Cosmetic Dentistry
What Is A Cosmetic Dentist?
Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry involving services that improve a person’s smile. The treatments that come under cosmetic dentistry are focused on the patient’s appearance. However, they might also provide functional benefits.
A dentist that offers cosmetic dentistry services is a cosmetic dentist.
What Does A Cosmetic Dentist Do?
A cosmetic dentist is trained to provide you with a smile makeover. This entails taking care of stains, discoloration, regular wear-and-tear, chips, breaks, gaps, and issues with alignment and shape.
Cosmetic dentists undergo extra education, specific training, and experience in the field. This helps them to become the expert that you require.
A 2015 survey by the American Dental Association unearthed that around 30% of young adults are embarrassed by their teeth and mouth. Furthermore, over 20% of adults avoid participating in social events due to similar reasons. People with dental issues not only have a decreased sense of self-esteem but also struggle with basic tasks such as eating and speaking.
A cosmetic dentist offers various services and treatments that focus on taking care of these issues with teeth.
What Treatments Does A Cosmetic Dentist Provide?
At Anoka Dental, you can take advantage of the following treatments to elevate your smile –
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening, as the name suggests, is the procedure in which your teeth are whitened. This treatment helps improve the brightness and radiance of your teeth by eliminating stains and discoloration.
Stains occur on teeth due to various reasons. These include ingesting colored drinks and foods, smoking, and chewing tobacco. Discoloration of a tooth may occur due to infections or injury. The underlying cause is always taken care of before proceeding with the teeth whitening procedure.
Strong bleaching agents are used in the treatment to achieve desired results. The treatment is best performed by a dentist. To prevent injury to the gums with the bleaching agent, they are coated with a protective layer before the application of the whitener.
Professional teeth whitening results in teeth that are whitened 6 times more than any over-the-counter whitening option.
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns are a type of dental crown. A dental crown is used to conceal various dental issues such as –
- Chips, breaks, and cracks
- Weakened structure due to extensive decay or a large filling
- Severe staining or discoloration
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps or covers that are placed on top of affected teeth. These cover the entire visible portion of teeth. Since they come under cosmetic dentistry, they improve the appearance of the tooth. Additionally, they also improve the tooth’s structure and function.
Porcelain crowns, as the name suggests, are dental crowns made of porcelain. The reason why porcelain crowns fall under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry is that porcelain is tooth-colored. The shade of the crown is always matched to the natural teeth before being fabricated.
To ensure that the crown fits the tooth, the natural enamel of the tooth is shaved down to create space. The porcelain crown will always be checked by your cosmetic dentist for structure and fit before being attached to the tooth in question.
Dental Implant
A dental implant is a perfect alternative to a dental bridge. This particular dental unit also replaces missing teeth. However, owing to its structure, a dental implant lasts significantly longer than a dental bridge without the need for replacement.
An implant consists of the following parts –
- A base made of titanium is known as “implant post”. The base is surgically fitted within the jaw bone underneath the missing tooth space.
- The connecting piece between the implant post and the false tooth. This is known as an abutment. It is placed either during the implant surgery or afterward.
- The third part is the unit replacing the missing tooth or teeth. It can be a dental crown to replace a singular tooth, a dental bridge to replace multiple teeth, or a denture to replace the entire dentition.
