What Types Of Cosmetic Dentistry Are There?

Entering into the world of cosmetic dentistry may feel overwhelming with so many options to choose from. We are here to give you the rundown of some of the basics when it comes to deciding what is best for you and which procedure is the right fit for your needs. Having the perfect cosmetic dentist in south loop will help ease your worries about making the right choice.
Bleaching
Bleaching has been around for quite some time. It seems so common that you wouldn’t necessarily think of it as a cosmetic procedure. Many times our teeth become discolored because the enamel on our teeth are stained due to dark colored drinks, tea, cigarettes, medications, getting older or just a hereditary trait.
If getting your pearly whites ultra bright sounds like a great idea, bleaching helps to whiten teeth to make stains disappear and also make your teeth sparking white. You can use the chemical process at home by having your dentist create a custom mouth piece to make sure you don’t use too much of the whitening solution. Using more isn’t always better in this case. If bleaching at home it takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks. If you would rather have the dentist do it look to take one or more 45-minute to one-hour visits.
Bonding
Bonding is generally used to fill in gaps or change the color of your teeth. It is also used to fill small cavities or cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color or shape. It is considered to be tooth-colored to match your teeth. It is done in a single office visit. And will last you for several years to come. The downside is it is more susceptible to staining and chipping.
Crowns
Crowns are a fancy word for a cap. Crowns will cover the tooth to restore it to its normal appearance and shape. Crowns have the longest life expectancy of all cosmetic restorations, but they are expensive and also time consuming to do.
Veneers
If your teeth are unevenly spaced, chipped, oddly shaped, discolored or even just crooked, then veneers might be used. They are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic that is placed over the front teeth. Little to no anesthesia is used in this procedure.
This is used as an alternate to crowns which are more expensive. Porcelain veneers will need several visits to your dentist since they are made in a laboratory. They do bring a longer life expectancy and improve color stability more-so than bonding.
Contouring and Reshaping
Having your teeth Contoured and reshaped is commonly used to alter the length, shape, or the position of your teeth. This procedure will help to correct crooked, chipped, irregularly shaped, or overlapping teeth in one single dentist visit. Bonding is commonly combined with having your teeth reshaped.
This is the ideal solution for those with healthy teeth, but looking to get subtle changes with their smile.
Always ask your dentist what procedure is right for you. Make sure to get references and proof of continuing education. These steps will help ensure you get the smile you have always wanted.