Cosmetic dentistry: Restore A Beautiful Smile

The perfect accessory to your everyday look is a gorgeous, wide smile. A great smile can make your day.

But of course, not all of us have the perfect set of sparkling white teeth. While some of us have small issues in the arrangement, staining, discoloration etc are common problems that come with time.

So, are we just suppose to live with these problems? Well, The answer is no and that is where cosmetic dentistry can help you.

Get to Know About Cosmetic Dentistry and Uses

Cosmetic dentistry is becoming widely popular across the world. It is a solution to various problems related to the shape, texture, and color of the teeth such as discolorations, misalignments, gaps between teeth, chipped or broken tooth, stains etc.

The procedure will give a makeover to your smile and add a touch of perfection. It is a professional oral care procedure that you can choose to alter your teeth.

A professional cosmetic dentist can perform procedures that can enhance your appearance and help you give a confident smile.

Cosmetic dentistry is a collective term that contains a number of procedures within it. Among the various procedures that can be categorized under cosmetic dentistry, the recent trends which are widely popular include

1. Teeth Whitening – Bleaching your teeth to make them whiter to overcome any stains and discoloration. American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry conducted a survey that suggests that about 99.7% of adults believed that a beautiful smile will have a large positive impact on a person’s social life and make them more attractive to the opposite sex. In fact above 74% believed that flaws in teeth can be a hindrance for career progress. And for most of these people having a beautiful smile does mean whiter and brighter teeth.

There are various reasons beginning with food items to habits such as smoking that cause discoloration of teeth. Also, there are internal reasons such as genetics, age, antibiotics, tooth decay, root canal problems etc, that can also cause discoloration. There are a number of ways by which teeth whitening is carried out which includes in-office methods where you can have the procedure done in a dental clinic or have commercial home-whitening kits which include strips gel etc, used from home.

2. Tooth-colored fillings – Tooth fillings are quite embarrassing when they are obviously sighted due to their color. But gone are those days when you had to rely on metals to replace a lost tooth. Natural looking, realistic mimics for your tooth are now available that can bond directly with the enamel and dentin. These also preserve a large portion of a person`s tooth which means future work or repairs are eliminated unless in extreme cases.

 

3. Reshaping and Repairing chipped teeth- Natural tooth-tooth bonding materials are used in this procedure to repair and bond chipped teeth that could have been caused by an accident. Dental crowns and veneers are also methods used in order to repair chipped teeth. Tooth-colored crowns of porcelain or zirconia are commonly preferred by the dentist to repair a chipped tooth especially at the back of your mouth. Porcelain veneers are the best choice for the smile zone repairs. Reshaping of the tooth to match the others is also commonly performed by dentists.

 

4. Dental Implants that can cover any broken tooth – Losing a tooth may cause a lot of problems in both your looks as well as its functioning. Replacements need to be close enough to the original to be able to function properly. Titanium is commonly used for dental implants which also stimulates the biochemical function in the region of loss and bonds perfectly with the system.

 

5. Periodontal Surgery – Problems related to your gums and periodontal ligaments can be fixed using the Periodontal plastic surgery procedure. While it is not a cure for any periodontal disease, it does help in increasing the expectancy of your teeth and enhances its functioning capacity.

 

6. Orthodontics– Braces are commonly used cosmetic dentistry procedure. This is used for bringing back your teeth to the right alignment and ensuring that it stays this way.

 

7. Inlays and Onlays– These are indirect fillings that are made of gold, porcelain or other composite materials and usually used for filling damaged tooth such as in case of decay. Inlay refers to the procedure where the bonding is within the center of the tooth whereas Onlay covers the outer surface filling.

Apart from these, there are procedures such as

• Closing any gaps between teeth
• Gum Grafts
• Dental Bridges

Why is this important?

While most assume that cosmetic dentistry focuses only on the aesthetics, it is important to understand that it is more useful than that. Crooked, misshapen and shifted teeth cause various problems while speaking and eating. Crooked teeth also increase the probability of suffering from the cavity as proper cleaning may not be possible in this case. Some of these cases also lead to excruciating pain.

A number of procedures falling under the Cosmetic dentistry category involve giving a better shape and alignment to your teeth for better dental hygiene and health. Inlays, bonding, crowns are used to add additional support to weak or broken teeth. This will ensure that further damage is being reduced as well as restore normal functioning of the teeth without causing too much pain. Also, cleaning your teeth and gum regularly can eliminate problems such as cavities, gum infections etc, which are very essential for the overall health of your body.

 

Choosing the Right Procedure

The present condition of your teeth and gums and the expected or required result of the procedure are the major factors involved in making this decision. A dentist usually suggests the various options available for a given condition that might be either a temporary or a permanent solution. Apart from these, the amount of effort one agrees to put in maintaining after the procedure is also important and needs to be considered.

 

Sedation Dentistry 

Even though cosmetic dentistry has various benefits and is slowly becoming popular the pace is comparatively lesser than expected. The major reason for the same is the common phobia among people who would rather have a painful toothache than have these procedures done. Dental sedation is the perfect means of encouraging more people to reach out to such procedures. Sedation has been safely used by dentists across the world to carry out procedures that may require the patient to be still or unconscious.

Here medications are used to relax the patient in the chair while the procedure is done. There are various levels of sedation that is used while working with patients based on the type of procedure required. The range varies from a mild sedation where the patient is relaxed, a moderate sedation where the patient feels blur during the procedure, deep sedation where one is at the edge of consciousness and finally general anesthesia.

What is the difference between Sedation and General Anaesthesia?

The difference between the two lies in their positions in a consciousness spectrum. While general anesthetizing fall at one extreme end with the patient being completely unconscious, sedation takes a place somewhere in between.

Sedation is a common take in cases where mild pain can be experienced or the patient is expected to stay still for a long time. It is mild and puts the patient to a light, moderate or deep sleep based on the requirement. There are various methods used for sedation such as through oral, nasal, intramuscular injection etc. A dentist or a nurse can administer a mild or moderate sedation.

Local Anaesthesia is used on specific parts of your mouth in order to cause a numbing effect for the procedure. It blocks the nerves that transmit pain in our body and cause this numbing effect. Topical creams or gels are the most common way of giving local anesthetic.  General Anaesthesia is stronger and puts the person completely out of consciousness and is typically used in case of surgeries. Specialized doctors administer this procedure which is widely used in case of painful procedures and is usually done by breathing through a face mask, PICC line, and a central line.

 

How to know if you need sedation?

 Whether sedation is required is dependant on both the individual going through the procedure and the nature of the procedure itself. Sedation is suggested typically in the case of patients who have phobias towards dental procedures, have sensitive nerves, have a low threshold for pain, have general anxiety disorders or if they are resistant to local anesthesia. Procedures such as root canal, tooth extraction typically require sedation whereas general cleaning or routine procedures may not require any.

 

What to keep in mind before Sedation?

Placing your medical history before your doctor is essential to understand possible problems that might be caused due to sedation or anesthesia. The discussion should also involve understanding which of the above methods will be required for the procedure that will also take into account your overall health conditions.

The dosage needs to be monitored by a professional and has to be appropriate for your age. Also, clear understandings of the risks of the individual procedure are required before making a decision. Make sure your pain doctor has precautionary methods that can reverse the effects of sedation in case of an unexpected emergency.

 

The risks involved in Anesthesia

 Anesthesia does not cause any problem when given by an experienced personnel. Yet, certain pre-existing health conditions both physical and psychological such as obesity can cause some side effects following such procedures and hence it is advisable to discuss the same with a doctor.

Research and take opinion from different doctors to understand the necessity for the procedure for a good experience.

A perfect smile can add to your confidence and enhance your self-esteem.

So, explore the various types of Cosmetic Dentistry with your doctor that might turn out to benefit you with a gorgeous smile.