The Most Common Choices in Cosmetic Dentistry

Jan 22
08:35

2011

Andrea Avery

Andrea Avery

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Cosmetic dentistry is become more popular all of the time as people yearn for a more attractive smile. Here we look at what cosmetic dentistry is and explore the most popular choices in the field.

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Cosmetic dentistry as the name implies,The Most Common Choices in Cosmetic Dentistry Articles is dental work that is done for appearance reasons. It is done to improve the aesthetic look of the teeth and by so doing, the function of them. It is important to be aware that the American Dental Association does not acknowledge cosmetic dentistry as a type of formal specialty in the dental world. The only two areas that are recognized as specialty areas when it comes to dental aesthetics/cosmetics include orthodontics and prosthodontics. There is in fact no restriction on whether a general dentist can choose to call him or herself a cosmetic dentist.

Patients may decide to have cosmetic dentistry procedures for different reasons. Some people have crooked teeth while others have stained teeth or teeth that are too big or too small for the size of their mouths. Still others want a better looking smile because it can give them a more youthful appearance. If you feel self-conscious about your teeth and rarely smile because you feel embarrassed then you need to speak to your dental practitioner about what procedure can improve your teeth’s appearance and can in turn make you want to smile more often!

The term does not refer to just one procedure but instead encompasses a variety of them. One of the most common that you have probably heard about before is tooth bleaching or tooth whitening. This is one of the most common ways that people choose to improve the visual appeal of their teeth. While you can purchase whitening kits at your local drugstore, the products used by dentists are supervised by them and tend to be superior in quality and offer more successful results for those who want whiter and brighter teeth.

Tooth reshaping, also sometimes referred to as contouring or dental reshaping is a quick and easy instant procedure that can correct cracked teeth, chipped teeth, crooked teeth and overlapping teeth. This work can be completed in one appointment. It involves small changes to the look of teeth. It can be used to modify the position, length or shape of a tooth or of a few teeth. In this case small reductions are made with the teeth and some tooth-colored laminate is placed over them.

There is also a procedure called enamel shaping. This can be performed by a dentist to make a tooth look better. It is also known as enameloplasty, recontouring, reshaping, stripping, slenderizing or odontoplasty. The main reason it is used is to correct a tiny chip in a tooth. In this case parts of the contouring enamel are removed. The enamel that is taken away from a tooth can never be replaced. The downside to this dental technique is that dentin may become exposed which can cause a tooth to be more sensitive and can lead to some discomfort and potential dental problems.

Porcelain veneers, also known as porcelain laminate veneers or just veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry choice to improve the look of teeth and /or to repair damage that has been done to teeth. Veneers will also improve the appearance of stained teeth. Veneers are custom-made thin porcelain wafers that a dentist adheres to the front portion of the teeth.

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