the most common cosmetic dentistry procedure there is. There are many forms of teeth whitening. You could do an hour under a light in the dental office or use one of the at home teeth whitening kits or even over the counter whitening solutions. They all have effects though some work better or faster. In the office dental whitening procedure they start by first protecting your gums with a rubber dam. Then they apply a high concentrated peroxide gel. After applying the gel they put you under a light for 15-20 intervals for up to an hour but no longer than that. People with very high amounts of staining may have to return for a second time. The average cost for an in office whitening is $650 dollars. The at home whitening that the dentist may send you home with a lower concentrated peroxide gel that is placed in a custom tray that fits your teeth. It is left on for an hour at least but sometimes the dentist will tell you to leave it on overnight. It has the greatest effects but takes longer to achieve the whiteness you want. The average cost of the professional take home kits average at $100 to $400 dollars. The last kind of teeth whitening I am going to tell you about is over the counter whitening kits. These kits have the same kind of gel that the professional take home kits have but it is at a even lower concentration. They also have one size fits all trays, strips, or paint on gel. This may only whiten the anterior teeth because they are not custom fit trays. The average cost of over the counter whitening is $15 to $100 dollars. I have taken you through three amazing cosmetic dentistry procedures. Although they may be pricey they all have payment plans. So if you have a chipped tooth, remember there is dental bonding to fix it. Or if you have a smile that you want to add some beauty to that there are veneers. And the most popular of all if you have some yellow teeth you want to get rid of, there is teeth whitening you can turn to. Cosmetic dentistry is an amazing thing we have to improve your teeth and smile with.