Cosmetic dentists focus on improving the health and appearance of your smile. Treatments include teeth whitening, composite bonding, and tooth contouring. They also offer treatments like dental implants and crowns to correct functional problems. Unlike restorative dentistry, cosmetic dental procedures aren’t usually covered by insurance. Despite this, cosmetic dentistry can improve your self-esteem and confidence.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are more often associated with restorative dentistry than cosmetic dentistry, but they can also provide a number of aesthetic benefits for patients. These include restoring the appearance of missing teeth and helping prevent bone loss in the jaw.

In order to receive an implant, a patient will undergo minor oral surgery. The dentist will open two flaps of gum tissue to expose the bone in the jaw and then place an implant post, which resembles a screw. This will be fused to the bone to support an artificial tooth that looks and functions like a natural tooth.

Once the implant has healed, a patient will need to practice good oral hygiene and attend regular checkups. They should also avoid smoking and other damaging habits that can hinder healing and cause complications.

Dental Bonding

Cosmetic bonding is a versatile treatment option for addressing a wide range of dental flaws. Unlike veneers or crowns, bonding involves little to no removal of tooth enamel, making it an effective, affordable alternative. The composite resin used in this procedure can be color-matched to your natural teeth, providing results that look natural and seamless.

During the treatment, your dentist will clean and roughen the surface of your tooth to prepare it for the bonding material. Then, he or she will apply the resin and cure it using a special light. Lastly, your dentist will shape and trim the bonding to provide you with the perfect result. As a general rule, composite bonding lasts three to ten years before it needs replacement or touch-up.

Teeth Whitening

One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments involves whitening teeth. This can address many common discolorations that occur as a result of aging, consumption of staining foods or drinks, and the use of medications like tetracycline antibiotics.

This treatment typically involves applying a whitening bleaching product that contains either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The chemical breaks stains into smaller particles that are less concentrated, which leaves the teeth brighter.

This procedure is quick, inexpensive, and provides immediate results. However, it should be noted that a teeth whitening is not permanent, and re-treatment will be necessary from time to time to maintain the desired level of brightness. Additionally, the whitening procedure isn’t effective on dental restorations such as fillings and crowns. Also, if you have tooth decay, the procedure should be postponed until the infection is treated.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored material that a dentist can use to change the appearance of teeth. They can be bonded to the front of a tooth to correct its shape, size, color, or length.

Veneers are often classified as cosmetic procedures, so they may not be covered by traditional dental insurance. However, they might be eligible for coverage under certain circumstances.

On the day of the procedure, the dentist will numb the tooth or teeth and make an impression of their surface using a putty-like substance. The impression will then be sent to a lab that constructs the veneers.

After the dentist bonds the veneer to a tooth, it might feel rough or sensitive for several days. This is typically because the dentist removed a small amount of enamel to make room for the veneer.

Dental Crowns

Although dental crowns are mainly used for restorative purposes like repairing chips, cracked or decayed teeth, they also can be a cosmetic solution. A crown (or cap) is a customised tooth-shaped restoration that covers a damaged tooth, giving it back its original strength and appearance.

We can use a variety of materials for crowns, including porcelain-based ones. Our iTero scanner scans your mouth to create a virtual design model of the crown without the need for messy impressions, which means the whole process can be completed in a single appointment. The crown is then fabricated in our in-house lab using our CEREC machine, utilising different types of porcelain with varying translucencies for the best colour match to your natural teeth. The final result is a dental crown that looks just like a healthy, beautiful natural tooth.