Signs that You Need To See a Cosmetic Dentist

Are you thinking of seeing a cosmetic dentist? Many cosmetic procedures can help if you do not feel comfortable with your smile. You can opt for a full smile makeover or a partial makeover if several of your teeth are injured and you want to avoid affecting the whole dental formula.

Full smile makeovers use treatments like porcelain veneers and tooth whitening treatments, while a partial dramatic improvement of teeth involves dental implants. Using these procedures and many others, our cosmetic dentist at Lutke Dental helps you achieve the brightest smile you desire.

Functions of a Cosmetic Dentist

It’s right first to understand what cosmetic dentistry involves. Specialized cosmetic dentists have extra training to improve the teeth’ appearance, enhance your bites and treat your gums.

So, what are the various cosmetic dentistry procedures in our office today?

Teeth Whitening

This is the least expensive and the most basic cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth can get stained after a long period of eating and certain foods or drinks and even taking some medication. Other habits like smoking can also cause tooth discoloration. To brighten their smiles, many people consider teeth whitening procedures.

You can have a professional tooth whitening procedure in the dental office or use a dentist-recommended whitening product like gels, toothpaste, mouth rinses, and whitening trays. However, professional teeth whitening can produce a smile 3 -8 shades brighter than over-the-counter whitening gels.

Dental Veneers

Veneers refer to thin tooth-colored shells that are placed on the patient’s teeth then glued into place. They are made from a variety of materials, including porcelain, resins, and other ceramics.

The procedure involves the removal of some tooth enamel to create space for the incoming tooth-colored veneer. Dental veneers can fix several tooth problems like crooked teeth, damaged tooth enamel, and gapped teeth.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that fits on the teeth and protects a damaged tooth. Full crowns help to keep a weak tooth intact. It can also be used on crooked, misaligned healthy teeth and even on severely discolored teeth.

Crowns are also used with other dental procedures like root canal therapy, dental implants, bridgeworks, and dental fillings.

Inlays and Onlays

They are also called indirect fillings and are used when the tooth enamel is too damaged and cannot support a standard filling. They are created in a dental lab and are cosmetically bonded on the damaged tooth by the cosmetic dentist near you.

It’s an Inlay when the bonding material is placed on the tooth’s front side and an Onlay when it covers more than one part of the damaged tooth. Onlays also cover the whole tooth.

Inlays and onlays are good alternatives to tooth crowns as they preserve most of the tooth enamel while still strengthening the tooth after decay.

Dental Implants

Dental implants repair severely decayed or lost teeth. Cosmetic dentists use implants to replace a missing tooth, as they offer a more permanent solution than other treatments.

The implant procedure involves the placement of a screwing to the jawbone to enhance support. With time, the jawbone grows around the implanted screw, providing more support. The dentist then places a tooth crown on the inserted pole, which then acts as a natural tooth.

Dental Bonding

The dentist in Plano uses a moderate resin on the treatment tooth and uses a special UV light to harden it into place. Usually, dental bonding is used on cracked, misshaped, chipped, and decayed teeth. Bonding is a more affordable option t crowns and fillings for small minor issues.

Reasons to see a cosmetic dentist

Embarrassed about your smile

Several missing teeth or crooked teeth can make you feel ashamed or embarrassed to smile in public, even socializing with friends at work. A cosmetic dentist can help you fix this problem using any of the above procedures if it happens.

Digestive Issues

Lack of several teeth caused improper chewing of food. This can lead to digestive issues like acid reflux, heartburns, and even ulcers. Your cosmetic dentist can fix misaligned teeth using braces and replace missing teeth with implants to restore normal chewing.

Face shape change

If you notice a change in your face’s shape, it means the effects of missing one or more teeth are starting to manifest. This could be due to an underlying infection or bone loss. Implants can help fix this problem.

Chronic Headaches and Jaw Pressure

Crooked and misaligned teeth cause some unpleasant pain in the jaw and the head, increasing the risk of developing temporomandibular disorders. Braces and dental Botox can fix this defect for healthier teeth, thus eliminating the pain.