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What is Cosmetic Dentistry |
In the modern society , having a beautiful smile has become increasingly important. Cosmetic Dentistry involves dental procedures that focuses on improving the appearance of a person ‘s teeth and smile. A beautiful smile can have a positive effects on an individual’s self- esteem, self –confidence and personal relationship. With recent technological advances, todays tooth coloured dental materials are natural looking and more durable. And with improvement in Cosmetic Dentist’s skills and dental treatment techniques ,todays cosmetic dentistry techniques are more conservative , preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.
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Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments
Cosmetic dentistry treatments currently in use include
Teeth bleaching | Teeth whitening
This has become one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic dentistry. Teeth whitening is the process of removing stains and discolouration from teeth through a bleaching process to make them look whiter.
There are basically 2 types of teeth whitening
1) Laser/in-office teeth whitening. This procedure usually takes about 1-2 hours. A light activated peroxide base bleaching gel is applied to your teeth during this period and a laser light is used to activate the gel to commence the process of teeth whitening. Most dentist recommended that the lase whitening should be followed up by professional home whitening. The advantage of in- office whitening is that the result is instantaneous. As the bleaching agent used is of a higher concentration, more teeth sensitivity is expected, however this sensitivity is only temporary. link www.zoomnow.com
2) Professional home whitening kits
Customized trays with bleaching gel are worn overnights usually 10 – 14 nights. This method is less sensitive than the in- office technique however patient’s compliance is important. If done correctly, good permanent results can be obtain.
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| The left picture shows a set of whiter teeth after 14 nights professional night guard teeth whitening. |
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Suitability for whitening
Not everybody is suitable for teeth whitening . Clinical examination by the dentist is important in assessing your suitability for teeth whitening procedure. Patients with tooth decay and gum diseases are not suitable for teeth bleaching. Also teeth whitening does not change the colour of your old filling and crowns. So these have to be change to a lighter shade after the teeth whitening procedure.
How much whiter will my teeth look ?
The results of teeth whitening varies from patient to patient .Some patients respond very well to teeth whitening while others only shows minor improvement.
Generally teeth with yellow stains respond better to teeth whitening than greyish coloured teeth.
Is it painful to do teeth whitening ?
Most patient will feel some sensitivity during or immediately after teeth whitening. However this is only temporary and the sensitivity should settle down after 48 hours. Frequently special gel will be given to reduce sensitivity during the initial period. |
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Porcelain Veneers
These are wafer thin laminates or shells of tooth coloured porcelain that is bonded to the front surface of your teeth. Dental veneers have long been used to create the ultimate smile makeover. With porcelain veneers it is possible to transform crooked ,stain, damaged or worn down teeth into a new straight white smile. Crooked teeth, Discoloured teeth, Fractured teeth, Gaps between teeth |
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| The left patient‘s upper front 4 incisors were badly discoloured due to old fillings. The incisors were laminated with porcelain veneers. Natural looking translucent incisor ‘s aesthetics was achieved. |
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What about composite veneers ?
Composite veneers are cheaper but they are more prone to staining and chipping.
Porcelain Veneers on the other hand looks very natural and translucent.
Porcelain Crowns
Dental crowns or caps as they are commonly known , are restorations that protect damaged or broken down teeth. A crown also strengthens your existing broken down tooth so that it can function normally.
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Recently with advances in cosmetic dental materials , it is possible to have an all porcelain crown that is natural looking and aesthetic. The above patient’s upper central incisors was restored with full porcelain crowns. Aesthetics and functionality was restored.
Why do I need crowns ?
1. When there is a big decay and there is not enough tooth structure
remaining to support a filling
2. If a large portion of the tooth is fractured off and it cannot be filled the
traditional way
3. Following root canal treatment , a crown is often required to strenghten
the tooth.
4. In severe grinding cases ,most of the tooth structure is grinded down.
Crowning is the only option to protect and restore the tooth.
Are dental crowns the best option to improve my smile ?
Crowning should not be the first option for improving your smile as it involves quite a fair bit of tooth preparations. Your first choice should be porcelain veneers as they are very much less invasive.
Tooth coloured porcelain inlay /onlay
It is a more conservative treatment compared to crowns. Whereas dental fillings are molded into the cavity during a dental visit, porcelain inlay, onlay are fabricated indirectly in a dental lab before being fitted and bonded to the tooth by the dentist.
Advantages of inlay/onlay over conventional fillings
1. Superior fit
2. Tooth colour
3. Tooth structure safeguard : minimal tooth structure is removed compared
to crowns.
4. Superior strength and stability. Porcelain inlay/onlay ,once they are
bonded into place, they become very strong . And by bonding the porcelain
inlay/onlay to the tooth , it also strengthen the existing tooth structure.
Gum contouring – for “gummy smile”
In patients with too much gum covering the front teeth, the gummy smile may not be aesthetically appealing. Usually the teeth will look too short as a result of excessive gum coverage. Patients with this condition tends not to smile and lack self confidence.
What is gum contouring ?
With local anaesthetic , the excessive gums are removed and remaining gums reshape . In some cases, there may be some minor bone remodeling as well.
Benefits of gum contouring
It is a simple quick procedure and painless.
The improvement in aesthetics is dramatic as the patient can now smile with incisors that are of normal length and size.
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