Roseville Cosmetic Dentistry
Many Different Choices
Even if you're lucky enough to have straight teeth, there may be small imperfections, such as gaps or dingy stains, which you'd just as soon do without.
With a technique called bonding, for example, your dentist can repair damaged areas by applying a "paste" made of a material called composite resin. The resin comes in a wide variety of shades. It hardens almost instantly when it's exposed to a special ultraviolet light and it can be sanded, smoothed and buffed until it exactly matches the tooth shine.
The most popular cosmetic dental procedures include bonding, whitening the teeth and tooth-colored fillings, which, unlike traditional amalgam fillings, are nearly invisible.
Many cosmetic techniques can be done without cutting or with minimal preparation of the tooth's enamel structure.
There are many cosmetic options to choose from, depending on what you need to have done. For example:
- Stained or discolored teeth — The enamel that covers the teeth isn't impervious to stains and the underlying tooth structure (the dentin) often yellows over time. Bleaching is an option for healthy teeth.
- Chips or rough spots — These can be filled with a tooth-colored material called composite. The color of the composite can be chosen so that it matches the color of your teeth. Once the material has been smoothed and polished, it's virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding area.
- Cavities or cracks — Traditional amalgam fillings work fine in the back of the mouth, but most people don't want to reveal a "metal mouth" when they smile. An alternative is to use tooth-colored fillings," which match the color of the teeth. These fillings are made with composite material similar to that used to repair chips or cracks. Some white fillings (direct composites) are pressed into the cavity and cured (hardened) with a special ultraviolet light. Others (indirect composites) are made in a laboratory and then cemented in place. They cost much more than amalgam fillings, but are much more attractive.
- Uneven teeth — It’s not uncommon for a tooth to be slightly longer or have a different shape than its neighbors. With a procedure called recontouring, your dentist can reshape the tooth so that it's a better match.
- Gaps between the teeth — Small gaps can be closed by applying composite material between the teeth. For large gaps or other imperfections on the surfaces of the teeth, your dentist may recommend veneers. Veneers are among the most expensive cosmetic procedures. Made from ultra-thin shells of porcelain that come in every shade of white, veneers are permanently bonded to the fronts of the teeth, giving them an entirely new esthetic appearance.
- Broken or crooked teeth — If a tooth has been badly broken or is structurally weak, you may need a crown. Crowns used to be made of metal, but today they're often made of tooth-colored porcelain materials.
"It was worth every penny," says Gagliardi, who had his teeth capped in 1985. "I was told that they would probably last about 10 years, but it's been about 15 years and I haven't had any problems."
Perfect Smiles
People who come to the United States from other countries are often amazed by the uniform perfection of people's teeth. White is hardly good enough any more; cosmetic dentists say that one of the most popular shades is the blindingly bright "Hollywood White."
Cosmetic dentistry is a real boon for people who have lived most of their lives with damaged or discolored teeth. Even simple procedures such as bleaching or bonding can be real confidence-boosters.
But, unless you are planning a career as a runway model, beware of choosing the whitest of white for your teeth. Teeth are rarely pure white, and you may not be satisfied once the shade is on your smile. A less intense shade may be more likely to give the look you are seeking.
Bryan G. Judd DDS - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers to the areas of Roseville and Sacramento, California.
Roseville Dentist by The Art of Dentistry
© copyright 2003 - 2008, Dr. Judd, all rights reserved
1603 Eureka Road, Suite 200 Roseville, CA 95661, Ph. 866.430.6655, Fx.
