Do you feel that your smile could use a sprucing up? If so, you may be curious about what a cosmetic dentist Bondi Junction can offer you in terms of treatments for dental aesthetics.
In this article, some of the most common and popular cosmetic dental treatments will be explored briefly so you can decide which may be right for you.
Dental implants
Thanks to dental implants it is now possible to restore teeth that have been lost decades ago.
The implants themselves are titanium screws that are affixed to the jaw with a prosthetic tooth or teeth placed on top of them. The implants have to fuse with the jaw and in essence act as anchors, which allow you to feel the pressure being placed on the prosthetic teeth as if they were natural teeth.
Implants are exceedingly popular as they require the same aftercare as you would give your original teeth and if you look after them they can, theoretically, last for the rest of your life.
Veneers
Next on the list are veneers. In many dental surgeries, they are made from porcelain or composite or a mixture of the two.
They are physically similar to an acrylic nail and they are fixed to the front of the tooth creating an instant whitening effect if desired, or they can conceal cracks or chips, assuming that there is no decay. They can also be made slightly wider than the tooth in order to conceal minor gaps between teeth.
Having veneers fitted is usually a comfortable, quick process and provided you adhere to aftercare advice, veneers can easily last for 15 years or more. And best of all, they do not stain!
Whitening
Many dental patients are familiar with tooth whitening.
In surgery, your dentist will aim to use one of two methods to whiten your teeth. The most commonly used is bleaching which involves your dentist applying an oxidising gel to your teeth and using a light to remove the stains from underneath the enamel. However, if your staining is more deeply rooted in the tooth, perhaps due to early exposure to fluoride or medication, then your dentist may use an abrasive method to whiten your teeth. This is less common because it thins the enamel and can heighten sensitivity.
Orthodontics
Cosmetic orthodontics is relatively new and involves the use of clear or invisible aligners and braces to straighten teeth that may be slightly misaligned, particularly the teeth that are at the front of the mouth.
Many dental surgeries are able to offer patients treatments using aligners such as Invisalign, but of course this depends on the severity of the dental misalignment being treated.
Importance of dental health
But before you approach your dentist about cosmetic dental care, you need to first make sure that your general oral health is in good condition.
This means that any issues such as tooth decay or gum disease must be treated and if you have any underlying health conditions such as osteoporosis, that these are well controlled before undertaking treatments such as dental implants.
DISCLAIMER OFFSITE
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.