Sunday, October 13, 2013

Understanding Cosmetic Dentistry

These days, a visit to the dentist is no longer just checking your teeth and being declared cavity-free. These days, a visit to the dentist means being able to get a lot more things done, from a simple teeth whitening to replacing lost teeth. Dentists these days have gone up several levels from just recommending a good toothbrush and toothpaste to use - they can now give you great smiles, increase your confidence and self-esteem and basically change your life for the better.

People will go to great lengths to get great smiles, simply because the power of a great smile is such that it can help you achieve your life goals, whether that be scoring your dream job or finally getting noticed by your dream guy or girl. A great smile draws people to you and makes them want to get to know you better and with such advantages, it is no surprise that people will go for the first cosmetic dental treatment they can get.

However, before you go ahead and schedule that appointment, you need to first understand what cosmetic dentistry is, what it entails and what exactly are the procedures involved in it. You must also do your research on the risks and benefits involved, what to expect and most especially what it costs. Other important considerations include how experienced your dentist is and the maintenance you need to keep up with after you get it done.

Cosmetic dentistry is defined as any dental work that improves the appearance of and not necessarily the function of a person's teeth, gums or bite. There are two fields that are directly related to cosmetic dentistry and they are prosthodontics, which is a dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions like missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues, and orthodontics, which is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), that can result from tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaws, or both.

Popular procedures under cosmetic dentistry can involve anything from a simple whitening of discolored teeth to straightening crooked or crowded teeth. The simplest, fastest, easiest and least expensive procedure among these is known as teeth whitening, which can be done in the dentist's office for just under an hour. This is ideally for patients whose teeth have become yellowish in hue due to consumption of drinks like tea, coffee, red wine or chocolate and is usually done via a chemical process.

For teeth that have gaps or spaces in between, bonding, veneers and crowns are usually recommended. Bonding involves filling small cavities to protect the exposed root of the tooth and like teeth whitening can be done in a few minutes at the dentist's office. It is done by applying an etching solution, followed by tooth-colored materials directly to the tooth's surface where needed.

Veneers, on the other hand are what is most popular with Hollywood celebrities. These are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth colored materials that are used to cover the front surface of the teeth to change their color, size, shape and length. It is almost the same as bonding except that it is irreversible. Crowns are the most expensive among the three because they are permanent. Unlike veneers, they completely cover a tooth, restoring it to its normal shape and appearance.

For missing teeth, dentists recommend either getting bridges or dental implants. Bridges are used to replace missing teeth with artificial teeth and can only be removed by the dentist. Dental implants on the other hand, are considered one of the more expensive treatments because they consist of three parts: a titanium post which fuses to the bone, an abutment that covers the part where the implant sticks out from the gums and a crown which is a restorative that the dentist uses to recreate the natural appearance of teeth.

And last but not the least, there are the braces. People of all ages and from various walks of life are benefitting greatly from the use of braces. In addition to being able to correct the position of your teeth, braces are also able to address bite problems like an overbite, crossbite or underbite. They are also used to correct jaw positioning and jaw joint disorders.

Now that you have a greater understanding of cosmetic dentistry and the treatments involved, you will need to decide which one will best address your problems. However, never forget to consult with a qualified dentist on what procedure is best for you and make sure you understand everything that it involves so that you won't regret your decision to go through with it.

A whole new YOU is just a click away at http://www.freedomdental.com.au. Consult with the greatest smile specialists at Freedom Dental and change your life for the better starting now.
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