Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTeeth WhiteningDental VeneersDental ImplantsDental CrownsTooth ContouringTooth BondinOrthodontic Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Teeth Whitening
Dental Veneers
Dental Implants
Dental Crowns
Tooth Contouring
Tooth Bondin
Orthodontic Treatment
Cosmetic dentistry is dental care that improves the appearance of your teeth and smile. A cosmetic dentist can whiten your teeth, straighten them, or improve their shape. They can also replace missing teeth and repair chips.
Not all of the available cosmetic dental procedures will work for everyone. Your dentist can help you determine which method will work the best for enhancing your smile.
This article goes over cosmetic dentistry and the procedures that are commonly done to help people improve the appearance of their teeth.
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Cosmetic Teeth Whitening
Also called “teeth bleaching,” teeth whitening treatments can be done in yourdentist’s officeor at home using whitening products.Not everyone’s teeth can be bleached, so it is very important to check with your dentist before trying at-home whitening products.
Teeth whitening treatments typically contain carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. Whitening products manufactured for use at home usually contain a smaller amount of these ingredients.
The whitening procedure works as follows:
Cosmetic Dental Veneers
Aveneer is a thin shellmade out of porcelain or composite material. Veneers are custom-made and cemented to the front side of the tooth. They can be used to treat dental conditions such as a slightly crooked tooth, discolored teeth, or chipped teeth. They can even cover spaces in between the teeth.
The lifespan of a veneer varies from person to person, but most will last around 20 years.
Veneers are made out of a thin porcelain or a resin-based composite material. The procedure for each is slightly different:
Depending on your sensitivity and the size of the veneer, you may be given a local anesthetic during the procedure.
Cosmetic Dental Implants
Adental implantis a metal device used to permanently replace a missing tooth. The device is usually made out of titanium and is surgically implanted into the jawbone where the tooth is missing. A dental implant is designed to act as the tooth root and can anchor artificial teeth such as a bridge ordentures.
There are two different types of dental implants:
Dental implant placement is an invasive procedure, so patients receive sedation during the procedure along with a local anesthetic.
Cosmetic Dental Crowns
Crowns, also called caps, are custom-made to fit over your whole tooth. They are usually made out of acrylic or porcelain that has been fused to metal to withstand biting pressure.
Crowns can be used in cosmetic dentistry to treat teeth that are poorly shaped, badlydecayed, broken, chipped, or have had largefillings. They can also be used to cover spaces in between teeth.
There are a few different types of crowns, each one with different advantages and disadvantages. Among the more popular materials for crowns today are ceramic and composite crowns:
Other popular crowns include the following:
You will wear a temporary crown while your custom crown is made. During the second visit, your dentist will place the crown with a strong adhesive and make any necessary adjustments to the shape and color.
Cosmetic Tooth Contouring
Also known as tooth shaping or “enamel shaping,” cosmetic tooth contouring can be done to correct small problems like chipping. It can also fix teeth that are slightly overlapping.
Cosmetic Tooth Bonding
Bonding is a process in which tooth-colored materials are adhered (bonded) to the tooth. This is a procedure that can be used to conceal imperfections like chips and cracks or improve the appearance of a tooth that has been badly stained.
Bonding requires very little tooth preparation, so it can be a fast and inexpensive way to repair minor tooth flaws.
During the bonding procedure, your dentist will prepare a composite resin matched to the color of your teeth. They will then apply the material to the surface of the tooth and shape it until the imperfection has been covered. The resin will also be polished so it will have a more natural appearance.
Cosmetic Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontistscan help straighten teeth and correct a bad bite. They see adults as well as children. If you have buck teeth, crowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, or crooked teeth, ask your dentist if an orthodontist can help you.
Orthodontists use aligners or braces to move your teeth into the correct position over time. A retainer may be required temporarily after the initial treatment to help keep your teeth in place.
Summary
Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry concerned with the appearance of your teeth and smile. Cosmetic dentists perform several different procedures, including teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental implants, and dental crowns. They can also fix minor imperfections with cosmetic tooth contouring and tooth bonding. Orthodontists can correct your bite or straighten your teeth regardless of your age.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eachempati P, Kumbargere Nagraj S, Kiran Kumar Krishanappa S, Gupta P, Yaylali IE.Home-based chemically-induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2018(12):CD006202. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006202.pub2American Dental Association.Whitening.American Cosmetic Association.Dental veneers: a review.Alothman Y, Bamasoud MS.The success of dental veneers according to preparation design and material type.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(12):2402-2408. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.353American Cosmetic Association.Cosmetic dentistry: An overview.Ito T, Utsumi N, Baba Y, Matsumura T, Wakita R, Maeda S.Considerations for satisfactory sedation during dental implant surgery.J Pers Med. 2023;13(3):461. doi:10.3390/jpm13030461Shi HY, Pang R, Yang J, et al.Overview of Several Typical Ceramic Materials for Restorative Dentistry.Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:8451445. Published 2022 Jul 18. doi:10.1155/2022/8451445American Cosmetic Association.Dental crowns.American Cosmetic Association.Tooth contouring: Everything you should know.American Cosmetic Association.Dental bonding: A guide to restoring your smile.American Dental Association.Orthodontics.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eachempati P, Kumbargere Nagraj S, Kiran Kumar Krishanappa S, Gupta P, Yaylali IE.Home-based chemically-induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2018(12):CD006202. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006202.pub2American Dental Association.Whitening.American Cosmetic Association.Dental veneers: a review.Alothman Y, Bamasoud MS.The success of dental veneers according to preparation design and material type.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(12):2402-2408. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.353American Cosmetic Association.Cosmetic dentistry: An overview.Ito T, Utsumi N, Baba Y, Matsumura T, Wakita R, Maeda S.Considerations for satisfactory sedation during dental implant surgery.J Pers Med. 2023;13(3):461. doi:10.3390/jpm13030461Shi HY, Pang R, Yang J, et al.Overview of Several Typical Ceramic Materials for Restorative Dentistry.Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:8451445. Published 2022 Jul 18. doi:10.1155/2022/8451445American Cosmetic Association.Dental crowns.American Cosmetic Association.Tooth contouring: Everything you should know.American Cosmetic Association.Dental bonding: A guide to restoring your smile.American Dental Association.Orthodontics.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Eachempati P, Kumbargere Nagraj S, Kiran Kumar Krishanappa S, Gupta P, Yaylali IE.Home-based chemically-induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2018(12):CD006202. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006202.pub2American Dental Association.Whitening.American Cosmetic Association.Dental veneers: a review.Alothman Y, Bamasoud MS.The success of dental veneers according to preparation design and material type.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(12):2402-2408. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.353American Cosmetic Association.Cosmetic dentistry: An overview.Ito T, Utsumi N, Baba Y, Matsumura T, Wakita R, Maeda S.Considerations for satisfactory sedation during dental implant surgery.J Pers Med. 2023;13(3):461. doi:10.3390/jpm13030461Shi HY, Pang R, Yang J, et al.Overview of Several Typical Ceramic Materials for Restorative Dentistry.Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:8451445. Published 2022 Jul 18. doi:10.1155/2022/8451445American Cosmetic Association.Dental crowns.American Cosmetic Association.Tooth contouring: Everything you should know.American Cosmetic Association.Dental bonding: A guide to restoring your smile.American Dental Association.Orthodontics.
Eachempati P, Kumbargere Nagraj S, Kiran Kumar Krishanappa S, Gupta P, Yaylali IE.Home-based chemically-induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2018(12):CD006202. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006202.pub2
American Dental Association.Whitening.
American Cosmetic Association.Dental veneers: a review.
Alothman Y, Bamasoud MS.The success of dental veneers according to preparation design and material type.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(12):2402-2408. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.353
American Cosmetic Association.Cosmetic dentistry: An overview.
Ito T, Utsumi N, Baba Y, Matsumura T, Wakita R, Maeda S.Considerations for satisfactory sedation during dental implant surgery.J Pers Med. 2023;13(3):461. doi:10.3390/jpm13030461
Shi HY, Pang R, Yang J, et al.Overview of Several Typical Ceramic Materials for Restorative Dentistry.Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:8451445. Published 2022 Jul 18. doi:10.1155/2022/8451445
American Cosmetic Association.Dental crowns.
American Cosmetic Association.Tooth contouring: Everything you should know.
American Cosmetic Association.Dental bonding: A guide to restoring your smile.
American Dental Association.Orthodontics.
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