The Difference between Porcelain Dental Veneers and Cosmetic Bonding in Cosmetic Dentistry
Many people have misshapen, stained and chipped teeth. In order to correct these issues and improve the appearance of your teeth and smile, there are many treatment options available to you.
Consulting a cosmetic dentist and scheduling an appointment to discuss the cosmetic dental procedures most suitable for you is a good starting point in order to aid you in making an informed decision before embarking on any cosmetic dentistry.
The most common treatments to address misshapen, stained and chipped teeth include cosmetic bonding or veneer treatments.
Cosmetic Bonding is a less invasive, inexpensive and simpler procedure for a damaged tooth than veneers. It involves your cosmetic dentist applying a white composite resin to the surface of the damaged tooth in order to repair it. The resin can be coloured to match your other teeth in order to achieve a natural-looking result.
Bonding does not require any type of anaesthetic, nor does it require any recovery period. The cosmetic dentist can also bond more than one tooth in the same bonding sitting.
Veneers are thin layers of porcelain or suitable acrylic material that are situated over the natural tooth. Veneering involves freezing the tooth to be treated before removing a small amount of tooth enamel prior to applying the veneer to the tooth. Unlike natural teeth, veneers made from porcelain are stain resistant and do not get discoloured over time. Porcelain veneers are an ideal solution for transforming heavily discoloured, misshapen or damaged teeth to a beautiful, white smile.
With good aftercare and maintenance, your veneers should last for many years.
A good cosmetic dentist can advise you on the suitability of cosmetic bonding or veneers as treatment options for you.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure suitable for patients with healthy but discoloured teeth, who would like to have a brighter smile. Patients who have yellowing teeth due to smoking, drinking caffeinated drinks or red wine often respond well to this procedure.
Teeth whitening is a straightforward cosmetic dental procedure and does not require any recovery time, but it is not recommended for everyone.
Age-related and pregnancy issues. Most over-the-counter and professional teeth whitening procedures involve bleaching agents. They are not recommended for children below the age of 16, as the pulp chamber of the tooth is enlarged until this age and teeth whitening could cause it to become sensitive. Teeth whitening with bleaching agents is not recommended for lactating or pregnant women.
Sensitive teeth. If you have receding gums or sensitive teeth or gums, then it is best to consult a dentist before using a tooth whitening system.
Allergy to products. Many tooth whitening systems involve using peroxide as a whitening agent. Anyone suffering from allergies should avoid using a bleaching product.
Gum diseases. If you are suffering from oral gum disease or have cavities or worn tooth enamel, it is advisable to consult a cosmetic dentist before embarking on a tooth whitening procedure. The tooth whitening solutions penetrate existing cavities causing sensitivity.
Although most over-the-counter whitening products are successful in lightening the teeth, the results achieved are often inferior compared to the whitening that is possible with a laser teeth whitening system used by a cosmetic dentist. Additionally, by using the services of a cosmetic dentist, you benefit from professional supervision and a tailored plan to achieve the best results from your whitening procedure.
Modern dentistry today offers much more than routine teeth cleanings, root canals and cavity fillings. It is now possible to improve the look of your teeth and smile and there are now many procedures and treatments available that can remove stains, fix gaps and correct other oral dental problems.
Some of the most frequently used dental procedures in improving your smile at the dental centre are:
Cosmetic bonding
This is a technique which is suitable for correcting minor gaps between teeth and for repairing minor chips in the teeth. The cosmetic dentist applies an enamel-type or dental composite resin to the surface of your teeth to create the required colour, shape and size to achieve the desired result. Bonding is ideal to fill small gaps between your teeth and overcome a ‘gappy smile’.
Crowns and bridges
Bridges are mainly used for filling an area missing one tooth. They help in improving the appearance of the affected area and restore the jaw bite. Crowns are generally used in restoring the functionality and appearance of the teeth after another procedure. For example, when a portion of the tooth is removed during a root canal, it is replaced with a crown to restore the tooth’s functionality.
Implants
Dental implants are usually a titanium fake tooth that is anchored in the jawbone, making it a permanent replacement for the missing tooth. They are the most convenient and desired choice for replacing a missing tooth.
Dentistry has primarily involved prevention of tooth decay, but today, cosmetic dentists offer a variety of treatments designed to also help you achieve healthy teeth alongside a beautiful smile.
Cosmetic dentistry plays a vital role in today’s society, enhancing a person’s appearance by improving their teeth, and nothing radiates a more positive first impression than a wonderful smile.
Traditionally, dentists were only known for pulling out teeth, maintaining the health of teeth and treating oral diseases and at one time, many people would only ever go to a dentist when they had toothache.
However, cosmetic dentistry has changed all this and many people are now realising the benefits and astounding improvements which can be made by transforming an unhealthy looking and unattractive smile.
The role of the cosmetic dentist is to address both the health and appearance of an individual’s teeth in order to improve the overall appearance.
A smile makeover may involve a number of dental procedures such as veneers, teeth whitening, braces, crowns and dental implants.
Tooth whitening is one of the most popular and requested procedures as it gives good results fairly easily and quickly at an affordable price to most people.
Veneers are often useful in changing the shape, size or alignment of teeth to achieve a more uniform and straighter smile.
A lost tooth can have a major impact on your overall appearance and this can be addressed in a number of ways such as with a dental implant or a crown and bridge.
A visit to your dentist need no longer be a chore, to be considered only when you happen to develop toothache. If you wish to have beautiful, healthy teeth and a dazzling smile, then visit a cosmetic dentistry clinic and talk to your cosmetic dentist.
There are many treatments available today to whiten and brighten your teeth, ranging from whitening toothpastes to home bleaching kits to various professional dental teeth whitening treatments such as zoom, smile brite and opalascence.
How do you decide which one is right for you and whether you will get the teeth whitening results you are looking for?
Here is a summary of the pros and cons:
‘Whitening Toothpastes’ can range from toothpastes containing abrasive agents to whitening pastes which claim to whiten teeth. Although both are easily available over the counter and are not costly, they will only clean surface stains without altering the true colour or shade of your teeth.
Home bleaching kits are more expensive than tooth whitening toothpastes and are available over the counter, allowing you to whiten your teeth at home using a peroxide ‘whitening’ gel. They consist of trays or strips, containing the whitening agent, placed over your teeth. The concentration of the peroxide is much lower than dental whitening systems and the final results can therefore, vary considerably.
An ill-fitting tray can also cause the tooth bleaching agent to ‘leak’ out onto your gums, resulting in unpredictable results and possible damage to your gums.
Professional Dental Teeth Whitening, which is carried out by a dentist, is the most costly but also produces the best results. Treatments can vary from tray-based professional whitening systems to laser teeth whitening to a combination of the two. The cosmetic dentist can taylor the teeth whitening treatment to you and also monitor the strength of peroxide used, which is much stronger than over the counter whitening kits. Dramatic results can be achieved fairly quickly.
Teeth can become discoloured for a number of reasons:Some of the contributing factors include the consumption of red wine, coffee or tea;Smoking cigarettes can also lead to your teeth becoming tinted. Ageing can also lead to discolouration and result in your teeth lose their original brightness.
However, restoring your teeth to a whiter and brighter colour can really help to create a healthy looking smile. There is a quick and easy way to achieve this and that is through teeth whitening.
Tooth whitening procedures have gained a reputation of being expensive but this is not the case. Due to modern advancements, this process is now accessible by anyone, on any budget.
Tooth whitening can change a dull, stained smile into an attractive bright white one.
It used to be the case that the older generation could never gain back their youthful smile, but with treatments such as laser power whitening or tray based teeth whitening, that is no longer the case. With new improved cosmetic dentistry procedures, it is possible to get back that bright white smile and the procedure is now affordable too. Opting for laser teeth whitening treatment is a great way to rid yourself of those discoloured or tinted and yellow teeth.
Going to the dentist has always been a challenge for some people. The sight and sound of the drill is enough to put anyone off. Fortunately though, dental procedures have changed a great deal in the last few years and have not only become pain free, but also drill free.
What is drill free dentistry and who all can use it?
As the name suggests, drill free dentistry means carrying out dental procedures without the use of a drill. This kind of dentistry is usually offered by cosmetic dentists and it is an approved method which uses a laser to energise air and a spray of water. This energised spray can chip away at lesions and tooth decay, obtaining similar results to drilling but without the pain. Drill free dentistry can be used by both adults and children.
The advantages of using drill free dentistry
• No drill pressure and vibrations or anaesthesia as it is pain free.
• More accurate as compared to the drill and can finish treatment within minutes rather than hours.
• Eliminates discomfort in the jaw since it is a quick procedure and does not require patients to keep their mouths open for long.
• Nervous Patients are more comfortable with drill free dentistry and the risk of infection is reduced as well.
Drill free dentistry can be used to cure gum problems and remove cavities. Besides this, it can also be used for other dental treatments like cosmetic bleaching and root canal treatment which makes it the preferred dental treatment for many.
Not many people can claim to have perfect teeth, but there are some instances minor defects in teeth can result in a lack of confidence in many individuals. A smile makeover can help address and overcome this problem.
If you have a broken tooth or your teeth are stained and discoloured then a smile makeover could make a lot of difference to you. Smile makeovers have been made possible due to several advances in the field of cosmetic dentistry.
Usually the different types of treatments used in smile makeovers are dental veneers, laser teeth whitening, dental implants, porcelain crowns and white fillings. Any type of dental defect can be easily eliminated by using a combination of the above mentioned treatments.
The time required for undergoing a smile makeover depends on the extent and type of the dental defects that you are suffering from. But once all of the work has been carried out, then you can flaunt your new smile for years to come.
Visit your cosmetic dentist and speak to them about any procedures you could benefit from. Then it won’t be long before you are showing off those teeth at any opportunity.
A missing tooth can lead to self consciousness and a lack of confidence in an individual. But aside from this, missing teeth can cause speech problems. A dental implant may be the perfect solution to such a problem. A visit to a cosmetic dentist or implant dentist will allow you to find out more about dental implants and the procedure involved.
Dental implants are artificial teeth which resemble natural teeth and they are fitted into your jawbone. Once fixed, dental implants look exactly the same as your natural teeth and they can last for years. Implants are made from titanium which is a material that integrates well with your bone tissue.
Before getting a dental implant, you will need to consult a specialist. The cosmetic dentist will look at your oral health and decide which is the best procedure to deal with your problem. The cosmetic dentist will then perform the procedure carefully so as to get the best results.
Getting dental implants can really change your smile and will solve all of your confidence and speech problems. The procedure is an effective and long lasting way to achieve that smile you have always dreamed of.
Although dental veneers have been used for correcting dental defects for quite some time, they have evolved over the years and today are more effective than ever. Dental veneers are made from porcelain or ceramic and once they are attached to the tooth, they look exactly the same as natural teeth.
Dental veneers are used for straightening teeth and fixing chipped or broken teeth or even stained teeth. Once you visit a cosmetic dentist, they will examine your oral health and decide if you are suitable for dental veneers or not.
Before attaching a dental veneer, the front surface of your tooth will need to have a small amount of tooth structure removed. This is to allow some space to be created between the present setting of teeth where the dental veneer can be fixed. Sometimes this can result in mild sensitivity of the tooth.
Once the dental veneer is fixed, the tooth should settle down and the patient should not experience any pain. In many cases, porcelain dental veneers actually protect the tooth as they do not let foreign objects come in direct contact with the teeth.
Dental veneers are also used for addressing gaps between teeth. And if you are not suitable for laser teeth whitening, dental veneers can be used for this purpose too. Dental veneers are durable and are therefore an excellent investment if you are looking to improve your teeth.
