COSMETIC DENTISTRY / AESTHETIC DENTISTRY
I HATE MY SMILE, WHAT CAN I DO?
Cosmetic dentistry, is comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, aesthetics and function.

People have become increasingly concerned with the shade of their smile. I mean, who could blame them? Celebrities constantly flaunt their pearly whites in front of photographers, whose photos end up in public hands. If you cover your mouth when you talk, meet new people, or attempt to smile, then there is help for you. Let’s look at some of the reasons people hide their smiles, and the modern dental solutions that can give them more confidence. Fortunately, those of us lacking can have a dramatic transformation. Today's common cosmetic dental treatment options include:

* Dental Implants – an ideal solution for patients missing teeth. Implants are permanently set in the jaw and affixed with replacement teeth, preventing painful shifting in the mouth.

* Whitening, or "tooth bleaching" – is the most common cosmetic dental procedure. While many whitening options are now available, dentist-supervised treatments remain the recommended procedures for lightening discolored teeth.

* Enamel shaping – removes parts of the contouring enamel to improve the appearance of the tooth. It may be used to correct a very small chip. The removed enamel is irreplaceable, and may sometimes expose dentin. It is also known as enameloplasty, odontoplasty, recontouring, reshaping, slenderizing and stripping.

* Contouring also know as Tooth reshaping – is one of few instant treatments now available in cosmetic dentistry. Dental reshaping and contouring is a procedure to correct crooked teeth, chipped teeth, cracked teeth or even overlapping teeth in just one session. The dental contouring procedure can even be a substitute for braces under certain circumstances. It is also a procedure of subtle changes. A few millimeters of reduction and a few millimeters of tooth-colored laminate can create a beautiful smile when performed by a cosmetic dentist, with no discomfort to you. Tooth reshaping, or dental contouring, is commonly used to alter the length, shape or position of your teeth.

* Bonding – is a process in which an enamel-like dental composite material is applied to a tooth's surface, sculpted into shape, hardened and then polished.

* Dental Bridges – are false teeth, known as a pontics, which are fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place that are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures. In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues and even improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene, but will last as many ten years or more.

* Veneers – are ultra-thin, custom-made laminates that are bonded directly to the teeth. They are an option for closing gaps or disguising discolored teeth that do not respond well to whitening procedures.

* Gum Lift – is a cosmetic dental procedure that raises and sculpts the gum line. The procedure involves reshaping the tissue and/or underlying bones to create the appearance of longer or more symmetrical teeth.

* Laser Procedures – In some cases, laser dentistry can replace the need to drill teeth or to use other, more invasive dental equipment. Dental lasers can be used during a bonding procedure and to remove tooth decay, replace scaling, perform periodontal surgery, enhance tooth whitening and treat some forms of sleep apnea.

* Full-Mouth Reconstruction – patients with severe dental problems often require a full-mouth reconstruction. Dentists performing full-mouth reconstructions often draw on both cosmetic and restorative dentistry solutions to improve the health, function, and appearance of the smile.

Materials In the past, dental fillings and other tooth restorations were made of gold, amalgam and other metals -- some of which were veneered with porcelain. Now, dental work can be made entirely of porcelain or composite materials that more closely mimic the appearance of natural tooth structure. These tooth colored materials are bonded to the underlying tooth structure with resin adhesives. Unlike silver fillings (amalgams) they are entirely free of mercury. Many dentists offer procedures to be cosmetic and because their patients prefer natural looking teeth.

Ask yourself these questions to see if cosmetic dental might work for you:

1# Do you feel awkward or self-conscious about your smile?

2# Do you cover your mouth when you talk or smile?

3# When the camera shutter opens, do your lips close?

4# Do you hate close- up shots?

5# Women, do you avoid wearing certain lipstick shades because it highlights your discolored teeth?

6# Men, have you ever grown a mustache or beard to help hide your smile?

A smile can be the most eye-catching feature of a face. With dentistry's many advances, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth. You now have choices that can help you smile with confidence. Even the most subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Talk to your dentist about the options most suitable for you, what your expectations are and the dental fees involved.