Aesthetic dentistry
Aesthetic or Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dentistry that focuses on improving the appearance of your smile.
You might choose to see a cosmetic dentist if you have:
- Chipped or cracked teeth.
- Gaps or spaces between your teeth.
- Malocclusion (misaligned teeth).
- Misshapen teeth.
- Tooth discoloration and staining.
Cosmetic dentistry aims to create a more balanced, symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing smile. Common cosmetic dental services include both nonsurgical and surgical treatments like:
Made of medical-grade ceramic, porcelain veneers are thin, strong shells that adhere to the front surfaces of your teeth. Like dental bonding, veneers can conceal a wide range of cosmetic flaws, including chips, cracks and discoloration.
Dental veneers are custom-made shells that fit over the front surfaces of your teeth. Veneers are one of the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments. There are several types of veneers available, depending on your specific goals.
These dental restorations can camouflage:
- Chipped or broken teeth.
- Diastema (gaps or spaces in your smile).
- Stains that don’t improve with teeth whitening.
- Teeth that are too small.
- Misshapen teeth.
It’s important to note that veneers are only an option if you’re free of extensive cavities and gum disease. If you have serious oral health issues, you should address those first before exploring cosmetic treatments.
Veneers vs crowns: What’s the difference?
A porcelain veneer only covers the front surface of a tooth to enhance its appearance. A dental crown, on the other hand, covers the entire tooth structure to add strength and protection.
Dental veneers are a cosmetic treatment. In other words, they improve your smile, but they don’t necessarily strengthen or repair your teeth. While dental crowns can also improve the appearance of your teeth, their main purpose is to restore teeth that are badly damaged by decay or trauma.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a decayed, broken, weak or worn-down tooth. Dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and root canal-treated teeth.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a decayed, broken, weak or worn-down tooth. Dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and root canal-treated teeth.
A crown fits over your entire tooth, like a snug hat. To ensure a proper fit, a dentist will need to remove a small amount of enamel before bonding your new crown in place.
You may need a dental crown to:
- Strengthen a weak tooth.
- Protect and support a cracked tooth.
- Restore a worn-down or broken tooth.
- Hold a dental bridge in place.
- Cover a severely stained or discolored tooth.
- Cover a root canal-treated tooth.
- Cover a dental implant.
There are many types of dental crowns. The kind that’s right for you depends on your personal preferences and unique oral health needs.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns combine the durability of metal and the natural look of porcelain. Dentists can match these crowns to the shade of your own teeth.
Pressed ceramic crowns
A pressed ceramic crown has a hard inner core. It’s similar to a PFM, but the core is ceramic instead of metal. To make this inner core, a technician melts and presses ceramic in an oven at a very high temperature. Next, they add multiple layers of porcelain. Like all-porcelain crowns, pressed ceramic crowns mimic the translucency of natural tooth enamel.
All-ceramic or porcelain crowns
All-ceramic or porcelain crowns mimic the appearance of tooth enamel more than any other crown type. They’re also a good choice if you have metal allergies.
Lab technicians use many different materials to make ceramic crowns, but one of the most popular is zirconium dioxide. Zirconia crowns are extremely durable and can withstand heavier forces than other types of ceramic crowns. They’re also gentle on your opposing teeth, resulting in less enamel wear.
Professional teeth whitening can dramatically and safely lighten the shade of your teeth.
Teeth whitening is a procedure to lighten the color of your teeth and remove stains. You can have it done at a dentist’s office, or do it yourself at home.
Generally, the stronger the solution and the longer you keep it on your teeth, the whiter your teeth become. But the higher the percentage of peroxide in the whitening solution, the shorter it should stay on your teeth. Keeping it on longer will dehydrate teeth and increase tooth sensitivity.
There are pros and cons to each option, but before you try at-home tooth-bleaching kits, talk to your dentist. Not everyone will see good results. Bleaching will not whiten porcelain crowns or tooth-colored composite bondings.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening done by your dentist can get teeth brighter faster. The bleaching solution is usually much stronger than that in at-home kits. Also, your dentist can use heat, light, or a combination of the two to speed and intensify the whitening process.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
Tray-based tooth bleaching systems. With this teeth whitening option, a mouth guard-like tray is filled with a peroxide-based bleaching gel or paste and placed over the teeth for one to several hours a day for up to 4 weeks. You can buy tray-based tooth whitening systems over-the-counter or have one custom-fitted by your dentist.
Composite Restauration can change the shape of a tooth to make it longer, wider or more uniform. It can conceal cracks, discoloration and other cosmetic imperfections.
Composite Restauration is a cosmetic procedure that uses a tooth-colored composite resin material to enhance your smile. This procedure is used to repair chips, close down gaps or change the shape and color of a tooth.
During the procedure, your dentist applies tooth-colored resin material to the affected teeth to change their shape, size or color.
Dental bonding is used to make cosmetic improvements to your smile. The procedure uses tooth-colored composite resin material to:
- Conceal chips or cracks in your teeth.
- Camouflage tooth discoloration.
- Close gaps and spaces between your teeth.
- Make your teeth look longer.
- Change the shape of your teeth.
The same composite resin material used in dental bonding is also used in restorative dentistry to:
- Fill cavities.
- Replace old silver dental fillings with a more cosmetic alternative.
- Protect teeth roots that have been exposed due to gum recession.
Excess gum tissue can make your smile appear “gummy” or uneven. During gum contouring surgery, your dentist removes excess gum tissue and reshapes your gum line for a more symmetrical, balanced appearance.
Gum contouring removes excess tissue and reshapes your gum line. Dentists use this procedure to treat uneven or “gummy smiles” (when you have extra gum tissue that covers parts of your teeth). Many people choose this cosmetic procedure because it can deliver dramatic results.
Gum contouring (also called gum reshaping) is a procedure that dental providers (usually periodontists) use to change the appearance of your gums. Some people have a “gummy smile” that makes their teeth look short or boxy. Others have an uneven gum line that’s too high in some places and too low in others. Gum contouring removes excess gum tissue to make your smile look more uniform.
Cosmetic gum contouring might be right for you if you have:
- Excessive gingival display (a “gummy smile”).
- An uneven gum line.
- Gum overgrowth from wearing braces.