Popular Cosmetic Dentistry- Whitening and Braces

Popular Cosmetic Dentistry- Whitening and Braces

Cosmetic dentistry encompasses several different procedures which we will investigate. You may even have some of these procedures in your mouth right now. . .in fact the odds are that you have had some type of cosmetic dental procedure in your lifetime. It's important to meet with your dentist for an initial examination to determine if you are a candidate for cosmetic dental work. Your teeth must be in good condition before any cosmetic work is undertaken. If any type of dental disease is present, your dentist will explain what needs to be accomplished before proceeding with cosmetic work.

Once that is determined the dentist will explain the various cosmetic options available that are suitable for your needs, whether it be braces, bridges, bonding, veneers, bleaching and so on.

Whitening is one of the primary reasons that people consider cosmetic procedures. But, it's important to realize that often whiteners alone may not help. In fact, studies by the American Dental Association have shown that teeth with a yellowish tone will whiten well with a bleaching process whereas teeth that are brownish may not bleach well and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. If you have had other cosmetic processes done and then decide to try whitening, you could end up with a very undesirable effect of not having all your teeth uniform in color. It's important to follow the advice of your dentist and not be swayed by advertising or how your best friends' work turned out!

Braces.

While you may have worn braces as a child, braces are now a treatment option for adults as well although realignment may take longer for an adult. In some cases an adult will require more than just an orthodontic procedure.

Braces are the recommended treatment to correct an orthodontic problem called malocclusion or "bad bite." A few of the causes of the bad bite are extra, missing or crowded teeth. This condition is usually inherited although some may be caused by accident or other means. Having a tooth knocked out and chronic thumb or finger sucking may contribute to a bad bite.

Before treatment can begin, a thorough history is necessary for the dentist to render a proper prognosis. The dentist may take numerous xrays, plaster molds and photos of your face and teeth before determining whether orthodontics is an appropriate method to apply to your individual situation.

If the dentist determines that your treatment requires mechanical appliances, the information gathered in his preliminary examination will help to create your custom appliance(s). There are many different types of appliances and the best recourse is the one created specifically for you.

Once created and put in place, the appliances will require periodic adjustments. The dentist needs to monitor the progress frequently in order to assure that the teeth are shifting in position accurately.

Finally, once the appliances have done their work, they will be replaced by a "retainer." The retainer will stay in place so that the newly aligned teeth will remain in their proper location.

One of the first questions from patients is usually, "how long will I have to wear this?" This not a "one size fits all" situation as the time varies from patient to patient. It will take as long as it takes and greatly depends on patient cooperation. Average time for orthodontic treatment is around 24 months with adult treatments requiring just a bit longer. Other factors apply, of course, such as how severe the bad bite, overall gum and tooth health not to mention how well the patient cooperates with the procedure. Most people who have worn braces report years later that it was well worth it!