What is Cosmetic Dentistry?


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.

Cosmetic Dentistry can be any type of dental procedure which enhances the patient's teeth and their smile -- thus improving a person's overall appearance and self-confidence.




 Cosmetic Dentistry Before


 

 

 Cosmetic Dentistry After

 

When teeth are chipped or slightly decayed, bonded composite resins may be the material of choice.

Bonding is applied to a tooth via a light gun. First, the tooth structure is cleaned and etched. Then a clear adhesive is applied to the area needing bonding.
 

Once applied, a tooth colored bonding material is placed on the tooth. It is permanently hardened and fused to the tooth with a hand held white light gun.

This process is called photo curing. Bonding makes a great tooth colored filling for small cavities and broken or chipped surfaces. It can also be used to close spaces between teeth.

Additionally, it is used to cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color and shape.

For the latter two applications, bonding has its limits. It may not be strong enough, aesthetic enough, or durable enough for certain individual situations.

When these problems occur, the next choice would be porcelain laminate veneers.