Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

Savage Cosmetic dentistry is a rapidly growing field. There are a number of procedures designed to help you love your smile. Some may even achieve your desired results without being invasive. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular options!

In-Office Teeth Whitening

While you can whiten at home, in-office is faster and you will see your results immediately instead of over the course of a few weeks. Whitening is often used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures as the first step before bonding or veneers. It could be a good idea to discuss whitening with your dentist before you schedule. A lot of people do not realize that you have to avoid certain foods and beverages for up to 72 hours after whitening so when you plan to whiten could have an impact on your weekend! Coffee, red wine and berries are a few examples.

Dental Composite Bonding

A lot of times, small cavities can be filled with composite bonding. It is also used to correct small imperfections cosmetically! If you have a diastema (gap) between front teeth, bonding can be used to close that space and to fix any smaller chips in the teeth. It is tinted to match the shade of your teeth.

Porcelain is a much stronger material but composite is a great temporary fix. It is less costly and less invasive and can last a couple of years. Your dentist will rough up the surface of your tooth and apply the composite. They will shape the material and cure it with an ultraviolet light. Once the composite is hardened, they will make any adjustments that need to be made and polish you up and you will be all set!

Crowns, Veneers and Inlays

If composite is too temporary for you or simply cannot be used to fix the problem, porcelain crowns or veneers are the next option. They are more expensive but they can last for decades, so in the long run, you could be better off instead of replacing composite every year or two. The porcelain used is much stronger than composite.

Crowns are used to restore teeth with extensive decay or fractures. Crowns cover the entire surface of the exposed tooth except in the even of a ¾ crown which covers most but not all of the tooth surface, used to save tooth structure. Veneers cover the entire front surface of the tooth, the part that shows when you smile.

Inlays or onlays only cover the biting surface of your tooth to restore the tooth from decay.

Dental Implants

If you are missing a tooth or need to have a tooth extracted, a dental implant can be placed to restore the area and keep your smile complete! The implant will be placed by either an Oral Surgeon or a Periodontist. Your Dentist will do the restoration of the implant by placing an implant crown on it.

Cosmetic dentistry is a great way to enhance your smile and can last a lifetime! Speak with your Dentist to determine if there are some good options to achieve your goals.

More info on Cosmetic Dentistry : What is Cosmetic Dentistry?