Cosmetic Dentistry - Mooney, Lukasiewcz & Bellavance - Dentist Woburn
People choose cosmetic dental procedures for various reasons – to repair a defect such as a malformed bite or crooked teeth, treat an injury, or just improve their overall appearance. For these and many other reasons, cosmetic dentistry has become a vital and important part of the dental profession and one of the fastest growing areas of dentistry. For example, tooth-whitening procedures have tripled over the past five years. Common cosmetic dental procedures can be performed to correct misshaped, discolored, chipped or missing teeth. It also can be used to change the overall shape of teeth – from teeth that are too long or short, have gaps, or simply need to be reshaped. Cosmetic dentistry procedures include: Cosmetic Fillings
Alternative, natural-looking materials to conventional silver-colored fillings made from porcelain and composite resins, which are colored to match natural tooth enamel.
Cosmetic Contouring and Reshaping
A relatively simple procedure that can correct crooked, chipped, cracked, and even overlapping teeth.
Crowns
Synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, that can be placed on the top of a tooth to restore its function and appearance, attach bridges, cover implants, or prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse.
Bridges
Natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth and restore the natural contour of your teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth. Bridges are sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, because they are semi-permanent and are bonded to existing teeth or implants.
Specialty Dentures
Lightweight dentures that mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Most dentures are made from a combination of metals and synthetic material such as acrylic resin, and can be either partial or complete sets. Bonding
An alternative to veneers is a process called bonding, in which a tooth-colored material that looks like the enamel of your teeth is molded and shaped, and then hardened and polished. Bonding can be used to improve the color of a tooth, or close unsightly gaps. Bonding is generally not as permanent a process as veneers, and can be vulnerable to the same kind of staining your natural teeth are prone to. Bonding can also be more prone to chips and cracks than veneers. Crowns are generally preferred to bonding when such a procedure isn't deemed to be effective in the long run.
Veneers
In just two or three dental visits, a veneer can reverse years of stains caused by foods, caffeine and tobacco use. Special thin laminates, called veneers, can often be used to correct discolored, worn down, cracked and chipped teeth. Veneers can also be used to close unsightly gaps between teeth. Stronger types of veneers made of porcelain, also called composite veneers, typically last longer because they are bonded to the tooth. An impression of the tooth must be made and a veneer molded by a lab technician. Because veneers require a small amount of enamel to be removed, they are permanent and non-reversible. The process involves buffing the tooth, removing an extremely thin layer of the tooth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, an impression of the tooth, and final bonding of the veneer to the tooth with special cement. A special light is used to complete the process.
Teeth Whitening
Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco. Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. One type of stain-caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis-actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don't help. Another type of stain-one that can be more easily attached by brushing, flossing and rinsing-is caused by external factors such as foods. More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains. Some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel. Bleaching agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case). Professional bleaching performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely. Invisalign
Having a confident smile can change everything. And Invisalign makes the decision easy, because you can get a stunning smile without most people even noticing you're going through treatment. So start on the right track and find out more about Invisalign. Invisalign is the best way to straighten your teeth without having to live with the "metal mouth" look of traditional braces. That's because Invisalign is a series of clear, removable, plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth. And it's easy to get started. First, your doctor talks to you about your goals and examines your teeth to ensure they will benefit from the Invisalign system. He then writes a detailed treatment plan and orders a full set of customized aligners for you. You wear each pair of aligners for a two-week period, allowing your teeth to gradually evolve into a smile that shows off the real you. Treatment length varies, depending on your dental condition and the severity of your case. But often, a full program of treatment takes less than one year. Invisalign is kind of like invisible braces. It's also virtually clear, so most people around you probably won't even notice you're wearing it. Even better, it's comfortable—without wires and brackets that could irritate your mouth. Invisalign is also more convenient than traditional braces. The aligners are easily removable, so you choose when you wear them. You're free to take them out whenever you need to. Eating, drinking... you name it. Even if you just need a break from wearing your aligners during a high school reunion or special work event, that's OK. But remember, you need to wear your aligners as prescribed by your doctor in order to achieve your treatment goals. Invisalign aligners are made just for you with advanced 3-D computerized technology. Your clear aligners are custom-made for your teeth. And only your teeth. Little by little, and over a time determined between you and your dentist, your teeth will gently move to create the smile you've always wanted. |
