While traditional dentistry focuses entirely on the health of your teeth, cosmetic dentistry is all about bringing out the beauty of your smile. The term “cosmetic dentistry” can refer to any treatment meant to improve the color, position, shape, size, alignment, and overall appearance of your teeth. What kind of cosmetic dental treatments are right for your own one-of-a-kind grin? Below are 4 examples of services that a cosmetic dentist in Millersville might suggest if you’re unhappy with what you see in the mirror and in photographs.
1. Composite Bonding
Also known as direct bonding, this treatment can be used to repair teeth that have become chipped or cracked; it can also hide small stains along with a variety of other flaws. Once any decay has been removed, composite material is placed on the surface of the tooth. Said composite can be sculpted into an aesthetically pleasing shape that blends in with the enamel before being hardened in place with a curing light. For those with smaller imperfections in their smiles, composite bonding makes for a quick, inexpensive solution!
2. Dental Veneers
Sometimes a tooth might have multiple cosmetic flaws – more than can be effectively corrected with composite bonding alone. To hide crooked teeth, cracked enamel, small gaps, and other aesthetic issues all at once, thin veneers made from stain-resistant porcelain can be placed on your smile. The veneers will completely hide the various cosmetic flaws from view. Each veneer is personalized so that no one else can tell that your smile ever needed to be corrected in the first place.
3. Teeth Whitening
Odds are that when you think of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening will be the first procedure to jump to mind. Certain foods, drinks, medications, and personal habits (such as smoking) can stain the teeth and cause them to take on a yellowed appearance. Your dentist in Millersville can give you a custom-made whitening kit containing personalized oral trays and a strong bleaching gel. Wearing the gel-filled trays for a certain amount of time each day for two weeks can brighten your smile by up to 8 shades. Professional whitening kits will be far more effective and reliable than what you can find at the store.
4. Metal-Free Crowns
Crowns are typically used as a solution for decay or damage, but when made out of tooth-colored ceramic materials, they can also be a cosmetic solution. Your teeth will both look and function as it did before, to the point that many people will have trouble telling the difference between the crowns and the natural enamel.
Remember that cosmetic dentistry is an art; each treatment plan will be uniquely designed to suit your smile’s needs. Call your dental practice today to schedule a cosmetic consultation.
About the Author
Dr. Vy Tran first became interested in dentistry when she learned from a mother in her youth group that it was a good field for women. She loves working closely with doctors and patients alike as well as blending art and science together in order to perform dramatic, dazzling smile makeovers. To schedule a cosmetic consultation at her practice, Transcendent Smiles, visit her website or call (410) 729-9090.