What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
While other types of dental work specialize in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases, cosmetic dentistry deals with the appearance of teeth. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, issues that cosmetic dentistry procedures can treat include stained, uneven, and broken teeth. Orthodontics sometimes falls under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry depending on the reason for the treatment.
Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
There are various types of dental treatments available to improve your smile, and the Academy of General Dentistry notes that they can create subtle or major changes.
Materials that can be added to the teeth to improve their appearance include bonding, crowns, and veneers. Bonding is a  material, crowns are caps that are placed on teeth, and veneers are thin layers of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth. These types of cosmetic dentistry treatments can be used to get rid of stains that don’t respond to bleaching as well as repair teeth that are chipped, decayed, crooked, or otherwise malformed. Veneers last longer than bonding, and crowns have the longest life expectancy of all the options.
Adding material to the tooth is not the only way to improve your smile. Your dentist can also contour your tooth by strategically filing away bits of enamel, giving it a better shape. Tooth contouring is often combined with bonding for the best results.
Gum reshaping is another type of cosmetic dentistry treatment. This procedure is appropriate if you have an uneven gum line or one that comes down farther than average.
Cosmetic dentistry makes it easy to achieve the smile of your dreams. Consult with Classic Smiles Dentistry to find out which cosmetic dentistry treatment is most appropriate for your needs.
