Cosmetic dentistry refers to dental procedures that dentists use to improve the appearance of teeth. Although cosmetic dentistry doesn’t improve the functioning of the teeth, it is widely used to enhance their aesthetic features. Cosmetic dentistry has now become very popular, from closing spaces, teeth whitening, and replacing teeth. Cosmetic dentists in Beverly Hills will use a wide array of techniques and tools to enhance the look of your smile.
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Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
There are several cosmetic dentistry procedures, and they range from simple to complicated surgeries. However, depending on what your dentist recommends, your lifestyle, and your budget, you can choose any of the following procedures as an option for you.
Cosmetic Dentistry 101
Tooth Reshaping
This simply means sculpting your tooth to get the desired shape. This procedure is often used to correct medium and severe tooth deformities, for instance, teeth that are abnormally large, and that can affect the quality of life. Most techniques that are used to reshape teeth often involve chipping away some pieces of the enamel. According to researchers in the dental field, the enamel is the hardest part of the body, and it is found on the exterior part of the teeth. On the other hand, the dentin is soft compared to the enamel, and it is found below the enamel. The dentin acts as a supporting stage.
If too much of the enamel is chipped away, it can eventually lead to the exposure of the dentin, which can cause sensitivity and pain after temperature changes and when chewing different types of foods. It is also important that you know that the body cannot regenerate the enamel which means that any damage to the enamel is permanent. Therefore, ensure that you get a free dental consultation from only the best dentist.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth become discolored or stained over time, especially after taking certain medication, smoking, or consuming some types of beverages such as tea and coffee or some foods. Your dentist will use some chemicals to bleach your teeth using one of two ways. He can either provide you with a system that you can use at home or perform an in-office procedure.
Your dentist will also create a customized mouthpiece tray that will only release the right amount of whitening solution to your teeth. Depending on your schedule, you may find teeth whitening at home more convenient. However, the procedure may take three to four weeks longer depending on the type and strength of the peroxide your dentist uses. On the other hand, in-office whitening will only take two 1-to 3-hour visits to your dentist.
Remember that your teeth can eventually become discolored again if you continue to expose them to the same substances that initially stained them. Keep in mind also that teeth whitening substances aren’t meant to clean teeth, and it is advisable to continue brushing at least twice every day, flossing, and rinsing using antiseptic mouthwash every day.
Porcelain Veneers
These are thin custom shells that are made of porcelain material. Veneers are used to protect the front part of the teeth and to change their shape or color. They are fitted by fixing the porcelain material on the enamel. Veneers provide a superior appearance, they are less expensive compared to crowns, and they have been found to improve teeth that:
- Have become worn or chipped
- Are shaped poorly
- Are discolored permanently
- Have spaces
- Are crooked
You can also choose veneers in case other cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening cannot give the desired results.
Before the veneers are inserted, your dentist will begin by taking an impression off your tooth, and then buff the tooth before proceeding to cement the veneers. Your dentist will also use a beam of light to harden the cement and ensure that the veneer is secure. These porcelain veneers are manufactured in laboratories, and this means that you will need to visit your dentist to have them inserted and replaced after some time.
Dental Bonding
In case your teeth are chipped, have excess spaces between them, or if they are cracked, stained, or broken, bonding can help to improve their appearance. The bonding material is also used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth to protect the root of the tooth from exposure.
Santa Monica dentists usually conduct this procedure in a single visit by applying a solution with etching effects and using tooth-colored substances, for instance, composite resins. The composite resins are applied directly on the surface of the tooth. Bonding can last longer, however, it can get stained, chipped, or wear down more compared to other types of teeth restoration.
Dental Crowns
They are also referred to as caps, and they are used to completely cover a tooth or teeth. This means that this procedure can be used to restore your tooth to its normal appearance and shape. You can get a crown to:
- Protect your weak tooth
- Protect a dental implant
- Protect a tooth with a large filling
- Protect a discolored or misshapen tooth
- Protect your tooth that has undergone a root canal procedure
- Hold in place your dental bridge
- Restore your worn or broken tooth
Crowns are often manufactured using porcelain material that is fused to metal, ceramic, or resin materials. The best dentist in Beverly Hills will recommend crowns only when other dental restoration alternatives can’t produce the expected results because they are expensive.
Your dentist can also make a temporary crown or a same day in-office crown. Some dentists can create customized crowns in the same day. The dentist begins by preparing the tooth receiving the crown, makes molds or takes a digital impression of the tooth, issues you with a temporary crown if he or she is sending it to the lab, and then the permanent crown can be placed at a separate time. Several dentists also agree that permanent crowns can last a lifetime if they are maintained and receive good care.
Dental Bridges
They are sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, and they are often used to replace any natural teeth that are missing with artificial teeth. Bridges can be manufactured using porcelain, alloys, gold, or a combination of all of them. Experienced dentists fix bridges on the surrounding parts of the teeth after they have prepared them for crowns. The dentist later joins the artificial tooth to the crowns and then cements the bridge onto the teeth. Keep in mind that the success of your bridge will heavily depend on the foundation. Remember that oral hygiene is necessary to keep your teeth healthy, especially if you are wearing bridges. Also remember that only your Santa Monica dentist can remove your fixed bridge.
Dental Braces
They have been found to benefit people of almost all ages. They aren’t used only to improve the aesthetic features of teeth that are crowded or crooked, but they can also correct the positioning of jaws and joint disorders and can help improve irregular bites. Most people wear braces to reposition and exert pressure on the teeth, usually over a period of a few months or longer in more severe cases.
Your Beverly Hills orthodontist, Smile Angels of Beverly Hills, will use brackets that are either made from ceramic, metal, or plastic to bond your teeth. Then he or she will place wires through the brackets. The wires are meant to correct or guide the teeth to resume the correct positions. In some other cases, the dentist can fix lingual braces at the back side of the teeth to conceal them.
After attaching your braces, you will still have to visit your Los Angeles dentist to have them tightened, and you can expect to feel some discomfort for the first few days, but you will accustomed to them after two to three days. The best dentists in Los Angeles recommend that you should maintain oral hygiene on a daily basis, and it is especially important when you are wearing braces.
Braces have minimal risks, but you should talk to your Santa Monica dentist in case you are allergic to latex or some types of metals, or if you are suffering from periodontal disease because you may experience problems when receiving treatment. In some other cases, shortening of the root can be a problem if the teeth are moved in a quick manner.
Another option that your best dentist in Santa Monica can use to correct the minor spaces is customizing appliances that are commonly referred to as aligners or braces that are invisible. Your orthodontics or dentist will begin by reshaping and replacing them after every two weeks to ensure that they are moved progressively. Unlike braces, you can remove aligners when flossing, eating, or brushing.
In most cases, there are two phases in braces treatment: firstly, wearing braces, and secondly, using a retainer to ensure that the teeth are held firmly in their new position. The retainers can either be temporary or can be fixed permanently behind the teeth to conceal them.
Dental Implants
You will need to search for the best dentist near your area and schedule a free dental consultation to determine if you will require implants. This is because implants are involving and can be very expensive. However, they are a long term solution to replacing the missing teeth. Implants are a better alternative to removable dentures and bridges. Dental implants involve surgically implanting the dental implants on the jawbone as compared to removable dentures and bridges that only rest on the gums.
Parts of an Implant
- The titanium metal part that is fused to the jawbone
- The crown that gives the implant its tooth-like and natural appearance
- An abutment that is used to fit the space left by the implant when it protrudes outside the gum
Implants are often used to replace a single or several teeth. In case you are experiencing bone loss due to lost teeth or periodontal disease, the dental surgeon will begin by first grafting the bone to support the implant.
Steps required before having implants
- Consultation, a full exam, and X-ray
- Surgically implanting titanium screws
- Taking impressions of the lower and upper jaws
- Creating a model of the crowns or dentures
- Fixing of the crown
- Must follow-ups with your surgeon and members of the implant team
Full Mouth Reconstruction
While consulting with your dentist on how to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile, your dentist may notice and recommend that you need extra treatment to improve dental problems that involve your bone and tooth structure, muscles, and bite. If you determine that you require a full mouth reconstruction, your dentist will recommend which materials to use to provide you with a functional, durable, and clinically sound treatment that can give your teeth back their beautiful and natural look.
Advantages of Cosmetic Dentistry
- You will be able to enjoy a wider variety of food products
- You will have a better life experience
- Self-confidence
- Improved teeth functionality
- You will have more responsibility to take care of your oral health
- A better smile
Is Cosmetic Dentistry Right For You?
Bruce Vafa, DDS gives better smiles to people in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles. You will get a free dental consultation to determine the best dental treatment for you. Because each patient is unique, we will create a customized plan that fits both your schedule and budget.
What you Should Expect During Your Free Dental Consultation
Your first visit will give you an opportunity to meet with our professionals, and they will explain to you the issues you are experiencing, and they will also discuss with you some of your options. Our dentists and orthodontics also do the following:
- Take intraoral photos
- Examine your gums, teeth, and structures in your mouth
- Take a full scan of your jaw and mouth using digital X-rays.