Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures and Myths Surrounding the Practice

The popularity of cosmetic dentistry procedures continues to grow each day. This has been attributed mostly by the success rate of these restorative procedures and their undoubted efficacy in dental restorations. Since there are various cosmetic procedures in existence, dental experts recommend taking an evaluation test before starting any treatment. The test helps one know which specific procedure will best fix their dental flaw and what risks will be involved.

If you suffer from dental decay, crooked or misalignment teeth, a damaged tooth structure, or any other oral issue, you can have your problem fixed at Westbrook Village Dental. This is a dental office in Peoria offering cosmetic dentistry services like teeth whitening, veneers, and braces, among many more at affordable prices.

Types of Cosmetic Dental Services Provided by Dentists

• Enamel Shaping

Enamel shaping involves removing some of the enamel structure to give the teeth a better appearance. This restorative procedure is sometimes combined with bonding processes to change the shape, position, and tooth length. You may benefit from this if you have overlapping, irregular, or chipped teeth that need correction.

• Teeth Whitening

Over time, our teeth become discolored due to stains caused by certain habits like smoking or consuming beverages like tea and coffee. Sometimes, prescribed medications can also cause teeth staining hence affecting our natural smile. Luckily, such flaws can be corrected by visiting a dentist. Teeth bleaching is a procedure that uses chemicals to get rid of the permanent stains giving you whiter teeth. There are two ways to go about this process, and one involves in-office procedures at the dental office while the other adopts a use-at-home system.

The in-office method will take about one or two visits, each lasting a maximum of two hours. Although bleaching at home sounds more convenient, it will take more time to achieve the ultimate results. Its timeframe ranges between two weeks to a month.

Dentists advise patients on whitening treatment to continue cleaning their teeth regularly because the whitening products used in practice are not designed to play teeth cleaners. It is also important to note that frequent exposure to staining substances causes tooth discoloration; hence, one should avoid the previous factors/habits that caused the original staining. Failure to do so means that you’ll have to re-do the procedure every once in a while.

• Crowns

Also known as caps, dental crowns restore a tooth’s normal appearance and shape by completely covering the tooth with the flaw. This procedure is usually recommended by teeth experts when other restorative forms have failed to yield pleasing results. These caps are used to restore a worn-out tooth, cover discolored teeth, protect weak tooth structures from damage, and to hold bridges in its place.

• Braces

Braces are used to correct irregular bites, jaw-joint disorders, improve the appearance of crowded teeth, and in the alignment of teeth into correct positions. However, this treatment is not suitable for people who are allergic to latex or metals, and those too with periodontal disease.

• Implants

The steps to getting an implant will first involve a comprehensive test and X-rays to determine a patient’s candidacy. Next is the surgical positioning of the screws, followed by the collection of both jaws’ impressions for the crown’s model creation. Implants are a solution to the replacement of missing teeth.

Other procedures that fit the cosmetic category include:

• Bridges
• Dental veneers
• Bonding

The Myths and Misconceptions

Below are some of the myths concerning cosmetic dentistry that is going around:

• Cosmetic procedures cause damage to your teeth- Your dental practitioner is someone who is there to guide you on a path that will make your teeth stronger and healthier. So, it’s unlikely that he/she will carry out a procedure that will damage one’s teeth.
• The procedures are expensive- If you decide to check the prices of cosmetic procedures, you’ll know how false this statement is. Furthermore, investing in your oral-health condition today might save you the money spent to treat serious infections and cavities that result from poor oral hygiene.
• Cosmetic dentistry will take away your teeth’ natural look- The only thing these procedures do is make your teeth look more natural by giving them good shapes and more shine.