What Does a Cosmetic Dentist Do?
Modern cosmetic dentistry can help you improve your smile if you are not happy with your teeth or smile. Professional oral care methods focus on improving the appearance of the teeth, mouth, and gums, and altogether improve your smile. Some of the common procedures can include fillings, teeth whitening, implants, and veneers.
In today’s world, cosmetic dentistry is becoming popular day by day in the industry. Even though cosmetic dentistry is not an essential procedure to live but can help bring confidence and improve your smile. So, if you are not happy or satisfied with the way your teeth look, then you consult the best Los Angeles cosmetic dentist. They can solve your problems with teeth.
What does a cosmetic dentist do?
There are many cosmetic procedures a cosmetic dentist is responsible for i.e. they focus on minor to major fixes or surgery. However, the following are a few cosmetic procedures cosmetic dentistry offers.
They are as follows:
- Teeth whitening – One of the least expensive and the most basic procedures is teeth whitening. As time passes, teeth can become stained from drinks, foods, medicines, and other behaviors like smoking. So, many people, mostly adults, undergo teeth whitening procedures to brighten their teeth and smile.
- In the teeth whitening procedure, the dentist will first clean tartar, plaque, and other debris. Then, the dentist uses teeth whitening to bleach the surface of the teeth to create a whiter appearance and brighter teeth. You can use over-the-counter products such as toothpaste, Whitestrips, and rinses that can give some results, however, professional teeth whitening procedures can give shape about 5 to 8 times brighter.
- Dental veneers – Dental veneers are medical-grade porcelain, ceramic, or resin. Dental veneers are customized in accordance with the teeth of that patient so that it resembles the natural teeth.
- In this procedure, the dentist will first remove some enamel from the surface of the teeth to allow the artificial shell to bond to the front of your teeth realistically. Further, dental veneers can fix several other cosmetic issues such as damaged enamel, crooked teeth, and space between teeth.
- Dental crowns – A dental crown can cover and protect teeth that are damaged or decayed. Therefore, the name dental cap is synonymous with a dental crown. The dentist uses these crowns to avoid weak teeth from breaking. They are also helpful in covering severely discolored or misshapen teeth.
- Further, the dentist uses this crown to cover several other procedures such as enamel fillings, root canals, dental implants, and dental bridges.
- Inlays and Onlays – Inlays and Onlays are typical fillings for teeth that are severely decayed. Also, known as indirect fillings it is made in dental laboratories. Cosmetic dentistry uses it to bond it in place. An inlay refers to when the bonding material is placed in between the centers of the teeth. Whereas, Onlays refer to when the materials cover one or more parts of the teeth or the entire teeth surface.
- Dental Implants – Dental implants are a lifesaver if you have severe teeth loss or tooth decay. The procedure replaces the teeth with new artificial teeth that look much like natural teeth. In dental implants, the dentist will first attach a screw to your jaw to provide support. The dentist inserts the implant into the bone of the removed or missing teeth.
- The tissue and bone get fused to the implant with time, securing the implant teeth inside the mouth. Once the implant secures properly, the dentist will blend the implants into the surrounding natural teeth.
- Dental bonding – In this dental bonding procedure, the dentist will apply moldable resin on the teeth and harden them using ultraviolet light. The dentist then shapes, polishes, and trim the material so that it blends into the surface of the natural teeth.
Dental bonding helps in repairing other teeth issues such as cracks, tooth decay, and misshapen teeth. So, when you have minor teeth issues, dental bonding is much better and more affordable than crowns and fillings.
Why should you see a cosmetic dentist?
The following are the reasons to see a cosmetic dentist:
- If you have crooked teeth
- When you have tooth decay
- If your teeth are misshapen
- When you have missing teeth
- If your teeth chip, or cracks
- Teeth discoloration and
- Large space between the teeth.
People with crooked, damaged, discolored, and decaying teeth may find difficulty while speaking or eating. While for some people, a severe dental issue can affect their self-esteem.
According to a survey in 2015 led by American Dental Association, nearly 33% of American young people are unwilling to smile due to the condition of their mouth and teeth. Further, another 23% of American adults do not participate in social activities because of the embarrassment regarding their teeth and smile. So, if you are not unhappy with the way your teeth look, then consult the best cosmetic dentist near you. They will help in bringing the perfect smile to your face.