People visit their dentists for all kinds of reasons. These include their regular check-ups, to have issues such as cavities resolved, and there are also some more serious dental issues that dentists deal with, such as abscesses and root canal treatment. Another reason for a visit to the dentists, and one which is becoming increasingly common, is cosmetic dental treatment.
Cosmetic dentistry is the work a dentist does to restore a patient’s tooth or teeth to a state, or an appearance, which is as close to how healthy teeth would appear. This often follows treatments such as tooth extraction, but it can also arise due to a tooth being damaged, or worst of all, knocked out due to an accident. Other reasons for a cosmetic dentist include discoloured teeth and teeth that are not straight.
As for the specific type of cosmetic dentistry an individual may have, this is influenced by several factors. In no particular order, these include:
- The specific issue they have with their teeth
- The extent to which they wish their teeth to look ‘normal’
- How any single cosmetic treatment is appropriate for them
- The services offered by their local dentists
- The amount they can afford
- Any underlying medical conditions
Having applied each of these to their situation and discussed the matter with their dentist, a patient can then choose which cosmetic dental treatment they want, provided that they have a choice in the first place. We must point out that not all cosmetic treatments are suitable for every circumstance or every patient, and it may be they are restricted to just one or two. If they do have a choice of all treatments, then it is likely to be one of the five we have outlined below.
Whitening: The simplest, and in most cases, the least expensive cosmetic dental treatment, this is a means of making discoloured teeth look brilliantly white again. Whitening treatment can be applied on a short-term one-off basis, or over the longer term, depending on which specific needs you have.
Bridges: This cosmetic dental treatment is used when patients have lost teeth, and in particular, bridges are commonly used when it is the molar teeth that are missing. Amongst other problems missing teeth can cause bad bite issues which can put a strain on other teeth and cause frequent mouth sores, leading to infections, or worse abscesses.
Veneers: For those who do not know what dental veneers are, they are often regarded as the dental equivalent of false nails. In other words, they are ideal for covering discoloured, chipped, or cracked teeth. The big difference between dental veneers and false nails is that they are virtually undetectable, and they last much longer.
Crowns: Whereas veneers are used to disguise teeth that look bad, crowns are used for not only discoloured teeth but also for damaged or missing teeth as well. They are commonly used when a single tooth has been severely damaged due to decay or an accident, with the crown covering that tooth to hide the damage.
Dental Implants: In cases where one or more or more teeth are missing, the ultimate cosmetic dental treatment is dental implants. These are in two parts with the first being a titanium post that is fitted to the jawbone. The second part is the acrylic tooth which is screwed into the titanium base. Dental implants last for years and are extremely durable, but they are also the most costly of the cosmetic treatments we have outlined.