What is Cosmetic Dentistry and How Can It Benefit You?
When you have dental imperfections like crack, chips, discoloration, and misaligned teeth and jaw, it can make it hard to smile. Moreover, some of these dental problems like malocclusion can affect your dental health. Fixing these problems is, therefore, vital to your health, and that is why getting cosmetic dentist near me can work great.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a specialty that deals with the appearance of teeth, bite, and gums. The different procedures primarily focus on improving the color, position, shape, and alignment of the teeth.
A general or family dentist Smithtown, NY, can offer cosmetic dental procedures to improve your teeth.
What Does Cosmetic Dentistry Include?
It is a common misconception that cosmetic dentistry is only meant for aesthetics reasons. However, it is more than that as it can be used for restorative purposes especially when you have missing teeth.
Getting cosmetic dentistry in Smithtown, NY, offers great benefits through the various procedures.
1. Brightens your smile
Teeth discoloration is a common complaint among adults because of habits and lifestyle choices. Furthermore, age and medication also contribute to discoloration. While there are several products that you can use to whiten your teeth, in-office teeth whitening is the most recommended option. Professional teeth whitening uses products that use higher levels of the bleaching agent. However, the dentist will take the necessary steps to protect the gums from bruising.
The in-office teeth whitening lasts for about 45 minutes and can involve two or three, 15-minute intervals. The dentist will apply the bleaching agent on the teeth and leave it for about 15 minutes before rinsing and repeating the process.
2. Fixes cracks and chips
Our teeth are strong and can last for a lifetime, but several factors can affect the teeth and cause them to crack and chip. Minor cracks and chips can be corrected using dental bonding. This process involves the application of a resin material that is hardened with laser light.
However, if you have major cracks and chips the dentist can recommend veneers or dental crowns. Veneers are tooth-colored wafer-thin shells that are applied in the front part of the enamel. The dental crowns, on the other hand, are caps that encase the teeth and they are available in different materials. These two restorations, however, follow the same steps; the dentist will reshape your teeth based on the thickness of the veneers or crowns and using a special block of cement to harden them.
3. Closes the gaps between the teeth
Missing teeth can cause unsightly gaps that can damage your dental structure. You can choose dental bridges if you are looking for a non-invasive procedure. These are false teeth that are anchored in place with two crowns that are fixed on adjacent teeth. The dentist will use dental cement and harden it using laser light to hold the bridges in place.
Dental implants Smithtown are also an option, but they are ideal for people who have sufficient bone density and healthy teeth. Implants are metal posts that are surgically fixed on the jaw to anchor the false teeth.
If you have multiple teeth missing, you can opt for dentures that can fit part or all teeth. All these treatments can close and cover the gaps between the gums, so visit a dentist near you for more information on which one is suitable.
4. Correct misaligned teeth
Misaligned teeth occur when you have narrow jaws that cannot hold all the teeth in correct alignment. The dentist can first perform a tooth extraction to remove the excess teeth, before recommending an orthodontic treatment. Several devices from traditional braces to Invisalign can help reposition the teeth.
5. Reshapes the gum
Sometimes due to gum disease, the gums can recede making the teeth appear longer. The dentist 11787 can perform gum reshaping or contouring to fix the gum line. The process involves cutting or sculpting the excess gum tissue.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Joseph B Pantaleo DDS if you have dental imperfections that need fixing to improve your smile and dental appearance.