Modern cosmetic dentistry is an excellent option for those who have a problem about your smile. This form of professional oral treatment is focused on improving the appearance of your mouth, teeth, gums, and your overall smile. Most common procedures include teeth whitening, veneers, fillings, and implants.
What Can a Cosmetic Dentist Do?
Cosmetic dentists are able to perform many procedures, ranging from minor repairs to major surgery. Here are a few the procedures that cosmetic dentists offer.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is among the most fundamental Chicago dentists treatments, as well as one of the cheapest. Over time, teeth can be stained by beverages, food or even other behaviors like smoking cigarettes. Many people resort to tooth whitening to improve their smile.
The process of whitening teeth is one which bleaches the surface of your teeth so that they appear whiter and brighter after being cleared from plaque, tartar, and other particles. While over-the-counter products like toothpaste, rinses, and whitestrips can offer some results, professional tooth whitening can produce a shade between 5 and eight times lighter.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin , white shells made from medical-grade ceramic, resin, or porcelain. Each patient will have custom-made dental veneers that look like their natural teeth.
Prior to attaching the veneers the dentist removes a small amount of enamel from the tooth's surface to allow the shells to be secured in a realistic manner to the teeth's front. Dental veneers can correct a number of cosmetic issues for example, damaged or crooked teeth as well as gaps between teeth.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is also known as a "dental cap" and is often used to cover a damaged or decayed tooth. The crowns are used to stop fractures in a tooth that are weak or for cosmetic reasons to cover damaged or discolored teeth.
They may also be used to cover procedures for example, root canals, fillings, dental bridges, or dental implants.
Inlays and onlays
Onlays and inlays are also often referred to as indirect fillings. They are designed for teeth that are too damaged to hold traditional fillings. These fillings can be made at a dental lab, and then fixed in place by the use of a dentists lagrange.
"Inlay" refers to a tooth that has been "inlay" is an individual tooth with the material bonded in the center. An "onlay" is where the filling covers one or more parts of the tooth or the tooth's entire surface.
This procedure can be a viable alternative to the crownthat preserves more of the tooth's natural surface, but also strengthening and restoring the tooth after decay or degrading.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth or for severe tooth decay. Cosmetic dentists first attach a screw to the jaw for support. The dental implant is placed into the socket of the tooth's bone.
The implant will become fused to the bone and tissues as time passes. This secures the replacement tooth in the mouth. Implants for dental implants should be completely integrated into the teeth that surround it once it is properly attached.
Dental Bonding
Cosmetic dentists apply moldable resin to the tooth, set it with ultraviolet light and then join the teeth. After that, they cut, shape and polish the material to fit into the surface of the tooth.
Bonding can be used to repair chips, cracks or misshapen teeth. It can also repair tooth decay. If you have minor cosmetic concerns bonding can be a more affordable option than crowns or fillings.
Education and Training
Although cosmetic dentistry is a widely practiced industry, it's not currently classified as a specialization by the American Dental Association. This is the reason why universities do not typically offer degrees in this area.
However, most cosmetic dentists first receive training through other dental school programs. Dental students train for four years, and generally require a bachelor's degree to enroll. The curriculum includes:
Orthodontics is the dental method that aligns your teeth with braces or another means.
Pain management
Law and history of dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry
Oral medicine
Once a dental program has been completed, prospective cosmetic dentists must obtain a medical certificate. They may also be eligible for accreditation.